Kimberly Nee - The McKenzie Brothers (24 page)

“That I don’t know, Drew. But, I can hazard a guess where such a rumor might have originated.”

However, it didn’t make sense. No one in Brunswick could possibly know about Heather’s time at Coal’s. The only people who could have known would be those on board the
Triton
. And certainly his crew —

“Henry Donaldson.” The rage filling him burned pure white in its intensity. “That son of a bitch. I will
kill
him. I warned him.”

He scrambled to his feet, with Garrett doing the same, grabbing his arm to hold him back. “Wait, wait. Before you go avenging the lady’s honor, I have a bit more bad news to drop on you.”

Drew couldn’t suppress his groan. “Whatever it is, I assure you, I’ve got an even worse one.”

“What might that be?”

He stepped back from Garrett and raked a hand through his hair. “She’s pregnant, Garrett.”

“
What
?”

Drew nodded. “Oh, yes. I’m going to make them grandparents in about six months.”

“Bloody hell.”

“Oh, I don’t think of it that way. Tell you the truth, I’m pretty damn excited about it. I love her, Garrett. I don’t give a damn what anyone might say. Hell, I’ve never cared what anyone thought about what I did. I know the truth and to hell with anyone who chooses to believe otherwise.”

“Do you honestly think it’s as simple as that?”

“No, of course not. But do you hear what I am saying? I’m in love with her. I can’t simply stop that because it doesn’t suit what people think.”

“Well, you are going to have to think long and hard about everything, once Momma and Da find out. I don’t think they will be too pleased to have Heather as their daughter-in-law. And that brings us to the bad news. Da came by Eagleton looking for you. I told him I’d bring you up to Stonebridge for supper this evening.”

Nausea crashed over Drew with all the force of a storm wave. He swallowed hard against the bile rising in his throat. The roof was about to be dropped on him and he was
not
looking forward to this meal.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Although Garrett went with him, the walk to Stonebridge’s front doors seemed to take forever. He tried to close the doors as quietly as possible, but it was all for naught as James emerged from his office, his blue eyes blazing with fury. Garrett never specifically said James knew, but it was obvious he’d heard something. “Drew, a word, if you don’t mind?”

“Where is Momma?”

“Mercifully unaware, as she is taking a nap.” James’s reply was sharp as he gestured to his office doorway. “I’d like to do this before supper, if it’s all the same.”

Garrett patted Drew’s shoulder. “Da, before — ”

“Keep out of this,” James cut him off sharply. “It’s between your brother and me.”

Drew took a deep breath as he stepped into the office, wincing as his father slid the doors together with a resounding
thud
. He couldn’t remember the last time he saw James so furious. Most likely when it was Emma being discussed in hushed whispers and with sniggering giggles.

“How
could
you?” James stormed across the room to the table where the liquor was kept. He poured himself a hefty tumbler of bourbon, slugging half of it in one gulp. “How could you be so stupid? A whore, Drew? What were you thinking?”

Drew felt his hackles rise. “She is
not
a whore.”

“So these stories are not true, then? You didn’t
buy
her? Didn’t pay for her services?”

“Da — ”

“Answer me!”

“Yes! Is that what you want to hear?” Drew threw his hands up in frustration. “Yes! I did both. Christ, since when is that a crime?”

James stared at him in horrified disbelief. “You did
not
just ask that, did you? Do you need me to answer or can you figure it out on your own, Drew?” James’s hand shook as he slammed the glass back to the tabletop. “You realize, of course, you cannot possibly marry this woman.”

“Of course I can. I intend to do just that.”

“I’m afraid that isn’t possible, Drew. You will have nothing more to do with her. Have you any idea, any inkling, of what this will do to your mother when she hears it? That harlot stayed beneath our roof! We accepted her into this family!”

Anger gnawed at Drew’s insides, but he couldn’t very well take a swing at his father. “I am no longer a boy, Da. The decision is mine as to whom I marry, and Heather is the choice
I’ve
made.”

“Is that a fact?”

He folded his arms over his chest, his gaze locking with his father’s. “Yes.”

“Then you will no longer be welcome in this house.” James’s reply was swift, his voice resonating through the house. “I
will
not
have that trash in my house.”

“That
trash
, as you so succinctly put it, is no more a whore than any other woman associated with this family. Circumstances forced her to be where she was, but I can assure you, she was as innocent as Emma was after her supposed tryst with Julian.”

“Do not even think to drag your sister into this, Andrew. It’s not the same thing.”

“And how would you know?” Drew’s deep voice rose to a shout, bouncing off the walls in a deep thunderclap. “How would anyone presume to know what took place before I met her?
I’m
the one who knows for damn certain she was untouched before I came into her life.
I’m
the only one who knows.”

James’s expression became one of horror mixed with shock, as if he couldn’t believe Drew would have the gall to stand up to him, to defy him in such a manner. “It matters not what she was or wasn’t before you met her, Andrew,” he replied coldly. “What matters is what’s being said now. I will
not
allow you to marry this trollop and give her our name. Should you choose to do so, you are on your own. You will cease to be my son.”

Drew felt the impact of those words down to the soles of his feet as a sudden chill flooded him. “You would
disown
me over this?”

James’s expression was bland, his eyes flat. “I would.”

He didn’t like being backed into this corner. His first instinct was to strike back with as much force as possible. “Very well. To hell with you and to hell with this family.” He practically spat the words at his father as he turned on his heel and slammed out of the library.

Heather was lying down when Jeremy tapped lightly on her door. “Miss Morgan? Drew is here to see you.”

She sat up, feeling groggy as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “Drew is here?”

“I’ll send him up.”

“Please.”

With that, he was gone. Moments later, Drew’s boots thudded dully up the stairs, then he appeared in the doorway. She would’ve smiled, but the danger glinting in his eyes instantly put her on her guard.

“Drew, what is it?”

He looked pained. “People know.”

Dread flooded her, replacing the blood in her veins, as those two words reached her ears. She didn’t have to ask. She already knew. It was a good thing she was still sitting, for she’d have fallen over otherwise. A disbelieving “
What
?” was all she could muster.

He nodded. “I just found out myself.”

“But, how? Who?”

“I can’t say for certain, but I believe it was Henry. Don’t worry, I have every intention of dealing with that little maggot.”

He came into the room to sit beside her on the bed. Something else troubled him, as he had none of his usual devil-may-care sense about him. She reached for his hand, whispering, “What is it?”

“If I marry you, love, my father will disown me.”

“Oh, Drew, that’s terrible.” She couldn’t believe James McKenzie would turn on his son in so vicious a manner. That he would take everything away from Drew, right down to his name — his birthright.

She could see the pain in his eyes as they met hers and she whispered, “Well, it’s decided then.”

“I didn’t say I’d changed my mind. I have every intention of making you my wife.”

Her heart ached as she gazed up at him. He was willing to sacrifice all for her, to throw away everything he had worked so hard to obtain. He would pick up and walk away from his family to be with her. He amazed her and warmed her to her core. Never before had she dared dream a man would love her with such conviction.

But she couldn’t let him do something so rash.

As she sat there, stroking the back of his hand, she knew she could never ask him to make that kind of a sacrifice for her. He’d only live to regret it. Love could fade. Family was for life.

“Drew?”

“Yes?”

“Go home.”

“What?”

She took a deep breath. She’d hate herself for the rest of her days, but she could not let him destroy his entire life for her. “I said, go home.”

“Heather, didn’t you hear what I said?”

“Yes. I did hear. But, I’ve been thinking — a bit of thinking. I’ve decided I wish to return to London.”

“What?” Drew frowned, as if he hadn’t heard her correctly. “London?”

“Yes. I miss England terribly.” She knew her next words would kill him, but it was the only way she could think of to get him to leave her and try to restore his relationship with his family. “I don’t want to stay here. There isn’t anything for me here, so I want to go home.”

A sad smile lifted the corners of his mouth. “A nice try, Heather.”

“What makes you think I’m not serious?” she demanded, rising to her feet to face him squarely. “If we were in England, I would never — ”

“But we’re not in England, are we?” he countered softly.

She didn’t know what to tell him. On one hand, she was quite moved by the fact he was so willing to walk away from everything. On the other, she’d never rid herself of the guilt, knowing she cost him the people he loved so dearly and the company for which he’d spent almost half of his life toiling.

She thought of the child she carried, of what awaited her in London, should she return with a bastard. She also thought of when that child was five, six years old and asking for his father. What would she tell him?

She looked up at Drew, trying to imagine his features on a little boy or girl. How strong would the pain be, looking down at that child and seeing his handsome father, who was no longer a part of her life? It hurt now, and he stood right there before her. She couldn’t imagine it would be any easier in several years.

Still, she knew what needed be done. Squaring her shoulders, she lifted her chin and said, “I’d never ask you to make that choice, Drew.”

“You aren’t asking me to do anything,” he replied calmly. “It’s a choice I’ve made alone. A decision I made months ago.”

“Think of what this decision means, though.”

He caught her by the hand. “I’m willing to make the sacrifice, Heather.”

She stared at him for a long moment, then glanced down at that large hand holding hers. “I don’t want you to come to regret this, Drew,” she whispered, slowly pulling her hand free. “And I’m afraid that’s exactly what will happen. Perhaps not tomorrow, or next year, but it
will
happen. You’ll wake one morning to the terrible realization that your life has gone horribly awry.”

“That won’t ever happen.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I
do
know that. I know you think I’ve made this mistake before. And perhaps I came very close to doing just that. But all I know is that what I feel for you doesn’t even compare to Bridget. I’m not that same man any longer. I know what I want, Heather. And
you
are what I want.” He moved to close the gap between them, taking her into his arms. “You’re what I want and I’d never regret that.”

He did not give her the chance to argue as his lips came down to seize hers in a fierce kiss that left no room for her to doubt exactly what it was he felt for her.

When they parted, he wrapped his arms about her, pulling her to his chest. She sighed softly, resting her head against the broad expanse, listening to the strong, steady thumping of his heart.

He kissed the top of her head and murmured, “Tonight we will be married. Tomorrow, we will leave for London.”

“London? Are you certain?”

As she looked up at him with questioning eyes, he nodded. “Yes. There’s no reason for us to remain here. In London, I can make a fresh start for us. If we remain here, there’s nothing but rumors and innuendoes facing us. I’d rather give our child a brighter future in England.”

“If you’re certain…”

He nodded. “I am. I’ll gather the
Triton’s
crew together and we’ll leave with the tide tomorrow.”

“But — ”

He cut her off with a kiss. “The
Triton
is mine. The deed’s in my name. My father can’t touch her.”

She heard the bitterness in his voice and couldn’t help but again think he was making a mistake — a terrible mistake. “Perhaps we should wait, then,” she murmured, chewing at her forefinger, “until tempers cool. Then, if things haven’t changed, we can set sail.”

“Heather — ”

“No.” She pulled free from his embrace. “You’re angry. Your father is most likely angry as well. Give it some time, Drew. See what happens. At least then, we’ll know you gave it a chance. I know what your temper is like, and I’ll wager your father has the same fiery temperament as well. Can we not see if cooler heads will prevail? “Besides,” she smiled up at him, “You did just buy a house and I was so looking forward to furnishing it.”

A flash of irritation glinted in his eyes, but he slowly nodded. “Very well. You win. I’m not such a beast that I’d deny you the fun of decorating your home. But,” he added solemnly, “I wish us to be married as soon as possible. Perhaps that’ll prove to them I am serious about this.”

She had to agree. After all, she’d been growing concerned about their wedding. She was nearly three months along. Eyebrows would rise if their baby was born too soon after their wedding. Although the child would be legitimate at birth, there would still be much speculation amongst the populace of Brunswick. The point would be rendered moot, if they returned to London, but the sooner they were married, the easier Heather would breathe.