“Become a Scot?” he asked, one eyebrow raised. He was very serious. “Once you said you’d only love me if I became a Scot.”
He waited but she made no answer. “Bronwyn, I love you, and the closest wish to my heart is that you love me also.” He put his finger to her lips and gave her a threatening look. “And if you repeat all that about ’of course we’re fond of each other,’ I may break your pretty little neck.”
“Of course I love you, you fool! Why do you think my stomach aches and my head swims when you’re near? And it grows worse when you’re far away. The only reason I went with Roger Chatworth was to prove to you that I wasn’t selfish. I would have done anything to make you love me.”
“Running off with my enemy is not likely to prove you love me,” he said coldly, then he began to smile. “Are you saying you love me or that I make you ill?”
“Oh, Stephen,” she laughed, realizing he believed in her. He didn’t accuse her of sleeping with Roger Chatworth. He was beginning to master his jealousy!
Suddenly they both stopped and stared. A sharp movement in her stomach had been felt by both of them.
“What was that?” he asked.
“It felt like a kick,” she said in wonder. “I think your child just kicked us.”
Stephen rolled off her and reverently caressed her stomach. “Did you know about the baby when you left me?”
“I didn’t leave you,” she pointed out, “but yes, I knew about it.”
He was quiet as he held his hand warmly against her bare stomach.
“Are you happy about our child?” she whispered.
“A little frightened perhaps. Judith lost her first child. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.”
She smiled at him. “How could anything happen with you around to protect me?”
“Protect you!” he exploded. “You never listen to me, never do anything I say. You drug me. You leave my family’s protection in the middle of the night. You—”
She put her fingers to his lips. “But I love you. I love you very, very much and I need you. I need your strength, your level-headedness, your loyalty, and your peacemaking ways. You keep me and my clan from declaring war on our enemies. And you make us see that the English aren’t all ignorant, greedy, lying—”
He gave her a soft kiss to quiet her. “Don’t ruin it,” he said sarcastically. “I love you too. I’ve loved you from the moment I saw you with your clan. I’d never seen a pretty woman, except Judith, who was any more than an ornament. It was a shock to see your men listen to you and see the way they respected you. It was the first time I saw you as something besides…”
Her eyes sparkled. “A good romp in bed?”
He laughed. “Oh, yes, most definitely that” He began to kiss her more seriously, his hands on her body.
“Stephen,” she whispered as he kissed just behind her ear. “Tomorrow I meet with the MacGregor.”
“That’s nice,” he murmured, moving down to her neck. “Very nice.”
She moved her head so he could kiss her mouth.
Suddenly he jerked away from her. Rab gave a little bark of alarm. Stephen stared at his wife in horror. “You jest!”
She smiled sweetly. “I meet with the MacGregor at dawn tomorrow.” She lifted her head and began kissing him again.
He rolled away, then jerked her upright. “Damn you!” he said through clenched teeth. “Are you starting again? No doubt the meeting is alone in some secret place.”
“Of course it’s alone. I can’t very well ask my clan to accompany me. I intend to settle this war before I enter into it more fully.”
Stephen closed his eyes for a moment and tried to calm himself. “You cannot meet this man alone. I forbid it.”
Disbelief registered immediately on Bronwyn’s face. “You what? You forbid it! How dare you! Do you forget that I am the MacArran? Just because I love you doesn’t give you rights over my duties as chief.”
“Will you shut up a minute?” he demanded. “You always believe I’m against you. Now listen to me. Who else knows of this meeting?”
“Harben is the only one. He arranged it. We were afraid to even tell Nesta that the time was set, for fear it’d get her hopes up.”