How to Wed a Wild Lass Read online

  River was coming to see that Emerald was no ordinary woman. She had a reasonable view of life, a woman with a good head on her shoulders. He was coming to feel rather embarrassed for having demanded marriage from her so rudely. She was far more than a simple shepherdess. Far more than a simple woman.

  She was someone who would make an ideal countess.

  He had an idea.

  “Then let me help ye live yer dreams,” he said. “I have a proposal for ye. I’ll take ye to those places ye want to go – the Roman wall, the Roman house, and I’ll even take ye to York or Edinburgh if ye want to go. I’ll take ye all the way to France. Marry me, Emmie, and I’ll take ye anywhere ye want to go.”

  This time when he spoke of marriage, he could see that he had her interest. Perhaps it was because he was offering to fulfill her dreams, but perhaps it was because she saw something in him that she was starting to find attractive. Perhaps this conversation had taken root and she saw him as something more than a madman who went around proposing marriage to strange women.

  The light of interest was flickering.

  “I don’t know,” she said after a moment. “There are my sisters to consider.”

  “The same sisters who banished ye because men look at ye and not them?”

  She sighed faintly. “It is not their fault.”

  “Were they ever nice to ye?”

  “What do ye mean?”

  “Just that. Were they ever, at any time in yer life, nice to ye?”

  She hesitated several moments before shaking her head. “Not really,” she finally said. “But that is their way. They are not particularly nice to each other, either.”

  “And ye want to consider their feelings? Emmie, ye have a noble heart, but in this case, it does ye no good. Come with me. Let’s travel to the places ye want to go. Discover what it is like to have someone be nice to ye for once.”

  She looked at him, her gaze somewhat guarded. “Ye?”

  “Aye. Me.”

  But she was still hesitant. “When I marry, it will not be because a man promises to make me a countess,” she said quietly. “I will marry because he wants me, not because I will give him an earldom.”

  She was astute. River had to give her credit. More and more, however, the idea of gaining the earldom was fading in lieu of the idea of marrying Emerald simply for who she was – as she said, she wouldn’t marry him to become a countess. Her biggest ambitions were simple things, things he found admirable. She was a woman of noble character.

  He was simply an opportunist.

  River didn’t think it was possible that, out in the wilds, he would find a woman he wasn’t particularly worthy of. That was a hell of a concept because River de la Haye was a fine warrior, an heir to an earldom, and a man worthy of any woman in England and Scotland.

  Except one.

  This morning, he’d thought that if he wasn’t able to find an instant bride, he’d simply press on until he found a woman willing to marry him. Any woman. But time, and the situation as a whole, had caused him to rethink that rash determination.

  River was impulsive and reckless at times, but he wasn’t stupid. He’d only been focused on inheriting the earldom and in beating his brother, but that competitive nature would see him make a very bad mistake and ruin his life.

  He’d rather not ruin it if he could help it.

  “What can I do to prove to ye that I’m sincere?” he asked softly. “I’ll do anything ye ask, Emmie. I’ve already offered to take ye wherever ye want to go. I’m not sure what more I can do. Tell me.”

  Emerald was stirring the soup that had been stirred and stirred some more. It didn’t need further stirring, but she was lost in thought, now pondering his question as she seriously considered his offer.

  “Ye can tell me what ye expect of a wife,” she said after a moment. “What would ye expect from me?”

  He shrugged. “To tend my house, my servants,” he said. “To bear my sons and raise them to be fine and strong. To be a companion to me, be kind when I needed it and, mayhap, scold me on occasion. I am certain that would be warranted at times.”

  “Would ye expect me to love ye?”

  He appeared thoughtful. “I don’t know,” he said. “I’ve not thought on it. My parents loved one another and it was something that made my father happy until my mother died. I heard Duchy say that when my mother died, something in my father died as well. I cannot imagine what it would be like to love someone so much.”

  “Who is Duchy?”

  “My uncle. He is with yer mother and sisters, even now.”

  She nodded in understanding. “My mother loved my father, too. I saw what happened to her when he died. I was young, but I still remember the warmth, the fondness between them. I also remember the sorrow when he passed on. Ten years later, she is still in mourning. She always will be, I think.”

  “And that frightens ye? Love, I mean. It frightens ye?”

  Immediately, she shook her head. “Nay,” she replied. “I believe it would be most wonderful.”

  River rather liked that answer. Had he been expecting his wife to fall in love with him? The real question was – why wouldn’t any woman fall in love with him? But perhaps those were exactly the type of women he didn’t need – shallow, throwing their emotions about foolishly.

  It was another reason to believe that Emerald was the best choice for him.

  Perhaps God had put her here, just for that very reason.

  “I think it would, too,” he finally said, his gaze glimmering warmly at her. “What about my proposal, Emmie? Will ye consider it?”

  Emerald grinned. “Mayhap,” she said. “But ye may want to reconsider yer offer when I tell ye my secret.”

  “What is it?”

  “I’ve never been kissed in my life.”

  He pretended to be seriously torn by the revelation, his eyes widening in an exaggerated gesture as she laughed softly. But then, he set the soup down that he hadn’t touched yet and held up a finger as if to beg her patience. As Emerald watched, he made his way around the fire and sat down next to her.

  His big body planted next to hers should have been a terrifying moment for a young woman who had never been so close to a man, but Emerald met him fearlessly. Considering the toughness he’d seen in her sisters, River really wasn’t surprised that the woman was without fear. She’d faced much greater adversaries than him.

  Emerald was looking at him openly, curiously, and he found himself studying the delicate curve of her face. How such a woman could be related to those three cows he’d just come from was beyond his comprehension. Gazing into her eyes, he spoke softly.

  “That’s something that can be remedied.”

  “I’m sure it can.”

  “May I?”

  She didn’t back away from him, but she didn’t give her consent, either. At that point, it was kind of a maddening game and all River could think of was his desperate need to kiss her. It washed over him like a wave, consuming him. His hands clasped her face gently, pulling her mouth to his.

  River was in for a lovely shock; her lips were more delicious than he could possibly imagine. A sweet kiss that was meant to introduce her into the world of desire suddenly turned overwhelmingly passionate until Emerald was practically crushed in his arms. She gasped softly against his mouth, a sound he hungrily absorbed.

  River realized that he needed more from her. His tongue licked her lips indecently, parting her lips, and Emerald opened her mouth to him as if she had been doing it all her life. He growled as his tongue came into her, tasting every bit of this beautiful shepherdess he found in the wilds. She was in his arms and, at that moment, River realized he could never let her go.

  Ever.

  But that was until the sounds of horses filled their tender world and Emerald yanked her lips away.

  “Quickly,” she hissed as the sounds of horses grew closer. “Ye must hide! Take yer horse and go, back through the trees. They will hide ye!”

  River didn’t argue with her. Grabbing the reins of his horse, he launched himself onto the animal’s back, charging far back into the trees as Emerald had indicated. There was a good deal of heavy foliage back there and he plunged through a particularly dense cluster several dozen feet away. Emerald lost sight of him just as Sapphire, on her big gray mare, came thundering into the trees.

  “Did ye see him, Emmie?” she boomed.

  Emerald looked at her in confusion, hoping she was convincing enough. “See who?”

  “That man from this morning,” Sapphire said impatiently. “The one who came with the old man. Did he ride by here?”

  Emerald pointed off to the east. “I thought I heard a horse heading that way,” she said. “I did not see who it was, but I heard the horse. Why? Did he escape ye?”

  Sapphire scowled. “Never ye mind,” she said. “He cannot have gone far.”

  “It sounded as if he was riding very fast. Where’s the old man, by the way? Is he a good prospect?”

  Sapphire scowled. “He and Mother are getting drunk,” she said. “He’s an old nuisance, he is. It’s the younger one we want.”

  “Happy hunting.”

  Sapphire took off, heading east as Emerald had indicated. Emerald moved to the edge of the tree line, watching all three sisters tear off to the east. She knew they’d ride for quite some time, looking for their escaped victim, because she’d seen them do it before. If they were on the scent of a man, nothing would stop them.

  When the women were finally out of sight, Emerald hurried back in the direction she’d seen River go. The woods were heavier the deeper she went.

  “River?” she called. “Come out now. ’Tis safe!”

  Immediately, she heard some movement as, off to her right, River emerged from be
hind a dense cluster of trees. He had the look of a hunted rabbit, perhaps even a little frightened, and Emerald didn’t blame him in the least.

  “I heard her,” he said nervously. “And I heard ye. Ye told her to go east.”

  “I did.”

  “Ye deliberately sent her away.”

  “I did, indeed.”

  “Why?”

  Instinctively, she touched her lips. It had been for such a foolish reason, but it was her reason nonetheless.

  “Because,” she said softly. “Ye were the first to kiss me. In a sense, ye belong to me now and I don’t want to share ye with them.”

  He grinned, reining his horse over to her. Gazing down at her, he extended his big hand. “Come with me, Emmie,” he said softly. “We’ll be married and travel everywhere ye want to go. I promise ye’ll never want for anything, ever. Will ye come?”

  Emerald looked into his handsome face. “Because ye want an earldom?”

  “Because I want someone as true as ye. I swear upon my mother’s grave that it’s the truth.”

  “Will ye take me to see all of the things I want to see before we return to tell yer father of our marriage?”

  River hesitated briefly, knowing that any delay in returning home with a wife might cost him the earldom if his brother was able to make it home first. But as he looked into Emerald’s lovely face, he realized that he really didn’t care. He could see an entire world of adventure in her features, the joy of coming to know a woman who was rational and sensible and true. The delight in coming to teach a wife to read and write, and to know that his impulsive quest had become one that would change his life forever.

  Nay, he didn’t care at all that any delay in returning home might cost him the earldom.

  It was well worth the price for him to have the most precious jewel in the north instead.

  “Aye,” he whispered. “We’ll go see everything ye want to see before we return to tell my father of our marriage.”

  “Are ye sure? The only way ye can prove to me that I am more important than an earldom is if ye take me to the places I want to see first.”

  “If that is the only way to prove my sincerity, then so be it.”

  A smile flickered on Emerald’s lips. Reaching up, she took his hand and he pulled her onto his horse with him. Leaving her fire smoking, her soup burning, and her meager possessions strewn around the fire, River thundered out of the trees, heading up to the road and then taking it in a westerly direction, towards Carlisle.

  As they traveled down the road, he could feel Emerald’s arms around his waist, holding fast as they moved swiftly.

  The jewel’s embrace, he thought.

  It was like no other embrace he’d ever known. Hard-fought, hard-won, but so incredibly worth it. In fact, he didn’t even lament the fact that he wasn’t returning to Drumburgh first. His only thoughts were of finding a priest and marrying the woman.

  Even though he’d left his saddlebags back at the old stone cottage, he still had his purse with him, tied to his belt. They had enough money to live on for a while, before necessity saw them return to Drumburgh. But until that time, River’s only thought was of coming to see the world through Emerald’s eyes. For a woman who had never been away from home, he looked forward to introducing her to the world he’d already seen.

  The world that would become theirs.

  Perhaps they would find love in it, after all.

  Chapter Seven

  Arcmare Castle

  Several weeks later

  The fire crackled softly as River entered the chamber, very aware that it was just an hour or so before dawn and not wanting to wake his sleeping wife. He could barely see from the low embers in the hearth, so he felt his way over to the bed, removing his shoes as quietly as he could. He ended up dropping one of them, freezing in position and watching the bed to see if Emerald stirred.

  There was no movement.

  With a grin at his hard-sleeping wife, he removed his other boot, his tunic, and his breeches, carefully putting everything on the nearest chair before creeping his way over to the bed. The moment he started to climb under the coverlet, however, Emerald stirred and rolled over.

  “And how is yer brother?” she asked sleepily. “It must have been quite a conversation for ye to remain with him most of the night.”

  River laughed softly as he climbed into bed all the way, pulling his wife into his arms as he pulled the coverlet over them.

  “It was,” he said. “Falcon made it back to Arcmare with a wife in tow before I did.”

  “I know. And I’m sorry.”

  He peered at her. “For what?” he said. “I would not have changed the past few weeks for anything in the world. He may have the title, but I have ye. I have the jewel.”

  Emerald snuggled up to him, feeling more love for the man than she could possibly express. Every day saw her love for him grow stronger. It had been an unexpected but wholly amazing happenstance, something she’d hoped for but hadn’t really expected. Now, she couldn’t imagine her life without the man who had taken her to the Roman house in Carlisle and to so many other places. He’d opened up the world for her as she could never have imagined.

  But he’d lost an earldom in doing so.

  Even if he didn’t regret it, Emerald knew she would always feel some guilt for it.

  “Tell me what ye discussed,” she said after a moment.

  “Now?”

  “Ye woke me up. Ye might as well tell me why.”

  He chuckled. “Very well,” he said. “The conversation with Falcon and my father went quite well, actually. Ye’ll be happy to know that my brother loves his wife almost as much as I love ye.”

  She craned her head back to look at him. “Did he tell ye that?”

  “He did.”

  “Then I am glad for him. I met Maerwynn briefly. She seems like a lovely lass.”

  River grunted in agreement. “I am looking forward to knowing this woman who stole my brother’s heart,” he said. “But meanwhile, Falcon and I had a long discussion without my father and we have come to an agreement. Although Falcon will hold the title, he and I will rule jointly. We’ll split the lands between us, so each brother will have something that belongs only to us. However, we’ll make decisions over the earldom together. Falcon and I have always done well as a team; I believe this arrangement can only make Drumburgh stronger.”

  “And ye’re satisfied with this?”

  “Very.”

  He sounded happy about it. Emerald rolled onto her back, putting her hand on her naked belly. “Did ye tell him about this?”

  River knew what she meant. She’d only recently begun to suspect she was pregnant, fairly convinced of it, and he put his big hand over hers, cradling the life beneath it that they’d created together. He’d told Duchy once that all he needed in a woman was breasts and a seed cave, but he’d regretted those words the moment he’d married Emerald.

  As it turned out, he needed much more than that when it came to a wife.

  “Not yet,” he said quietly. “We had enough to discuss tonight without bringing up the fact that ye’re with child. But I will tell him soon enough.”

  “If the child is a lad, and yer brother has no male offspring, he will inherit Drumburgh.”

  “I know. But we have our entire lives ahead of us. Falcon and Maerwynn could have many sons.”

  “Then what will our children inherit?”

  He kissed her on the forehead. “To the west is a small outpost called Miramar,” he said. “It used to be an ancient outpost and the name means Wall of the Sea, or something like that. My father keeps a small contingent there to protect against the pirates who sometimes try to invade our land, but now the outpost belongs to me, as does all the land from Arcmare to the east and Bowness to the west. That is my agreement with Falcon. He keeps Arcmare and all the lands to the east, all the way to Longburgh. Our children will inherit Miramar because I am going to build it into a fortress to rival Arcmare. My brother isn’t the only one who shall have a powerful castle.”

  Emerald smiled in the darkness, still hearing that great competitive nature in his voice when he spoke of his brother. Even though they adored one another, and had agreed to rule jointly, the fact remained that they would always have a competitive nature with each other.