Page 20 of Never Kiss a Scot
Brock was nearly struck down by her unexpected words. It took him a moment to compose himself. During that time, Joanna’s eyes filled with tears, and she turned her face away.
“If you don’t wish to marry me anymore, I understand,” she said, her tone heavy with humiliation, and it burned him.
Didn’t wish to? He wanted nothing more than to marry her.
“After what my brother did…”
He grasped her waist, pulling her to him and pressing his forehead to hers. “Lass, there is nothing that can stop me from making you my wife, so long as you wish it as well. I was merely surprised since you said no before.”
Her lashes fluttered, and she trembled against him. “I do want to now.”
He cupped her cheek and lifted her face so he could see her eyes. “You’re sure?”
“Yes. I want to marry you, Lord Kincade.”
“Brock,” he corrected gently.
“Badger,” she said, smiling and sniffling. He chuckled, remembering how when they’d first met she’d told him his name meantbadger.
“Yes.Yourbadger,” he vowed. What would she think when she learned that Aiden had a pet badger at the castle? It was one he had rescued as a young cub. The badger now trundled about the castle as if it were the true master of it, nesting in various rooms and becoming grumpy whenever disturbed. Aiden had tried several times to return it to the wild, but the stubborn creature had held its ground. Brock smiled, realizing he was much like his namesake. He would not let Lennox chase him away from Joanna.
“How do we do this?” she asked him. “Ashton won’t give his permission. I suppose we must race to Gretna Green.”
“Aye,” Brock sighed. “It willna be easy, Joanna. We will have to travel light. No carriages, no servants. Once we are wed, we can send for your maid and your clothes.”
“No coach?” Joanna’s eyes grew wide, and he remembered what she had said about riding. She liked it, but being alone on a horse made her a little uneasy.
“I’ll be with you every step of the way. Do you have a strong horse here? I have mine stabled, and we could take yours for you if you have a beast you trust to ride.”
She bit her bottom lip. “I have a mare named Kaylee. She’s a steady ride, and she’s fast.”
“Good.” Brock could handle the care of two horses so long as Joanna could ride hers. “It will be two or three days on horseback, as long as the weather holds and we don’t have much more of this rain.”
He glanced out the front door of the church, wishing the clouds would disappear. The last thing he wanted was to put Joanna in harm’s way by risking that she catch her death in the rain.
“He will come after us,” Joanna said. “Once he realizes we are gone.”
“I know. He’s tenacious, that one, but if we leave tonight, while he’s focused on Rosalind, he will not know we’re missing until it’s too late.”
“Tonight? So soon?” Her voice rose in pitch, and he could feel her tremble in his arms again. The lass was frightened; he could see that now.
“We dinna have to go tonight, but it would be the easier way. Your brother is distracted with his new bride, which gives us only a short period of time.”
“Yes, I see.” Joanna burrowed into him, suddenly resting her body against his in the most wonderful way. He caught the scent of flowers when he pressed his lips to the crown of her head. Rubbing his palms down her back, he tried to offer her warmth and comfort.
“It will be all right,” he whispered. “I’ll take care of you.”
She nodded against his chest and pulled away. “We should go. I’ll need to prepare. There must be something I can bring?”
“Aye, you may bring a small sack, something I can tie to the saddles. When everyone is finishing up dinner, we should say our good nights. When they retire, we can slip away to the stables and go.”
“Will your brothers come with us?” she asked.
“No, I’ll leave them here. Brodie will tell anyone who asks that I came down with a cold.”
“I’ll tell my mother I’m having some female troubles. Ashton wouldn’t bother me if he thought that was the case.” Joanna’s eyes were bright again as she eagerly schemed.
“That’ll do just fine,” Brock assured her. “Now let’s return to the house before we’re noticed.” He led her down to the last remaining coach outside the church, which was thankfully empty of other guests.
