Stealing a Lady's Heart: A Regency Fairytale (Fairfield Fairytales Book 1) (13 page)

They climaxed together and then Charlotte collapsed on top of him, certain she would never get enough. Her hand traced patterns on his chest, as her eyes drifted closed.

He smiled against the top of her head, his hand lightly stroking her back. “Don’t fall asleep on me now. We have big plans to make today.”

“Mmmm,” she replied sleepily. She wanted to spend the whole day in bed and enjoy the oasis they had found for as long as possible.

Just as she was about to fall back to sleep a loud knock sounded at the door.

“Yes,” Graham called.

“Get up little brother. We need you,” Will’s voice boomed through the door.

“Go away Will,” Charlotte scolded her brother-in-law.

“Sorry Charlotte, but it’s important. Meet us downstairs in ten minutes.” Charlotte and Graham heard his muffled footsteps down the hall.

Charlotte scowled at Graham, her breath coming out in a huff. “This is our honeymoon. Why can’t we have a day?”

Graham cocked one eyebrow. He chuckled, “Actually, this is a rescue mission. The marriage is a happy side benefit. We must try to get you back to England as soon as possible.”

Charlotte bit her bottom lip.  He was right of course. “Where will we go?”

“Harlington Manor first. Then onto your father’s home. The Marquess has never attempted to kidnap you from there so I can only assume there is some protection that is provided in your family home.”

“And what if there isn’t?” Charlotte’s eyebrows drew together in worry.

“We sail for America,” Graham stated without reservation.

Charlotte burst out laughing but then realized he was completely serious. She kissed him hard on the lips. “You would move to America for me?” 

“I would battle hell itself for you,” he claimed as he returned the kiss and then picked her up and climbed out of bed.  “Now we need to head downstairs.  Keeping you safe is a full time position.” Graham winked at her as he set her down.

Charlotte sighed but began washing herself and getting dressed. She had a sinking feeling that once they left this room the honeymoon was over.

The couple descended the stairs, with all eyes on them. Lord MacPherson stepped to the front of the group.

“Welcome back,” Ewan eye’s twinkled as he spoke.

Heat travelled up her entire body. She inched closer to Graham. Everyone in the room knew what had happened between them last night.

“I am sorry to interrupt the honeymoon but we must decide what happens next.”  Ewan patted Charlotte on the shoulder.

Graham agreed, “You mentioned yesterday that you thought we should leave today.”

Ewan gave a single nod. “It would be tempting to stay here and rely on the protection my home provides but it will leave the Marquess too much time to plan. When we do finally leave, he will attack.”

“He will attack no matter what,” Will interjected.

“You are probably right, huntsman, but if we do this now, he will have little help and very little time to come up with a strategy. We will make a break for it while he is disorganized.”  Ewan waved over his son.

“Yes father,” the boy said.

“I am going to go with them. They need my help. You must promise to stay in the castle walls. You can’t go beyond the bay willows.” Ewan hugged his son.

“I have to go with them too, father.” The boy looked into his father’s eyes.

“No. It is too dangerous for you. Without the protection of the trees, I don’t know what might happen to you.” Ewan held his son tighter.

The boy shook his head. “I am supposed to go with them. I told you father, that I needed to get Charlotte. You didn’t want me to leave then either. The fates have spoken. This is the path. We have to go with them.”

Ewan began to protest but the boy looked at Graham. “Would you please get your sword?”

Graham started in surprise. How could this boy know about his sword? He hadn’t unsheathed it. It should have looked like any other weapon. He started to ask the question but then wordlessly got up and returned to his room to retrieve the weapon.

It was a plain sword, not encrusted with jewels, or fancy designs but the copper was the purest he had ever worked with and the sword had seemed to form itself.  Even the master swordsmith had admired his work.  Graham was extremely proud of it.

“I have seen this sword, it is the one that kills the Marquess of Huntly.”  The boy gently touched the hilt.

“Graham defeats the Marquess?” A grin split Charlotte’s face.

The boy shook his head.  “I don’t know. I cannot see who gives the final thrust and if they live or die.”

A sob rose in Charlotte’s throat.  She covered her mouth with her hand. It was too risky, she couldn’t let Graham do this. “We will stay here. We will wait it out…”
“No, my love,” Graham cajoled as he wrapped her in his arms.  His voice was soft, “The second I left my father’s house, I knew I may very well being giving my life for yours. There is nothing to be done for it.”

“That’s mad. We can make another plan, we can sail for America…” Charlotte’s voice tightened in fear as she pulled away from the embrace.

“If my sword kills the Marquess and frees the north, than it is here I stay. It is your life that matters not mine.” Graham patted his wife’s hand but she pulled it away.

“But it could be Will or Nick that wields the sword.” Charlotte’s voice grew more hysterical. She wanted an assurance that her husband would be all right.

“Charlotte. I would not abandon my brothers to fight without me. As long as you live…”

“Stop saying that. We will live our lives together.” Her hands clasped his shirt front.

Graham looked at Ewan.  Charlotte turned to her cousin. “Tell him he doesn’t need to be here for this fight. Tell him…”

“Lass, I have known since the second you came up my drive that this was Graham’s fight. It was why it had to be him that married you.” Regret laced Ewan’s voice.

Charlotte chocked back a sob as she ran upstairs.

Laying on her bed, she could hear the preparations for the journey happening. She wiped the tears from her eyes for the hundredth time.  She didn’t know when they were leaving, who was coming, or where they were heading.  She cursed herself once again for running away. 

A soft knock sounded at the door. Graham opened the door and walked halfway into the room. “It’s almost time to leave.”

She didn’t look at him. “I’ll be down in one minute.”

He didn’t respond but Charlotte refused to turn her head and see if he was still there. The pause continued to stretch out and she was about to look when she felt his weight sinking on the bed.

He lay down next to her. Graham gathered her up against his body, his face in her hair.  “We have only known each for a few days. How can that even be possible?”

A smile touched her face and she finally turned to look at him. “We were meant to be together.”

His fingertips trailed along her cheek and down her neck. “Fate is surely at work. I knew from the second that they carried you off that I was meant to rescue you.”

“If fate is at work than why shouldn’t we get our happy ending?” She touched his cheek with her hand.

“Maybe we will. But please try to understand that I cannot run away from this fight. There have to be men who stand up for what is right. If I were one of those men who ran away, I wouldn’t have come for you to begin with.”

She nodded her head. “This morning you said we could leave for America.”

“I know. But that was before I understood that it had to come down to a final confrontation. As soon as little Ewan said it, I felt in my heart that it was supposed to be this way.”

“I love you,” Charlotte’s voice pleaded one last time.

“I love you too.  More than I could ever tell you.”  Sadness filled every nook of Graham’s face.  “We have to go.”

STEALING A LADY’S HEART

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The five Fairfields, three MacPhersons and an entourage of servants left for the coast. It would only take them a few hours to reach the water but much of the day would be gone.  Very few inns could accommodate such a large group so they would most likely camp.

Will and Ewan were in the front of the group. Charlotte and Graham rode together on a massive steed.  The horse’s muscles rippled under them, waiting to be unleashed and ride faster than the wind itself.  Ewan’s wife Clarissa and his son were behind them while Tom and Nick brought up the rear.  Several wagons made up the back of the group.

Charlotte noticed that one wagon was full of supplies such as food and tents.  Another, held weapons and the last was full to the brim with bay willow cuttings.

As the horse loped along, Charlotte was continually pressed up against Graham. Her bottom was tucked between his powerful legs. Her back pressed against his strong chest. His arm came around her like a band of protective iron. She wanted to be angry at him but with the contact all she could feel was desire coursing through her body. She cursed herself and tried to straighten away from Graham.

“This would be a lot more comfortable if you would relax,” Graham whispered in her ear.

She cocked one eyebrow. “It would be a lot more comfortable if my husband planned to live through the week.”

Graham sighed heavily. “I don’t know how much time we have, must we spend it fighting?” He touched her golden hair.

Charlotte’s chest constricted. “We could have more time if you would leave with me.”

She felt Graham’s body slump. “I explained this already. I’m not a man who runs. Lord Bard is terrorizing our lands. I won’t leave all of the north to face the consequences of my actions.”

Charlotte said nothing, she knew he was right.

“Charlotte, I know this hurts but you will find someone else. Someone more fitting for your station. Someone who can give you the life you deserve.” His voice cracked over the last words.

“You keep saying that. Now it is time for you to learn something about me. When all the other girls swooned over every handsome man, I never did. Not once. I waited until I found the perfect man for me.  Even when I first met you, I didn’t want to give you my heart. But you have stolen it from me.  It is yours now, forever. Even if you die, my heart will die with you. I will go on living but I will never love again.” Charlotte spoke softly but sincerely.

“I can’t believe--” Graham started.

“Will you love another?” she cut him off.

A grin split his face, “Never.” 

“Then why is it hard to believe that neither will I?” She straightened her shoulders.

He kissed her cheek. “Because I don’t deserve your love,” Graham said softly.

“You have battled an army of men.  You have sailed the sea and climbed towers to keep me safe.  You carried me across Scotland.  How can you think you don’t deserve my love?” She sighed with exasperation.

He looked at her for a long moment.  He seemed to try to speak, stopped, and then started again.  Finally he spoke. “I have known that I loved you almost since the first moment that I saw you. But, before that even, I knew you could never be mine. I have repeated it in my head over and over. It is difficult to overcome…”

“Graham,” Charlotte stopped him. “I am yours.” She turned on the horse and kissed him hard. “And you are mine. Whatever else happens, we do it together.”