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

door open, beamed at the people in the hall and started to usher them in, only to freeze when she saw that he was simply standing there nude. Flushing, she turned abruptly back, blocking the entrance. “Just a moment, please. My husband is not yet—”
    “ ’Tis fine,” Ross growled, stifling a groan as he bent to swipe up his linen shirt and plaid. He didn’t care if all and sundry saw him nude, but his wife obviously did, so he left the shirt off for now and simply wrapped the plaid around his waist and then gave her a nod.
    Smiling uncertainly, Annabel stepped aside to let the priest lead Lord and Lady Waverly into the room. The trio inspected the bedsheet with silent nods, and then as Lady Waverly began to strip it from the bed, Lord Waverly turned to Ross with a forced smile and said, “That’s fine, fine. ’Tis all done and dusted then. When do you plan to leave?”
    Ross stiffened. While he had already decided to leave first thing this morning, the man’s making it so obvious that he would like to see the backs of them was more than a bit insulting. To both of them, he thought grimly and wondered what kind of life his poor bride had endured as the daughter of two such uncaring individuals. He himself had been gifted with loving and caring parents who had never made him feel unwelcome or unimportant. It seemed obvious Annabel had not enjoyed the same.
    He would make that up to her. She would never feel unwelcome or uncared for again, he determined, and announced succinctly, “Now.”
    “Now?” Annabel turned to him with surprise.
    “Aye.” Ross removed his plaid to lay it out on the floor, quickly donned his shirt and then knelt to fold pleats into his plaid as he added, “So gather what ye can in the few minutes ye have ere I finish dressing and we’ll be on our way.”
    “But—” Annabel began with dismay, only to fall silent as her mother spoke louder.
    “ ’Tis fine, Annabel. Come.”
    “But,” Annabel began again. Ross didn’t hear anymore and glanced up to see that her mother had dragged her from the room and was pulling her out of sight up the hall.
    “Well,” Lord Waverly said bluffly, clapping his hands and sidling toward the door, the priest following. “This all worked out nicely then. The two of you have fulfilled the contract and all is set. I guess I shall go see to hanging the linen so everyone can see ’tis done.”
    Ross simply turned back to his work without comment. He didn’t like the sly man, and didn’t much care what he did. He was now wholly focused on getting himself, his men and his new bride the hell out of there.
    “ N EVER COUNTERMAND YOUR husband’s orders. You must be dutiful and obedient at all times.”
    Annabel bit her lip at her mother’s sharp words as she was dragged away from the room where she and Ross had slept. But after a moment she simply couldn’t keep from saying, “Aye, but surely we cannot leave right away? ’Tis a long journey to Scotland. Surely there is much to do to prepare for it?”
    “What is there to do, Annabel?” her mother asked pointedly.
    “Well . . . pack?” she suggested uncertainly. Never having traveled before other than the trip to the abbey and then the wagon journey back, Annabel had no idea what one did to prepare for a journey like this, but surely packing was—
    “You have nothing to pack,” Lady Waverly said in leaden tones. “So ’tis good he is not giving you time to pack. You can blame your lack on his rush to leave.”
    Annabel frowned. “Well, surely Kate did not take all of her gowns with her? Perhaps I could—”
    “Your father was so furious he had all your sister’s gowns burned when he disowned her,” her mother interrupted, and then added, “And do not even suggest I give you some of mine. You are far too large to wear them.”
    Annabel stared at her blankly. She had always been on the heavy side compared to the other women at the abbey. The abbess was quite firm in stating that