Chapter Twenty-Seven

“Och, it hurts.” Gently tapping at the area on her temple, Blair sat up from what felt like hours of torture. The procedure had most likely only been half an hour of prodding and stitching, but it had reminded her of the cat attack in her youth. Thankfully, the physician’s wife had been there to talk her through it. She’d even offered her a dram of whisky to alleviate the pain. She’d drunk it, but she wasn’t sure it had helped.

“Yes, I imagine it does. You are lucky to be alive.” The physician shook his head as he turned and ambled toward the exit after his wife disappeared into another room.

“Is she all right?” Finlay sounded anxious.

“Yes, she just needs a bit of time to heal.”

“Can I see her?”

“Yes, you can take her home.”

Och, but would he want her to go home with him? Her stomach turned, but she wasn’t sure if it was from the drink, the injury, or the thought of being sent away.

Hands trembling, she swung her legs off the bed and started to stand. The physician stepped back, and Finlay rushed to her side. “How are ye feeling?”

“It hurts.” That wasn’t exactly right, it felt like her head had been split open and throbbed as if someone were jumping on it repeatedly.

“I stitched her. The bullet skimmed her temple. I think it may have also cracked her skull slightly, although there is no way to know. But it looks like no permanent damage was done.”

Finlay dabbed just under her wound, scrutinizing it. She imagined it was hard to see with the remnants of the blood that were yet to be washed away and had matted in her hair. Och, she must look awful.

She didn’t know what to say but was saved by the physician’s wife zipping back into the room. “This is a tincture that will help with the pain. Only a spoonful when you need it because it will put you to sleep. I suggest you go home, get cleaned up, use it, then take a nice long nap.”

“Thank ye.”

The woman held up a second bottle. “This one is a salve to protect the injury spot. Clean the area twice a day and then apply this.” Finlay took the vials and inspected them.

Moments later, he scooped her into his arms and carried her through the door. “We need to talk about what happened, but I want ye to get some rest first.”

All she could do was nod. Pain and fear mixed in a dizzying wave as they spiraled out of control.

Brodie and Jenny were waiting with the horses. Once Finlay was mounted, Brodie hoisted her up to join her husband.

Laying the uninjured side of her head to his chest, she was relieved that he didn’t push her away. An arm coiled around her waist, drawing her closer to him. It was warm and reassuring. She wanted to savor the feel of him while she had the chance, so she remained quiet for the short return ride.

Once back at Catriona House, Finlay carried her to their room. They passed many concerned faces along the way, but he didn’t stop. She heard him instruct Jenny to have a bath made for her. Why was he taking such care?

In the room, he sat on the bed without letting go of her. Being in his arms felt so right, but unbearable at the same time. She finally couldn’t take it any longer. “Are ye sending me away?” Her eyes stung, but she wasn’t going to cry again.

“Nae, ye are no’ going anywhere, wife. I may no’ let ye out of my sight for years.” He placed his lips gently on the uninjured side of her head.

Servants poured in, carrying buckets of water while Finlay continued to hold her.

The door closed behind the servants, and Finlay’s hands drifted down, starting to work at the laces on her ruined gown.

“I…” she started to protest.

“We just need to get ye cleaned up. I have to ken how bad it truly is.”

Moments later, she was in the tub, and Finlay stepped out onto the balcony as she bathed. Once she was cleaned, she joined him. She sighed as she looked over the fields, the scent and sight of the lavender calming her.

“We have to leave tomorrow,” he said, his fists clenched. “I wouldnae ask it of ye, but the king has demanded. Will ye be all right for the journey back to Scotland?”

“I think I will be all right.”

He studied her from head to toe. “We will go slow if we need to.” His fingers came up to caress just under her injury, the touch sending gentle waves of relaxation over her. “We have to talk about what ye said.”

“What did I say?” She struggled to remember.

“Right before ye almost got yerself killed.” Och, that. She’d meant it, but now, in such an intimate setting where he could deny her, fear washed over her.

“Did ye mean it?”

“Aye. I wouldnae have said it otherwise. And I thought ’twould be the only time I’d ever get to tell ye.”

“Tell me now.”

Her heart skittered, and she gulped, ready to confess yet again that she had fallen for her husband. “I love ye.” While whispering the words softly, a dam of emotions released. Happiness washed over her at the thought that he wanted to hear her say it.

“Say it again.” His breath quickened.

“I love ye.” With every part of her soul she meant it.

He drew her in, and his head dipped to her mouth, claiming it in a long, slow, soul-stirring kiss that left no doubt he felt the same. And she realized she had more than she’d ever wanted—a husband who trusted her as a partner, and one who had awoken feelings in her that spoke to her very soul.

Pulling back, his mesmerizing gaze held hers for just a moment, before saying, “And I love ye, wife.”

…

As they sat down to a meal which had been brought up to their chamber, Finlay cleared his throat. “Is something troubling ye?”

“They are cheating ye.”

“Who?”

“Yer brothers.”

“What do ye mean?” He took her hand and held it on the table between them.

“Yer account book is written in code. I deciphered it, but when ye get to the numbers, they are all wrong. They kenned numbers and letters were hard for ye and purposely made it almost impossible to decipher. I’m so sorry that they were cruel to ye. Brothers should never do that.”

He’d suspected the books had been altered, but now he knew the truth, because he’d had an opportunity to slip down and speak with his father while Blair napped. “’Twas Prudence and Mr. Gerrick.” The Cameron men had detained Bruce and her, but he hadn’t had an opportunity to question her yet about where the ledgers were.

They were out even now looking for the estate manager. His stomach flipped as he wondered what the pair had been up to and how it had led to assaulting one of his men and setting his stables on fire.

“Why would they do such a thing?”

“I dinnae ken. ’Twas more important that I see to ye. But I’m sure Father and the Camerons have pried answers from her.”

“I’m so sorry, but ’tis good news yer brothers were no’ behind it.”

“Aye.” Finlay’s thumb caressed the top of Blair’s hand.

Then, it dawned on him. She had discovered his secret shame and didn’t care—she had not held it against him. A dam broke inside, and his eyes stung. Blair loved him despite his deficiency, and she had done all she could to help him. She wanted to help him.

“Ye paid four times more than ye should have for grain, and I cannae find evidence ’twas ever delivered. There is a charge for repairs to the stable that never happened. Jenny’s boys can attest to that.” She bit her lip as if she thought he’d be angry with her over the revelations. She kept going. “I sent for the estate manager to have him answer for his deceptions, but he cannae be found. My guess is he never will be, so I reached out to yer father’s solicitor. All transactions will now go through me.”

“Please forgive me for rushing into that before ye were able to return, but I didnae want the crook to be able to take advantage of ye and ruin Catriona House. I’ve destroyed his credibility with the villagers. Fortunately, I have found ye still had enough to pay for the repairs we’ve managed. The good news is not only can ye make this place magnificent again, but it can be profitable.”

He wanted to speak, to say thank you, but he was choked with pride and relief.

Blair continued, “Ye have several fields no’ in use, and I’ve contacted a perfume maker about what flowers are in demand. He would be willing to purchase more lavender. If ye are agreeable to the deal, the new gardener has experience in growing some of them, and along with the lavender, ye can turn a profit even higher than the allowance ye receive from Dwight.”

How had he found this woman? Not only had she saved him from his solitude, but she had discovered a way to make him independent. Thomas would cut him off when he inherited their father’s title, but Finlay had planned to live in Scotland, because he would no longer have ties to England. However, once the earl had given him this place, he’d seen only failure in his future.

Now there was a light, and she had blond hair and blue eyes and made his heart thump with an optimism that had once eluded him.

“Well, say something.”

How could he say what he was feeling? How could he tell her she’d given him hope that he’d not had since he was a child? That she had made the world a brighter place for him and that there was more than only duty to a king and a laird. There was love for this woman.

He rose and drew her up to his side, then he kissed her slowly, savoring the feel of her lips. When he pulled back, he said, “Ye are amazing.”

“Ye arenae mad at me.”

“Nae, never. Ye can manage the books all ye like.” Her sapphire eyes sparkled, and he continued, “Thank ye for giving me hope. Something I havenae had for a very long time.”

“Thank ye for letting me be yer partner.”