Jack stood at the cradle with Stella in his arms. He had the child tucked against his chest, and his voice was quiet.
“Easy now, little one. Ye’ve caused enough mischief for one morning.”
Jack did not see her at first. She watched as he kissed the baby’s temple and swayed once. Stella patted his jaw and gave a small, bright laugh that filled the little room. Emma felt a smile curve her lips before she could stop it.
“Ye’re up early,” she said.
Jack looked over his shoulder at her, his gaze finding hers immediately. There was something steady and unreadable in his eyes. It disappeared before she could think further of it and ask what was wrong.
“She was restless, and I thought I’d spare the nurse.”
Stella saw Emma and reached out with both hands. Jack shifted the baby toward her. Their fingers brushed, and the touch held a little longer than it should. It also sent more shivers down her spine.
Lord, this cannae go on.
“Jack—”
“We need to talk,” he cut in, almost as if he could hear the thoughts in her head.
“Do we, though?”
“Aye. We must discuss what happened last night.”
“Nay, we daenae need to discuss it,” Emma answered, quick and too sharp. Then, almost without realizing it, she lowered her voice. “‘Tis done.”
He watched her. The room fell quiet, save for Stella’s soft breaths and the creak of the rocking chair.
“Are ye sure, Emma?” he asked. “We cannae pretend it didnae happen.”
“I’m nae pretending,” she said. “I’m only moving on.”
His lips pressed into a thin line. Emma had known him long enough to know that what he was feeling wasn’t anger. It was something he did when the ground shifted under him and he chose not to show it. A look of utter resignation.
He nodded once. “As ye wish.”
Before either of them could say more, Catriona walked in with a soft hum and a basket on her arm. “There ye are. I thought I heard laughter in here.”
Jack stepped back while Emma passed the child into Catriona’s arms and tugged down her sleeve to hide the small tremor in her fingers.
“She’s bright as the sun this morning,” Catriona added. “We’ll feed her and walk her.”
“Aye,” Jack uttered. “I’ll come by later.”
Catriona smiled at Emma. “Ye’ll join us, Emma?”
“In a little while,” Emma replied. “I have something to do.”
Catriona nodded her head and left with the child.
The door closed, and silence fell again. Emma and Jack stood a few paces apart, but they might as well have been standing on opposite ends of the world. The tension between them was too thick to cut with a knife.
He spoke first, his voice lower than earlier. “If ye want me to stay away, say it plainly.”
“Stay where ye must,” she said. “I have nay claim to ye.”
His eyes stayed on her face. “And if I said I have a claim on ye?”
She held his gaze, though her breath stuttered in her chest. “Then I would say ye still have two nights to prove that ye are worth the trouble.”
