Page 16 of A Scottish Lord for Christmas
“If it’s all right with Forres, then we will.”
“I’m sure he’ll be happy to have you.”
Her father’s gaze darkened with an unusual solemnity. “Rowena, I consented to this marriage because you love him, but…” He paused and Rowena felt her stomach twist into knots. “He’s a man who’s suffered a great and terrible loss in his life. A loss so deep it would break any man. I hope you will prepare yourself for what lies ahead.”
Rowena nodded. Quinn’s first wife, that’s what he meant.
Her father continued. “Do not live in her shadow. Trying to be an echo of his lost wife is not the way to win his heart. Be true to yourself; he will love you as we do.” Her father’s bright blue eyes, the ones she’d inherited from him, shimmered with tears as he hugged her again and walked outside to join the others. Her mother held Rowena back when she would have followed.
“What your father didn’t tell you was that a man’s heart can sometimes be won by an open, honest, and happy lover.” She gazed meaningfully at Rowena.
“What do you mean, Mama?” A flush crept along her skin. It was quite unexpected to have this sort of discussion with one’s mother, but the information had to be worth the embarrassment.
“Do not be afraid of passion. Open yourself up to it. There will be so much you will learn about what transpires between a man and his wife, but the more you love each other, the greater the reward. Embrace it and him and you’ll win his heart.”
Rowena had already tasted a hint of Quinn’s passion and had no intention of denying herself of it. Her mother walked with her outside, and with a few last hugs, she climbed into the motorcar beside Quinn and waved goodbye to the life that had once been hers.
Chapter 6
The drive to Edinburgh was a blur of hills capped with snow. Each time Quinn stopped in a small village for food, they had a chance to walk about. Rowena bundled up in her coat and muff and walked through the north English towns with him. The cobblestoned streets and the cheery pubs offered a taste of an idyllic life she’d rarely glimpsed at home. Before her debut, she’d never had the chance to go and explore the world, not like she had the chance to do now.
While they ventured down the little streets, they talked about their homes and memories of their childhoods. Her husband seemed to relax around her as they began to build an easy familiarity with each other, and Rowena’s heart was bursting with hope.
“Rowena, come back to the car. We’re not far from Edinburgh.” Quinn stood by the vehicle, the door open, one foot braced on the car’s interior. He looked incredibly dashing with the buttons of his long, thick coat undone to show the shirt he wore, and his dark hair tousled by the wintry air. It never ceased to amaze her that this man was all hers.
“Coming!” She rushed along the snowy walkway, skidding into him. He caught her in his arms and she laughed, brushing a kiss on his lips.
His eyes widened in surprise before he returned the kiss. Rowena melted into him, playing with his mouth as he’d taught her to do. The embrace and the kiss heated her, just as the warm fire in her bedroom at Pepperwirth Vale used to do on cold winter nights.
With a little sigh, he broke the kiss and patted the small of her back. “We need to get going before it’s too dark on the roads.” He brushed a lock of hair back from her face.
Quinn tucked Rowena into her seat and made his way to the driver’s side. As he settled in next to her, she pushed herself closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder, a delighted smile on her lips. It was silly, she knew, to feel quite happy in that moment of being with him when he did not love her yet, but she felt his heart was in reach. Rubbing her cheek against his shoulder, she yawned and tried to focus on the road. The wind blew the light snow in swirling gusts across the roadway, the headlamps illuminating the lovely dance of snow.
“Quinn, would you tell me about your family?” She knew so little of him and his life, yet she’d married him without truly knowing him.
“Well,” he chuckled. “My father passed nigh on six years ago. My mother shortly thereafter. She missed the old man, you see. Now ’tis only me and my sister, and wee Blair, of course.”
“Sister?” Rowena sat up, clutching his arm as she moved closer. Having another woman in the house, one she might grow close to like Milly, was wonderful. The thought sent a surge of joy through her.
“Yes, Kenna. She’s two years older than you. Quite a troublesome creature, and I mean that in the best way.” A grin softened the once-hard lines of his mouth. “She’s always laughing and chasing Blair about the house. You’ll like her.”
“She sounds lovely. Does she have a beau?” Rowena couldn’t imagine a happy, beautiful Scottish woman being unclaimed by a man.
“I suppose she does. Heaven knows she won’t tell me but”—Quinn paused and glanced at her long enough to wink—“I believe the doctor in our village frequently receives accidental run-ins with Kenna when she goes to town.”
“A doctor?” Rowena grinned cheekily. “Perhaps I ought to nudge them in the right direction.” Meeting the doctor intrigued Rowena for two reasons: to see if she could help him and Kenna become closer and to see if she might help him in the village. She’d loved tending to animals and if there was any way she could help, she wanted to be useful.
Quinn laughed heartily. “If you like to play matchmaker, I’m sure Kenna would relish the help.”
“Oh, Quinn, I’m so happy you have a sister!” She almost confessed to him how empty she felt at leaving Milly behind in England. The Cotswolds and Pepperwirth Vale were so far away from Scotland.
“You and your sister are close?” he asked, glancing her way before focusing back on the road.
“Yes, Milly has always been there for me. I don’t know how I shall get on without her, but I suppose I must.” She would. She knew she would, but it didn’t ease the ache of missing her sister.
“You have me, and Kenna. And your sister is welcome to visit any time. I hope you know that.” His gentle tone, so confident and welcoming, warmed her even more.
“Thank you, Quinn. I can’t tell you how much that means to me.” She squeezed his arm and placed her head back on his shoulder. Even though she felt comfortable with him now, there was a nervous tension building inside her as she realized they were getting closer and closer to their wedding night and all the things that would follow… Her heart skipped a beat. Would he continue to kiss her with fire and passion? Or would he be quick about it? The sudden worry struck her hard enough to leave her feeling a little sick to her stomach. She frowned and glanced toward the window.
