“And ye did nae make her accept?” Iain asked, confounded. He was glad he had brothers. Though they stirred plenty of mischief, they’d never endanger a peace treaty simply because they didn’t wish to marry a woman.
“I did nae,” Alex responded, his words stiff. “I vowed to my mother on her deathbed that I would nae force Bridgette to marry any man she did nae love.” Alex stared hard at Iain. “I kinnae tell ye how many times I’ve wished I never consented to that, but when ye look at yer dying mother, it’s verra hard to deny her anything. So I consented, thinking it would likely never be a problem. But Bridgette wishes to marry for love,” Alex groused. “She dunnae seem to care what her foolish desire did to the possibility of peace. I explained to her that marriage is about duty, nae foolish fantasies.”
Iain nodded to show his agreement, but his marriage to Catriona had been more than duty. In the beginning, he’d married her because he felt obligated to watch over her. She’d come to him after her father had announced that he was going to marry her to Gowan MacDonald, Marion’s uncle, and Iain had not been able to let the fragile girl he had known for years be chained to a man known for his temper and deceitfulness. Catriona had confessed her love to Iain, and he knew his time to marry was coming, so he’d married her. Yet love had grown from duty. And now he’d wed Marion out of duty. Passion was there for certain, but the other emotion? He could not allow it again. It was a foolish fantasy, as Alex had claimed.
He sensed Alex staring at him. “Sorry. What did Bridgette say when ye told her that?”
“Only men who have never been in love spout such drivel.” He offered Iain a disgruntled look. “And she said I was a cold Scot.” Iain was surprised when Alex’s scowl turned to a grin. “I don’t mind that part so much.”
“Aye,” Iain replied without hesitation as he scratched at his stubble and thought about how nice it would be to wash off in the sea. That idea spawned another, one of Marion naked and soaking in a tub. He’d never bathed that way himself. His father had always said such a thing was for women and weak men, and it had stuck with him, but the idea of climbing into a pool of warm water where Marion reclined with rivulets sluicing over her skin and him rubbing soap over her soft breasts and tight stomach made his blood hum. He’d never last a night without touching his wife. And once he touched her, he’d have to take her, he wanted her that much. It was a gnawing, growing hunger.
Alex coughed loudly. Iain snapped his gaze to his longtime friend. “I was—”
“Thinking about yer new wife by the lusty look on yer face.”
Iain grinned. He couldn’t help it, but a grin was not an omission, and he’d rather cut off a finger than admit he’d been lost in a fantasy about bathing with his wife. Alex would annoy him about it until death took the man and silenced him. He needed to draw his friend’s attention away from him and Marion, especially when he was so confused about his new wife.
“Bridgette is sweet tempered as ever, I see,” Iain jested.
Alex rubbed the bridge of his nose. “She’s more trouble than ever. And her obstinacy has increased with each year she ages. When I told her I considered being cold a necessity in any husband I’d allow her to marry, she threw a pot at me. I’ve never known a woman to have the temper of a man. She needs lessons in being obedient. Maybe yer new wife could give her some? In fact”—Alex gave him a pleading look—“maybe Bridgette could travel with ye to Dunvegan for a short visit.”
Iain held up his hand to halt his friend. “I’d nae look to the Sassenach for help on making Bridgette obedient.”
“Nay?”
Iain shook his head. “She’s rather like a man herself.”
“Why are ye grinning?”
“Am I?” He struggled to straighten his mouth. But God’s truth, he liked Marion’s spirit. Though, she would have to learn to obey him. He would never want to extinguish the fire that burned in her.
“Ye are,” Alex said, his voice displaying his bewilderment.
Iain shrugged. “Can a man nae grin when talking of his new wife?”
Alex shook his head and chuckled. “Go on. I’ll nae give your secret away.”
Iain frowned. “What secret?”
“Ye’re happy, my friend. Whether ye want to be or nae, ye are. And I want to meet the woman who has done that. But first, yer counsel on my problems if ye can keep yer thoughts on me.”
“Of course I can,” Iain said, contemplating what he had learned of Alex’s difficulties so far. “Why do ye want to send Bridgette away?”
“Because the Campbell laird wants retribution for the wrong to his son. If she goes with ye—”
“Ye think things may cool.”
Alex rubbed the back of his neck. “Aye. What say ye?”
“I’ll take her.” Maybe she and Marion would become friends, and Bridgette could be Marion’s ally when they all returned to his home. Knowing Catriona’s sisters, Marion would need a friend, and Bridgette, with her liveliness, could be the perfect supporter.
“Thank ye,” Alex said, obviously relieved. “Can ye stay tomorrow or must ye depart?”
He wanted to get home, but then he thought of Marion and the long journey still remaining before they reached Dunvegan Castle. If they lingered one more day, some of Marion’s aches from traveling would ease and she could rest up for the second half of the journey. “We can stay for another day.”
Alex nodded. “Good. We’ll hunt tomorrow to salute our being together again.”
Iain smiled. Alex prided himself in being the best hunter, but the last time they’d hunted together, Iain had killed more animals. Iain chuckled. “Does it take yer sleep at night that I shot more deer than ye last time?”
Alex grinned. “Aye, it does, and tomorrow I’ll take my rightful place back as the best hunter. Yer men are welcome to come. I can leave Archibald to guard Marion, if ye’re worried. He’ll be annoyed, but it does good to remind him he’s nae laird.”
Iain frowned. “Does he try to act like the laird?”
“Nae overtly but he does subtle things, such as alter orders I’ve given.”
“Why do ye allow that?”
“I dunnae. Which is why he’s so often in trouble. Do ye want me to tell him to stay with Marion tomorrow?”
“Nay. She’s like a daughter to Angus. I’ll leave him to guard her.”
Alex nodded and added, “I think I’ll leave Archibald anyway. He was insolent earlier.”
“That might be best,” Iain agreed, thinking of Marion. “Trouble does seem to find my wife.”
Alex chuckled. “Bridgette has a knack for finding trouble, too, so the two of them together likely need minding.”
“I’m nae worried about today,” Iain replied. “I told Marion to stay in her bedchamber until I came for her, so I’m certain she will.”
“Well, since ye’re nae worried, come to the training fields with me. Some of my men need a good lesson in humility, and ye’re just the man to give it to them.”
What Iain really wanted to do was go see if Marion was bathing and possibly join her, but when Alex smiled devilishly and said, “Unless ye kinnae bear to be without yer new bride for a few hours.”
Iain shook his head. A strong pull to Marion already burned within him. Relinquishing the chance to see her now was the perfect opportunity to prove he was master over how he felt about her. “Seeing her at supper will be soon enough,” he said, willing himself to feel it deep into his bones.
Ten
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Marion asked Bridgette as the woman strode ahead of her and led them deeper and deeper into the woods, and farther and farther away from the castle and bedchamber—which she’d yet to see—where Iain had ordered she await him.
Bridgette suddenly stopped and whipped around to face Marion. “Do ye prefer I take ye to yer chamber to wait like an obedient dog for Iain to come fetch ye, or do ye want to come with me to see the traveling seer? Since ye followed when I gave ye yer choices, I guessed ye had a bit o
f courage and liked adventure. Perchance I was wrong.”
Nervous, Marion caught the inside of her cheek between her teeth. She didn’t think she believed anyone had the ability to tell the future, yet since she’d never met a seer, she couldn’t say for sure whether she believed or not. She wasn’t feeling very curious about it at the moment, though, as the shadows grew long and the sunlight faded. And she desperately wanted to remove her grimy gown and bathe.
But she’d allowed her anger at being ordered about to cause her to make a reckless decision. At least her anger seemed to be cooling, but unfortunately so did the temperature. It still would have been wiser to stay in her bedchamber until Iain returned and then talk to him. If Iain discovered she had deliberately disobeyed him, she was certain he’d be angry. The man seemed to be awfully concerned with her safety, and she doubted he’d consider it safe for two women to go traipsing alone through the woods. And he’d be right. They should go back.
She swallowed. “It’s just that—”
“Ye’re afeared?” Bridgette interrupted.
Marion hated to be called a coward. “No, but I am considering how angry this will make Iain if he comes to get me and we’ve not yet returned.”
Bridgette plunked her hands on her hips. “Do ye care if he’s angry? Do ye like being ordered about, then? Ye did nae seem to care for it when he did it. Yer eyes narrowed and yer face got all red.”
“That is insensible,” Marion snapped, irritated that this woman who barely knew her was making judgments about her character. “I don’t like being ordered about, but well, my marriage has not started well,” she blurted, feeling suddenly overwhelmed.
Bridgette’s face, which had been set in hard lines, suddenly softened, and her eyes widened. She rushed to Marion and threw an arm around her shoulder. “I could see that! That’s why I’m trying to help ye! I ken Iain. He and my brother have been friends since before I was born. I could see that ye like him but that he’s still clinging to Catriona’s ghost.”
Marion cringed that Bridgette had discerned so much from their short encounter. “What makes you think I like him?” She didn’t bother to ask what made Bridgette think Iain was still in love with his dead wife. That was obvious enough by the things he’d said, but she’d thought she’d concealed that she wished her husband cared for her.
Bridgette rolled her eyes. “Ye stare at him with the longing of one who desires to be seen, for one thing.”
Marion’s cheeks burned. “Oh,” was all she managed to say. She was so embarrassed.
Bridgette patted Marion on the shoulder again. “For another, I saw the way yer face fell when the clot-heid told me to get ye yer own chamber. Is he refusing to complete the marriage?”
Marion’s mouth parted with shock. Is this what having a friend was like? One discussed private matters with the other? She’d never really had a friend, but she desperately wanted some counsel, and Bridgette seemed to know a thing or two about men. “Actually,” she started. She cleared her throat, which made her voice come out as a cracked whisper. “We completed the marriage last night. And he made it clear then that he, er, um, desires me.”
Bridgette nodded. “Go on.”
Marion caught her lip between her teeth. “Maybe it’s more correct to say he desired me? I’m so confused! And I wish I knew why I even care!” She pressed her fingertips to her temples, which now pounded thanks to her husband the clot-heid, as Bridgette had so aptly called him.
“Ye should thank God that he put me in yer path,” Bridgette announced, her tone slightly smug but also excited.
Marion lowered her hand from in front of her face and looked at the other woman. “I should?”
Bridgette nodded. “I can clear the confusion for ye and help ye get Iain’s attention, and then his love.”
“You can?”
Bridgette nodded again. “Did ye nae see the way all the men hung on my every word?” she asked, as if it explained everything.
“I did, but do you care for any of those men or their attention?”
Bridgette frowned. “Well, nay, but I could charm the man I do love, if only I were near him long enough.”
“Who do you love?”
“Can ye keep a confidence?” Bridgette asked, a secretive smile coming to her face.
“Of course.” When Bridgette looked at her doubtfully, Marion added, “My mother was a Scot. She was the daughter of the MacDonald laird.”
“Well now,” Bridgette crowed. “That’s good to ken!” Then she pitched her voice lower. “I have loved Lachlan MacLeod for as long as I can remember.”
“But you’ve never been around him long enough to compel him to love you back?”
“That’s exactly right. Neither my brother nor yer husband will let me be alone with him because they dunnae trust I could bring him to heel, but I vow I could if given the time.”
By the fiercely determined look in Bridgette’s eyes, Marion was inclined to believe the woman. “I’m not saying I want my husband’s love, but if I did, how do you think I could win it?”
“Well, first, ye want it and ye ken it. Ye’re just afraid to admit it because ye dunnae want to be hurt. That’s natural.”
“Perchance,” Marion agreed reluctantly.
Bridgette frowned at her. “The first thing ye must do is embrace what ye want. No one ever gets what she desires without pains. My mum taught me that. Ye must say what ye want aloud and be ready to accept the hurt and happiness that it will bring ye, nae only when ye’re trying to get it but even after ye’ve attained it. Great love calls for great risk, but it reaps great reward.” Bridgette nudged her in the side. “Go on. Declare yer desire.”
Marion’s chest tightened painfully. She had vowed never to try to make someone love her again as she had tried with her father, but she knew she wanted Iain to care for her and she agreed that a great love would demand great sacrifice.
She gulped in a breath. “I want my husband to love me.” Not that she loved him yet, but she thought she could eventually. If he acted like less of a clot-heid and more like the man that had held her in his arms last night.
Bridgette clapped. “Dunnae ye feel better having said it aloud?”
Marion paused and considered how she felt. Her stomach was turning and her mouth was very dry. She shook her head. “I feel ill.”
Bridgette snickered. “That’s the beginning of the sacrifice for the love that will come.”
“What do you think I should do to gain Iain’s love, or even to get his desire to return?”
“What makes ye think ye lost his desire?”
“He told me he would not bed me tonight,” she confessed, her face scorching. “I must have done something wrong last night.” Though he had seemed to like their joining a great deal at the time.
Bridgette tapped her chin as she walked, and her gaze traveled over Marion. “I’ll nae ask for details.”
“Thank God!” Marion blurted, which caused Bridgette to laugh.
Once Bridgette composed herself, she said, “We must first work on yer appearance. Ye look affright.”
Marion grimaced and raised her hand to her hair, but Bridgette caught her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. “We all look affright after travel. We’ll clean ye up afore supper when we return to the castle. That should make him remember why he wanted to bed ye from the start. I have a gown ye can borrow that is sure to reawaken his desire, though I dunnae think a man who cares nae for a woman stares at her the way he stared at ye. His eyes were full of fire.”
“Truly?” Marion asked in awe.
Bridgette nodded, but Marion thought perhaps her new friend was just being nice.
“What else besides the bath and the gown? What do you recommend?” Having a friend was wonderful. Not that Angus had not been a friend, she thought guiltily, because he had, but he was more like a father than a friend, and she could never talk to him of the things she and Bridgette were talking about.
Bridgette motioned Marion forward. “Let
’s talk as we walk. If we dunnae move quickly we’ll nae have time to visit the seer and make it back afore anyone finds us missing.”
Marion nodded and strode beside Bridgette down the dense trail that was growing deeper in shadows. As they walked, Bridgette cleared their path with a dagger she removed from her boot, and Marion thought of the dagger she’d lost in the river, the one Angus had given her. She was sad to have lost the gift, but she needed to acquire a new dagger. A bow and arrows would be lovely, as well. She’d never owned a set, though she was an excellent shot. Father had refused to allow her to own weapons. Both daggers she ever had, Angus had secretly given her.
Her musings were interrupted when Bridgette spoke. “I think ye must have done something right last night because I swear it was desire burning in Iain’s eyes today, so what I think must have happened or is happening is that Iain feels guilty about wanting ye. He’s a good man, and this may be hard to hear, but he loved Catriona fiercely.”
It wasn’t hard to hear. That he’d loved Catriona was not the problem. In truth, it was a good thing because it proved he had the capacity to love fiercely. The problem was, his ability and desire to love that way again seemed to be gone. Where did that leave her? She hated to think that she was bound to a man for life who would never love her. And in spite of her earlier foolish thoughts about leaving him—she knew they were foolish—she had nowhere to go. And besides that important fact, she’d much rather stay and have a good, strong marriage.
She wrung her hands together while ducking under a swinging branch as she finally answered. “I know he loved her. And I know he thinks no one can take her place, but I have no wish to do that. He told me right before we were married that he would never love me, that he had no desire to love the way he had again.”
“Oh,” Bridgette said. The one word was low and accompanied by a wince. “That is bad.”
Marion’s shoulders sagged. “I know. There is not much hope for a future that begins that way.”
Bridgette stopped on the trail, patted Marion on the shoulder, and then pointed toward a hill. “The seer is over that hill in a cave.” Bridgette looked back to Marion. “I think what ye must do is first make Iain mad with desire and then show him that he kinnae live without ye and how ye make his life better. He will nae be able to help falling in love with ye, no matter what he may think currently.”
When a Laird Loves a Lady (Highlander Vows: Entangled Hearts Book 1) Page 14