She did not know what was transpiring in her mind and heart, but she knew that with every moment, Tom was showing her he was a man of worth. Now that they were finding safety, she could not wait to be alone with him, now that she was his wife, now that she belonged to him in both name, body, and law.
When the coach pulled up in front of the towering castle, Tom jumped down and held his hand out to her. She followed as the castle’s tall, heavy doors quickly swung open and a giant of a man with wild dark hair streaming down his back bounded down the steps. His face was separated with an angry scar just as Tom had suggested.
“Och, Courtney. What are you doing here, mon?”
Courtney smiled and inclined his head. “Forgive me, Your Grace, but I have brought another young lady in need of your aid.”
“It seems I’m going to collect them,” the duke said.
“Is it not such a terrible habit to have?” Courtney replied. “The aiding of those in need.”
Clyde gave him a wary look. “Are you going to leave her here with me and hie back off to London to do the work that you do so well?”
“No,” Courtney said, pulling Elizabeth close. “For she is my wife.”
The Duke of Clyde blinked and swung his gaze from Courtney to Lady Elizabeth then back to Courtney.
“I never took you for the marrying kind,” Clyde said delightedly.
“It seems that I am and I am most glad.”
Clyde cocked his head to the side. “I can see it, Courtney. I ken a mon in love.”
Elizabeth nearly coughed at the romantic statement. Love? Did Tom love her?
Her heart did the strangest of things in her chest, and a warm ache filled her, one full of longing and trepidation.
“How do you do, lass?” The duke asked, giving her a slight bow.
She curtsied. “Very well, thank you.”
“So, you have caught his heart,” Blackburn rumbled. “He is no easy man to ensnare. He is intelligent and good. And an important mon to have in a fight.”
“I cannot agree more,” she said, “and he has rescued me from a grim fate that could have made my life miserable beyond repair.”
The duke let a low growl out. “Och, it seems Courtney and I are to be friends then in many things.”
Courtney gave a tight nod then explained to Elizabeth, “You see, the Duke of Clyde’s wife—”
As if on cue, that young lady rushed down the stairs, her red hair glinting in the Highland sunlight. “What is transpiring, my love?”
“It seems as if we have another young lady to take care of,” the duke explained holding his broad hand out to his duchess. “This is Courtney’s wife.”
“How do you do?” The duchess exclaimed happily. “It has been ages since I have seen you. Still carrying on in London a pace?”
“Indeed, Your Grace,” Tom said, “but I have brought you someone… who you might understand.”
Elizabeth tensed. Tom took her hand and squeezed it gently. “It is all right, Elizabeth. Let us all take care of you. I know you do not think it, but you have lived a cold life and it is time that you were given caring.”
The duchess smiled kindly. “Ah, I see. Your father was like my brother. Is that it?”
“I don’t know what your brother was like,” Lady Elizabeth began warily, “but if he wished to control you and everything about you, then yes.”
“We are sisters of a kind then,” the duchess sighed, “both born to situations in which we had great misfortune. But we were not unlucky,” the lady said optimistically.
“No,” Elizabeth agreed, “not unlucky at all. As a matter of fact, I think I am one of the most fortunate women in all of creation to have met Tom.”
“And I, Clyde,” the duchess returned. “Come, let me take you to the fire. Scotland can be most cold. The damp will get into your bones, but it is a soul-reviving place. It will renew you.”