The Marriage Contract (Marriage #3) - Cathy Maxwell Page 0,7

wildcat with his bare hands, a man who enjoyed danger—but then, this was Scotland.

And as long as he wasn’t howling at the moon, her marriage might work.

The notion made her feel wifely. She should nurse the scratches left by the cat’s claws. Simultaneously, she was relieved his chest didn’t have as much hair as his companions. Also, his chest could have been two of theirs.

The directions of her thoughts must have shown on her face because he crossed his arms, making his muscles flex and tighten.

Heat rose in her own cheeks. She attempted to make her interest a purely medical one. “Perhaps someone should put a salve on those scratches.”

“They can wait.” He changed the subject. I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”

Here it was, the perfect opportunity to introduce herself as “wife.” She had to tell him before courage deserted her. She opened her mouth just as Hugh cried out, “You are not going to believe what I’ve found!”

They all turned to where his head poked out of the coach door. He had wandered off to explore and now waved the silver framed miniature in his hand.

“Is it money or a woman?” Deacon asked baldly.

“Neither.”

“Then it can’t be of value,” Deacon replied dismissively.

Equally dismissive, her husband prodded her for an introduction, “I’m sorry. You were saying?”

“It’s a picture of Tiebauld,” Hugh announced grandly, “when he was nothing more than a beardless youth. Remember when he first came here, Deacon, what a sad, sorry sight he was?”

Now he had her husband’s full attention. “A picture of me?”

Hugh climbed out of the coach and jumped to the ground. Her husband’s long legs ate up the distance between them. He grabbed the miniature from his friend.

“I know that picture. My sister had it.” He looked at Anne with new eyes. “Did you come from Alpina? Have you seen her?” A pause. “Is she well?”

His voice held genuine concern. She answered honestly, “She is not.”

“Tell me.” He walked back to her. No, he stomped back. A man of his size didn’t move quietly when angered.

“I don’t know much about her illness.” Anne lifted her chin, pretending a courage she didn’t feel. “She sent me to you.”

“For what purpose?”

Here it was. Anne could avoid the confrontation no longer. She held out her ring finger. Even in the fading light, the family heraldic badge could be seen etched in the gold. She was surprised he hadn’t noticed it before. “She chose me for you. My name is Anne. I am your wife.”

Chapter 2

Hugh and Deacon gathered around for a look. Hugh made a low whistle. Deacon scowled.

Aidan’s response was more direct. “You lie.”

Pride flashed in the Englishwoman-named-Anne’s eyes. “I never lie.”

“And I’ve never married,” Aidan shot back.

She didn’t like his answer. “We were married by proxy. Your sister arranged it.”

“Ah, the things you can do in England,” Hugh observed drolly. “A man can be shackled to a bride sight unseen.” He grinned with the sly knowledge of an inside joke. “And they call us barbaric.”

“It isn’t,” Deacon answered sourly. “It’s the way of the moneyed classes.”

Aidan shook his head. He was in no mood for Hugh’s humor or Deacon’s democratic cant. “I suppose you have documents to prove your claim?”

“Yes, of course,” she answered crisply. “They are in my reticule in the coach. Perhaps your friend will fetch them for us?”

“Hugh isn’t a lackey,” he replied, more to be perverse than for any other reason. The trouble was, now that he’d had a moment to digest the woman’s claim, he realized it wasn’t beyond Alpina to arrange a marriage.

He should have anticipated such an outrageous action. His sister had been nagging him since his university days to breed an heir for the title. In her last letter, she’d warned him he was growing long of tooth and if he wasn’t careful, his seed wouldn’t be potent.

Aidan hadn’t responded. The thought of discussing his “seed” with his sister made his stomach curdle. However, Alpina did mention in the letter that her health was not what she’d expected it to be and she wanted to see the matter of an heir settled. Aidan should have been forewarned. Alpina had proven in the past she would do anything to gain her way. She could easily justify marrying him off to a chit sight unseen—and she had the political influence to accomplish it.

“Then I will fetch them,” his unwanted bride snapped, obviously irritated by his lack of so-called gallantry.

Aidan watched her walk toward the coach. Her back was ramrod