“Nay, Anice, dinna trouble yerself. I can see to it when I return.”
She placed Craig in the crook of her arm and lifted him to her breast. When she looked up she was alone in the garden with her son. And wasn’t that just what she told Lady Margaret she wanted?
So, if this was how she wanted her life to proceed, whywas she unable to stop the tears from flowing? Why was she filled with regret over her actions? And why did she want to beg Robert’s forgiveness for entangling him in her plot?
“Did ye speak to her?”Duncan asked his wife as she entered their chambers. Although Robert had left, Duncan could still see Anice sitting on the bench with her babe. And, when the wind blew just so, it carried the sounds of her soft crying to him where he stood above her.
“Aye, husband. I did as ye asked.” Margaret joined him at the window and looked down into the herb garden below. “Is she there?”
“Robert just took his leave of her. Things are no’ going well between them, I fear.”
“Truly? What makes ye think it?” His wife had to stand on tiptoes to see over the ledge.
“Listen.”
The wind carried the sad sounds to them once more and Duncan saw tears in his wife’s eyes. He took her hand in his and lifted it to his lips. Although discarded callously by Struan, Robert had been a joy to them in the time he lived at Dunbarton. Margaret had supported his decision about Robert’s upbringing and training as soon as he’d made it and in spite of Struan’s requests to the contrary. Neither one of them understood Struan’s hardheadedness in the matter of his natural son.
“He loves her already,” Margaret said, sighing.
“Can she love him, though? After what she’s survived?”
“I think she can, but does no’ recognize it yet. She watches him when he does no’ ken and I have seen the interest there.” Margaret turned to face him. “She needs time to get over her fears, Duncan. Then, I think they could be happy.”
“Ah, time. I am no’ certain that Struan will give them that time.”
“He will support her faither in this, do ye think?”
“I wish I could say, Margaret. I just dinna understand his opposition to Robert. If I kenned his reasons for steadfastlyrefusing to recognize him, I might ken what he will do when he finds out about their marriage.”
“Robert does no’ seem worried about Struan?” His wife looked out once more and they watched together as Anice gathered her son in her arms and left the garden.
“He will no’ tell me more about that, only that he haes a way to assure Struan’s compliance.”
“Robert would no’ be the first natural son to seek to raise himself by marrying an heiress. Even the MacNab found his fortune that way.”
Duncan laughed out loud and took his wife’s hands in his.
“’Tis best if ye dinna remind the man of that fact. Those recently titled dinna want to dwell on how lately they came to it. Or how.”
“Well, husband, all we can do is hope for them. Now, I will leave ye to yer work.” She tried to walk away, but he pulled her into his embrace.
“With all this talk of the newly married and wanting and loving, I find myself wanting you, wife.” He took her mouth with all the passion she still enkindled in him after all these years together. When she was breathless, he dragged her to their bed and took her down with him. Kissing her again and again, he whispered to her, “Will ye have me, wife?”
“Aye, husband. I will have ye.”
Her eyes were filled with desire and even as he tugged at the laces of her gown, he offered up two quick prayers to the Almighty—one of thanksgiving for finding her and one begging that Robert and Anice could find the same thing between them. Then he was lost in the love they shared.
25
It was much later than daybreak when they were finally on the road back to Dunnedin. First, Duncan insisted that they break their fast together. A problem with the wagons they would take back put off their departure even later. Then just as he thought they were ready to leave, Anice became ill. Although it was surely her nervousness about returning to Dunnedin that caused her stomach to rebel, that explanation did not suit Lady Margaret and so he waited. Finally, after a dose of some herbal concoction that Ada and the laird’s wife created, Anice’s stomach calmed enough for them to leave.
They left with much more than they arrived with, for the MacKillop was generous in giving to them on the occasion of their marriage. A mare with good bloodlines to match his own stallion, clothing, some jewelry, and even some matching gold cups were included. Although both he and Anice assured them that they did not need these things, Duncan would not hear of him refusing the gifts.
So the two wagons, laden down with supplies and gifts, an armed escort of six warriors, all known to him, and two maids to accompany and see to Anice and the babe’s needs made up his entourage as he returned Anice to Dunnedin. The journey progressed well, taking advantage of the warmth of the early August days and using the main road to reach Struan’s keep in as short a time as was possible.
He saw little of her during the trip; he spent his time with the other men, and she stayed with Craig and the women. They spoke only when necessary and he could see and feel the tension growing within her as each mile passed, bringing them closer to their destination.
Robert wished he could share his fears with her about their future, but she was dealing with her own fears. Her eyes began to take on that haunted look and she seemed restless. He was not the only one to notice her behavior. Even Craig was off his schedule and became fussy as the journey continued. Robert realized that nothing would improve until they arrived and faced Struan with their actions. And with the knowledge he now carried with him.
