Page 31 of Married for a Highland Debt
“Yes, I do, Ninian,” she replied, then laughed. “God knows why. You are irritable and thoughtless and selfish sometimes, but you defended me when I needed you to, and you can be so gentle and kind. So yes, I love you.”
At that moment, Kairstine came in, having gone outside to wash. She carefully avoided looking at them, however, and Bettina stood up and offered her hand to Ninian to help pull him to his feet. “You are a mess!” she observed, brushing down his rumpled clothing with her hands.
“Thank you,” he laughed. “Is this what I am to expect from now on?”
She smiled wickedly. “Yes. ’Til death do us part.”
Ninian left the hospital with great regret. He would rather have stayed longer in one cramped room with Bettina rather than go back to the vast castle of Inchgarvie and his responsibilities as a laird. However, he could not shirk his duty.
He was not best pleased, however, when he saw his uncle’s horse in the stable as he dismounted. Kevin Ogilvy never came to see them except to cause trouble, and Ninian had no doubt that that was his intention now. He strode through to the parlor to find him sitting before the fire drinking wine. He was, as usual, talking about himself.
Alison was sitting working on her needlepoint, nodding and smiling at appropriate places in his monologue and occasionally yawning. She looked up as Ninian entered and shot him a grateful look.Rescue me!it said.
Ninian glared at Kevin. “Good day, Uncle,” he said grimly as he poured himself a tumbler of whiskey. “We were not expecting you.”
“Do I need an excuse to visit my own family?” Kevin asked, his voice indignant.
“No, but I may have been away from home,” he replied. “Or busy.”
“So I am not welcome?” He stood up, which was a mistake because Ninian took a few steps across the room and stopped a foot in front of his uncle. This meant that Kevin was forced to tilt his head back to an awkward degree to meet his nephew’s eyes. He sat down, and Ninian stood in front of him with his arms akimbo, feet planted wide apart on the floor, looking as big and intimidating as possible.
“You insulted my wife the last time you were here,” he growled, “so no, you are not. Say what you have to say and go.”
“Very well. I have come to talk about your marriage, as it happens.” Kevin sipped his wine and frowned. “There is a rumor spreading around the area that you are impotent,” he stated firmly. “That is why you lost your last wife, and that is why this one has left you. She has been away for a month, I believe.”
“She has,” Ninian agreed, giving him a cynical smile. “I bought her house and turned it into a hospital for the village. She and her sister have gone to do some charitable work there, helping the monks and nuns with their work. My sister-in-law has some knowledge of herbs, and they work well together. I often go to visit her.
“As for my supposed impotence, she will be here tomorrow, so you may ask her, and she will be happy to tell you the truth. I have no doubt that there will be an heir soon, but sometimes it takes a while, as you know. However, if there is not, it is not for want of trying! Look at Bettie...she is a beautiful woman, is she not? Is that enough for you? Or would you like to come into our bedchamber and watch while we make love?” He raised his eyebrows and looked at his uncle questioningly.
Kevin flushed bright red, and his face assumed an enraged expression. “There is no need for such talk!” he said in tones of deep disgust. “You should be ashamed of yourself!”
“No, it isyouwho should be ashamed!” he yelled, poking a furious finger into his uncle’s chest. “This is a private matter between me and my wife, and you have no right to interfere!” Ninian glanced at his aunt, who had suddenly begun to concentrate very hard on her sewing. There was no help there.
“That is where you are wrong,” Kevin said smugly. “You are a laird, and it is your duty to produce an heir for the continuation of the clan name. If you cannot, then you must step down and hand the lairdship to the nearest male relative.”
“And that would be you, no doubt.” Ninian’s voice was dripping with sarcasm. “Then, of course, you would have to provide a male heir too. Or is there one you have not told me about? Much as it pains me, Uncle, I must ask you to stay overnight so that you can subject Bettie to an inquisition in the morning. No? After that, I never want to see your sorry face again!” He gave the other man an ironic bow then left, slamming the door behind him.
“That was not necessary, Kevin.” Alison looked at her brother and shook her head. “You could have been more subtle. It is a sensitive subject.”
Kevin was visibly shaking as he poured himself another glass of Ninian’s finest whiskey. “I will do better tomorrow.”
16
“It seems that you and Ninian have healed your differences,” Kairstine observed happily as they packed their bags prior to their journey home.
Bettina smiled. “He told me he loved me, Kairstine.”
“Bettie! That is wonderful!” she cried, hugging Bettina tightly. Then she looked into her sister’s face and frowned doubtfully. “Is it not?”
“I think so,” Bettina replied. “But I am so confused, Kairstine. He is so unpredictable. And there are so many rumors flying about that I don’t know which ones to believe, if any. It is not a good way to begin a marriage.”
“Do you love him?” Kairstine asked, as she picked up a hairbrush and began to brush the tangles out of her sister’s long, glossy locks. “I hope so, Bettie, because I think you could have a wonderful life together.”
Bettina sighed and closed her eyes, savoring the delightful tingle of the smooth strokes of the brush on her scalp. “Yes, I do, Kairstine,” she answered, “but that is not all that matters, is it? There is the matter of the heir. We have been trying, but we have wasted a month, and I know that there are folks out there who do not want us to succeed.”
“Who?” Kairstine asked.
“Ninian’s former wife Margaret, for one,” Bettina sighed. “She has told Ninian that she is pregnant. If that news gets out, it will put him in a very bad light. Consider this. She has not been near Ninian for years. He sent her away because she was infertile, yet now she is with child. You can see how that looks, Kairstine. If she could not have children with Ninian, yet she can with another man, he is obviously infertile or impotent or both.”
