Chapter Seven
K errigan helped Christine into the hackney he’d had Stevens summon for him. Now that her uncle knew they were married and where they were staying, he had to be aware of their surroundings. It would not surprise him if Lord Allenby hired men to follow them and grab Christine.
Still, Kerrigan insisted on visiting a jewelry shop to purchase a proper wedding ring for her. It pained him that he’d been forced to sell all the Lindsay jewelry to feed everyone last winter, but when he reluctantly sold his mother’s wedding ring, he was more concerned with taking care of his people than about what his future wife would wear.
He’d brought the last of his coin to London, hoping that the arrangement he’d made with Mrs. Dove-Lyon after the introduction from his friend, Lord Devon, would result in filling his coffers. As much as he had hated the idea of taking money from his future wife, he had no choice.
But this ring he would pay for.
They arrived at Bond Street, not a place that Kerrigan was familiar with since he’d only made a few trips to London in all his years. However, Stevens, who seemed to be a butler extraordinaire, told him it was the place to go.
“Do ye have a favorite jewelry store, lass?”
“I do. Rundell and Bridge on Ludgate Hill is a fine place. It is only a few miles from here.” Although she had decried him buying her a ring, she appeared excited.
He tapped on the ceiling of the hackney and gave the driver instructions to continue on to Ludgate Hill. The man maneuvered his way through the traffic and soon they were at their destination. The driver jumped down from the driver’s bench and opened the door. “Is this where you wish to stop, my lord?”
“Aye,” Kerrigan said, stepping out. He took a quick scan of their surroundings, then reached into the carriage and helped Christine down. He paid the driver and extended his arm for her to take.
“It feels lovely to be out and about again. After being locked in my room, then hiding at The Lyon’s Den, then at Mr. Kendall’s brother’s townhouse, I feel as though I am a prisoner being let free.”
“Just a couple more days, lass, and we’ll be on our way to Luffness Castle.”
“Oh, I never even asked you the name of your home. Luffness Castle. That sounds very proper.”
He couldn’t help but feel there was nothing proper about Luffness Castle right now with the loss of their sheep, and income. Hopefully, things would change once Christine’s money was transferred to his bank in Edinburgh. There were things that needed fixing in the castle, and several of the clan cottages needed new roofs and other repairs before winter set in.
The store was obviously meant for the upper crust of London society. London was a place he would never have visited if it hadn’t been for his necessary marriage. However, besides the lovely wife he’d wed, he had enjoyed his time here with Devon. The clubs they’d visited had been an eye-opener. He couldn’t imagine gambling until you lost everything. Some men were fools.
“Good afternoon, Lady Christine. What interests you today?” The man eyed Kerrigan speculatively.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Chester.” She turned to Kerrigan. “May I make known to you Mr. Robert Chester? Mr. Chester, this is my husband, Laird Kerrigan Lindsay.”
“Husband? What a surprise. It is a pleasure to meet you, Laird. You are a very lucky man to have married Lady…Lindsay.” He laughed. “I must get used to that.”
Kerrigan smiled at her. “Aye, I certainly won the prize.”
The jeweler nodded his agreement. “What are you interested in, my lady?”
“My wife needs a proper wedding ring. As ye can see, the one she wears does no’ fit and I’d rather if she had something she liked.”
“Of course.” He looked at Christine. “Do you have anything particular in mind?”
Christine shook her head. “No. I never thought much about wedding rings. What do you suggest?”
The man brought out trays of rings. There were no prices on them, which made him a tad uncomfortable. Most likely those who shopped here were unconcerned about prices, but there was a good chance the ring would wipe out the rest of his coin.
“This one is particularly lovely,” the jeweler said, holding up a gold band with a large stone in the center—he wasn’t sure what it was since he had very little experience with purchasing jewelry—surrounded by diamonds.
He held his breath, wondering if insisting on purchasing her a ring now had been such a good idea.
The lass scrunched up her nose in a most delightful way. “No. I don’t think something that fancy would suit. My life is changing, Mr. Chester.” She beamed at Kerrigan. “I will be living in a castle in Scotland. I won’t have cause, I am sure, to wear such fancy things. Do you have something a bit more—practical?”
“But verra nice.” Kerrigan wasn’t sure if Christine was truly looking to be practical, or if she was concerned about the cost.
It took a several trays later, but eventually Mr. Chester—begrudgingly—brought out beautiful but simple rings. “Yes, I am sure one of these will suit,” Christine said.
The piece she picked fit perfectly and looked wonderful on her hand. “I love this one,” she said.
Kerrigan reached over, took the ring off her finger and dropped it into his pocket. She looked a bit surprised but said nothing.
“Shall I add it to your account, my lady?”
“Nay,” Kerrigan said. “I will pay for the ring now.”
The man actually looked confused. Apparently, the Upper Crust didn’t trouble themselves with paying for things as they were purchased. After the years he’d had as laird, he couldn’t imagine being so unconcerned about price, or not paying for things right away.
“Very well.” Mr. Chester scribbled something on a piece of parchment and handed it to him. Kerrigan sighed in relief when he realized he could pay for the ring and still have coin left over. He dug into the pouch he carried attached to his belt, and counted out the coins as Christine wandered the shop.
Once the purchase was completed, the jeweler wished them well and they left.
Christine took his arm, and they strolled the pavement for a while. “We really should get back to the townhouse,” Kerrigan said. As happy as Christine seemed to be now that she was free of confinement, he knew they were taking a risk. Not that he thought Allenby would hire someone to snatch her off the streets in the middle of a busy area, but depending on how desperate he was—and the man certainly was—he could lose all common sense and do just that.
He had no fear that he couldn’t protect his wife, but he didn’t want to upset her.
She sighed and looked up at him. “Yes. I’m afraid you are right. I hope Mr. Kendall can arrange things quickly.”
Kerrigan waved down a hackney and they settled themselves inside.
Christine smoothed out her skirts and after folding her delicate hands in her lap, said, “Tell me about Luffness Castle.”
She was excited about her new home. A castle!
Kerrigan shifted so he was able to rest his foot on his knee. “’Tis quite old. It was originally owned by the Earls of Lothian. The Lindsays acquired it through marriage in the twelfth century. There have been several renovations over the years and right now we are in desperate need of more.”
Christine viewed him with wide eyes. “That is quite interesting. I must say I love the idea of living in a castle.”
Kerrigan sighed. “Well, lass, I must warn ye. For the past sixty or so years we have depended on our sheep to provide wool for our people to use to make wraps, bonnets, kilts, and other items that we sell all over Scotland as well as other countries. We have a reputation for producing the best.
“However, once we lost our sheep to bluetongue disease, our entire source of income dried up. We needed the coin held in reserves to feed our people. The only way we will survive is if we buy more sheep and have the time to allow them to be able to produce the wool we need and once again begin to make and sell our well-known items.”
“That’s terrible. Your poor people.”
“Yes, poor indeed. All of them have gardens that serve them well, and hunting is allowed on the property, but with everyone trying to bring down enough animals to feed their families, the herd grows slim.”
“I’m hoping the money from my father will help with this.”
Suddenly, Kerrigan looked very uncomfortable. “I hate to use yer money, lass. It makes me feel verra strange to do it. I wish there was another way.”
She waved her hand. “Don’t concern yourself. If you remember, the reason we made this arrangement was because I needed a husband who would protect me and take me far enough away that my uncle could no longer touch me. And, in return, you would get my money so you could save your clan.”
“I ken, but it still makes me uncomfortable. In my world, the men take care of the women, no’ the other way around.”
“If you were using it to pay off gambling debts, as Lord Newton had intended to do, I could see your concern, but this is for such a good reason.” She reached out and touched his arm. “Please don’t make this into more than it should be. I am more than happy with our arrangement. And remember, I’ve never lived in a castle before! I’ve never had a husband before! And I don’t have to marry a man I don’t wish to marry. To my way of thinking, we both got what we wanted.”
He reached across the space and pulled her next to him, then took her hand. “Ye are the kindest person I have e’er met. I will do my best to make sure ye ne’er regret yer decision.” With those words, he reached into his pocket and withdrew the ring they’d just bought. “This is my promise that I will try my best to be the worthiest husband e’er and do e’erything I can to protect ye and make ye happy.” He slid the ring on her finger, and she looked up at him with teary eyes.
“And I will try to be the best wife ever.”
He cupped her face in his large hands and lowered his head until their lips met. Once again, she was stunned at how soft and warm his lips were when she considered his height and breadth. Laird Kerrigan Lindsay was an unusual man, and she was very happy that he was her husband.
“My Lord, we have arrived.” The driver opened the carriage door and stepped back so Kerrigan could exit. He reached in and helped Chrstine out.
As they made their way to the steps of the townhouse, a carriage pulled up where their driver had just left. Lord Allenby jumped from the carriage, waving papers in his hand. “I have documents here that require my niece to appear before a panel of judges with regard to this false marriage.”
Kerrigan took one look at the man and swung his fist at his face. The crunch of bone indicated a broken nose. He landed on his bottom on the sidewalk and held his nose while blood trickled down his lips.
“You broke my nose,” he said, sounding surprised and somewhat petulant.
“Aye, I did. Now take yer papers and yer panels and shove them… Well, I guess ye doona have to think too hard to ken where I suggest you shove them.”
Kerrigan straightened his jacket as he returned to Christine’s side, who looked at her uncle in horror. “Wife, are ye ready?”
She nodded and he moved her forward while she continued to stare over her shoulder at her uncle, blood running down his face.