Saving Grace by Julie Garwood

You’re needed here.”
    “Yes, I would help to rebuild,” she said. “And I do long for warm weather. ’Tis the truth I only agreed to come here because you convinced me the land is much closer to the sun. I don’t know why I hadn’t realized that before. I must admit not having to wear a heavy cloak more than one month out of the year does have a wonderful appeal. You did say it was odd the weather was so chilly for this time of year.”
    Good God, he’d forgotten that little lie. Johanna hated the cold and knew absolutely nothing about the Highlands. He’d deliberately deceived her in his attempt to get her safely out of England and now felt guilty as hell. He’d corrupted a man of the cloth, too, for he’d begged Father MacKechnie to go along with the fabrication.
    The priest had his own motives for wanting Johanna to marry the MacBain laird and had held his silence each time Johanna mentioned the appeal of such a warm, sunny climate. He had, however, glared at Nicholas whenever the topic came up.
    Nicholas let out a sigh. He guessed that when Johanna was knee deep in snow, she’d realize he’d lied to her. Hopefully by then her opinion of MacBain would have softened.
    “Will he leave me alone, Nicholas?”
    “Yes.”
    “You didn’t tell him anything about my years with Raulf?”
    “No, of course not. I wouldn’t break my word to you.”
    She nodded. “And he knows, for certain, I cannot give him children?”
    They’d been over that issue at least a dozen times on the journey up the hills. Nicholas didn’t know what more he could say to reassure her. “He knows, Johanna.”
    “Why didn’t it matter to him?”
    “He wanted the land. He’s laird now and has to put his clan above his own concerns. Marrying you was simply a way he could achieve his goal.”
    It was a cold, honest answer. Johanna nodded. “I’ll meet him,” she finally agreed. “But I won’t promise you I’ll marry him, so you can quit your smile right now, Nicholas.”
    MacBain had grown weary of waiting for his bride to come to him. He started down the steps just as she nudged her mount forward. He still hadn’t gotten a proper look at her, as she was completely covered by a black cape and hood. Her smallness, however, surprised him. He’d expected a much larger woman given Nicholas’s size.
    Her appearance wasn’t important to him. The marriage was a practical arrangement, nothing more. He assumed, however, that because she was Nicholas’s sister, she would have the same dark coloring and auburn-colored hair.
    He was mistaken. Nicholas dismounted first. He tossed the reins to one of the soldiers and went over to Johanna’s side to assist her to the ground.
    She was a little bit of a thing. The top of her head only reached her brother’s shoulders. Nicholas had his hands on her arms and was smiling down at her. It was obvious he cared a great deal about his sister. MacBain thought his brotherly devotion a little overdone.
    While Johanna untied the cord holding her cloak together, the soldiers began to line up behind their leader. The Maclaurin men clumped themselves together behind their laird and to the left of the wide steps while the MacBain warriors lined up behind their leader and on the right side. The six steps were filled with curious men in a matter of seconds. They all wanted to see the laird’s bride.
    MacBain heard the low grunts of obvious approval a scant second after Johanna removed her cloak and handed it to her brother. MacBain didn’t think he made a sound, but he wasn’t certain. The sight of her took his breath away.
    Nicholas hadn’t said a word about her appearance, and MacBain hadn’t been interested enough to ask. He now looked at the baron and saw the laughter in his eyes. He knows I’m rattled , he thought to himself. MacBain masked his astonishment and turned his full attention back to the beautiful woman walking toward him.
    Lord, she was a bonny lass. Her waist-length blond curls