Highland Grace by K. E. Saxon Page A

from falling in love with last summer. Nay,
this man was hard, cold, cruel.
    He settled with disgusting ease on one of her
stools and said, “And then of course, there is the matter of my
babe. I’ll not have another taking the name ‘father’ for a bairn of
my loins. I do not take my duties lightly.”
    “I’ll petition for an annulment.”
    “On what grounds? Tho’ our clans are related,
you admitted I fathered the babe, and I admitted that ‘tis true.
You were a widow and I was blissfully unshackled. The church will
not allow it. Nay, you are mine to do with as I will.”
    Another set of alarm bells sounded. “A-as you
will?”
    He smirked. “Worry not, I’ll not ride between
your thighs again. I prefer a woman with more…experience—and I find
I have no stomach for fucking slaves.”
    Slave! “Wh—?” Surely, ‘twas meant to
shock, not meant as truth!
    “Go to bed, Jesslyn. We’ve a long life ahead
of us. And do not think to speak a word of this conversation to my
family, for if you do, I’ll sweep you off to Perth so
quickly—without Alleck, I might add—that your brain will scramble.
Nay, to all we shall appear the happy, loving couple.”
    * * *
    Over the next sennight, Jesslyn’s misgivings
grew. Bao had insisted that Alleck remain at the keep, and she’d
complied, as she had no belief that she could keep up the pretense
of happiness in her home as well as in her dealings with Bao’s
family. Added to which, she held hope that she could assuage his
anger if they were left to deal with each other in privy. So she
had questioned Bao, pleaded with him to give her some reason for
his loathing of her, but he’d thus far remained mute. What could
have happened between the day of his departure from here when he’d
smiled with genuine friendship and gratitude after receiving her
gift of berry tarts and the day he’d returned? If only she could
speak to Daniel about it, she was sure he could learn the cause,
but she had little doubt that Bao would do as he’d threatened and
separate her from her home—her son—if she did so, with few or no
pangs of conscience.
    She wandered through the wood in search of
any last chance of mushrooms for their supper and was just coming
through the trees when she glanced in the direction of the burn.
She smiled and blushed when she saw a young couple lying
half-clothed on the banks, kissing. Longing pricked her heart and
she began to turn away when the man lifted his head and grinned
down at his young amour. Her heart tripped then twisted. ‘Twas
Bao!
    What to do? He’d told her he’d find his
pleasure with another, and truth to tell, that suited her. It did!
For his cruel and angry manner had suffocated any last feelings of
desire she’d been harboring for him since their conversation in the
wood. But she’d wither of mortification if any learned of his
disinterest. She worried her lip with her teeth. Nay. Nay. ‘Twould
not happen. Bao was just as adamant that they give his family the
belief that all was well and good with their marriage. He’d be
discreet.
    Pushing down the jealousy that threatened to
rise within her, she turned and ran back to their cottage.
    * * *
    Bao watched Jesslyn’s flight, his jaw
clenched, his eyes narrowed, and when she was out of sight, rolled
from the lass beneath him and said, “Cover yourself, your work is
done. The coin I promised is in the pouch on my belt.” He leveled
his gaze on the mussed creature. “You did well, and there’s another
coin in it for you if you keep this bargain to yourself.” After the
lass retrieved her pay, he stood and helped her to rise with a
grasp of her hand. “I shall give you notice if I need your services
again. G’day, Brigid.”
    * * *
    Later that afternoon, Bao strode in with a
rather rough looking peddler. “Go fetch our guest some fresh
water.”
    Jesslyn gave a brief nod and grabbed up the
bucket and ladle. She wasn’t gone more than ten minutes, but when
she returned, the