Page 48 of This Laird of Mine

She had no idea about Jules.

Last night’s storm had cleared, leaving the sky a pale blue and streaked with thin wisps of clouds. Jules stood in the courtyard of Kildare Manor with David, preparing the horse for the long journey ahead. With only two horses and four riders, the travel would be slow, slower than Jules preferred. But they would have more maneuverability if they rode the horses rather than travelled by carriage. Claire would ride with him. Penelope would double with David.

“I wish we could go with you,” Jane said. She and Margaret and their husbands were staying behind because of their pregnancies. Jane handed a saddlebag filled with provisions to David.

David offered Jane a smile. “You and Margaret are safer here with your husbands, despite the fact that the mysterious woman could still be nearby, or she could have partners who might act in our absence. If the intention is to hurt Jules, then there is no more vulnerable person than you.”

Nicholas appeared in the courtyard and handed a final saddlebag to Jules before moving to his wife’s side. “Hollister and I will make certain Jane and Margaret are safe.”

The arrival of Claire and Penelope cut any further discussion short. Jules was surprised to see both women were dressed in serviceable gowns. He was not certain what he had expected, but then again, Claire was not a frivolous woman. She carried no baggage, nor did Penelope. But the biggest surprise of all was the peach muslin splint Claire had devised for Penelope to rest her injured hand during their journey. The rustling of the horse might cause her pain, but the sling would help keep the movement to a minimum.

Jules turned away from Claire before she could see the look of admiration in his eyes. He refused to give her even that much. “Thank you,” Jules said, extending his hand to Nicholas. “Be well.”

“Godspeed,” Nicholas said in response.

Jules bent to kiss Jane on the cheek. “Take care of yourself and that baby.”

“I will,” she said, moving into Nicholas’s arms.

Jules turned away with jerky movements to stand beside Claire. With his hands on her waist he lifted her onto the horse, then mounted behind her. Instant awareness shot through him. The scent of lavender teased his nose, as did the flowing tendrils of her hair that brushed against his chest. His body clenched. Why had he ever encouraged her to wear her hair loose?

He had a sudden memory of her hair spilled across his chest after their lovemaking last night, the color of burnished copper in the pale candlelight. An aching sense of loss coiled in his chest. He looked down to see his hands clenched on the reins, and felt the horse prance beneath the pressure. Impatiently, he relaxed his grip.

They had a long journey ahead of them, and they needed to get under way. The rough travel ahead would at least help him keep his mind off the woman in his arms.

“You are very grim,” David said as they rode away from Kildare Manor. “You’ve spoken barely a word since earlier this morning.”

“There wasn’t anything to say.” Jules glanced back at his home. Instead of the aging gray stone, he saw Claire, her chin tipped up in pride as she presented the roasted pheasant he’d challenged her to prepare, heard the sound of her laughter as they danced in the ballroom she had transformed into an artistic wonder, recalled the sleek curves of her naked body as she swam in the loch. How would he ever go back to Kildare Manor and not be haunted by her every moment of every day?

He silently groaned at the memories and spurred the horse into a faster gait.

David matched his pace.

“Thank you, Jules,” Claire said, breaking the silence that had fallen between the two of them.

“For what?”

“Helping me find the girls.” Why he had decided to help her, she could only guess, but she was grateful for his assistance.

Jules inclined his head but didn’t speak, and Claire knew better than to push him. He was still angry with her, and who could blame him? She hadn’t trusted him enough to tell him the truth. And now he would make her pay for that decision.

The hours passed as they rode. Claire looked at the scenery until it all ran together in a blur of rolling hills covered in green shrubs and purple heather. Tired of the monotony, she dropped her gaze to Jules’s hands as they held the reins. His hands were large and strong, well shaped and masculine. They were the hands of a warrior. The hands of a man who was not afraid to fight for what he wanted.

The thought cheered her as much as it frightened her. Would he fight for the one part of their time together that had not been a lie? Would he fight for their marriage?

Without thinking, she reached out and touched the third finger of his hand, where a wedding ring should have been. She’d never given him a ring, and he had taken hers away from her. At her touch, he pulled his hand away.

“What are you up to now?” he asked suspiciously.

“Believe it or not, I still enjoy touching you. That hasn’t changed no matter what else has between us.” Claire clutched her hands together and twisted them in the fabric of her dress to keep from touching him again.

“There is nothing between us that my solicitor cannot change,” he said, his tone severe.

She went still. “Meaning what?”

“I’m starting divorce proceedings.”

David eased his horse back from the two of them, giving them at least the semblance of privacy.