Love's Ransom by Gwen Kirkwood Read Free Book Online Page A

hours’ time she was to be married to a stranger. She thought of her mother and sisters. They ought to be here with her, but she might never see them again. Her eyes filled with tears at the thought of Jamie going home without her. She didn’t hear the footsteps approaching so she was surprised by the light tap on the door and Zander’s entrance.
    ‘Are they tears I see in those beautiful eyes?’ he asked. His voice was gentle but that made things worse. Isabella tried to brush the tears away but the sympathy in his eyes made them gather faster. He sat down close beside her on the oak chest and turned towards her, drawing the pad of his thumb slowly beneath one eye and then the other.
    ‘Please don’t cry Isabella. A girl who is brave enough to cross those marshlands by night or day can surely manage a husband, especially one as meek as Henry. I cannot blame my uncle for wanting you to be the mother of his grandchildren, but for the first time in my life I envy Cousin Henry.’
    ‘You envy him? Being forced into marriage against his will?’ Isabella looked at him in surprise. He saw a lingering tear drop on her thick dark lashes and touched his lips to it in fleeting caress.’
    ‘It would not be against my will if you were my bride,’ Zander said softly, as though the words were drawn from him. ‘You need not be afraid. Henry is the gentlest of souls. He will not hurt you if he can avoid it, and he is always kind.’
    ‘I – I am not afraid of Henry,’ she said. ‘I am a little weary and thinking of home, my mother and sisters. I-I c-can’t believe I am to be married without them. I don’t even know what I am supposed to do.’
    ‘My uncle has not given either of you time to consider.’ There was a faint bitterness in his tone which he could not hide. ‘If it is any consolation Henry is more nervous about being married than you are,’ he added wryly. ‘He asked me to bring writing materials for you and I see he has trusted you with his best quill.’
    ‘Thank you. I want to write a letter to my mother and sisters for Jamie to take with him when he leaves. Do you think his wound will have healed enough for him to ride?’ she asked anxiously, looking up at him with trusting grey eyes.
    ‘I shall make sure he does not leave too soon. We shall give him a good horse to carry him all the way. Anna is applying another salve now. She will give him a draft to help him get a good sleep. He is young and strong. You must not worry.’ He glanced around. ‘I see you have a table but no chair to sit and write. I shall bring you one now.’ A moment later he was gone, leaving the heavy door wide open. Soon he was back, carrying a stout wooden chair from the room below. He put it at the table ready for her. She had set out the paper and ink and laid the quill beside them.
    ‘Thank you, Zander? Shall I call you Zander? Anna said I should, now that I shall soon be your cousin too.’
    ‘Yes, yes…,’ he said absently but his eyes were fixed on her face. Her skin had been so soft and smooth beneath his thumb. He knew he ought not to but he could not resist a single kiss before she belonged to his cousin. He bent his head and put his mouth to hers but the touch of her soft lips yielding to his was like a smouldering fire bursting into flames. Isabella did not resist when he drew her into his arms and held her against his broad chest. She felt she could stay there forever but his lips were arousing emotions she had never known before and she clung to him helplessly. Zander was breathing hard when at last he found the will to draw his mouth from hers.
    ‘Have you ever been kissed before Isabella?’
    ‘Only by my mother and little sisters. Neb Truddle tried but I kicked his shins so hard he let me go. I did not know a kiss could feel so different – so wonderful…’ Zander realised she was as innocent as a new born lamb in spite of her courage.
    ‘What a waste,’ he muttered, ‘to marry you to Henry.’ He