Savage Possession
Page 29
“She’s all right otherwise?” Martin interrupted.
“Yes.”
“I’ve got two healthy sons, and if my wife is well, nothing else matters. Did you tell her?”
“No, better coming from you I think. Wait until she’s stronger, though.”
“I may not tell her at all, and you better not either.” He swung around to face Fergus and Alistair. “I don’t want her upset. If she can’t feed the babies, what do I do?”
“Your housekeeper has everything in hand, a most competent woman.”
“All right, thank you. Can I see my wife now?”
“Yes.”
“How much do I owe you?”
“I’ll call in and see Mrs. Mulvaney tomorrow afternoon. Pay me then.”
Martin left the kitchen and took the stairs two at a time. The bedroom door stood open so he walked straight in.
Elizabeth sat propped up against the pillows, pale and big eyed. A nasty red scratch flawed the skin over one cheek.
“How do you feel?” He leaned down to kiss her.
“All right.”
“I’ll go downstairs and make a pot of fresh tea now I’ve tidied up here,” Mrs. Irvine announced. “Don’t stay too long, Mrs. Mulvaney needs to rest. I hope you don’t mind, but I cut up a couple of sheets to use until we get proper clothes for the babies.”
“Cut up as many as you like. Tomorrow one of the men can drive you into town to get what we need.”
He gazed down at the babies who were swaddled in silk sheets. His first-born son had pitch-black hair and his second son was a redhead. They were so beautiful, a lump formed in his throat.
“Take them down to the old man, Mrs. Irvine, he’s just about going off his head. You better make up two of the spare bedrooms, too. They’ll have to sleep here tonight, at least. If the old man won’t stay in the castle, he can use Sam’s place.”
“I sewed beautiful clothes for our babies,” Beth whispered sadly, “but they all got burned.”
“It’s all right, my sweet, don’t upset yourself. Mrs. Irvine can get the basics. When you’re stronger you can buy whatever you want,” he promised. “I’ll write to Sam and apologize. We exchanged bitter words. Once he knows you’re back here with not one baby, but two, a team of wild horses wouldn’t keep him away.”
“What will we call them?”
“It’s up to you, Elizabeth.”
“Samuel Martin for our first born.”
“Yes, very suitable, Sam will be pleased.” Instinctively he knew what she wanted to choose for their second son. He could not deny her, not after what she had been through.
“Fergus Alistair, please.”
“All right, if you want to.” He tried not to sound grudging.
“Thank you, grandfather will be happy.”
He waited until Mrs. Irvine left with the babies then said, “Elizabeth, we need to clear a few things up, once and for all. We can’t afford any more misunderstanding.” Sitting in the chair beside the bed, he picked up her hand. “I love you. I think I have from the moment I saw you collapsed on my doorstep, only I didn’t realize it.”
When she made to interrupt, he waved her to silence.
“I’ve done terrible, shameful things. I deliberately flirted with Dolly. After the ewes had been slaughtered I was angry and wanted to hurt you. She means nothing to me. Never did, even though we have known each other for years.
Those letters weren’t written to Dolly; she must have found them in the castle somewhere. I’d forgotten about them. Years ago, I was betrothed, I thought I loved this girl hence the impassioned outpourings. Once her parents heard about some of my father’s black deeds, the betrothal was broken. As for the hairs on the pillow, Dolly must have put them there so you would find them and naturally think the worst. There is no other explanation. Nothing happened between us, I swear it.”
He clasped her hand. “After you left, I spent most of my time in a drunken stupor. I felt enraged and bitter because I thought you had killed our child.”
“Killed our child?” Her face contorted. “How could you think such a dreadful thing of me?”
He dragged his fingers through his hair. “Your grandfather said you aborted the bairn, obviously meant miscarried. I misunderstood, thought you got rid of it on purpose.”
“Oh, Martin.” Tears filled her eyes as she reached out and stroked his cheek.
“I thought drinking would ease my pain and loss, but when I sobered up, I felt even worse. I swear to you, I didn’t bring any women here. My behavior was disgusting, despicable, my only excuse was being out of my mind with grief and despair.”
“I can forgive you everything, as long as you promise me you’ll never consort with other women again.”
“I swear.” He rested his hand over his heart. “On the lives of our sons, I promise I will never touch a woman except you.”
“I didn’t know grandfather had lied to you. He shouldn’t have, he thought you wanted the baby and not me. I should have given you a chance to explain about Dolly. Because I loved you, it nearly killed me to think you could betray me with another woman. I never thought you would ever love me because I’m a Campbell. When you called me your storm girl I thought you did feel something special for me, but I also worried you thought I was Storm, the girl you found on your doorstep. You were fond of her, but not Elizabeth, the granddaughter of your enemy, Fergus Campbell.”
“The storm girl I found on my doorstep.” His lips twisted. “She had no memory of anything, except…” He pulled himself up. No point upsetting her by mentioning that gypsy sonofabitch, Darius. “I tried to turn her into a whore.”
“Martin!”
“Initially I thought she was a whore running away from the Black Stallion. Of course, by the time I found out she wasn’t, it was too late. I took advantage of her innocence and childlike sweetness. I didn’t try very hard to find out her identity because I wanted her here with me. When your memory returned, my little storm girl disappeared. Sometimes I caught a glimpse of her, though.” His devilish grin lit up his face, chasing away the aloofness.
“Maybe you could teach me what you taught Storm.”
He laughed. “I don’t know, sometimes my Elizabeth could show Storm a few tricks.”
“Ah, it’s because you’re such a good teacher. I’m tired now.” She blinked sleepily.
“I know, my sweet.” He kissed her mouth and savored the taste like vintage wine. As her lips trembled, he increased the pressure, and then drew back.
“You’ve made me a proud and happy man today. I thank God everything turned out so well for us. I’d better get down to the kitchen and rescue our babies before Fergus teaches them the bagpipes, or some Gaelic mumbo jumbo,” he teased.
“I love you, Martin,” she whispered drowsily.
“My sweet little storm girl, I love you too, and I always will.”
He waited until her eyes closed before kissing each of them in turn. Feeling like a man who had been reborn and given a second chance at life, Martin strode downstairs to claim his sons.
For Elizabeth’s sake, and that of his babies, he would make peace with Fergus Campbell.
The End
About the Author
Margaret Tanner is an award-winning, best-selling Australian author. She loves delving into the pages of history as she carries out research for her historical romance novels, and prides herself on being historically accurate. No book is too old or tattered for her to trawl through, no museum too dusty, or cemetery too overgrown.
Margaret has won numerous writing awards during her writing career.
Margaret is married with three grown up sons, and two gorgeous little granddaughters.
Outside of her family and friends, writing is her passion.
All Margaret’s books are available in various formats.
Contact Margaret Tanner at: mjljtanner@hotmail.com
Margaret’s Website:
http://mjljtanner.wixsite.com/fictionalromance
http://www.margarettanner.com/
Other Books by Margaret Tanner:
Western Romance:
Western Romance Anthology – Rawhide ’N Roses
American Mail Order Bride Series: Edwina Bride Of Connecticut
The Sheriff’s Outcast Bride
The Cowboy And The Quaker
Cowboy Christmas
War Romance:
Pearl Harbor And More Anthology
We Never Said I Love you.
Baby Maker
Reluctant father.