Chapter Fifteen
Jessie truly hadn't wanted to leave Torrin's side, for she worried over him. But she also feared she was growing much too attached to him. Maybe they needed time apart, though that didn't feel comforting at all. Knowing he'd improved much this morn allowed her to relax enough to sleep a few hours.
After a nap with her puppy, and then a bath, Jessie felt better. Having put on clean clothes, she ventured out to see how Torrin was when she met Isobel in the corridor.
"How is Torrin?" Isobel asked.
"When last I saw him, he was much improved. He ate a few bites of porridge and bannock. He was even jesting, so I think he is recovering quickly. Iain and Torrin's men came for a visit, so I took a wee nap."
"'Tis wonderful to hear." Isobel smiled. "I'm sure he will be well soon."
"I hope so."
Isobel bit her lip, sending Jessie a look that was both affectionate and amused. "Could I talk to you for a moment?"
"Aye, of course." Jessie was curious as to what her friend wished to discuss.
Isobel led the way to her bedchamber. Once inside, with the door closed, they took seats by the fireplace where a small fire warmed the room.
Isobel gave her that enigmatic, mischievous smile again. "Maybe I shouldn't ask. You will think I'm very nosy indeed."
"We're like sisters. You ken we can talk about anything."
Isobel tilted her head, giving her a sweet, warmhearted look. "You care for Torrin a great deal, do you not?"
"You can tell, aye?" Jessie asked in a dry tone. She'd known this was the subject her friend wished to discuss.
"Aye. After what happened when I introduced you two last winter, I feared you would never even talk to him again."
"Well, in truth, I didn't want to talk to him. And I had good reason." She told Isobel the story of how she had witnessed Torrin killing her foster brother years ago, and his reasoning for it.
"His poor sister," Isobel whispered, her dark brows furrowed. "In that situation, Cyrus or Dirk would do the same thing that Torrin did, seek justice for a sister's death."
"Aye. But I didn't understand at the time what was happening.
I thought he was killing him for no reason.
I was afraid to mention this to Torrin. If he knew I was a witness, I wondered what he would do.
If I were to tell the Keiths, they would still seek revenge, even though Lyall was guilty of a horrid crime.
Lyall's father, the chief, would especially want revenge, for he has never gotten over it. "
Isobel's dark eyes widened. "You're not going to tell them, are you?"
"Nay, of course not. I'll do everything I can to protect Torrin."
Isobel frowned. "What of the lass Torrin supposedly loves who lives in the village near Munrick? Does he truly have children with her as Nolan told me?"
"Torrin said 'twas not true. He asked who had been spreading rumors about him. I didn't tell him that his brother had told you. We heard that Nolan had kidnapped you from your camp south of Munrick several weeks ago."
"Aye, 'twas horrible. I'd dropped my dagger, so I couldn't even stab him. Dirk ended up killing him."
"We heard that as well. I'm glad you were not harmed."
Isobel's eyes widened. "So, Torrin knows about his brother?"
"Aye."
"Was he angry?"
"Nay. He was saddened to hear his brother is dead, of course, but he knew Dirk had done what he had to in order to rescue and protect you."
"Thank the saints. I would hate for Dirk and Torrin to be at odds." Her expression turning to inquisitive, Isobel asked, "So, has Torrin asked for your hand since he's been here?"
A clash of emotions made Jessie's heart beat harder. "Aye."
"Are you reconsidering?"
"'Tis not so simple," Jessie said, studying her broken, jagged nails. They looked the way she felt inside. "I didn't tell you the whole truth before."
"When?"
"Last winter, I told you that when I was handfasted to Gregor MacBain, we only shared a bed three times. That isn't true. We shared a bed for three months." Jessie's face heated. Blast! How she hated blushing.
"Oh." Isobel gave her an inquiring look.
Though Jessie trusted Isobel, she still found it difficult to hold her gaze while admitting such things. "I was ashamed because I was unable to conceive during that time. MacBain found another woman, and she bore him a son. He believed I was barren, and… I'm afraid he may be right."
"Nay," Isobel said firmly. "That may not be the case at all. Look how long it took me to conceive—seven months. So you must not give up hope. And you will, of course, have to allow Torrin to seduce you several times to know what the outcome will be." Isobel smiled.
Jessie's face felt scalded now. "Aye. You're right."
"Well then, has he? Seduced you?"
Trying to hold back her smile, Jessie drew in a deep breath, then nodded.
Isobel's grin grew wider as did her eyes. "How many times?"
"A few," she admitted.
"I'm glad."
"One morning, Uncle Conall came to my room early to tell me about Aiden, and Torrin answered my door. 'Twas horribly embarrassing. Then, my uncle had a talk with me about how I should marry Torrin."
Isobel chuckled. "The same thing happened to Dirk and me! Except Conall barged into the chamber early in the morn while I was half asleep. I have no idea what he said to Dirk about it. Thankfully, we were married soon after."
Jessie smiled.
"What have you decided about Torrin?"
Jessie shrugged. "I refuse to handfast again, and I won't wed him legally until I am with child. I can't put him in a situation where he'll be unable to sire his own heir."
"That's very selfless of you," Isobel said softly. "Too selfless, if you ask me."
"Well, 'tis for my benefit, too. I fear if I were to marry him and not produce an heir, he would grow to resent me and put me aside sometime in the future.
Chiefs have been known to do that. For many of them, marriage is not permanent, no matter what the Church says.
Some have four or five living wives, some of which they've divorced, as well as mistresses and paramours. "
"Aye. 'Tis true. Some men are goats. But not Dirk, and I don't think Torrin would behave that way."
"I hope not, but I have a hard time trusting men." Jessie had already told her about the first man who'd abandoned her the day before their wedding years ago.
"I can understand that."
"Do you feel any different since you are with child?" Jessie asked.
"I often feel sick in the mornings. I don't think I've ever fainted before either, but I did on the battlements when I was upset and afraid for Dirk."
Jessie nodded. "I don't feel sick in the mornings, so I don't think I'm with child."
"I'm not certain every woman feels that way. You might ask Nannag about it."
Jessie was too embarrassed to ask the healer about it now.
Nannag always gave her that sweet, knowing smile every time Jessie and Torrin were together.
Did Jessie really want her to know she and Torrin had been intimate?
Nay. Jessie would just wait and see if she developed any of the symptoms Isobel talked about.
But she was starting to fear she never would.
∞∞∞
'Twas near noon and Torrin still lay in bed, thankful the pain was not as bad as it had been.
The rest of his men and several others had visited during the morning, but Jessie had not yet returned.
Though he would love to see her, he hoped she was having a good nap.
Flora had just given him another half cup of the herbal tea for pain and fever when Dirk appeared at the open door.
"How are you feeling?" Dirk asked, entering the room.
"Better. I think you have the best healers in Scotland here at Dunnakeil."
Dirk gave a sharp nod and glanced at Flora. "I have to agree with you there."
Flora actually blushed, then executed a small curtsy. "I thank you both. Nannag is a skilled teacher. I'll just be in the corridor if you should need me." Flora exited and closed the door behind her.
"I must thank you for your hospitality these last few weeks," Torrin said. "I was not trying to impose. I wanted to protect Jessie from that knavish MacBain."
"Aye. She told me what an impressive job you did in rescuing her from MacBain in the attempted kidnapping, and when Haldane took you both hostage."
"'Twas the least I could do."
Dirk should know by now that Torrin would do anything to protect Jessie, even if it meant giving up his life for hers.
"I need to tell you something." Dirk appeared solemn, almost pained.
"I know what you're going to say. Haldane told me."
Dirk frowned. "About your brother?"
"Aye. I ken Nolan was an outlaw and deserved to die." Grief and regret sliced through Torrin again, despite all. "How did it happen?"
Dirk sat on the chair by the bed. "Well, he and the other outlaws attacked our camp in the middle of the night, about a day's ride south of Munrick.
While I was fighting McMurdo at the front of our tent, Nolan cut into the back of the tent and abducted Isobel.
He put her on a horse and rode away with her.
I took out after them. There was no way in hell I was going to let him hurt my wife.
" Dirk's frown was fearsome, and Torrin could only imagine how furious the man had been.
'Twas the same rage he'd felt when both MacBain and Haldane had captured Jessie.
"'Tis what I would've done, too," Torrin said. In fact, he had killed Haldane for taking Jessie hostage.
"I caught up to Nolan and Isobel," Dirk continued.
"We leapt off the horses and had a sword dual.
'Twas a fair and equal fight. I knocked his sword away and cut his throat.
I didn't want to, but he gave me no choice.
" Anguish reflected in Dirk's pale blue eyes.
"He was intent on raping and killing Isobel. "
Torrin nodded, anger at his own brother twisting through him. He was ashamed of Nolan. "He would have if you hadn't stopped him."
"I had the men bury him in a small wood there," Dirk said solemnly. "And I brought his weapons and possessions to you. I have them downstairs in the armory."