Free The Bride by Julie Garwood Page B

so. Mary and I will come to see you and…"
     
    She couldn't finish her lie, couldn't tell her father it was going to be all right. Her world had just ended; everything that was familiar and safe was being snatched away.
     
    It was Agnes who whispered Jamie's greatest fear aloud. "We're never going to see you again, are we, Jamie? He won't let you come home, will he?"
     
    "I promise you I'll find a way to come and see you," Jamie vowed. Her voice shook and her eyes stung with unshed tears. Dear God, this leave-taking was painful.
     
    Baron Jamison kept muttering between his sobs that the Scots had robbed him of his precious babies and how in God's name was he ever going to get along without them? Although Jamie tried to console her father, in the end it proved to be a useless undertaking. Papa didn't want to quiet down. The more Jamie tried, the louder he wailed.
     
    Beak came to fetch her. A small tug-of-war resulted when he tried to separate father from daughter. Baron Jamison wouldn't let go of Jamie's hand. The task was finally won when Jamie gave assistance.
     
    "Come along, Jamie. 'Tis best not to anger your new husband. He's waiting patiently in the courtyard for you. Lord Daniel and Lady Mary have already started toward Scotland, lass. Come with me now. A new life awaits you."
     
    Beak's soft voice helped to soothe Jamie. She took hold of his hand and walked by his side toward the entrance. When she paused to give her family one last farewell, Beak nudged her forward.
     
    "Don't be looking back, Jamie. And quit your shivering. Start thinking about your happy future."
     
    "It's my future that has me shivering," Jamie confessed.
     
    "Beak, I don't know anything about this husband of mine. All the black rumors about him make me worry. I don't want to be married to him."
     
    "What's done is done," Beak announced. "There's two ways to look at this, lass. You can go into this marriage with your eyes closed tight against your man and be miserable for the rest of your days, or you can open them real wide, accept your husband, and make the best of your life."
     
    "I don't want to hate him."
     
    Beak smiled. Jamie had sounded so pitifully forlorn. "Then don't hate him," he advised. "You ain't any good at hating anyway. Your heart's too tender, girl. Besides," he continued as he nudged her farther ahead, "it ain't so unordinary after all."
     
    "What isn't so unordinary?"
     
    "Many a bride goes to her wedding without knowing her mate."
     
    "But those brides were English, Beak, marrying Englishmen."
     
    "Hush, now," Beak ordered, hearing the fear in her voice. "He's a good man, this Kincaid. I took his measure, Jamie. He'll treat you right."
     
    "How would you know that?" Jamie asked. She tried to stop and turn to face Beak but he kept nudging her forward. "There's that rumor, if you'll remember, that he killed his first wife."
     
    "And you believe it?"
     
    Her answer was immediate. "I don't."
     
    "Why not?"
     
    Jamie shrugged. "I can't explain it," she whispered. "I just think he wouldn't…" She let out a sigh, then added, "You'll think me daft, Beak, but his eyes… well, he isn't an evil man."
     
    "I happen to know for fact it's a lie," Beak announced. "He didn't kill her. I put the question to him, Jamie, asked him right out."
     
    "You didn't." His outrageous statement made her laugh. "Beak, he must have been furious with you."
     
    "Spit," Beak whispered. "Your future was my concern, not his anger," he boasted. "Of course, it was only after I heard he was going to choose you that I asked him anything, you understand."
     
    "When did you have time?" Jamie asked, frowning.
     
    "Ain't important," Beak said hurriedly. "Besides, I knew Kincaid was a good one as soon as I looked real close at his horse." He gave Jamie another gentle prod between her shoulderblades to get her moving toward her husband again. "This warrior's going to treat you with just as much care."
     
    "Oh, for heaven's sake," Jamie