That smile lasted all through the day and into the night. Very early the next morning they set sail. Not that she would have known, except for the rocking of the ship. They sequestered themselves in James’s quarters. Food was delivered outside the door. The journey would only take a day and half but she honestly wished it were longer.

“I pictured myself going on a great adventure on a ship,” she giggled as they lay in bed after their third bout of lovemaking. “But I somehow expected to see more scenery.”

He gave her a wicked grin. “I have found the scenery on this voyage breathtaking.”

She giggled again, but the sound was cut off by his lips as he pulled her against him again.

Their lovemaking was still frantic. Though they’d only missed a few days together, it was as though they were making up for lost time. When it was done, she was too spent even to eat and fell asleep with her head on his chest listening to the beating of his heart.

Her dreams were strange though, and a restlessness filled her that she couldn’t explain. She pressed closer to James, trying to fend the feeling off, trying to be safe and warm.

“Ainsley.” His gruff voice pulled at her but she couldn’t shake the dream she was in. “Wake up, love. Now. Wake up.”

She tried to push her eyelids open but they barely raised as she squinted up at him. “James?” she croaked, her throat feeling as though it were being stabbed by a thousand needles.

His hand came to her cheek and then her forehead. “You’re burning up.”

She shook her head. “You should leave. I don’t want you to get—”

“Not bloody happening, love.” His voice was soft despite the harshness of his words. He did rise from the bed but it was to pour a glass of water from the nearby pitcher. “I want you to drink.”

It made her shiver to think about it and she shook her head no, but he pressed the glass to her lips anyway even as he lifter her.

“Just a little now, love.” His voice was soft and soothing. “That’s it. That’s my girl.”

After he’d given her several sips, he set the glass aside, and climbed back into bed. “Let’s keep you warm.”

Laying her head back on his chest, she fell into an uneasy sleep.

The day passed in much the same fashion, not that she was able to keep track of time. But as the sun shone through the porthole, it burned her eyes and she burrowed deeper into James’s chest. “We’re almost home,” he whispered. “Just waiting on the tide to bring us in.”

He gave her more water and attempted to give her food, though she couldn’t abide it. As the ship docked, he dressed her, though it made her ache terribly, and then he wrapped her in several blankets.

She fell asleep in his arms, but she had no recollection of how he managed to get her up the ladder and onto the deck. Her father’s booming voice woke her as they crossed the lawn to her home.

“What in damnation is going on?” The sound of his yelling made her head ache.

“Please, Da,” she whispered. “Not so loud, the light is already too bright.”

“Light? We’re in Scotland. It’s cloudy.” But his voice has softened considerably.

“She’s got the mumps from the man she cared for. I’m sure of it,” James told her father.

She heard her father’s voice rumble in anger. “Hand her over to me then, we’ll care for her.”

“You shouldn’t risk it. I’ve already been exposed. Besides, I survived a few outbreaks.” James didn’t move. She loved her father, and she knew he would care for her, but right now, she wanted to be pressed against James. His arms were more comforting than any other place she could be.

“I don’t care about that, she’s my daughter—”

“She’s my wife,” James said more loudly and she cringed. He responded more softly. “I’ll take good care of her, my lord. Have food trays and fresh water left outside the door. We’ll keep the rest of the house from being exposed.”

Her father must have agreed because before she knew it, he was carrying her into the house and up the stairs. Dimly, she heard the gasps and whispers of what must have been her family but she couldn’t think about them now. She just wanted to be back in bed.

For three days it went on. James made her drink, tried to make her eat, stayed in bed with her to keep her warm. On the fourth day, her fever finally broke. Her body was still exhausted but she could finally stand food and her sleep wasn’t plagued by nightmares.

When she woke that evening, James wasn’t in bed with her. She sat up to find him pouring buckets of water into a bath. “I thought you’d like to soak.” He gave her a soft smile and she smiled back.

“That sounds lovely.” She stretched, her stomach grumbling with hunger. “And maybe something to eat.”

His grin spread as he crossed to a tray and put a hunk of cheese on a slice of bread. “Excellent idea.”

Stretching her hand out to take the food, she noticed several large welts on her arm. She blinked. Was she seeing spots? Looking to James, he looked absolutely fine.

Glancing quickly to her other arm, she saw more spots. Pulling back the covers, she lifted her night rail to find her legs inundated with the same unsightly spots. “Hand me a mirror,” she pushed out, her voice rasping.

“I don’t think that is a good idea.” He winced and handed her the food.

She let her hand holding the bread drop to her lap. “I want to see.”

Slowly, he crossed to her vanity and grabbed a hand mirror. “It’s temporary love, just don’t itch them and you’ll be fine.”

He handed her the mirror and she immediately brought it to her face, but her reflection made her drop it again. She was a hideous monster. Not only was her face covered in more of those grotesque bumps but her throat had swollen to five times its normal size. “Get out of here,” she whispered.

“No,” he replied.

She tried to form words. He would never love her after this. With all her pretty dresses and lovely smiles, he’d barely loved her then. Now, how could anyone, most especially him, feel any affection for her? She turned her back to him and buried her face in the pillow. “Please,” she begged.

“Love,” he whispered and the bed sank down next to her as she sat. “I won’t leave you no matter how beautifully you ask. You need care.”

“Beautifully?” she choked on the word. “I’ll never be beautiful again. How can you stand the sight of me?”

“What?” His hand came to stroke her hair. “I love you, Ainsley Rotheport.”

That made her start. She was Lady Rotheport now.

“I made an agreement to love you in sickness and health, I meant it. What you did for Clarissa, putting yourself at risk, getting sick. That makes me love you more, not less. This is the woman I want to spend my life with. I’d give everything I have to be with her.”

Tears, for an entirely different reason stung at her eyes. His words were so lovely that she turned toward him. “Do you really mean that?”

“Every word.” He gathered her into his arms. “I know I’ve been distant but I feel closer to you than I have to anyone in my life, ever. I’ll try to be worthy of your love, if you let me.”

“Worthy of my love?” She blinked. “Silly man, you’ve cared for me these past days, held me even though I am repulsive. It’s me who should try to be worthy of you.”

He laughed then. “We shall try to good enough for one another.” Then kissing the top of her head, he lifted her hand, still holding the bread to her lips. “Now eat. And then a bath.”

She took a bite, and gave him a small smile. “I love you.”

As he lifted her in his arms, he held her close. “I love you, too.”

* * *

Six months later

Ainsley stood on the deck of James’s ship and watched Scotland pass by. Summer was in full bloom and the view took her breath away. That was until James joined her. Then she couldn’t see anything but him as he stepped next to her.

“How are you feeling this morning?” His voice rumbled low in her ear as his arms wrapped around her, pulling her in front of him as they both watched the shore.

“All right,” she lied, snuggling against him. She only felt ill in the mornings and then it passed. The ship wasn’t helping but she wouldn’t give up this trip for anything. They were sailing to England to spend the summer at James’s English property before they returned to her parent’s home in the fall.

Eventually, they would take up residence at James’s Scottish holdings but he claimed he wasn’t in any rush. The truth of the matter was that he loved her father almost as much as he loved her. Not that she was complaining.

After he’d nursed her though her illness, her father had unofficially declared James his favorite son-in-law. And honestly, she thought James might consider her father the father he’d never had.

His hand travelled down to her stomach, still flat. “Have you eaten anything?”

She rolled her eyes. Not only was James never distant, he was a downright mother hen since her illness. Always clucking after her. She tried to remember what the man she’d first met had been like. Rakish, cold, and hard. But he was so different from her husband, she had trouble recalling that other person. “I had tea and a biscuit.”

“Should I have Peaves make you eggs?” Peaves was the cook, and it likely wasn’t his fault but she couldn’t abide his cooking.

“Gads, no,” she wrinkled her nose. “Stop clucking.”

He chuckled close to her ear, his other arm wrapping about her shoulders. “Shall I take you back to our room, Lady Rotheport?”

Ah, there was her delightful rake. Not the one that insulted her, of course. That man had disappeared so long ago. But the one that kissed her with burning need, he was behind her right now. “Lord Rotheport,” she purred. “You are terrible.”

He nuzzled that spot on her neck that made her shiver and then kissed his way up the side of her face, his lips grazing a scar from one of the mumps that graced her temple. “Aye, love, I am.”

She liked the scar, actually. Every time she caught sight of it, she remembered what it meant to give up her vanities and, in return, receive the love of her rake. “Well, in that case, you should probably take me to bed.”

“With pleasure,” he swept her up in his arms and started for the hatch. She sighed to herself. She’d likely miss the scenery again today. But, it was a wonderful adventure nonetheless.