The Libertine (27 page)

She stared at Lennox in wonder. He was himself again.

Beyond him the curtain was still drawn back and everything
appeared to shift fast outside, but he was still and solid and smiling at
her.

He reached out his hand to her.

She rested her hand in his.

“I take it you were about to agree to come away with me
anyway?”

Chloris laughed, and it let loose the tension she had held for
so long. “Of course I was. I would have been back with you within the hour if
Tamhas had not appeared and set panic loose in Edinburgh.”

Lennox leaned over and drew her fingers to his lips. Kissing
her tenderly on the back of her hand, he smiled. There was mischief in his eyes.
“I just wanted to be sure I hadn’t rescued you against your will.”

She chuckled. “To be fair, you’ve done nothing to me against my
will.”

Lennox arched an eyebrow at her.

Memories flashed through her mind, intimate memories of all the
times they had shared together. Now there would be more memories, and
anticipation filled her as she thought about the days ahead. She would have to
familiarize herself with his strange ways, his powers and beliefs, but she would
work hard at that, to find their middle ground. “What you did there, your magic,
it was astonishing.”

His eyes twinkled. “My powers have been greatly fortified
recently.”

Jessie lifted her head and laughed softly. “It is because he
loves you.”

Chloris smiled. “And I love him.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Lennox stared across the carriage at Chloris and felt a
deep sense of contentment. She was finally his. It had taken some doing, but he
had no regrets. He would have done whatever was needed to protect and win
her.

Her tender beauty lit up his day. It had done, he now realized,
since the moment he’d first seen her. He still recalled how dour his mood had
been, as it often was back then, when she’d walked in to Somerled with the
hawthorn blossom in her hair. The breath of spring she had carried was hers and
hers alone. Thankfully he’d been there to welcome her, and thankfully he’d soon
come to realize how ill-fated his plan to upset Tamhas Keavey had been. It was a
mercy that they had finally left all of that behind.

Lennox would have been happier still if he had her beside him
in the carriage, where he could hold her in his arms. However, because Jessie
did not travel well Chloris had taken it upon herself to comfort Jessie and keep
her from looking outside the carriage at the fast moving ground beneath the
wheels. Chloris currently had Jessie tucked in against her, with Jessie’s head
upon her shoulder, soothing her with one arm around Jessie’s back. Jessie dozed
in reasonable contentment there.

At least the carriage was comfortable and well made, on a par
with one built by his own craftsmen. Ramsay had insisted on spending a small
fortune on it, as soon as they had the chance to offer for one at a staging post
between Cupar and Edinburgh. It meant they could travel quicker without hiring a
coachman and carriage at each town. He’d purchased a team of three horses, and
Shadow led them. Shadow, who was used to his master’s magic, kept the other
horses in line when Lennox put wings beneath their hooves.

Gregor Ramsay had turned out to be a solid ally, and Lennox had
now warmed to the man. Besides, he might not practice witchcraft, but he drove
the carriage like a demon, and that had been most beneficial. No matter how
rough the terrain, he sped them away from the Lowlands where the witch finders
and their cohorts threatened their lives. Although Lennox knew he would miss the
Lowlands, he would not miss the witch hunters who had stalked the people there
for decades.

Lennox took his turn driving the horses and now, on day three
of their journey, they were well on their way to Inverness. They would soon find
his coven and then the Highlands were next. It would be good to see the place
again, for it was that wild and powerful landscape that called to him most of
all. It was so much more fitting to go there now, now that he’d gathered
together his sister and his lover. Maisie still called to him. Once he had the
women settled in the village where the Taskills had been born, he would have to
return and continue his hunt for Maisie. But there was hope. If Jessie recalled
the coat of arms upon the carriage that had taken her, he was sure that he would
be able to pick up her trail. Once he’d found her as well, he would be
thoroughly content.

Jessie grumbled in her doze. Chloris soothed her, then smiled
across at him.

That simple action made him unerringly happy. Her eyes, so
honest and open to him, had made him fall in love with her. Perhaps even from
the moment she walked into his parlor asking for a magic favor, wearing that
wide-eyed look that exposed her inner beauty. He vowed to cherish and protect
her forever.

He glanced outside. The sun was getting low in the sky. “We
will need to stop at the next inn.”

Within the hour the carriage drew to a halt.

Jessie sat upright and yawned.

Lennox peered at the inn with caution. It was busy, far too
well frequented for his liking. The women were tired and hungry, though, and it
was too dark to head on. They had little choice in the matter. “Wait here and I
will see if they have rooms.”

Chloris grasped his hand and made him pause before he left the
carriage. Her eyes were filled with affection as she looked at him, and it made
him feel proud. “You worry so, and yet we are far away from Edinburgh and Saint
Andrews now, my love.”

“I will not be happy until we reach Inverness and reunite with
the coven, then you will both be safe.” Resting a hurried kiss upon her hand, he
climbed out.

Ramsay leaped down from his perch and looked about. “What do
you think of the place?”

Lennox frowned. “Perhaps it is better that it is busy, we will
merge with the crowd. I will go and secure rooms if you want to deal with the
stable hands.”

Ramsay agreed.

Lennox paused. “There hasn’t been a chance for me to thank you.
I appreciate everything you have done, for me and Chloris, and for Jessie.”

“Jessie was my savior. I would do anything for her.”

“I see that now.”

Lennox clasped the other man around the shoulder before turning
back to the inn. The wariness between the two men had begun to fade after the
events in Edinburgh, but this gesture was necessary and overdue.

The inn was crowded and raucous and it made Lennox wonder if
they would have any rooms available, but luck was on their side once more and
the landlord showed him two well-furnished rooms that he rented for the night.
Requesting hot meals be served as soon as possible, he returned to the
carriage.

A stable hand was already beside it. He had the door open and
had put a wooden box beneath the carriage door for Chloris to step out upon.
Immediately, Lennox felt possessive, protective. But it never had been any
different. Once he’d had a taste of her he’d always felt that way. It was just
that he now acknowledged it. She had forced him to embrace honesty, love and
yes—it had brought greater power to his magic.

Chloris stepped out onto the box. One look at her face in the
half light of dusk assured him that it would never be any different, he would
always love this woman. He would accept his fate to be with her gladly, and with
gratitude.

The stable hand was encouraging Chloris to jump across the
muddy path to the stepping stones beyond. But from the doorway of the carriage
he heard Jessie. She intervened, stumbling down from the carriage and assisting
Chloris herself, instead of allowing the stable hand to do so.

Jessie shooed the stable boy away. “Take care, this woman is
with child and must be treated gently.”

With child?
Lennox faltered.

He stared across at the woman he loved, and as he did he saw it
in her smile.
How could I not have known?
Too busy
he’d been claiming her for himself, to see what was there—and that which he
would have spotted immediately had his emotions not been so entangled. Chloris
was carrying his child.

Sharp pleasure and then confusion overcame him. How was it that
Jessie knew when he did not? Women’s ways. He was transported back in time to
when their mother would round them up in the woods, and chastize young Jessie
for her fae ways and her lack of fear or caution when it came to hiding her true
nature. She was close to nature and sensed and sourced its most creative
elements. She would have known instantly. Chloris, his precious love, was
carrying his child.

Tearing his attention away from Chloris—which was doubly
difficult now that he knew—he attempted to take in all that this meant. Kin,
even more than he had imagined. His long search for his kin had resulted in so
much, he felt blessed by nature, rewarded for surviving the hardships.

Jessie had dismissed the stable hand and now assisted Chloris,
holding both her hands and smiling at her as they followed the stepping-stone
path. Then Chloris met his gaze. For a long moment they stared at one another,
and then Chloris drew her fingers to her mouth, her eyes misting.

He closed the gap between them in four strides and hugged her
to him.

“I see by your expression that you heard what Jessie said?”

“Is it really true?”

She looked up at him. “I think so. I had my suspicions, but
Jessie here said she knew.”

“Let me look at you,” he demanded as they drew apart, holding
her at arm’s length to study her again.

Lennox could tell that she was quelling her excitement, and yet
all he could think of was wrapping her in a blanket and cherishing her. “You
seem radiant and robust, but we must look after you well.”

“You do look after me well.” She beamed. “This is your doing.”
Laugher escaped her. “I meant the magic and the fertility, not the other...” Her
cheeks flamed.

Her amusement triggered his own. “As I pointed out to you at
the outset, I’m not entirely convinced the magic was needed, but I was very
happy to assist with the other, as well.”

Gregor emerged from the stables and waved his hand.

Together, the four of them went inside the inn.

“Where are we?” Chloris asked as they walked.

“Well on our way. We should reach Inverness within three
days.”

Inside, the crowd gathered in the inn showed little interest in
them, which suited Lennox well. They were on a well-traveled route north now,
having veered off it to begin with, in case they were followed. The inn was
likely a busy passing point for strangers on the road. Soon, however, he would
not have to double think everything they did, for soon they would be in the
Highlands.

The landlord led them to a private dining room where tankards
of ale and dishes of steaming stew had been put out on a rickety table. It was a
simple but happy gathering, and Lennox kept his woman beside him, constantly
reaching for her hand and staring into her eyes to reassure himself that this
truly had come to pass.

After they had eaten, the landlord’s wife brought a bottle of
Port and stoked the fire. The conversation turned to their escape from
Edinburgh.

“I warrant we are no longer welcome in the Lowlands after that
show you put on,” Gregor said. There was grudging admiration in his eyes.

“That is the truth, but it was necessary.”

“Your magic is so powerful,” Jessie said. “I have much to
learn.”

“Why does that sound like trouble to me?” Gregor said, and
Jessie laughed.

“They would have burned me as a witch,” Chloris commented.
“They said so even before you arrived and showed your powers.”

“Many bystanders have suffered,” Lennox said, “as well as those
who practice the old ways. People are too ready to judge and accuse, and the
witch finders are able to finger whoever they want. I heard tell they put this
mark upon people they suspect. They call it the Devil’s mark, and then they
force the victims to confess through torture.”

He noticed that Chloris shuddered when he mentioned the
confession.

“It will bring about a legacy of regret for Scotland,” he
added, “mark my words.”

“It will be good to be at home in the Highlands,” Jessie
said.

“You drove that carriage like a demon, Gregor,” Lennox
commented, changing the subject.

Chloris nodded. “However did you stay upright when it was going
at such speed?”

Gregor smiled. “When you have handled a ship on the high seas
in rough weather, you get used to being cast about and keeping your wits about
you.”

Lennox was pleased to see the man less tense than he had
appeared during their acquaintance thus far. But he knew the reason was because
they were now on their way and talk of witch finders would soon grow more
distant, as well.

“You have been aboard a ship?” Chloris asked.

She’d had time to become acquainted with Jessie’s gentleman
during his time resting in the carriage, while Lennox took the coachman’s seat,
but they obviously hadn’t discussed his background to any great extent.

“I own a part share in a vessel, a ship I joined when I was a
lad. It is called the
Libertas
. I traveled far and
wide when I was away from Scotland.” He turned to Jessie and smiled. “I believe
I am thoroughly landlocked now, though.”

“You will not go back to your ship?” Lennox asked, his
curiosity kindled on the matter. He would hate to see Jessie disappointed and
her heart broken if the sea beckoned to her lover once more.

“It is the new life that calls to me now, I am set on it. In
fact I must soon think upon writing to Roderick, my partner, who is currently
the captain. He will be expecting me to return to Dundee to meet the
Libertas
later in the year. I will need to send word
to let him know my plans have changed, that I will be making my home in Scotland
once again.”

Lennox could see the man was devoted to Jessie, but Lennox was
no longer wary of that, for he had put on a good show of defending her these
past few days.

“There is a matter that I should discuss with you,” Gregor said
to Lennox. “Just before our paths crossed in Fife, I asked Jessie to be my wife.
Now that you and I have met, it is you that I should go to in order to request
her hand in marriage. Will you agree to it?”

Lennox noticed there was a bit of tension in the man’s
expression. Was it because Gregor was not one of their kind? It no longer
mattered. “If Jessie is happy, then I am happy.”

Jessie, who had been listening carefully and with a serious
expression, broke into a large smile. “You see,” she said, “I told you there was
nothing to worry about.”

“Will you wed when we get to the Highlands?” Lennox asked, and
as he did so he held Chloris’s hand tightly in his. He could feel her mood
alter. She was fretting. He would need to soothe her concerns when they were
alone.

“If that suits us all,” Gregor said.

Lennox nodded. “Glenna, the oldest and wisest woman in my
coven, she has a gift for making a fine handfasting. She will enjoy taking on
the task of binding you together.”

His suggestion was greeted with good cheer all around.

Soon after, he said good-night to Jessie and Gregor and led
Chloris away. They needed to speak on matters of their own.

When they were alone in the chamber he had secured for them, he
lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed, resting her down gently.