The Recruit (Highland Guard #6)(71)

About the only thing that could have made the journey a greater success was if Kenneth had been able to uncover any information that would help his mission. But the single nighttime foray into the king’s chambers that he’d managed under the watchful eye of Sir Adam and his men had yielded nothing of value. Indeed, so far Kenneth had done nothing more than corroborate what they already knew: the English were mustering at Berwick, and the king would follow in the spring. All he’d gained on this mission so far was an injured arm and, in a few minutes, a wife. Neither of which was likely to impress the king or his fellow guardsmen with his abilities. He might be on the team, but until he proved himself he was going to feel like a recruit.

When one of the monks approached the bishop to tell him that the lady had arrived, Sir Adam pulled him over to one side. “Are you sure you wish to go through with this? If you are having any second thoughts—”

“No second thoughts,” Kenneth insisted adamantly. It was true. Although he was still angry at Mary for trying to keep his child from him, and he still had every intention of teaching her a lesson, he was thinking more rationally now. He regretted the threat he’d used to force her to agree. He’d lost his temper and wished he hadn’t put it quite that way. He wouldn’t have taken the child from her—he wasn’t a monster—but all he was thinking about was getting her to agree. That was all that had mattered. Which didn’t make sense. Whom he married—as long as she was acceptable—wasn’t supposed to matter to him. He’d like to think it was about the baby, but he knew it wasn’t just that. Part of him wanted to marry her.

God knew why. She gave him more trouble than any woman ever had before and didn’t seem to waste any opportunity to challenge him. She didn’t fit any of his prerequisites. Well, except for lusty.

With the considerably more pleasant thought of the wedding night to look forward to, he added, “I know what I’m doing.”

Not for the first time, he saw something in the other man’s face that gave him pause. The older knight had gone to a great deal of trouble for them, and though Kenneth was grateful, he’d also begun to suspect why. It wasn’t Sir Adam’s friendship with Kenneth or Atholl driving him, but his feelings for Mary.

“The lass has already suffered so much. The loss of her parents, both brothers and sisters—including her twin.” He hadn’t realized she was a twin. “Having her son taken from her when she was so young, and then Atholl …” Sir Adam’s voice dropped off as if he were struggling to find the right words. “Atholl broke her heart well before he embroiled her in his rebellion. Not even she knows how close she came to imprisonment.”

Kenneth felt an uncomfortable stab. He wasn’t sure whether it was the mention of a husband she’d obviously loved or his own guilt about his plans to do the same. Perhaps both. The promise she’d managed to extract from him didn’t sit well. He regretted the need to deceive her about his true purpose here, but even were he tempted to confide in her—which he sure as hell wasn’t—it was safer for her if she were in the dark in case anything went wrong.

She’d made her choice when she gave herself to him in the library that night. They would both have to live with the consequences.

How Bruce would react to the marriage, he wasn’t sure. Certainly, it complicated Kenneth’s mission, and he knew the king wouldn’t want her to be in any danger, but he also knew that if Mary could be persuaded to convince her son to change sides, Bruce would be thrilled to have the young earl back in the Scottish fold. Thrilled enough, hopefully, to overlook the fact that Kenneth had seduced his “dear” sister-in-law and managed to get her with child.

It wasn’t just stung pride driving him now, but his mission. He had every intention of making sure that when the time came, she was eager to go with him. Damned eager. Over-the-moon-in-love eager. But Mary was proving difficult. Normally women came to him. He had little experience in the pursuit. He’d never wooed a woman before, but how hard could it be?

She wasn’t as indifferent to him as she wanted to think. Godspeed. Her parting words had surprised him. She’d been worried about him. Aye, perhaps this wouldn’t be too hard after all.

For some reason the subject of Atholl bothered him. It seemed once again that he was coming in second, this time as a husband. But it was a chance to learn more about her. “What happened?”

Sir Adam hesitated again, his loyalty to Atholl obviously making him weigh his words carefully. “Mary was only a girl when they were married, and Atholl … well, he was in his prime. He was one of the best knights at court. Handsome. Charming. Everyone loved him. Including his young bride. But he was too busy lifting his sword for glory, and half the skirts of the women at court, to worry about a young girl’s feelings. He found the task of bedding ‘a child,’ as he’d called her, distasteful, but did his duty. After that, I don’t think he ever really saw her as any older. He had his pick of any of the ladies at court, and didn’t see the need to hide them from his wife. I’ll never forget her face when she learned the truth.” There was a far-off look in the older man’s eyes that couldn’t help but rouse Kenneth’s sympathy. But then Sir Adam turned and gave him a sharp look. “I hope you will have more care.”

Kenneth looked away, almost regretting having asked. He’d wanted insight, and he’d gotten it. Profligate. He understood now the source of her disdain and wariness.