Rogue of the Borders by Cynthia Breeding Read Free Book Online

“’Tis sorry I am, but I have a shipment of kelp to prepare. I’ve already lingered nigh three weeks in London.”
    She hadn’t thought about that. How often had she heard her father tell his man of business that time was money? Still. The bed at Mari’s place would have been comfortable—although Shane’s bunk would definitely be cozy. Butterflies took flight in her stomach. Maybe it would not be so bad to spend the night on board. Since she didn’t have the negligee, she would have to be naked… naked ?
    “I do not have anything else to wear,” Abigail said somewhat frantically.
    Shane’s jaw set. “Your father had a trunk delivered earlier.”
    Her father knew about Shane’s plans? Why had no one told her? Something did not bode well. The butterflies plummeted with a decided thump.
    “Come, lass,” Shane said and led her up the gangplank. Donald welcomed them aboard, although no other crew seemed to be present. It would probably be wise not to make too much noise during their coupling, though.
    Shane helped her down the ladder to his cabin and opened the door, gesturing for her to precede him. Abigail sat down on the bed and gave him a smile. It was now or never. She might as well be bold. “Will you join me?”
    His eyes flashed fire briefly and then he tightened his jaw again. “I think not, lass.”
    The butterflies fluttered again, although her stomach lurched. “What…what do you mean?”
    He eyed her a moment and then sighed. “I will nae take ye.”
    Surely, she had not heard correctly. Abigail knew Shane didn’t love her. At least, not yet. Many marriages among the ton didn’t begin as love matches. A lot of them never did end that way either, but she’d never heard of any that weren’t consummated. Heirs and all that. Why wouldn’t Shane want to— Reality hit her as though the ship had just dropped into a deep trough. “You do not find me desirable.”
    “Nae. I mean, aye.” Shane ran a hand through his hair. “’Tis nae that. Never think that.”
    “Then…then what is it?” Her lower lip began to quiver and she bit it. She was not going to become a watering pot for the second time today.
    He sighed again. “I ne’er thought to marry. Being at sea, I have nae time for wife or bairns.”
    “But—”
    Shane held up a hand. “I had a talk with your father. We agreed it was best this marriage take place to spare ye the scandal of being ruined.”
    “I know that. So here we are. Why—”
    “I will nae truly ruin ye, lass, by taking ye to bed.”
    “But we are married .”
    “In name only.”
    Abigail nearly gaped at him. “What is that supposed to mean? We were married in a church.”
    Shane took a deep breath. “There is an old custom in Scotland called hand-fasting. It means a bride and groom agree to be married for a year and a day. Once that time is up, they can decide to go their separate ways with no blame.”
    “England has no such thing.”
    “True. It is no longer practiced in Scotland either.”
    She was beginning to wonder if one of them was going mad. “So why are you telling me this?”
    “Because England acknowledges annulment—particularly in cases where the marriage act has nae been completed.”
    “Has nae—not—been completed? What on earth are you talking about?”
    He paused. “What I mean is at the end of three months, I will grant ye an annulment on the grounds that we did nae suit. I will take the blame for whatever accusations ye may make, however heinous they may be. Ye will then have a clear name with no scandal behind it.”
    “What if I do not agree to this annulment?”
    Shane stood. “Your father and I agreed to it.”
    Abigail was stunned. “My father knew about this?”
    “Aye. It was—”
    “Get out!” She looked for something to throw at him, but everything within her reach was bolted down. “Get out! Now!”
    “Ye need time to think—”
    “Get out!”
    He gave her a look of sympathy that made her even angrier. How