The Laird’s Runaway Bride (Charmed by the Sassenachs #1)

Bonus scene

Amelia, perched at the table in Arran’s study and glanced up over the hills ahead of her, smiling as she took in the striking view. It was nearly Spring, and the first shoots of green had begun to break through the land around them. It wouldn’t be long, Arran had told her, till there would be flowers sprouting everywhere they looked, and he had promised her to take her out to the forest and show her some of his favorites. Though she knew little about the art of botany, she wanted to understand more. She had noticed Mairead making a few tonics and teas from some of the flowers and herbs in the garden, and she hoped to one day have the same abilities.

But, for now, she was focused on one thing; writing a letter to her sisters. They were staying, along with their mother, in a small village not too far from the Aitken Keep. Her father, for his part, had retreated to England several months ago, most likely to lick his wounds and find some other ways to pay off his debts now he was sure that Arran would not allow him to make use of her sisters. Her mother had refused to go back with him, having made some friends in the town, and her sisters had decided to stay, too.

She was starting to wonder if that might have had something to do with the man she had seen Lily dancing with at the wedding the other day, though, she supposed, her sister would come to her with everything she wanted to share. She knew well the thrill of falling for someone, and she would not have done anything to get in the way of her savoring every moment of it.

She would see them again soon enough, but she was intent on writing them a letter to catch them up on all that had been happening. Though they had met Arran by now, and could see how much he cared for her, she got the feeling that they had a hard time believing that she could be truly content with a man who had paid for her hand in marriage.

“Dearest Lily and Mary,” she began, writing in her swooping cursive. “How much I miss you! I hope you are both doing well, and being well-behaved for mother…”

Once she had begun writing, she found the words flowing from her pen with ease; about the Spring coming, about the change in the weather, about the gossip around the Keep, of which there was always something scandalous. Though she did her best to stay out of whatever was going on with those who worked there, she often found herself catching snatches of conversation, and being almost unbearably intrigued by the hints of dramatics they gave her.

After a while, the candle she was using to light her writing started to drip down, and she rose to her feet to go and replace it. When she turned, she saw Arran standing behind her, his arms crossed as he leaned in the doorway to the study.

“Oh, my goodness, you gave me a fright!” she exclaimed, planting a hand on her chest. He chuckled, and made his way towards her.

“What are ye doing?”

“Writing to my sisters.”

He peered over her shoulder at the letter, and she laughed, raising her eyebrows at him.

“And I haven’t said anything about you in it, so you don’t have to worry!”

“Nothing at all?” he remarked. “Have I made that little of an impression on you?”

She cocked her head to the side. He sounded almost a little hurt, like he had expected for her to be writing all about him.

“I want to send this later today,” she told him, as she returned to the letter and sealed it into an envelope, using a thick drop of the wax to plant a seal against it. “Can we ride into town to pass it to the postmaster?”

“You still need my help wi’ the riding?” he asked her. She nodded, though the truth was, perhaps, she just wanted an excuse to spend some more time with him. Through all of this, she still craved his presence, his company.

She tucked the letter into the folds of her dress, sequestering it away from everyone else until she knew it would be safely in the hands of her sisters. She wished she could have been there to read it with them, but, she supposed, she would see them again soon. She longed to hear their laughter again, to feel their closeness, but whatever time held them apart, she knew it would be all the sweeter when they finally came together once more.

She followed Arran down the long corridor that led to the stables outside, where the horses were kept. Fern whinnied in greeting when she saw her coming, bringing a smile to her face. Though she was still getting used to having a horse to call her own, she liked being greeted with such joy, and she reached up to press a hand into Fern’s mane, feeling the silky-softness of her coat beneath her touch.

“Do ye need a hand?” Arran asked her as she led Fern out of the stable.

“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt,” she replied, and he offered her an arm to balance on as she lifted herself onto the horse. She could feel the strength of him beneath his cloak, and a tingle rushed through her, from where her fingertips had caressed him, all the way up to her shoulder. She felt her cheeks flush, hoping he didn’t notice.

“Are ye ready?” he asked as he went to get his horse. She gripped the reins, took a deep breath, and nodded.

“As I’ll ever be, I suppose.”

And, with that, the two of them rode out of the confines of the Keep, and into the wild land that lay below.