Chapter 41
Jamie recovered nicely, taking full advantage of Sheena’s ministrations.
Once he’d learned she had tended him from the start, he insisted she continue.
Sheena didn’t mind, of course, even knowing that Jamie was well enough to leave his bed.
It was a surprise when she entered one day and found him completely dressed, standing by the fire.
“You know, do you no’, that a new feud has begun—with Jamesons?”
Sheena nodded. Colen had told her what had happened after Jamie and Black Gawain were taken back to Castle Kinnion.
Colen had attacked Jameson’s tower, but he couldn’t breach it, needing a bigger force than he had.
Surprisingly, Jamie decided not to take the tower.
True, there were deaths for Jameson to atone for, but Jamie didn’t want to wipe out a whole clan.
The enemy was known. He could be dealt with in the customary fashion, with periodic raids.
And he could no longer hide his activities.
Black Gawain had been furious. Having suffered a broken arm that day, he could do no fighting for a while. But he had sworn he would kill Jameson. He and Jamie had argued over it, and Gawain had left the castle in a rage. He had yet to return.
“You agree there’s reason for this new feud?” Jamie asked her, his meaning clear.
Sheena smiled at him. He seemed to need her approval, and she did agree, knowing Jamie was set against a bloody revenge.
“A Scotsman will always raid, whether enemy or—friend,” she replied lightly, then laughed. A scowl crossed Jamie’s face, for her father had just raided Jamie, lifting several of his prized horses right from under his nose. Dugald was demanding ransom, and a handsome ransom at that.
“You think it amusing, eh, your father’s catching me unawares?”
“I think he’ll be recouping all his losses from this past summer. ’Tis only fair, the breaking of the peace no’ being his fault.”
Jamie grunted. “I suppose you’d like to come along when I pay the ransom?”
“Can I?” she asked hopefully, her eyes sparkling.
He hesitated only a moment. “Aye, if you can see to it this doesna happen again.”
“I think I can manage that. But what of Black Gawain? You do see that what he did was intentional?”
“He’s gone, Sheena. Leaving the country, I’m told. His man just brought me the news.”
Sheena wasn’t really surprised. “He suspected you’d take action against him sooner or later because of Iain?”
“I suppose. He sent a message for you. He asks you to forgive him—‘for all things.’ What does he mean by that?”
“We had several confrontations, he and I,” Sheena murmured evasively, feeling no need to elaborate. “He hated me when he learned who I was. That was only to be expected, Gawain thinking what he did about the feud and my family.”
Jamie was satisfied with that. “Will you be asking me to search him out?” he asked, worried.
“I dinna think so. He’s set his own punishment, banishing himself.”
“But will your father agree that ’tis enough?”
“He’s a fair man, Jamie. I think he’ll agree. Besides,” she added with a grin, “he’ll be so happy, gloating when he accepts your ransom, he’ll probably no’ even ask about Black Gawain.” Jamie gave her a sour look, but laughed despite himself.
Then an awkward silence fell between them.
In all the days since he had been hurt, they had not once talked of themselves.
Sheena wasn’t ready to. She was still getting used to the fact that she loved this man.
It wasn’t supposed to happen, but it had.
Only, he had never claimed the same feeling.
Wanting her was all he had ever admitted to, and she knew that wouldn’t satisfy her.
The tension was broken by Daphne’s arrival. She was so pleased to see Jamie up and about that she teased him.
“Well, well, so that great hulking body wasna rotting after all!” She laughed at his look and said, “Now I’ve no excuse to stay longer. I’ll tell my Dobbin I’ll be leaving with him.”
“So soon?” Sheena asked.
Daphne laughed. “I’ve my own castle to be seeing to, you know. Though I canna say this visit hasna been interesting. ’Tis no’ every day my brother takes a wife he doesna know what to do with.”
Jamie actually blushed, and Sheena and Daphne grinned at each other, which caused him to glower. “When are you leaving?” he asked pointedly.
“Today, and we’ll be taking Jessie with us, you’ll be glad to know,” she added. “She’s overstayed her welcome, I do believe.”
“Indeed she has,” Sheena retorted.
Daphne grinned at her again before saying softly, “Jamie, you’ll be surprised to hear Aunt Lydia has expressed a wish to visit me. If you dinna object, she can come with us today.”
Had his sister gone mad? “Lydia—leave Castle Kinnion? But she has never left here in all these years!”
“I know. Is it no’ wonderful? She claims I do much more entertaining than you do, and ’tis time she met new people, time she found…a husband.”
“What?”
Daphne giggled. “Can you imagine our aunt wanting a husband at her age? High time, I guess.”
“’Tis absurd,” Jamie grumbled, but his sister rambled on.
“And I’ll be seeing she finds one, too, though I think she’ll manage on her own. These days there’s a peace about her that makes her glow.”
Sheena and Jamie smiled at each other. As Sheena had hoped, Jamie’s aunt didn’t remember any of her confession. But there was still a great difference in Lydia, as if the unburdening of the tragedy, even though she had blocked it out again, had brought her peace.
“Well, I dinna object,” Jamie said. “But ’twill seem strange with her gone, and no mistake.”
“I doubt you’ll be missing her too much,” Daphne replied knowingly. “And you’ve much to do, now you’re finally up and about. ’Tis no’ like you to pamper yourself. I was beginning to wonder if you’d ever get out of bed.”
Jamie kept his voice deliberately casual. “I had a dream, you see, when I was recovering.”
“Did you now?” Daphne asked, exasperated by his mysteriousness.
He ignored her and continued, “I dreamed my wife said she loved me. Maybe I stayed abed so long hoping to have the dream repeated.”
Sheena flushed a glowing pink as Jamie’s eyes locked with hers. Could he really have heard her that night when the fever was on him? She couldn’t take her eyes from his.
“Och, well, I can see when I’m in the way,” Daphne said. “I’ll be going now. Take care of your precious jewel, laddie,” she warned her brother sternly.
She kissed them both and was quickly gone. With the closing of the door, Sheena grew exceedingly uncomfortable. Jamie’s eyes were still on her, and she finally lowered her gaze.
“It was a lovely dream, Sheena.”
“Was it?” she asked, not knowing what else to say.
Jamie frowned. She was going to make this difficult. How could he ask her what he needed to know if she turned away from him like that? He shouldn’t have waited so long, he knew that.
He was not a man for tender words, nor did expressing his feelings come easy for him in any case. He had known for a very long time what was in his heart, but he hadn’t got the words out when he’d had the chance. Now there could be no more waiting. He had to know.
“Can you love me, Sheena?”
There. It was done.
Sheena didn’t know what to do. Should she tell him the truth? Tell him she already loved him? But she was afraid to make herself that vulnerable. This powerful feeling was new to her, and it was frightening. So instead of answering, she asked him the same question.
“Can you love me?”
He went to her and cupped her face in both of his large hands. His kiss was tender, yet so full of love, like the man she had come to know. Sheena was left breathless, clinging to him.
“Do I have to be telling you, Sheena? Did it ever really need saying?”
“Aye, it did,” she replied solemnly.
“Sweet Mary!” he sighed. “I love you. There! Now dinna expect me to say it again.” Then he inquired nervously, “And you?”
Sheena gave him a brilliant smile. “I love you, Jamie. I do.”
He laughed with relief and joy, holding her tightly. “Och, sweetheart, you canna know how happy you’ve made me.”
“I’m no’ feeling so poorly myself,” she teased him, as happy as she had ever been.