“Aye,” Iain said grimly. “Itappears so. Now that ye ken all, tell me of yer woes.”
Alex blew out a frustrated breath.“Bridgette refused an offer of marriage from the Campbell’s son. I wanted herto accept as it would have helped bring peace, but she did nae feel compelled.”
“And ye did nae make her accept?”Iain asked, confounded. He was glad he had brothers. Though they stirred plentyof mischief, they’d never endanger a peace treaty simply because they didn’twish to marry a woman.
“I did nae,” Alex responded, hiswords stiff. “I vowed to my mother on her deathbed that I would nae forceBridgette to marry any man she did nae love.” Alex stared hard at Iain. “Ikinnae tell ye how many times I’ve wished I never consented to that, but whenye look at yer dying mother, it’s verra hard to deny her anything. So Iconsented, thinking it would likely never be a problem. But Bridgette wishes tomarry for love,” Alex groused. “She dunnae seem to care what her foolish desiredid to the possibility of peace. I explained to her that marriage is aboutduty, nae foolish fantasies.”
Iain nodded to show his agreement,but his marriage to Catriona had been more than duty. In the beginning, he’dmarried her because he felt obligated to watch over her. She’d come to himafter her father had announced that he was going to marry her to GowanMacDonald, Marion’s uncle, and Iain had not been able to let the fragile girlhe had known for years be chained to a man known for his temper anddeceitfulness. Catriona had confessed her love to Iain, and he knew his time tomarry was coming, so he’d married her. Yet love had grown from duty. And nowhe’d wed Marion out of duty. Passion was there for certain, but the otheremotion? He could not allow it again. It was a foolish fantasy, as Alex hadclaimed.
He sensed Alex staring at him.“Sorry. What did Bridgette say when ye told her that?”
“Only men who have never been inlove spout such drivel.” He offered Iain a disgruntled look. “And she said Iwas a cold Scot.” Iain was surprised when Alex’s scowl turned to a grin. “Idon’t mind that part so much.”
“Aye,” Iain replied without hesitationas he scratched at his stubble and thought about how nice it would be to washoff in the sea. That idea spawned another, one of Marion naked and soaking in atub. He’d never bathed that way himself. His father had always said such athing was for women and weak men, and it had stuck with him, but the idea of climbinginto a pool of warm water where Marion reclined with rivulets sluicing over herskin and him rubbing soap over her soft breasts and tight stomach made hisblood hum. He’d never last a night without touching his wife. And once hetouched her, he’d have to take her, he wanted her that much. It was a gnawing,growing hunger.
Alex coughed loudly. Iain snappedhis gaze to his longtime friend. “I was—”
“Thinking about yer new wife by thelusty look on yer face.”
Iain grinned. He couldn’t help it,but a grin was not an omission, and he’d rather cut off a finger than admithe’d been lost in a fantasy about bathing with his wife. Alex would annoy himabout it until death took the man and silenced him. He needed to draw hisfriend’s attention away from him and Marion, especially when he was so confusedabout his new wife.
“Bridgette is sweet tempered as ever,I see,” Iain jested.
Alex rubbed the bridge of his nose.“She’s more trouble than ever. And her obstinacy has increased with each yearshe ages. When I told her I considered being cold a necessity in any husbandI’d allow her to marry, she threw a pot at me. I’ve never known a woman to havethe temper of a man. She needs lessons in being obedient. Maybe yer new wifecould give her some? In fact”—Alex gave him a pleading look—“maybe Bridgettecould travel with ye to Dunvegan for a short visit.”
Iain held up his hand to halt hisfriend. “I’d nae look to the Sassenach for help on making Bridgette obedient.”
“Nay?”
Iain shook his head. “She’s ratherlike a man herself.”
“Why are ye grinning?”
“Am I?” He struggled to straightenhis mouth. But God’s truth, he liked Marion’s spirit. Though, shewouldhave to learn to obey him. He would never want to extinguish the fire thatburned in her.
“Ye are,” Alex said, his voicedisplaying his bewilderment.
Iain shrugged. “Can a man nae grinwhen talking of his new wife?”
Alex shook his head and chuckled.“Go on. I’ll nae give your secret away.”
Iain frowned. “What secret?”
“Ye’re happy, my friend. Whether yewant to be or nae, ye are. And I want to meet the woman who has done that. Butfirst, yer counsel on my problems if ye can keep yer thoughts on me.”
“Of course I can,” Iain said,contemplating what he had learned of Alex’s difficulties so far. “Why do yewant to send Bridgette away?”
“Because the Campbell laird wantsretribution for the wrong to his son. If she goes with ye—”
“Ye think things may cool.”
Alex rubbed the back of his neck.“Aye. What say ye?”
“I’ll take her.” Maybe she andMarion would become friends, and Bridgette could be Marion’s ally when they allreturned to his home. Knowing Catriona’s sisters, Marion would need a friend,and Bridgette, with her liveliness, could be the perfect supporter.
“Thank ye,” Alex said, obviouslyrelieved. “Can ye stay tomorrow or must ye depart?”
He wanted to get home, but then hethought of Marion and the long journey still remaining before they reachedDunvegan Castle. If they lingered one more day, some of Marion’s aches fromtraveling would ease and she could rest up for the second half of the journey.“We can stay for another day.”
