Miss Sheena MacGregor had loved Camdyn Oaks, Earl of Irvine, once upon a time. How could she not fall for his charm, honeyed words, and seductive lips? When she found out it was all a ploy, his betrayal cut deep. Never would she be such a fool again.
Camdyn Oaks had set out to charm secrets out of Miss Sheena MacGregor. Instead, she captivated him and stole his heart. Before Camdyn could explain, confess the truth, and beg for forgiveness, she walked away and refused to ever speak to him again.
Now with Christmas drawing near, Sheena is stuck on the English side of the border and forced to seek shelter in his home. Camdyn is determined to win her heart once again but fears that it may be lost to him forever.
Chapter One
Cumbria, December 1817
Camdyn Oaks, now Marquess Walsingham, wandered to the window. Snow blanketed the ground and the clouds threatened to bring more as the day continued.
The manor was silent. Not even the servants made a sound though they were in preparation for the holiday. The greeneries, candles, and confectionaries were for them because they found enjoyment in the festivities. They had even hung mistletoe in the doorways. At least they had someone to kiss, not that he was supposed to be aware of the various romantic liaisons among his staff, which had been forbidden by his steward. Frankly, Camdyn did not care and was glad someone had another to kiss.
He dared not hope that he would enjoy the same and anticipated that this would be the loneliest Christmas yet.
His father had passed five months ago, his mother had died when he was a child and as he had no siblings, there was little point in embracing the traditions and festivities this year.
This Christmas would also be much different than last one. His father had urged him to travel to Devon for a house party and Camdyn had needed the distraction. What he hadn’t counted on was being only one of ten gentlemen invited. They were the only guests because Lady Lucinda Claxton had been told to settle on a husband.
Camdyn had not known what type of house party he was attending until he arrived. He nearly left but reconsidered because he knew that he must wed. He had lost the only woman he had ever loved, and as he was required to father an heir and hopefully a spare, knew that he would need to settle for someone whom he could get along with.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t tried to explain to Sheena, but by the time he had finished arguing with his father and went in search of her, the MacGregors had already left London for Scotland.
He’d then attempted to call on her at Anagburn, but he was not even allowed on the estate and had been turned away each time.
The pain and tears in her eyes from that evening still haunted him, and had he been able to think clearly, Camdyn knew that he would have been able to explain so that she understood. But her family intended to keep her from him.
It was Lady Lucinda who convinced him that he must try to set matters right with Sheena and that he should not simply give up because the MacGregors had made it difficult.
She was correct of course, and maybe that was what had brought him out of his self-loathing, for Camdyn had been determined to court Sheena the next spring. Except, she had never returned to London and that was when he put his next plan in motion.
He would not give up but do everything in his power to win Sheena back, if she would have him, and he did not care how long it took. And, if by chance he spied a Christmas star this year, he’d even wish on it and hope that in the spring she would once again be his.
***
Sheena stood, hands fisted on her hips, and glared at her older brother Ewan. “Why did ye insist on trying to cross here and not stay on the road?”
“Excisemen,” he answered.
“We doona have whisky,” she reminded him. They were returning from a delivery, so it didn’t matter if their wagon was searched.
“I wasna thinkin’ of that.”
“Instead ye take a path better suited for a horse, through the forest and then try to cross Kershope Burn.”
Sheena stomped forward to free the horses currently standing in the freezing water. They should have avoided Kershopefoot, but Ewan wanted to take the quickest route home since Christmas was but a few days away. Now they were stuck in England, just on the other side of the border.
“Doona free ’em!” Ewan yelled. “They need ta pull.”
“They have been pullin’ but the wagon is only digging deeper inta the slush and mud.” Taking the reins, she led the horses back to the bank and to the solid path before retrieving oats for them. It had been a long day and they’d already gone too long without food and rest.
“Leave the wagon,” she insisted. “We will ride the horses home.”
“We canna ride them,” Ewan insisted. “They are for pulling wagons, not for riders.”
Nor did they have saddles. Besides, the horses were probably as exhausted as she and needed to rest. They could set out again first thing in the morning and the horses would just need to get used to having a rider on their backs.
“Then there is nothing left for it.” She started gathering kindling because the night would soon fall. Already the sun had dipped behind the trees.
“What are ye doin’?”
“Building a fire, or do ye intend to remain standin’ here all night freezin’?”
Why had Uncle Aiden sent Ewan with her to smuggle whisky into England? Alistair, the eldest of her brothers had been available, but Ewan had begged, and Uncle Aiden had finally consented. Now they were stuck.
“I ken the area. There is shelter not far from here.”
Sheena frowned. “Where?” She didn’t think they were near anywhere.
Ewan looked away with his head down. “Oakley Park.”
“No!” She would rather freeze then call on Marquess Walsingham. He hated her family and would likely turn her and Ewan over for smuggling. He had tried often enough, but they were never caught with the illegal whisky on this side of the border. Nor would they now as it had already been delivered. Even if he couldn’t see them arrested, he certainly wouldn’t give them shelter.
Nor did she want to see his son, the Earl of Irvine. She never wanted to set eyes on Camdyn again.
“Build a fire, Ewan, we are not calling on the marquess.”
“Ye build a fire if ye want, but I am not stayin’.”
“Ye got us stuck here in the first place,” she yelled at him. If only he had stayed on the road instead of a less used path, they would not be in this predicament. She had tried to argue that the routes he took on his horse could not always be used for a wagon, but Ewan insisted that he knew best, which left them in this predicament.
Ewan grabbed the reins of the horses from her and turned away. She thought he was going to tie them to a tree so that they didn’t wander off; instead, he kept walking.
“Where are ye goin’?” Sheena yelled after him.
“Oakley Park,” he yelled. “Ye can stay back and freeze, but I am not willin’ to do so.”
Blast! She either remained in the forest alone, and without food, or went with Ewan.
Sheena watched and wondered if she was brave enough to stay. But darkness was falling, and she soon lost sight of her brother.
Grabbing the valise where she kept a spare set of clothing and a few essentials from the back of the wagon, she hurried after him.
Yes, she was brave, but not stupid. The temperature was dropping and there was no way to remain warm. Not even with a blanket and fire. The marquess may dismiss them from his doorstep, but maybe he’d let them sleep in the barn or stables and then they could be on their way in the morning.
If he didn’t, then they’d sneak in.
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