Pardoned on the Peak (Sequel to New World Sasanaichs)

Five

Considering the desperation of the situation, it didn't take long at all to pull together the wedding ceremony that Created a new, legal Mrs. James Fraser. Lady Dunsany'd all but worked herself and her younger daughter into their graves at least a few decades too soon, but she'd overseen every last detail right down to the Color of the embroidery in her older daughter's wedding dress. However, even Lord Dunsany'd been surprised by the Generosity of the man who was now his son-in-law, not to mention that man's extended family.

After Returning to the Colonies long enough to round up a few of his relatives so they could bear witnessta the ceremony, Jamie'd called a meeting between himself, his existing father-in-law, and the man who'd been about to become such. He'd refused to say how he was able to do such a thing, but he'd made it quite clear that he Intended to foot the entire bill for the ceremony in question. Ever quick to support those he loved, Lachlan Morgan'd been quick to back him up and add funds of his own to the figurative pot, a refusal to allow the Dunsanys to pay him back in the Future quickly following. It was no concern to him at all, and since they were already up to their necks in debt, he wasn't about to worsen their circumstances over something he considered petty.

Geneva'd been absolutely gorgeous in the Silver dress that sported a shockingly low neckline, which all but left her bosom completely bare as she'd walked down the aisle on her father's arm. The Color somehow made her Dove-gray eyes shine even brighter, rather than drowning out their pale Color by making them blend together. And no one in the small crowd could quite tell whether it was that neckline, the dress' Color, or how it appeared to be embroidered with Feathers that floated down to the ground that seemed to catch her bridegroom's eye the most. He didn't give any hints as to which of those things'd caught his attention, never mind whether or not he found her attractive enough to take her to his bed at the earliest available opportunity-which was something she now wasn't looking forward to.

Once the ceremony'd been concluded and they'd been pronounced Mr. and Mrs. James Fraser, the wedding party'd been swift to move to Helwater's formal dining room. The ginger man was quickly seated at the foot of the massive dining table, his new, legal father-in-law taking his appropriate seat at its head on the other End. But unlike most other formal dinners, both his women were seated next to him-Róisín at the End of the table so she'd be on his right, his new wife across from her so she'd be on his left.

It wasn't till late that Night that everyone eventually retired to either their private chambers, or ones that were kept ready for any guests Helwater might host at any Time. Well, the Morgans'd been relatively quick to bid their farewells and head back to Morgan's Peak with Egan and Aisling, who were openly unhappy with their father's new marriage. Lord John'd also been fairly quick to depart the indebted estate once the celebratory dinner'd wrapped up, citing there no longer being a need for him to be there as his reason. But with the mansion cleared out and so quiet, one could hear a pin drop from clear across it, the bitch of a lass knew damn good and well what'd be expected of her. She knew sooner or later, her new bridegroom'd come to her chambers, and she'd be forced to do her wifely duty with the act she'd vehemently refused to engage in with a sodomite-the very same one that'd landed her with a husband she now didn't want.

After all, her new marriage wouldn't be truly legal till it was consummated, which meant it'd be too easy to have annulled-something her father was against with equal Vehemence.

"'Tis just me, lass," Jamie said when hearing her door click shut behind her made her start.

"I never even heard you open the door, let alone step in," she mused, a hand pressed to her bosom-which her thin night rail didn't really do anything to hide-as she turned to look at him from over her shoulder.