Marion’s mouth parted with shock.Is this what having a friend was like? One discussed private matters with theother? She’d never really had a friend, but she desperately wanted somecounsel, and Bridgette seemed to know a thing or two about men. “Actually,” shestarted. She cleared her throat, which made her voice come out as a crackedwhisper. “We completed the marriage last night. And he made it clear then thathe, er, um, desires me.”
Bridgette nodded. “Go on.”
Marion caught her lip between herteeth. “Maybe it’s more correct to say hedesiredme? I’m so confused!And I wish I knew why I even care!” She pressed her fingertips to her temples,which now pounded thanks to her husband the clot-heid, as Bridgette had soaptly called him.
“Ye should thank God that he put mein yer path,” Bridgette announced, her tone slightly smug but also excited.
Marion lowered her hand from infront of her face and looked at the other woman. “I should?”
Bridgette nodded. “I can clear the confusionfor ye and help ye get Iain’s attention, and then his love.”
“You can?”
Bridgette nodded again. “Did ye naesee the way all the men hung on my every word?” she asked, as if it explainedeverything.
“I did, but do you care for any ofthose men or their attention?”
Bridgette frowned. “Well, nay, butI could charm the man I do love, if only I were near him long enough.”
“Who do you love?”
“Can ye keep a confidence?”Bridgette asked, a secretive smile coming to her face.
“Of course.” When Bridgette lookedat her doubtfully, Marion added, “My mother was a Scot. She was the daughter ofthe MacDonald laird.”
“Well now,” Bridgette crowed.“That’s good to ken!” Then she pitched her voice lower. “I have loved LachlanMacLeod for as long as I can remember.”
“But you’ve never been around him longenough to compel him to love you back?”
“That’s exactly right. Neither mybrother nor yer husband will let me be alone with him because they dunnae trustI could bring him to heel, but I vow I could if given the time.”
By the fiercely determined look inBridgette’s eyes, Marion was inclined to believe the woman. “I’m not saying Iwant my husband’s love, but if I did, how do you think I could win it?”
“Well, first, ye want it and ye kenit. Ye’re just afraid to admit it because ye dunnae want to be hurt. That’snatural.”
“Perchance,” Marion agreedreluctantly.
Bridgette frowned at her. “Thefirst thing ye must do is embrace what ye want. No one ever gets what she desireswithout pains. My mum taught me that. Ye must say what ye want aloud and beready to accept the hurt and happiness that it will bring ye, nae only when ye’retrying to get it but even after ye’ve attained it. Great love calls for greatrisk, but it reaps great reward.” Bridgette nudged her in the side. “Go on.Declare yer desire.”
Marion’s chest tightened painfully.She had vowed never to try to make someone love her again as she had tried withher father, but she knew she wanted Iain to care for her and she agreed that agreat love would demand great sacrifice.
She gulped in a breath. “I want myhusband to love me.” Not that she loved him yet, but she thought she couldeventually. If he acted like less of a clot-heid and more like the man that hadheld her in his arms last night.
Bridgette clapped. “Dunnae ye feelbetter having said it aloud?”
Marion paused and considered howshe felt. Her stomach was turning and her mouth was very dry. She shook herhead. “I feel ill.”
Bridgette snickered. “That’s thebeginning of the sacrifice for the love that will come.”
“What do you think I should do togain Iain’s love, or even to get his desire to return?”
“What makes ye think ye lost hisdesire?”
“He told me he would not bed metonight,” she confessed, her face scorching. “I must have done something wronglast night.” Though he had seemed to like their joining a great deal at thetime.
Bridgette tapped her chin as shewalked, and her gaze traveled over Marion. “I’ll nae ask for details.”
“Thank God!” Marion blurted, whichcaused Bridgette to laugh.
