An English Bride In Scotland by Lynsay Sands Read Free Book Online

marriage had been consummated. Besides, the marriage would have been consummated had she not passed out, and he wouldn’t see her humiliated for his own actions in pouring too much mead down her throat.
    After setting his sword back on the floor, Ross removed the plaid he’d tied around his waist and dropped that on it. He then spotted the chemise carouse lying where he’d tossed it earlier and quickly retrieved and threw it in the fire before returning to the bed to settle in it next to his bride.
    Ross closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but sleep wouldn’t come and after a moment he opened them again and turned his head to peer at Annabel. He’d set her on her side facing him, and her mouth now hung open, a small string of drool slipping from it. For some reason the sight made warmth rattle through his chest and brought a smile to his lips. She was just so damned adorable to him.
    The thought made him smile wryly. He’d been all set to order his men to the horses and ride out of here rather than marry the lass who was the Withram’s second daughter, and then he’d spotted her and something about her had made him change his mind immediately. But he really couldn’t say what that something was. She was bonnie enough, Ross supposed, but he’d seen bonnier. And she hadn’t said more than a few words to him all night, so it wasn’t that she had a shiny wit and charm, at least not that he yet knew of. Perhaps it had been the fear and anxiety in her eyes. Her expression had been calm and even pleasant, but her eyes had been awash with uncertainty and terror. He’d immediately wanted to reassure, soothe and protect her.
    Following his instincts in this matter may have been an error, Ross acknowledged. After all, he didn’t know the woman at all. But his instincts had never let him down before and he was content to trust in them now. However, he was also determined to get her away from Waverly first thing on the morrow. He didn’t like Lord and Lady Waverly. He didn’t like the sly way they’d passed off their second daughter as their first without even mentioning the matter to him. Nor had he been pleased by their obvious relief once the ceremony was over and they thought they’d got away with the switch. But even more, he didn’t like how they treated Annabel.
    Her parents spoke to her with an offhand lack of concern or care. They had treated her with the polite indifference of strangers during the marriage feast. The mother had even sent her off alone with servants when it had come time to see her above stairs, stripped and put abed. In fact, the woman hadn’t come up at all, but had sat at the table drinking as the men, led by Lord Waverly, had carted Ross upstairs to join his bride. It was as if, once she was married, the woman had washed her hands of the girl. However, the welts on her back had been the final straw.
    Aye, they would leave for MacKay first thing tomorrow morning, Ross determined. He would take her home, where they could consummate their marriage in the bed where she would one day give birth to their children. Annabel’s life here was done. She was his now. He just wished he could claim her as his physically.
    Ross’s eyes slid over her naked shoulders where they peeked out from under the furs. They were round and creamy white. As was the rest of her, he recalled from his earlier view of her. Soft, round white breasts with dusky rose-colored nipples; soft, round white hips . . .
    This was his wedding night, Ross reminded himself, licking his lips. When he was supposed to be consummating their marriage . . . and really, it might be a kindness to get the breaching of her innocence over with while she was too sotted to suffer from it. It would clear the way for her to feel nothing but pleasure their first time together that she was conscious.
    Realizing where his thoughts were leading, Ross turned his head to stare at the ceiling rather than the temptation lying beside him. Damn, he