Excerpt of The Bewildered Bride by Vanessa Riley

October 4, 1818, Gretna Green, Scotland

The words between my Adam and the innkeeper left me shaking.

Get your bed wench out of here.

A chemise slipping from my shoulder exposed our socalled sin.

How dare you bring a whore to my good establishment! The hate echoed in my head, rattling and shaking my conscience.

I was frozen.

Torn between fleeing and defending my love, I settled for hiding with blankets at my chin.

How could that horrible man reduce my vows said before God to something illicit and tawdry?

Plink. Plink. Scatter.

Coins dropped to the floor. My hearing was sharp, sharper than my sight, and I could picture Adam throwing pence to prove a point.

Didn’t he know points stabbed?

Even a rich man’s son could be killed.

Adam came back inside our room and slammed the door. “My love, we must leave. Ruthy, we have to be on the road sooner than I wanted.”

His voice was calm, like nothing had happened. He finished dressing, tied his perfect cravat, and leaned over the mattress, kissing my nose.

But I knew Adam.

He seethed.

He prayed and called for blessings but could curse like a hot-headed sailor.

My love’s cheeks were red, flushed with anger, and he kept clenching and unfurling his fingers as if he’d fight the next person who crossed his path.

“I adore you, my Ruth.”

My husband’s voice—perfection. So sweet to my ears, if a masculine sound could be called sweet. I couldn’t think when he whispered my name.

“Ruthy, my love, I’m going to the stables.”

I pressed my hand to my middle and pushed hard on my stomach to squash the wiggles and tingles inside.

“Wait here for me.”

“No, I must come with you,” I begged to stay at his side. “No, my Ruthy. Another time you’ll get what you want. But this is for your safety. My wife must stay safe.”

Mesmerized, I nodded. His power over me was complete. He took his gold cross from his neck and put it about mine. “So, you won’t forget me while you dress.” The trance ended when he turned and reached for the door latch.

“Don’t, Adam. Don’t do anything rash.” I wanted to say stupid, don’t do anything stupid, but that would push him into trouble. His hot temper surpassed mine when he thought I suffered.

“I won’t, Ruthy. I won’t be long.”

Fingering the cross, I decided to try one more time to keep him. I feared that I’d never see him again if he left this room. My hands came together, palms flat and pointing up toward him. “Adam, please stay. Let me dress and come with you. I don’t want us apart.”

“I’ll be back for you when our carriage is ready. My wife is not waiting in the cold.” He came back and kissed my forehead like a reward for a good girl.

But I was his girl. And he was all mine.

Tossing me a wink, Adam slipped to the door…