"Good."
"Iain came in to see you early this morn while you were sleeping."
"Very kind of him. He's a good friend."
"Keegan and Seona are happily married now."
"Indeed? How did that come about?"
"I'm not certain.
'Tis
apparently a long story, but they've promised to tell me sometime."
When Dirk's party had stopped by
Munrick
several weeks ago, Torrin had suspected Keegan and Seona were more than a little smitten with each other.
'Twas
obvious in the way Keegan attentively escorted her to the high table and pulled out the chair for her, and the way she smiled at him.
"I'm happy for them," Torrin said.
"Aye. Me, too." Jessie offered him another bite. His stomach was a little more settled now so he accepted the porridge.
"Would you like a sip of ale?" she asked.
"Aye. I like the ale here."
After giving him a drink of the bitter ale, she set it down and tore off a piece of bannock and held it before his lips. Leaning his head up, he opened his mouth and accepted it, his lips brushing her fingertips. Her touch was so soothing to him. He wished she would trail her fingers over every inch of his face and… the parts of his body that were not in profound pain at the moment. He remembered her stroking his face last night, both with the cool cloth and with her bare fingertips. It had taken his mind off the pain for a short time.
"I will have you up and around in no time," she said.
"Aye. Pull off your clothes and I might chase you across the room."
"
Och
. Rogue," she muttered, while trying to hide her smile.
"Just imagining that makes me feel ten times better."
She frowned and smiled at the same time, a fascinating expression that made him want to chuckle, but he couldn't. '
Twould
be too painful.
"Now you
are
being unruly."
"
'Tis
what you like." He winked.
He was gratified to see the adorable pink blush spread over her cheeks.
"You're so bonny when you blush," he murmured.
"Cease your silver-tongued blather."
He started to laugh but a sharp pain struck his abdomen. "Saints, Jessie!" he growled. "Don't make me laugh. It hurts."
"I wasn't trying to make you laugh. Just lie back and relax. I'll be naught but morose and serious from now on."
Torrin ground his teeth. "You're doing it again!"
A knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," Jessie called.
Iain stuck his head in the door, then entered. "You two are arguing? You truly have performed a miracle, Lady Jessie."
"Nay, 'twas only…" Jessie's face reddened even more, and Torrin simply relaxed and enjoyed it for a moment.
"She was trying to make me laugh, but 'tis too painful by far," he said.
"I wasn't. I can't help that he laughs inappropriately at things."
Iain snickered and shook his head, then eyed the bannock in Jessie's hand. "Has she been feeding you?"
"Nay. I'm fully capable of eating on my own," Torrin assured him.
"She's spoiling you. I can tell."
"I deserve it," Torrin said.
Jessie smirked and rolled her eyes.
"Indeed you do," Iain said. "I'm happy to see you're feeling much better."
There was another light knock at the door.
"Come in," Jessie called.
Flora entered, along with Struan,
Sim
and
Luag
. He was glad to see his men, but the room was becoming crowded. And he'd much rather spend all day alone with Jessie.
"I'll leave you to your visitors and come back in a little while," Jessie told Torrin. "Flora will take care of you."
He nodded. "Hope you'll get some sleep." He was disappointed to see her go, but he knew she needed rest. She must have stayed awake, watching over him, all night. He would have to find a way to thank her for that.
Jessie truly hadn't wanted to leave
Torrin's
side, for she worried over him. But she also feared she was growing much too attached to him. Maybe they needed time apart, though that didn't feel comforting at all. Knowing he'd improved much this morn allowed her to relax enough to sleep a few hours.
After a nap with her puppy, and then a bath, Jessie felt better. Having put on clean clothes, she ventured out to see how Torrin was when she met Isobel in the corridor.
"How is Torrin?" Isobel asked.
"When last I saw him, he was much improved. He ate a few bites of porridge and bannock. He was even jesting, so I think he is recovering quickly. Iain and
Torrin's
men came for a visit, so I took a wee nap."
"
'Tis
wonderful to hear." Isobel smiled. "I'm sure he will be well soon."
"I hope so."
Isobel bit her lip, sending Jessie a look that was both affectionate and amused. "Could I talk to you for a moment?"
"Aye, of course." Jessie was curious as to what her friend wished to discuss.
Isobel led the way to her bedchamber. Once inside, with the door closed, they took seats by the fireplace where a small fire warmed the room.
Isobel gave her that enigmatic, mischievous smile again. "Maybe I shouldn't ask. You will think I'm very nosy indeed."
"We're like sisters. You ken we can talk about anything."
Isobel tilted her head, giving her a sweet, warmhearted look. "You care for Torrin a great deal, do you not?"
"You can tell, aye?" Jessie asked in a dry tone. She'd known this was the subject her friend wished to discuss.
"Aye. After what happened when I introduced you two last winter, I feared you would never even talk to him again."
"Well, in truth, I didn't want to talk to him. And I had good reason." She told Isobel the story of how she had witnessed Torrin killing her foster brother years ago, and his reasoning for it.
"His poor sister," Isobel whispered, her dark brows furrowed. "In that situation, Cyrus or Dirk would do the same thing that Torrin did, seek justice for a sister's death."
"Aye. But I didn't understand at the time what was happening. I thought he was killing him for no reason. I was afraid to mention this to Torrin. If he knew I was a witness, I wondered what he would do. If I were to tell the
Keiths
, they would still seek revenge, even though
Lyall
was guilty of a horrid crime.
Lyall's
father, the chief, would especially want revenge, for he has never gotten over it."
Isobel's dark eyes widened. "You're not going to tell them, are you?"
"Nay, of course not. I'll do everything I can to protect Torrin."
Isobel frowned. "What of the lass Torrin supposedly loves who lives in the village near
Munrick
? Does he truly have children with her as Nolan told me?"
"Torrin said 'twas not true. He asked who had been spreading rumors about him. I didn't tell him that his brother had told you. We heard that Nolan had kidnapped you from your camp south of
Munrick
several weeks ago."
"Aye, 'twas horrible. I'd dropped my dagger, so I couldn't even stab him. Dirk ended up killing him."
"We heard that as well. I'm glad you were not harmed."
Isobel's eyes widened. "So, Torrin knows about his brother?"
"Aye."
"Was he angry?"
"Nay. He was saddened to hear his brother is dead, of course, but he knew Dirk had done what he had to in order to rescue and protect you."
"Thank the saints. I would hate for Dirk and Torrin to be at odds." Her expression turning to inquisitive, Isobel asked, "So, has Torrin asked for your hand since he's been here?"
A clash of emotions made Jessie's heart beat harder. "Aye."
"Are you reconsidering?"
"
'Tis
not so simple," Jessie said, studying her broken, jagged nails. They looked the way she felt inside. "I didn't tell you the whole truth before."
"When?"
"Last winter, I told you that when I was
handfasted
to
Gregor
MacBain, we only shared a bed three times. That isn't true. We shared a bed for three months." Jessie's face heated. Blast! How she hated blushing.
"Oh." Isobel gave her an inquiring look.
Though Jessie trusted Isobel, she still found it difficult to hold her gaze while admitting such things. "I was ashamed because I was unable to conceive during that time. MacBain found another woman, and she bore him a son. He believed I was barren, and… I'm afraid he may be right."
"Nay," Isobel said firmly. "That may not be the case at all. Look how long it took me to conceive—seven months. So you must not give up hope. And you will, of course, have to allow Torrin to seduce you several times to know what the outcome will be." Isobel smiled.
Jessie's face felt scalded now. "Aye. You're right."
"Well then, has he? Seduced you?"
Trying to hold back her smile, Jessie drew in a deep breath, then nodded.
Isobel's grin grew wider as did her eyes. "How many times?"
"A few," she admitted.
"I'm glad."
"One morning, Uncle Conall came to my room early to tell me about Aiden, and Torrin answered my door.
'Twas
horribly embarrassing. Then, my uncle had a talk with me about how I should marry Torrin."
Isobel chuckled. "The same thing happened to Dirk and me! Except Conall barged into the chamber early in the morn while I was half asleep. I have no idea what he said to Dirk about it. Thankfully, we were married soon after."
Jessie smiled.
"What have you decided about Torrin?"
Jessie shrugged. "I refuse to
handfast
again, and I won't wed him legally until I am with child. I can't put him in a situation where he'll be unable to sire his own heir."
"That's very selfless of you," Isobel said softly. "Too selfless, if you ask me."
"Well, 'tis for my benefit, too. I fear if I were to marry him and not produce an heir, he would grow to resent me and put me aside sometime in the future. Chiefs have been known to do that. For many of them, marriage is not permanent, no matter what the Church says. Some have four or five living wives, some of which they've divorced, as well as mistresses and paramours."
"Aye.
'Tis
true. Some men are goats. But not Dirk, and I don't think Torrin would behave that way."
"I hope not, but I have a hard time trusting men." Jessie had already told her about the first man who'd abandoned her the day before their wedding years ago.
"I can understand that."
"Do you feel any different since you are with child?" Jessie asked.
"I often feel sick in the mornings. I don't think I've ever fainted before either, but I did on the battlements when I was upset and afraid for Dirk."
Jessie nodded. "I don't feel sick in the mornings, so I don't think I'm with child."
"I'm not certain every woman feels that way. You might ask
Nannag
about it."
Jessie was too embarrassed to ask the healer about it now.
Nannag
always gave her that sweet, knowing smile every time Jessie and Torrin were together. Did Jessie really want her to know she and Torrin had been intimate? Nay. Jessie would just wait and see if she developed any of the symptoms Isobel talked about. But she was starting to fear she never would.
***
'Twas
near noon and Torrin still lay in bed, thankful the pain was not as bad as it had been. The rest of his men and several others had visited during the morning, but Jessie had not yet returned. Though he would love to see her, he hoped she was having a good nap. Flora had just given him another half cup of the herbal tea for pain and fever when Dirk appeared at the open door.
"How are you feeling?" Dirk asked, entering the room.
"Better. I think you have the best healers in Scotland here at Dunnakeil."
Dirk gave a sharp nod and glanced at Flora. "I have to agree with you there."
Flora actually blushed, then executed a small curtsy. "I thank you both.
Nannag
is a skilled teacher. I'll just be in the corridor if you should need me." Flora exited and closed the door behind her.
"I must thank you for your hospitality these last few weeks," Torrin said. "I was not trying to impose. I wanted to protect Jessie from that knavish MacBain."
"Aye. She told me what an impressive job you did in rescuing her from MacBain in the attempted kidnapping, and when Haldane took you both hostage."
"
'Twas
the least I could do."
Dirk should know by now that Torrin would do anything to protect Jessie, even if it meant giving up his life for hers.
"I need to tell you something." Dirk appeared solemn, almost pained.
"I know what you're going to say. Haldane told me."
Dirk frowned. "About your brother?"
"Aye. I ken Nolan was an outlaw and deserved to die." Grief and regret sliced through Torrin again, despite all. "How did it happen?"
Dirk sat on the chair by the bed. "Well, he and the other outlaws attacked our camp in the middle of the night, about a day's ride south of
Munrick
. While I was fighting McMurdo at the front of our tent, Nolan cut into the back of the tent and abducted Isobel. He put her on a horse and rode away with her. I took out after them. There was no way in hell I was going to let him hurt my wife." Dirk's frown was fearsome, and Torrin could only imagine how furious the man had been.
'Twas
the same rage he'd felt when both MacBain and Haldane had captured Jessie.
"
'Tis
what I would've done, too," Torrin said. In fact, he had killed Haldane for taking Jessie hostage.
"I caught up to Nolan and Isobel," Dirk continued. "We leapt off the horses and had a sword dual.
'Twas
a fair and equal fight. I knocked his sword away and cut his throat. I didn't want to, but he gave me no choice." Anguish reflected in Dirk's pale blue eyes. "He was intent on raping and killing Isobel."
Torrin nodded, anger at his own brother twisting through him. He was ashamed of Nolan. "He would have if you hadn't stopped him."
"I had the men bury him in a small wood there," Dirk said solemnly. "And I brought his weapons and possessions to you. I have them downstairs in the armory."
Torrin cleared his throat, trying to shove away the constricting grief. "I thank you. You're a good man to do that."
"I hope you can forgive me, and that you and your clan won't hold it against me."
Torrin shook his head. "Naught to forgive. I'd say we're even, because I had no choice but to kill your brother."
"Since he was bent on killing me, I must thank you for that—sad as I am to say it. And of a certainty, I must thank you for saving Jessie's life."
"You don't need to thank me for that. Jessie is… my life," Torrin said, his chest aching with love for her.
Dirk's sharp gaze searched his, and a bit of friendly amusement quirked one corner of his mouth. "She would do well to marry you. Have you convinced her yet?"