“It is just as well that you aren’t. You and I need more time together before you bear my children. We need more understanding between us. You must needs learn your role in my house and what I expect from you.”
“No, I mean I’m not pregnant right now.”
He felt an earthquake of frustration. He felt all the blood in his groin whoosh back to his brain. If there had been a full moon, he’d have howled and run like a crazy man over the Lomond moors.
He looked at her with a thread of hope. “You mean you didn’t discover you weren’t pregnant last week, say?”
“No, right now. Right this very minute as we speak.”
“Perhaps you are nearing the end of it?”
“No.”
Did he expect her to tell him the truth? As a matter of fact, he did.
“Well, blessed hell,” he said.
“That’s my brothers’ favorite curse,” she said, “all except for Tysen, who’s the clergyman.”
“I must have heard your dear brothers say it enough. It always preceded their attacking me.”
“They love me,” she said simply. She waited. He didn’t say a word, didn’t even look as though he wanted to, but simply lacked the proper words or the ability. “Yes,” she said, “blessed hell.”
“Come here and I will kiss you.”
It wouldn’t solve anything, but it would be pleasant, of that she had no doubt. She walked to him with no hesitation. “I would like that. Thank you, Colin.”
For a Colin kiss, it wasn’t his best, she thought, wishing he would kiss her as he had on their wedding night. He gently set her away from him but kept his hands on her upper arms. He breathed in the sweet scent of her. He felt the softness of her flesh beneath his fingers.
She said, her eyes never leaving his mouth, “Edinburgh is but a half day from here.”
“Yes, I know.”
“You could come home every few days, Colin.”
“Yes, but I won’t, not until everything is handled to my satisfaction.”
“Where is Robert MacPherson? Have you spoken to the old laird?”
“I have no idea where Robert MacPherson is right now. Perhaps he followed me back here. I don’t know. But it seems most likely that he will remain in Edinburgh, to try to get to me there. He hasn’t tried anything so far. I have met with old Latham, his father, and he doesn’t understand why Robbie is acting like such a cowardly sod. He’s put out the word for his son to see him, but to date he hasn’t shown himself. He says that Robbie told him I had no proof of anything and he himself would admit nothing to his father. We will see. He will have to come to me sooner or later.”
“Why don’t you just kill him?”
Colin blinked down at her. “You’re a woman,” he said slowly. “Women are supposed to be gentle, to despise violence and war. You want me to kill him?”
She looked thoughtful, then nodded. “Yes, I suppose you must. He sounds unbalanced, a bit like Aunt Arleth. I don’t wish to live in fear of his hurting or killing you. Yes, I think you should kill him, but cleverly, of course.”
He could find no words.
“I could write my brothers and ask them how best to proceed.”
“No,” he said quickly, “oh no, don’t do that. Listen, it’s possible he hasn’t had anything to do with the trouble. I don’t believe that myself, but it’s possible. After all, you were the one hurt in Edinburgh. Robbie is a good shot. It’s difficult to believe he missed.”
“You’re forgetting London. And I should say that trouble is a passionless word for trying to kill someone, Colin.”
“I can’t be certain. It is likely, but not certain.”
“So you will remain in Edinburgh until he either kills you or you manage to kill him in the act of trying to kill you?”