“Except this time he said it in reference to my sister,” Lachlan’s voice was hard and cold.

  “Brachton is the more reasonable brother, correct?” Ethan whispered.

  “I used ta think so. Now I’m not so certain.”

  “Click, click, click. Mistletoe and Whiskey. Squawk. Fanella kissed Ethan. Squawk.”

  “Where are ye lass,” Lachlan called out. “I ken ye are in here.”

  Again, Fanella held her breath and didn’t move an inch, praying that the orange trees hid them well enough not to be found.

  “If ye show yerself, I may not kill Mr. Copeland,” Duncan called.

  “He willna kill ye,” she assured Ethan quietly.

  “They are not here,” Lady Esther insisted. “Perhaps we’ll find them in the card room and you can question them there.”

  “We just came from the card room. They arena there. They are hidin’ in here,” Lachlan insisted.

  Courtship was no longer an option. However, marriage was in Ethan’s near future. If he survived.

  Ethan glanced about, but there was no exit from this end of the conservatory, except for a door leading outside and neither he nor Fanella were dressed for the cold winter night, plus they’d leave a trail in the snow. There was a very good chance that Brachton and Duncan would find them before they entered the castle again, and it was too cold to hide outside.

  It wasn’t that he was afraid of what would happen to him, but he wished to protect Fanella.

  “It isn’t what you think,” Ethan said as he stepped out from the cover of the trees.

  “If it isn’t, then why are you hidin’?” Lachlan demanded.

  “It’s your sister who is hiding, though I knew it wouldn’t do any good.”

  “I doona ken why she is afraid. She isn’t the one I plan on hurtin’.” Duncan fisted his hand and pulled back his arm and Ethan braced himself.

  “Duncan, don’t,” Fanella cried as she ran from the trees and placed herself between the two. “You have no cause to hit him.”

  “He doesna.” Brachton placed a hand on Duncan’s shoulder and pulled him back and Brachton stepped into his place. “However, I, as the eldest and your guardian, have every reason to pummel him. Now, step aside, Fanella.”

  “Nay! I willna.” Fanella stood her ground, arms crossed over her breasts.

  “Ye have no choice, Fanella, and I suggest ye return to the gathering and these fine ladies can accompany ye.”

  “I am not leavin’ ye and Duncan alone with him and I willna allow ye to hurt him.”

  “Ye ken I can simply pick ye up and move ye out of the way,” Brachton threatened.

  “There you are. I didn’t know where you’d gone off to Lachlan.”

  Ethan glanced past Bachton’s shoulder to note that his wife had joined them.

  “Talk some sense into my brother, Maddie.”

  “Sense? What’s he about to do?”

  “Harm Ethan for no reason.”

  “Ethan?” Duncan roared. “Ye call him by his given name.”

  “What is this about?”

  “Click, click, click. Ethan likes whiskey. Squawk. Ethan kiss Fanella. Squawk. Mistletoe and whisky. Squawk.”

  “Please don’t answer for me, Rogue,” Ethan ground out. His bird was doing far more harm than good, especially if he decided to mention wine in the dungeon, the other times they’d been alone...There was no hope for it, tomorrow he would wake battered and bruised. Further, he’d brought it on himself. Ethan knew better than to be alone with a miss and each time he had been with Fanella, he knew they were taking the chance of being discovered. If she were one of his sisters and Ethan was in Brachton’s place, he was not so certain a few bones wouldn’t be broken as well.

  “I’d heard about the parrots but hadn’t seen them until now,” Lady Brachton beamed. “This must be Rogue.”

  “Pretty Lady. Squawk.”

  “How delightful!”

  “Maddie, take Fanella back to the gathering...no, escort her to her chamber and I will speak with her later.”

  “I am not leavin’,” Fanella argued.

  “Why are you acting this way, Lachlan? Because of a kiss?”

  “And they were alone, and there was whisky.”

  “Is that so?” She crossed her arms over her chest and started tapping her foot. “Did anything else happen, Fanella?”

  “Nay. Just kissin’ and a few sips of whiskey.”

  Lady Brachton turned to her husband. “And you wish to harm Mr. Copeland for something so innocent. Isn’t that rather hypocritical of you Lachlan?”

  Brachton’s jaw hardened as he narrowed his eyes on his wife. “It isna the same and ye ken it.”

  She chuckled. “I agree. What happened to us was much more damaging, yet you survived.”

  “What happened between the two of ye?” Fanella asked. Apparently the story had never been shared.

  “You do not need to know,” Brachton ground out.

  “I’ll tell ye all about it,” Lady Brachton promised.

  “She willna!”

  “Do tell us though,” Lady Priscilla begged.

  Ethan had completely forgotten that his great-aunts were present, along with his older brother, because he’d been so focused on Brachton and Duncan, who had yet to unclench his fist.

  The way Darius was watching with his arms crossed over his chest, relaxed, sitting back in a chair and legs crossed at the ankles, Ethan knew he couldn’t count on his older brother coming to his rescue or lifting a finger to help. Then again, Ethan had gotten himself into this situation and didn’t need the assistance of Darius.

  “My wife will tell no one of our meetin’,” Lachlan ordered then focused back on Ethan. “However, given that bit of reminder, I willna hit ye.”

  Fanella blew out a sigh and her shoulders relaxed.

  “First, Mr. Copeland and I are goin’ to have a discussion, but I canna promise that he will be able ta see out of both of his eyes next time ye see him Fanella.”

  “I’m not leavin’ ye alone with him,” she argued.

  “Yes, you are,” Ethan finally said. This was his battle, not hers, and if he was too pained to leave his bed for the next sennight, he’d not complain because he deserved the punishment.

  “Come along, Fanella,” Lady Brachton took her arm. “We’ll return to the parlor and have a bit of tea.”

  She glanced back at Ethan. “Doona let them hurt ye. Ye’ve done nothin’ wrong and have every right to defend yerself.”

  Ethan nearly laughed. He’d take the punishment without raising a fist.

  “I’ll make certain Brachton and his brother don’t kill him,” Darius assured her. “I’ve just not yet decided how much I’ll allow Ethan to be hurt.”

  “That’s not verra kind. He’s your brother.”

  Darius simply grinned as he were enjoying himself.

  “Come along.” Lady Brachton pulled Fanella from the conservatory with the three sisters following close behind. As soon as the door was closed, Duncan drew back and punched Ethan in the face and sent him flying backward.

  Chapter 19

  As much as she tried to relax, Fanella was unable to do so and took to pacing within the smallest parlor of blues and yellows. As cheerful as the room was, it didn’t brighten her mood. The maiden aunts had brought her here, along with Maddie because Fanella was much too agitated to return to the rest of the gathering.

  “They’ll know something is amiss the moment they see you,” Maddie had insisted.

  “Lachlan will be reasonable, will he not?” Fanella asked her brother’s wife.

  “In most cases he is, but you are his sister, so there is no predicting what he might do. Or Duncan for that matter.”

  “I’ve requested brandy and cakes,” Lady Joanna announced as she joined them, her two sisters following.

  She’d never tasted brandy before, but perhaps it would help her nerves. However, cakes were out of the question as her stomach was too tied up to eat anything.

  “As you requested, Lady Joanna,” a footman announced as he entered carrying a tray with a decanter of amber liquid and five glasses. Behind him was a maid with a tray of delicacies.

  “Thank you, George,” Lady Joanna said, then closed the door after the servants exited.

  “I wonder how soon Lord Brachton will insist on a wedding?” Lady Priscilla asked excitedly. “I hope it is soon, and here so that we can all attend.”

  Fanella’s stomach tightened further at the idea of a wedding.

  “I’m certain that the wedding will be held in Falkirk as that is Fanella’s home and she’d want her mother present, as well as her older sister,” Maddie advised.

  “Oh, I suppose,” Lady Joanna agreed with disappointment as Lady Esther went about pouring brandy into each of the glasses.

  “This is just what you need, Miss Fanella.” Lady Esther pressed a glass into her hand.

  Fanella sniffed and noted the strong aroma that seemed to be a cross between wine and whiskey. She then took a sip and noted the burn at the back of her throat and into her stomach. It was a much warmer burn than one got from whisky and she rather liked the taste.

  “While we wait, why don’t you tell us about how you met your husband and what happened,” Lady Priscilla suggested with an exited grin.

  A blush stole across Maddie’s checks, which left Fanella rather intrigued. What had her brother done before he was married that would cause such a reaction?

  “I cannot. My husband would have my head.”

  Fanella snorted. “That is an exaggeration, as ye ken.”

  “I’d prefer he not be angry with me, then.”

  I guess it was a reasonable request, though the story telling may have helped keep Fanella’s mind off of what Brachton may be doing to Ethan.

  “I do think you will adore Louisiana and New Orleans,” Lady Joanna offered. “We loved visiting there.”

  Fanella’s heart skipped. If Lachlan forced Ethan to marry her, she’d be forced to live in America...away from her family and all that she held dear...to never see them again.

  As the repercussions of her actions filled her mind, Fanella found it more and more difficult to breathe and was quite certain the tightness in her throat was cutting off all air to her lungs.

  “Oh dear.” Maddie took the glass of brandy from her hand. “Breathe Fanella.”

  “I canna,” she said and tried to take another gulp of air but all of her breaths were shallow and quick.

  “Fanella, ye’ll be happy ta ken that ye’ll be a bri...” Lachlan announced as he entered the parlor. Ethan trailed behind and though they’d seemed in better spirits then when she’d left, at the sight of her, concern filled their eyes.

  “What is the matter?” Lachlan demanded as Ethan hurried to Fanella’s side.

  “All we did was mention how much Fanella would enjoy living in Louisiana and a moment later she lost all color and couldn’t catch her breath.”

  “Drink.” Ethan put the glass of brandy to Fanella’s lips and urged her to take a few sips, which she managed to do before pushing it away.

  “Could I have a moment alone with her?” He didn’t actually expect Brachton to leave them, but he wanted everyone else out of the room. Fanella was panicking and he needed to put her at ease.

  “We’ll go along straight away,” Lady Esther said. “Come along sisters.”

  Lady Brachton left, as well as Fanella’s brother, much to Ethan’s surprise.

  “You need to relax, Fanella. Tell me what has you upset.” Though he already had a very good idea.

  “I canna leave Scotland for good.”

  He offered what he hoped was a reassuring smile. “Nobody is asking you to do so.”

  She blinked at him. “Ye arena?”

  “No. On that you have my word.”

  She blew out a breath and tried to take another, but it took some time before her breath was back to normal and color had returned to her cheeks.

  “Does this mean Lachlan was reasonable and isna forcing ye into anythin’ permanent?”

  “Given the circumstances, I believe Brachton was more than reasonable in his expectations.”

  “Expectations?”

  “That we marry, of course.”

  Immediately her breathing became labored again.

  “Is it me that you don’t wish to marry or is it living in Louisiana?” She may have been agreeable to courting, but Fanella clearly hadn’t considered what would come next.

  “I canna live so far from my family.”

  At least it wasn’t him.

  “So you have no objection to being my wife.”

  “Nay, if you doona have an objection to bein’ my husband.”

  Ethan couldn’t help himself and laughed. “I have absolutely no objection.” In fact, since he and Brachton had come to an agreement, Ethan felt lighter, as if a weight he hadn’t been aware that he was carrying had been lifted.

  “I’ve already given consideration to our living in Louisiana,” he offered.

  Her eyes widened as she took another shuddering breath, as if she was afraid of what he might say.

  “As we will both have family here, but my home is in New Orleans, I’ve decided that we could spend half of the year, preferable fall and winter, in Louisiana, and return to England and Scotland for late spring and summer.”

  Surprise lit in her grey eyes. “Ye’d do that?”

  “I could not imagine living here year round.” These past six months were long enough, but he’d make the concession for Fanella. “But, it isn’t fair to deny you your family either. I know how important they are to you, just as mine is important to me.”

  “Thank ye, Ethan.”

  “Does that mean you’ll be my bride?” Ethan nearly held his breath. He hoped that she was now at ease about where they’d live, but that didn’t mean she was agreeable to marrying. Despite what her brother ordered, Fanella still deserved to be asked and to agree. If it was something she was against, he would find another compromise with Brachton, though Ethan prayed that she wanted to marry as much as he did.

  Fanella simply stared into his eyes and the longer she took to answer, the more worried he became. Soon he’d be the one unable to breathe if she didn’t answer.

  “Why do ye want to marry me?”

  “We’ve little choice,” he reminded her.

  “That wasna the question.” She frowned. “Though I suppose the question should be do ye want to marry me or are ye only doin’ so because my brother is forcin’ ye?” As she said the words, Fanella brought a hand to his cheek. And though she was gentle, Ethan winced as her fingers brushed over skin that was certainly starting to bruise. “He coerced ye.”

  “There was no coercion, of that you have my promise.” Ethan took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles. “This happened before we ever had a chance to speak on the matter and it was Duncan’s right to do so.”

  “It wasna,” Fanella argued.

  “Yes, Fanella. He is your brother and it could have gone much worse.”

  “Why are men so brutal? Always talkin’ with their fist before talkin’ with words?”

  Ethan chuckled. “I cannot answer that, but when a man’s sister may have been compromised, they are not usually thinking in a rational manner.”

  “I’m beginnin’ ta think men arena rational at all. If they were, they wouldna repeat mistakes of drinkin’ too much whisky and then sufferin’ the next day more than once. It’s nearly as bad as hittin’ and then speakin’.”

  “I find myself in agreement.”

  “Ye still havna answered my question.” Her stormy grey eyes bore into his as if she was going to judge him for the truthfulness of his words.

  Instead of answering, with words, Ethan placed a finger under her chin and then leaned down to press his lips against hers. This time it wasn’t filled with need or passion, but he wanted to convey what was in his heart with his lips. When he pulled back, Fanella sighed.

  “I want to marry you, Fanella. I already confessed that I’ve developed a very strong attachment to you and the only reason I haven’t voiced what is in my heart is because we’ve known each other for such a short time.”

  “Aye, I’ve got an attachment for ye too, but is it enough ta marry?”

  He hoped that it was. “We will find out, I suppose.”

  “I doona want to marry ye if we find out we aren’t compatible.”

  Ethan nearly laughed. He’d never met anyone more compatible, but instead, he put her mind at ease. “Your brother does not want us to wed until spring. He let your older sister marry too quickly and he does not want to make that mistake again.”

  “I doona believe Mary’s marriage was a mistake,” Fanella argued.

  “He didn’t explain, but he doesn’t want another sister to have a rushed wedding when there is no reason for it. Therefore, I will be returning with you to Falkirk after Donovan and Claresta wed and will spend the next months coming to know you better, as well as your family.”

  “And we’ll be able to determine if we do belong together.” Fanella sounded relieved.

  “I know that we do,” reassured Ethan. “It’s just our minds coming to the same conclusion that our hearts already have. But your brother also promised that if we find, as we come to know each other better that we will not suit, he will not force a marriage.” It didn’t really matter because Ethan already knew that he and Fanella suited perfectly.

  Chapter 20

  Such a lovely wedding, an intimate affair, within the castle chapel. This was one place Fanella had not yet explored with Ethan and it was almost as if they had saved the most wonderful part of Chatwell Castle to the very last. Stone floors and walls with ancient stained glass windows and scarred wooden pews exuded history. She could almost imagine a lord and lady of the fourteenth century standing before a vicar repeating the same vows as Donovan and Lady Claresta. There was no chandelier to light from above, as it was a chapel, but several candelabras were spaced throughout the chapel adding to the light filtering in through the colored glass.