Syd stiffened and glanced up at him.
The laird nodded and then turned to Syd. “Yer father is a foolish man, lass. He should have consented to yer marriage to Captain Thorne and spared ye the difficulty of traveling all the way to Scotland. How far are ye along?”
Fortunately, the shock of his words and the laird’s question kept Syd quiet for the moment.
“Too early to tell,” Octavian hastily interjected. “What matters is that she is a lady and now my wife. You will treat her with respect.”
The laird assured him they would do so. “But the father’s actions still make no sense to me. Why would he choose that old goat over you?”
The curious Scots were not going to allow them to leave until their questions were answered, so Octavian obliged. “Lady Sydney’s father got heavily into debt with Sir Henry. The only way he could repay it was to bend to Sir Henry’s demand to give Syd over to him. Her father did not hesitate to sacrifice her inorder to save his own hide. She is not yet of age and needed her father’s consent to marry me. He was never going to give it while under threat to Sir Henry.”
The laird nodded. “I see. But surely Sir Henry would have backed off once he knew she carried your child.”
Oh, hell.
Syd curled her hands into fists. “What makes you think–”
“Right! What makes you think that old, vindictive beast would release her? He was obsessed with her. She’s quite beautiful, as you all can see. What better way to make us suffer than to claim the child as his? Or harm it because it was not his?”
Kindhearted Jamie gasped. “That is pure evil. Surely, her father could not condone it.”
Octavian nodded. “He should not have done any of what he did. But he was in fear for his own life, and willing to sacrifice his daughter rather than himself. Neither of them knew of her condition.” He glanced at Syd who once again looked angry. “The worst is over, and I thank you for your assistance. You must excuse us now and let us be on our way. Defying her father has taken quite a bit out of my wife. She is overset and there is no telling what she might say or do.”
Jamie cast her a sympathetic smile. “Ye are safe now, lass. Captain Thorne loves ye deeply. Do ye think he would have taken them on the chase if ye hadn’t claimed his heart? And now ye and the bairn are safe.”
Her eyes narrowed in frustration. “I am not–”
“Quite yourself just now,” Octavian interrupted her again. “I’m sure you are confused and exhausted, but thrilled at the prospect of giving me a son.” He lifted her into the carriage and firmly set her in it. “Shut up, Syd,” he whispered.
She was bent on defending her honor while he was desperate to get them out of here without further trouble. “Good to see youagain, Jamie. Laird Armstrong, an honor. Thank you for your hospitality.”
Octavian did not release a breath until they were north of Gretna Green and he was certain they had not been followed.
Syd was glowering at him.
Octavian stifled a groan. “What?”
“They think I gave myself to you,” she said, sounding more hurt than angry. He could manage her anger, but her shame devastated his heart. “Oh, I know you wanted to shut me up, and I understand your reasons why. But they did not question for a moment that you had bedded me. This is what I found galling.”
Syd was fiery and independent in so many ways, and yet remarkably traditional when it came to love and marriage.
“Their willingness to believe me is what saved us,” he said gently. “I’m sorry I encouraged their mistake. It curled my stomach to pile on those lies. In truth, I uttered more lies in this past hour than I have done in all my life. I never even lied as a child when I did something stupid. I always told my father the truth and took the punishment. But this was about protecting you. How else was I to keep you safe? They were not going to harm a woman with child, and that’s all I cared about…that they would not harm you. Syd, I could not come up with a better idea on the spur of the moment. Could you?”
She let out a breath, but said nothing.
“You are my wife now. Even if you weren’t, the Scots would not think any less of you for taking me into your bed. They have a hand-fasting tradition. Do you know what that is?”
She continued to look at him with pain in her eyes.
He sighed and continued. “The couple declare their intention to marry in front of witnesses and then go live together. If they are still together after a year, they are considered married. If the woman carries his child, they are considered married. It is nothing formal, just tradition. Nothing like our Englishceremonial rites. They do not think less of you for giving yourself to me.”
“But this is entirely the point! I didnotgive myself to you.”
“You were willing last night,” he dared to point out. “Why deny it? I was the one who insisted on waiting until we were married.” He ran a hand through his hair, concerned he was digging himself into a deeper pit every time he opened his mouth. But they had to speak about this or else Syd’s resentment would fester. “We’ve traveled together for over a week, slept in the same bed, and seen each other without a stitch of clothing on. We did all that, so do not make too much of the fact you are still a virgin. I assure you, no one cares whether we did the deed or not. You were thoroughly ruined the night you tossed me off the roof and I took you to my home. Our marriage will save you from any scandal. More important, our marriage has saved you from Sir Henry.”
“Still, it hurts me, Octavian. Can you not see that?”
“Yes, I do. I see it more clearly than you think. But I am not turning back to explain to the Scots that you arenotcarrying my child. Nor am I sorry they misinterpreted my haste to marry you. Their misunderstanding saved us. Correcting them, and then explaining your father intended to sell you to Sir Henry, would not have been as effective.”
