Page 7 of The Lyon and the Lass

He grabbed a piece of parchment and after dipping his pen into the inkwell, scratched out the direction. “The only staff there now is the butler and a maid to keep the place clean.”

“That is fine, Mr. Kendall. I am able to cook,” Kerrigan said.

Christine stared at him, a slight smile on her face.

“I will send my secretary to my brother’s townhouse with your travel bags and a message to the butler on duty, Stevens, and advise him you will be staying there for a few days.” Mr. Kendall folded his hands and placed them on the desk. “I will, of course, notify your uncle of your marriage. I’m not convinced he won’t try something else, but at least that should give you enough time to do what you need to do here and leave for Scotland.”

Christine stood, followed by Kerrigan and Mr. Kendall. The men shook hands and just as they arrived at the door, Mr. Kendall cleared his throat. “Just one more thing.”

He looked uncomfortable, and a slight bit of redness rose to his cheeks. “This is a delicate matter, but I feel it is my duty to inform you that unless the marriage is…ah, consummated, your uncle could attempt to force an annulment.”

Kerrigan glanced at Christine, whose shade of red was a bit deeper than the solicitor’s. “I assure ye that will no’ be a problem, Mr. Kendall,” Kerrigan said.

Christine didn’t wait for him, but hurried from the room, her head down. He couldn’t help the chuckle that rose from his throat.

Chapter Four

Ifeel itis my duty to inform you that unless the marriage is…ah, consummated, your uncle could attempt to force an annulment.

“I assure ye that will no’ be a problem, Mr. Kendall.”

Christine settled in a comfortable chair at the rear of the restaurant she’d chosen, those words playing over and over in her mind. Of course, she knew that marriage included intimacy between husband and wife, but she’d hoped to take some time—weeks perhaps—to get to know her husband before they didthat.

At first she thought perhaps bringing it up now so to prepare Laird Lindsay for her thoughts on the matter would be a good thing, and ease her mind somewhat. However, now that she sat only a few feet from him she found speaking of such a thing near impossible.

She now had the time to actually study the man. His broad shoulders and warrior’s build she’d noticed the minute she saw him. With everything that had happened in rapid succession, she’d not really studied his face. He was handsome. More so than she had the right to expect. His deep green eyes mesmerized her as they sparkled with mirth and life. He certainly seemed the cheerful type.

The server arrived at their table, and time was taken up with ordering food. The ring on her finger kept slipping off until Laird Lindsay reached over and took it off her finger. “After we eat, we shall find a jewelry store and buy you something that you like and that fits better.”

She shook her head, the familiar panic settling in her stomach. “I don’t think that is a very good idea. I am very sure my uncle is out hunting me.”

He tilted his head as he studied her. “That subject seems to be a good place for us to start learning about each other.”

The laird nodded as the server arrived at their table and placed bowls of white soup in front of them. He also set a bottle of wine on their table. The man went through the procedure of opening the bottle, smelling it, pouring a small amount, then passing it to her husband to approve.

Once they were alone again, she said, “My laird, I—”

He held up his hand. “Before ye continue, I believe we have gone beyond any formality. Although we have kenned each other only a few hours, we are married. I would prefer if ye call me Kerrigan, and I hope to have leave to call ye Christine.”

Again she felt a rush of blood color her face. “Of course. That is probably best.”

Kerrigan took a sip of his soup and waved at her. “Please continue.”

“Yes. Well, my uncle wished me to marry a man I did not want to marry. No, that is not completely correct. Heorderedme to marry this man that he drew up a marriage contract with. From what I was able to discover before my uncle locked me in my room was that Lord Newton—my ‘so-called’ betrothed—is a gambler, drinker, and heaven knows what else. I met the man, and the way he looked at me made my skin crawl.”

She took a sip of wine and continued. “My uncle, Viscount Carl Allenby—my father’s title he inherited when Papa died—is a wastrel, also. My father spoke to me many times about his younger brother. My papa gave Uncle Carl a very generous allowance, but the man was always in debt. Apparently one of his creditors is Lord Newton.”

“How do you ken this?”

Christine sighed and looked at her plate. “I snooped. When Uncle Carl was away from the house, I went through the papers in Papa’s desk so I could find out what he planned to do. Papa had warned me that since his brother would try to find a way to get the money from his estate, he’d been assured by his solicitor that the will was solid.”

“Yet yer uncle inherited the title. ’Twas there nothing besides that for him?”

She looked back up. “No. Papa said he would leave him nothing, but certain things were, of course, entailed, so Uncle Carl got those—houses, estates, things like that. He would also get any income from the estates which Papa said would provide a decent living for him. But the rest of Papa’s money was his to do with as he wished, and he wanted me to have it since he didn’t trust his brother to take care of me until I was settled with a husband.”

Another sip of wine. “My father didn’t count on his brother forcing me to marry one of his cohorts so they could split the money.”

“And no doubt lose it,” Kerrigan added.