Page 49 of A Highland Bride Taken
“Why? I thought…” She bit her lip.
“I cannae stay for yer sake.” He smiled ruefully. “I dinnae think I can control meself around ye.”
“Why? Ye dinnae want to have bairns with me?”
“‘Tis also a reason.”
He didn’t owe her any honesty, but she had been so open and giving with him that it only felt right to return the favor. Come morning, he could resume avoiding her as he had before.
“Why do ye want nay heirs of yer own, Me Laird?”
He lowered his eyes to hide the grief in them, waiting till he was sure the emotion was under control before he turned to her.
She had a pitying look on her face, as though she understood. But she couldn’t, not really.
No one could understand the pain and guilt that ate at him every time he looked into the boys’ cherubic faces. Every time theylooked at him like a stranger and they ran to her because their mother had told them about her and their father hadn’t done the same.
But he wouldn’t burden her with his grief, or she would make it her own.
He walked to her, placing one last kiss on her forehead.
“Because I feel guilty,” he said. When she furrowed her brow in confusion, he quickly added, “Dinnae try to understand it. Sleep now.”
She pouted but nodded, nonetheless. “I bid ye good night, Me Laird.”
He nodded and stepped out of her chamber with a sigh.
Their last conversation had doused the lust that had been raging in his blood, and his only option was to retire early to face the day ahead.
He was grateful to have her in the castle, even if she didn’t know it. She was keeping her end of the deal so well, he couldn’t help but feel he needed to do something more for her.
Thinking deeply, he added her as well as the twins to the list of people he owed. He needed to think of a way to ease their lives.
20
Mabel sat up quickly, looking around in panic once she saw how bright it had gotten through the gap in the furs on her window. She had slept in again and would no doubt be scolded by Missus Norah for neglecting her duties.
The morning meal would no doubt be well underway, and she could already imagine the scolding she would receive.
She dressed quickly and moved to her door, but was startled when it opened and her maid walked in, bearing a tray.
“Me Lady,” the maid greeted, surprised. “Ye’re awake.”
“Aye,” Mabel answered, eyeing the tray. That did not look like breakfast.
“I brought ye lunch because the Laird asked me to see to ye.”
Lunch already?
“Why did ye nae wake me up sooner?” she asked, worrying her lip. “How are the boys?”
“They are well,” the maid answered. “And the Laird asked us nae to disturb ye today.”
Mabel did not miss how the girl’s cheeks reddened and how her eyes lowered. Her cheeks flushed in turn, realizing what that actually meant.
The entire castle had no doubt heard them last night, and now that she remembered fully, she heated up further in embarrassment that the Laird had seen her so intimately.
Her mother certainly hadn’t told her about that during her lecture, but Mabel was grateful for it, or she would never be able to look her parents in the eye again.
