She sighed. “ ‘Tis only when I thought I would die, I thought of . . . of your first wife . . . that she had died that way, too. In your arms. Happy.” As he tensed, she added quickly, “I know how ridiculous it was to even think it. I canna believe you even touched her, for if you had, she would never have killed herself.”
Jamie’s eyes were inscrutable, but his body was tense, as if he was fighting for control.
“Och, Jamie, I’m sorry. But you see, I thought the worst of you ‘afore today. I believed the stories. I may as well say it.”
“Say it all, m’dear, by all means.” His voice was hard as an iron blade.
Sheena did. “The story was your first wife killed herself because of your brutal raping of her on your wedding day. I believed the story because I never heard any tale to the contrary. I heard only of rape, murder, and mayhem. Is it any wonder I couldna tell you who I was, any wonder I believed you would kill me if you knew? I was wrong,” she said. “Wrong about you and about your wife. Wasn’t I?”
He was enraged that she felt she had to ask him that. Could she not see clearly enough who he was?
“Maybe wrong, and maybe right,” he said sarcastically.
Her eyes filled with tears, and Jamie was instantly remorseful. He shouldn’t have been so hurt by her mentioning Ailis Mackintosh. She had been trusting enough to confide in him, and he had done just what he had sworn he wouldn’t do.
“Och, Sheena, ‘tis a brute I am, and no mistake. Of course the stories were wrong. I’ve never taken a woman who didna want it so. As for mayhem, well mayhem can at times be unavoidable. And murder? I’ll no’ deny I’ve killed men in battle. I’ve even sentenced one of my own kin to death, one who was deserving of that justice. But I’ve never murdered for the sake of killing, Sheena. No killing is to my liking, but what Scot hasna killed or wounded another in his lifetime? Is your father innocent of fighting and killing? Will your brother still be innocent of it ‘afore long? Will you blame me for a life I canna change? For doing what I must do?”
He waited. He waited a long time. Finally she whispered, “I won’t.”
Jamie smiled, relieved greatly. “Then let me put your mind at rest about one thing more, sweetheart. You were right in thinking I never even touched my first wife. The wedding was arranged by our fathers. I had never seen Ailis Mackintosh ‘afore we were joined in marriage. Nor did anyone warn me that she was a weak, fanciful lass, and utterly terrified of men‑no’ just me, Sheena, but all men, including her own father. She was dead ‘afore I came to her that awful night. Her serving lass later confessed the poor thing’s fear of men and that she was forced into our marriage and had sworn she would kill herself ‘afore she’d let a man touch her. Her father apparently didna believe she would, and hadn’t told me of the threat. He still didna accept it and blamed me and my family for her death. We’ve been enemies with the Mackintosh clan ever since.”
“So that is why you swore you’d never marry a lass unless you’d tried her first?”
“Do you blame me? ‘Twas horrible what Ailis did, a bitter shock. Any lass who looked at me in fear after that I stayed well away from. Is it any wonder your fear upset me so? You I couldna stay away from, as much as I sometimes wanted to. It didna help to know it was only me you feared, and not men in general.”
“Och, well, you know why now.”
“Aye. A foolish reason,” he said.
“I didna think so.”
He grinned down at her, his eyes reflecting amusement. “Even when I kissed you and you enjoyed it?”
“I didna enjoy it!” she protested.
Jamie chuckled. “A liar to the end, eh? Well, let us see if you’ll admit now to enjoying my kissing.”
And he kissed her. And she did enjoy it. And what followed was as lovely as could be imagined. Their guests were forgotten for a good while longer.
Chapter 30
JAMIE closed the door to his chamber, then pulled Sheena to his side, his hand resting possessively on her waist. Their eyes met, and Jamie smiled warmly. Sheena smiled back, and the smile stayed on her lips as they walked down the corridor.
Sheena was happy, truly happy for the first time in a very long time. And Jamie? He had laughed in delight when she put her lovely gown back on and blushed to find it so full of wrinkles from lying where they had left it. Everyone would know what they had been about. How could she dare return to the hall?
But she had seen the humor, too. What did it matter? They had been gone so long, everyone would know anyway. Either right then or in the morning, she would have to face their knowing. And Jamie was strutting so proudly, like a cock just come in from the henshed.
They passed the room where Sheena had stayed those last few days under guard. But even that couldn’t put a damper on her mood. How frightened she had been, and all for nothing. Jamie would never hurt her. And now she could be herself again, without performing, without always being on her guard.
She wondered how Jamie would like the real Sheena Fergusson.
They approached the hall, but Jamie slowed suddenly, and Sheena looked up to find him frowning. Then she realized why. The hall was quiet, eerily so. Had everyone gone? Why?
“Jamie‑“ she started to ask, but he shushed her, and they continued down the stairs.
Confusion doubled when they entered the hall and found it not deserted at all. It was just as crowded as it had been. Yet the silence was oppressive. Most of the people were standing, and there was such a solemn look on every face that she felt prickles of unexplainable fear up her spine.
She didn’t want to go into that large room at all, but Jamie forced her with him to the middle of the two trestle tables, where everyone’s attention was centered. Her father was there, as were dozens of Fergussons, all standing beside and behind him. Black Gawain was there, and Colen, and many more MacKinnions than Fergussons.
Sweet Mary, they’re going to fight, she realized. But Jamie would stop it. Thank God they’d come in when they had! Why? What could possibly have happened to set the clans against each other again?
The reason lay at Black Gawain’s feet, and Sheena paled on seeing that it was lain Fergusson, her cousin. Blood spread across his chest, making it impossible to tell exactly where he had been wounded.
But wounded he was, and unconscious‑or dead. Dear God, not lain. Such a kind man, so sensitive. He cared nothing for fighting or raiding‑only for his animals. How many times had she and Niall spent whole days with lain, learning habits of wild creatures, laughing over the antics of a beaver, awed by his great shaggy aurochs?
The noise started all at once, the accusations, denials, anger. No one was making any sense, and it only got louder and louder, not clearer. Everyone shouting at the same time made Sheena ready to scream. But the figure of Jamie leaning down to examine lain was more effective than any call for order could have been. He was probably the first to see if lain was still alive.
Jamie stood up at last, utter disgust on his face. “What madness is this?” he demanded. “You stand here glaring and shouting at each other while a man bleeds to death!”
“Is he dead, then?” Colen was the one to ask.
“Without tending, he will be ‘afore long.”
Colen nodded and gestured to men to carry lain to the hearth. Water would be heated there to clean his wound. But Dugald delayed that, obstinately instructing his own men to care for lain.
Once lain was carried away, Jamie stepped forward, growing angrier by the second. Such childish theatrics these were, intended as insult and taken as insult.
“I’ll no’ take issue with you, Sir Dugald, until I hear what has happened,” Jamie said with deliberate evenness of tone.
“Take issue all you want, MacKinnion. But if you’re wanting to know what happened, ask your man there. See if he dares tell the truth.”
Dugald’s finger was pointed at Black Gawain, and Jamie eyed his cousin with considerable surprise. “You? What have you to do with this? You were
na even here for the wedding.”
“I came after you took your leave‑and your pleasure‑with your new bride.”
The rudeness of it was bad enough, but the unmistakable bitterness in Gawain’s voice disturbed Jamie. He was reminded of the spring raid, and how Gawain had behaved when he found his sister dead. Hell‑bent on blood and revenge. Did he still hold that grudge? Had lain been his revenge?
“You stabbed the man?” Jamie asked without preamble.
“I did.”
“An accident?”
“Nay.”
Jamie took a deep breath, holding himself in check. There was not an ounce of remorse in Gawain. If anything, he was belligerent on purpose.
“You’ll be telling me why.”
Jamie’s tone was sharp, leaving no mistake about his rising temper. Black Gawain wisely took note of it and was less bellicose as he said, “You’ve no need to worry I was without cause, Jamie. The man rose to attack me. If he was slow and cloddish and my dirk found him first, whose fault was that? The first attack was his.”
“But he wouldna have attacked you!” Sheena gasped. “I know lain. He wasna a fighter.”
Jamie gave Sheena a sharp look. She was not to interfere.
“Who else can tell me what happened here?” he demanded, looking around.
“You doubt me, Jamie?” Black Gawain asked.
Jamie eyed him steadily. “Since when is only one side a fair accounting?”
“I can be telling you what happened here.” A Fergusson spoke up. “ ‘Twas no’ the way he says.”
“You saw it all?” Jamie was being very careful.
“I was next to lain at the table,” the man explained. “I couldna help but see it all.”
“And what part wasna as my cousin claims?”
“Nae part,” the man said without hesitating, his accent thickening with his emotion. “The MacKinnion came, and nae sooner did he sit down, he started in on poor lain. Boasting he was, of raiding us. Laughing, too, he was, over how many Fergussons he’d killed. He was baiting lain, and nae mistake. He should’ve come to my side, and he’d hae found what he was after. But lain was only disgusted wi’ his blathering. He rose to leave, no’ to attack. He would’ve walked away if this one hadna gone for his dirk and stuck it in him.”
Silence reigned once again. Sheena was appalled, believing her kinsman completely. Didn’t she know all too well what kind of man Black Gawain was? Hadn’t he attacked her, as well, without provocation? A different kind of attack, but still an attack.
Jamie was in a quandary, unable to believe it of his cousin. The same age, the boys had grown up together. Would Gawain deliberately provoke a fight? He couldn’t have changed so drastically in the months since his sister’s death, could he? There had to be more to it.
What was Jamie to do, take the word of a man he didn’t know over his cousin’s version? Yet he had to make a decision. The tension in the room was getting very bad. It was obvious that all his clan believed Black Gawain and the Fergussons believed their man. Even young Niall stood on his seat, viewing the scene below with his hand on the hilt of his sword. Could Jamie stop the men from fighting?
“Were you looking for a fight, Black Gawain?” Jamie had to ask the question.
“No’ looking, but no’ backing down, either. If I had wanted to fight the Lowlander, I would’ve challenged him outright, no’ goaded him to it.”
Jamie sighed. His decision would not be greeted well by Sheena’s clan. “What we have then is an error in judgment, a misconstruing of simple actions. I’m thinking it can only be called an accident, however unfortunate it was.”
“Are you now?” Dugald spoke up, his face mottled with anger. “And I’m thinking we’ll be getting no justice here!”
“Concede. It was an accident, Sir Dugald,” Jamie offered in warning. “There are no’ enough witnesses to prove otherwise.”
“I need only one witness!” Dugald roared.
“I need more! This is not a clear case!” Jamie roared back.
“Then wait till Iain recovers!” Sheena shouted before her father could say anything else. She was torn apart, knowing where this was leading. She couldn’t stand it. And all over lain, peace‑loving Iain.
“To what end, daughter?” Dugald rasped. “The MacKinnion would only find other excuses no’ to mete out justice, even if the truth were clear.”
“I beseech you‑“
“Nay!” Dugald cut her off sharply. “But dinna fear I’ll soil this day with vengeance. We’ll be leaving here, and you with us, ‘afore there are more accidents. “
“She doesna go, Dugald.” Jamie’s voice was deceptively soft.
“She’s wed to you, MacKinnion.” Dugald glowered at him. “But by your own words, you did say she wouldna be forced to stay here.”
“She can leave—when I say. For now she stays.”
Sheena held her breath. Her father and her husband stared at each other for so long, not one more word passing between them, that she thought a battle was inevitable. She knew her father was placed in an intolerable position. It was either fight or back down. A Fergusson back down? When his whole clan stood behind him? Yet, as always when against the MacKinnions, the Fergussons were outnumbered.
His face dark with rage, Dugald Fergusson turned on his heel and left the hall without another word. Sheena was forced to watch the rest of her clan storm out of the hall. Then lain was carried out, still unconscious. He was in no condition to be riding, yet ride he would, and probably die on the long trek home.
Even Niall did not look at her once as he left. Sheena moved toward her brother. They had to have at least a few words before he left. But Jamie’s restraining hand on her shoulder kept her beside him, and she could only stand there, unable to prevent it, while her family left. Deep down she wondered if she would ever see them again.
Her chest ached, and she would have cried if not for the heavy hand on her shoulder. It reminded her that she was in the midst of the hated MacKinnions. She wouldn’t let the enemy see what this was doing to her.
“Sheena?”
Jamie’s voice was soft, and she was reminded of his earlier tenderness. Did he think nothing had changed? Didn’t he know everything was shattered?
She lifted his hand and shoved it away from her before she turned and looked squarely at him, .her eyes filled with pain and condemnation. “Dinna touch me again, Jamie‑ever,” she whispered brokenly, all her pain in her voice.
“Sheena‑“
“Nay!” she sobbed. Nothing he could say would change any of it.
She ran from the hall before they were shamed in front of his kin. Jamie stared after her, wanting desperately to follow, to make her see his side of it, but he feared his own temper, so he didn’t move. He watched until she was out of sight.
Chapter 31
WHEN Jamie entered the chamber, Sheena was asleep in the chair by the fire, still dressed, her hair flowing over the side of the chair to form a shimmering red pool on the floor. Her arms were crossed over her breasts, her feet tucked under her skirt. Had she just fallen asleep there, or was she making a deliberate point by not sleeping in the bed?
Jamie added wood to the dying fire before he sat down at Sheena’s feet to stare up at her. She looked so peaceful without the glimmer of tears in her eyes. Aye, he had seen the unshed tears, and the pain. But how to make it right with her?
He picked up the dark tresses lying on the floor and fanned them through his fingers. Their wedding day! What an utter fiasco, except for that little time together. How could she forget that time? Didn’t it matter at all?
He wasn’t going to wake her and hear more accusations. Enough angry words had been thrown at him that night. Colen had accused him of being ten kinds of a fool, and Aunt Lydia had had her say, as well, upbraiding him severely for letting the feud start again. But neither of them had made him admit he might have made a mistake.
It was actually Black Gawain who had made him consider th
e possibility. His cousin showed not a whit of remorse for what had transpired, enjoying himself on Jamie’s wedding day though Jamie no longer could. Jamie’s temper finally got the best of him, and he ordered Gawain from the hall, sick of the sight of him, sick over the fates that had turned Sheena against him again.
Sheena woke to see Jamie sitting on the floor near her, her hair entwined in his fingers. She stiffened and yanked the hair away from him.
Jamie turned to her, his eyes gleaming brightly in the firelight. He stood up and held out his hand, but she made no move to take it. He sighed. “Cone to bed, lass. It has been a tiring day, and we can both use the rest.” She still didn’t move, so he added, “I’ll no’ be bothering you, if that has you worried.”
Her eyes rose slowly to meet his, and when he saw how much anger was there, he wondered again if he could ever make it right with her.
“I only waited here to tell you I’ll no’ be staying in this room with you,” she said.
“You will indeed stay here,” Jamie replied adamantly.”
She glared at him. “I want the tower room repaired, Jamie!”
“Nay! Dinna force it, Sheena,” he warned her. “I’ll no’ be gossiped about as my father was whenever my mother got the sulks. I warned you ‘afore there’d be no doors ‘atween us.”
“You’ll sleep on the floor then!”
“I’ll sleep on the bed!”
“Then I’ll‑“
“You’ll cease this blathering now!” he stormed.
“I’ve said I’ll no’ bother you. Leave it be.” She seemed ready to continue shouting, and he said tiredly, “Go to sleep, lass.” He began to remove his clothes.
Sheena turned away from him and stared at the fire, still standing in the center of the room. They had both carefully refrained from mentioning the real issue. Sheena knew that if Jamie dared to try to justify his doing nothing to Black Gawain, she would say things she might regret.
Jamie wasn’t going to discuss it, he had decided. He didn’t have to explain himself to anyone. Sheena had no right to question him. If he let her sway him now on any issue, it would always be so. He couldn’t allow that. She was only a wife—albeit a beautiful, tempting curse. Be damned to her!