Chapter Five
The wedding was over quickly, and Maisy worried the vicar—who was brought up from the gaming tables—was too drunk to do it legally, but then he had them sign a register, and wished them happy blessings.
It was just as Maisy had seen the minister do for Caroline’s nuptials and figured they were good enough.
She signed her name under her new husband’s unreadable scratch, and let out a breath. Whatever came next, she and Jack would be out of Nelson’s reach.
“Make ready The Rue for Scotland,” Iain ordered the man—Hodge he’d called him—who’d stood at his side while he’d said his vows.
“I will need to go to my home and collect my things and my brother,” she said a little sharply, for fear the man would choose not to honor his promise.
Her husband nodded. “Aye, I’ll take you in my carriage. I’ll need to see to the dowry.”
Right. Because he’d wed her only because of the funds she brought to the marriage.
She didn’t know why that fact made her throat burn, for she’d known exactly what she was getting when she’d accompanied Caroline to The Lyon’s Den.
A husband who needed money and was willing to marry a stranger to get it.
Iain walked beside her as they went out the front of the building. Maisy was shocked to see Caroline was still waiting.
“Maisy,” she called. “Did it work?” Caroline came closer and then frowned up at Iain. “Oh, my. He’s the man who you—”
“Yes. I’m aware,” Maisy said, hoping not to bring up her disgrace yet again.
“A pleasant coincidence,” Caroline said with a forced smile. Maisy tried and failed to answer with a smile of her own.
She was too worried about what would happen to her now.
She was married to a stranger, which she’d always assumed would happen if she ever married.
But this man was a sea captain and a Scot, with a full beard and the keen-eyed glare of a beast. Surely he would slit her and Jack’s throats and throw them overboard to the sea creatures.
She let out a breath and hugged Caroline firmly.
“I will write to you when I’m settled in Scotland with Jack. Thank you for your help.”
Caroline had turned weepy. “You’re going all the way to Scotland? I shall never see you.”
Maisy patted her friend’s belly. “I think you will soon have other things to worry over besides me and my brother. We’ll stay in touch through letters.”
Caroline nodded bravely and wiped away her tears.
Iain was waiting by the door of the carriage for her when Caroline released her. He helped her into the conveyance and then tapped on the roof. They were instantly jerked into motion, heading for the home that was no longer hers. Heading into her future.
Iain may have suggested they wait until morning to call upon her house, but he wanted to get this trip underway. He wouldn’t rest until her dowry was paid, and he was back on The Rue.
Still he felt a tinge of shame as she entered her home and stirred the house to wake. He waited in the drawing room off the foyer while more and more servants passed by carrying trunks and bags out to his carriage.
The loud wail of what sounded like a small child echoed around the house, but when Iain stepped out of the room he found his wife arguing with a man nearly as tall as himself.
He shook his head quickly. “No,” he said, the single word sounding mumbled. Then he said “No” a few more times.
“Jack, you need to get your paints if you want to take them to Scotland with us. There will be many things for you to paint there.”
Again the man shook his head. When Madelene turned toward him the man did as well, and Iain saw the person his wife was arguing with wasn’t yet a man, but almost. He hadn’t needed a razor quite yet, but there was the shadow of hair on his chin that spoke of his age.
His eyes, the same color as his bride’s narrowed on him and he moved his hands around furiously.
“Yes. This is my new husband. He is a captain and has a ship. We are going to get to ride in it.”
“Why?” the boy asked, again the word not coming out clearly. Iain might have thought he was drunk but his movements were not dulled in the slightest. Instead, his hands flew in sharp mannerisms toward his sister.
Iain thought to step in to protect her, but it was clear from her reaction she was not frightened by him.
“Please. I will explain everything when we are underway. You must do as I say. Do you trust me?”
The lad stopped short and then after a few quick breaths he nodded and turned for the stairs. Madalene relaxed as Jack took the steps two or three at a time and stomped down the hall.
A different man came down the stairs, and grabbed Madelene’s arm.
“What are you about in the middle of the night?”
For all the ease his wife had displayed with Jack, it was evident she was afraid of this man. Who looked to be another relative if his golden eyes were any indication.
“Nels—ow, you’re hurting me.”
“I will only ask you once to take your hands off my wife,” Iain said, coming to Madelene’s side. Iain towered over the man in his nightshirt with the rumpled hair.
“Who the bloody hell are you?” the man spat.
In this situation, Iain thought it better to use his title.
“I am the Earl of Kesson. I’ve married your sister this evening, and we will be leaving within the hour.”
“Married?” he said, and turned a glare at his sister, shoving her slightly when he released her. “Whatever were you thinking marrying him?”
“I was thinking that you will be looking for a wife, since you will soon be the new Lord Prevose. You won’t want Jack and me in the way as you set up your new family.”
“You’re taking Jack?” The man scoffed when he spoke, as if it was unheard of.
“Yes,” she answered, allowing no room for argument.
“Fine. Be gone with both of you.” The man waved and turned toward the stairs as if to go back to his bed.
Iain cleared his throat.
“There’s the matter of your sister’s dowry.”
The man smiled evilly as he turned around again.
“Ah. So we have it. This hasty marriage is one of money.”
“Our marriage—hasty or otherwise—is none of your concern. Her dowry is owed to me legally as her husband and a peer of the realm.”
“Of course.” He waved his hand toward the hall. “Far be it from me to withhold funds from the poor sot willing to take a spinster and a cripple off my hands.”
Iain might have punched the lout for the disrespect to his sister, but Madalene stepped closer and shook her head.
“Thank you, brother,” she said, the picture of civility the man didn’t deserve.
Iain followed his reluctant brother-in-law to the study and watched quietly as he extracted a book and wrote out a draft for the sum.
He held it out between his forefinger and middle finger, and Iain knew what it was.
He’d seen lesser men play the superior by making a man lurch for payment.
Iain was beyond being shamed by a man of this nature.
He caught the slip of parchment deftly when the man let it go before Iain had grasped it.
“Thank you, my lord,” Iain said in much the same way his wife had. Placating the bastard.
Lord Blakehall turned to Madalene. “Neither you or Jack are welcome back here again. Do not think to cast your shadow on my doorstep when this… arrangement goes sour. You are not my problem any longer.”
Madalene nodded and grabbed Iain’s hand to pull him from the room. Iain wondered if her haste was because she feared Iain would say something or because she feared she would herself.
It didn’t matter, by the time they got back to the foyer, a disgruntled looking Jack was there and the last of their things was being carried out to the carriage.
When they reached Kesson House, Iain instructed the footman to take in the necessities for the morning, and route the rest of the trunks to the shipyard to be put aboard The Rue.
Inside, he had his housekeeper take Madalene and Jack to their rooms.
“Get your rest. We’ll be getting up with the sun to get to the ship.”
Jack’s gaze narrowed again but it looked confused rather than angry this time. He shook his head toward his sister who spoke slowly.
“Get some rest. We’re leaving at dawn.”
Jack nodded and followed Mrs. McNeil up the stairs. He went to the study to gather the ledgers and other official-looking documents he may need to prove his claim on Kesson Castle. Then after a glass of whisky he found his own bed and fell into it.
He had a wife, a castle, and a plan.