The Heiress Bride (Sherbrooke Brides 3)

“It isn’t necessary,” Sinjun repeated. “Now, trust me. I promise that both husbands will be here before too much longer. Indeed, I still hold to Friday, no later. Would the two of you like to shake hands now and we’ll get on with the business at hand?”

Sinjun realized she felt quite good as she watched her sisters-in-law continue to grumble at each other even as they hugged. Yes, she felt stronger than she had the day before. Not up to full snuff yet, but she was clearheaded and her brain was functioning quite well. She didn’t feel wilted any longer.

They discussed their plan until Sinjun, at least, was pleased, and all the consequences she could think of were covered. Sophie and Alex didn’t like the plan but Sinjun convinced them it was the only way. “Would you prefer that I just shoot him and toss his body in the loch?” she’d said, and that had shut down most of their objections. She’d written her letter the afternoon before and had Ostle brought to her. Him, she had sworn to secrecy. Pray God he would keep mum about what he’d done.

Sinjun looked from one sister-in-law to the other. “Now, we will act this morning. We can’t take the chance that we’ll have another day. You may not have faith in Douglas and Ryder, but I do.”

Both Alex and Sophie had brought pocket pistols. Both knew how to shoot, not as well as Sinjun, but well enough. The sight of the pistols brought their feet firmly to the ground.

“The Virgin Bride said trouble, Sinjun,” Alex said. “We’re not stupid, no matter we didn’t think of everything. Or write everything. Now, where’s your pistol?”

Sinjun drew the small pistol from beneath her pillow. “I’m strong enough for us to do it this morning. I will ensure that Colin is off doing something else and not paying any attention to either of you or to me. I’ll manage it somehow. Now come here and listen carefully.”

Getting rid of Colin wasn’t as easy as Sinjun had hoped it would be. Finally, at her wits’ end, she played the invalid and began to cough pitiably, bending over and clutching at her ribs as she coughed and coughed. She had the headache, too, of course, a pounding pain over her left eye. Ah, and she could barely catch her breath. She did it well, her eyes even tearing as the raw scraping coughs came from her throat. She even managed some convincing shudders.

“Damn, I thought you were so much better,” Colin said, his big hands rubbing up and down her back as he cradled her against him. It was he who insisted on riding himself for the physician Childress, but not before he gained both Alex’s and Sophie’s promises not to leave her. An easy promise to make and to keep. Talk about guilt, Sinjun was about ready to sink with it at his show of concern, but she knew she had to hold a steady course, they all did.

If men weren’t so bloody intractable, she thought, but it was an absurd wish.

“I feel just excellent,” Sinjun said in reply to Alex as she dressed quickly in one of her riding habits, a blue serge that was shiny with age and wear. “I’ll probably be as weak as a sick goat later, but for now everything’s fine. Don’t worry, you two. We must take care of this before the husbands arrive. No, don’t glare at each other. They will come, and soon.”

“Where are you going?”

It was Philip. He strode into the bedchamber, paying no heed to either Sophie or Alex, and walked straight to Sinjun, stopping and staring at her, his hands on his hips, a stance just like his father’s. “Where are you going?” he asked again. “You’re wearing a riding habit, not a nightgown. Papa won’t be pleased, Sinjun. Nor am I.”

Sinjun wanted to ruffle his hair but restrained herself. She contented herself with giving him a small smile. “I’m just taking your two new aunts about the grounds. I feel quite good, Philip, and I will be careful. As soon as I tire I’ll come back to bed.”

“Where is Father?”

“He’s doubtless with Mr. Seton going over accounts or perhaps visiting the crofters. He was gone for three weeks and there is much that requires his lordly attention. You didn’t ask him?”

“I wasn’t downstairs when he left. Dahling was throwing a tantrum and trying to bite Dulcie’s leg. I had to protect Dulcie.”

“Well, whilst I’m being an excellent hostess, why don’t you keep watch on Aunt Arleth for me.”

His eyes lit up. “Yes,” he said. “I’ll do that, but Sinjun, don’t tire yourself, all right?”

“I promise.” She watched Philip leave the bedchamber and felt the knife of guilt turning in her innards. “I hated doing that, but he’s just as protective as his papa.”

“You’re a wonderful actress, Sinjun,” Alex said as they slipped dow

n the back servants’ stairs. “I’ve never been that good.”

“I hate it, but it had to be done,” Sinjun said on a sigh. “Ah, the guilt. But I must keep Colin safe. He will know how important it is to me. He will understand, if, that is, he ever discovers what we did.”

“Your optimism is built on sand, my dear,” Sophie said. “He’s a man. I shouldn’t hold my breath were I you. Understanding isn’t a virtue men necessarily cultivate, particularly if it relates to a wife.”

“Sophie’s right,” Alex said. “If Colin does find out, and in my experience husbands usually discover everything you don’t want them to know about, he will feel enraged and worried to his toes because you might have been hurt; and being a man, he would naturally blame you for worrying him. It all makes sense to them. Strange, but it does.”

“A man can’t accept that there is anything he can’t do,” Sophie continued. “If his wife succeeds where he can’t, why, he’ll be so furious he’ll spit nails. And he’ll blame her for succeeding.”

“I know,” Sinjun said on a deep sigh. “I’m married now and I realize well enough that Colin is no different from Douglas and Ryder. He shouts and yells and carries on until I want to cosh him. But surely he will understand that he’s left me no choice but to do what I must.”

“Ha,” said Alex.

“Ha, ha,” said Sophie.

“That is if he ever finds out.”