Page 43 of Lost with a Scot
“It meanschurch.” Aiden guided his horse back toward the castle, and she followed. “My mother, had she lived long enough, wanted to see her children married there, and I’m the only sibling left who wasna married until today. But I wouldna mind repeating my vows in the kirk.”
“I wouldn’t mind either,” she replied as they rode back. It would be nice to honor his mother in such a way.
It was after nightfall when they reached the main doors of the castle. A groom ran out of the stables to greet them and yelled back toward the house that they had arrived.
“Thank God yer back, Master Aiden! Yer brothers have been searching for the last several hours for ye and only just gave up.”
“What’s happened?” Aiden asked as he dismounted.
“There’s a message from Dr. MacDonald from North Berwick.”
Aiden caught Anna in his arms and lowered her to the ground before they both rushed to the house.
Joanna spotted them as they entered and shouted for Brock to come. Soon Aiden and Anna were being dragged into the library. Brodie, Joanna, and Lydia also gathered in the room as Brock thrust a note to Aiden.
“This came for ye.”
The letter had already been opened. Everyone had been hoping to hear news from the doctor. Aiden read the letter, then looked at Anna.
“What does it say?” she asked, her voice shaky.
“Some fishermen found a lifeboat of sailors from your ship. There was a woman among them who was still alive and two men. The woman said she knew ye and that ye were her lady. She told the doctor ye must get to London and that yer brother was waiting for ye. She said it was a matter of life and death.”
“My brother is waiting for me in London? Alexei...,” Anna whispered, her eyes full of hope. Aiden knew what her brother meant to her. Memories of him had been the strongest for her, and she’d told him so many stories of Alexei that afternoon that he felt he knew the man.
“We assumed that once ye returned, ye would wish to leave for London immediately,” Brock said. “We have already made all the arrangements to leave in the morning.”
Aiden met Anna’s gaze. “Do ye want to leave tomorrow?”
She nodded. “I do.”
“Then we leave at dawn,” Aiden told his brother.
“Where were ye today?” Brodie asked, now that the excitement had settled a bit. “Brock and I searched everywhere for ye. We feared we may not find ye at all, that mayhap something had befallen ye.”
“I took Anna to my favorite place, a secret place,” he said simply.
“We’re just glad you’re both home.” Joanna smiled at them, but concern darkened her features. “You missed dinner. I’ll have cook send up some food to your rooms.”
“Thank ye, Joanna.”
Anna shared a look with Aiden. She knew he was considering telling them what they had done this afternoon, but he didn’t want to, not yet. It wasn’t the right moment. They needed to get to London and find her brother first. Then they could share the news of their marriage when the time was right.
“You two had better change and warm up,” Lydia added. “Then eat your dinner and get some sleep. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
“Us?” Aiden asked his sister-in-law.
“Ye didna think we would send ye to London alone?” Brodie snorted. “We won’t stay behind while ye run off and find out who Anna is. We wish to know as much as ye do.”
Aiden smiled warmly. “Very well. Ye may join us.”
Brock rolled his eyes. “As if ye had a choice, pup.”
“Let me take ye upstairs, Anna,” Aiden said, and held out his hand. The others watched them as they left, obviously sensing something new between them, but he didn’t care. He needed to speak to Anna alone.
“Wait for me in yer room. I’ll dine with ye there,” he said to her.
“Will you stay with me?” she asked in a low voice so as not to be overheard.
