Despite everything he would have to explain, Magnus could not help admiring her as she stood there before the window. Her hair was tied into an intricate knot at the top of her head, her pale skin highlighted by the sunshine outside, and the pale blue fabric brought out the color of her eyes to perfection.
Betty was right, that color does suit her.
“Leah, please, ye have to listen to me,” he said, almost begging as she backed away from him.
“I don’t have to listen to a word you say, Magnus. You have lied since the day I met you. Is that the real reason why you did not wish to marry? Because you are still in love with your first wife?” she asked, her hand coming up to encircle her neck as she glared at him, breathing heavily.
Magnus tried to focus on the subject at hand rather than the rise and fall of her breasts as she railed at him.
He shook his head. “Nay, lass. Ye have this all wrong. I never cared for Elizabeth in that way. I have never wanted a woman the way I want ye.”
“And that is supposed to make things better, is it? You have just been accused of monstrous conduct in front of your whole clan!” she shouted, throwing up her hands in fury.
“I didnae ken Gibson would come today,” he stated solemnly.
“That’s what you are het up about? Not the fact that he accused you of murdering his child?!”
“I didnae lay a finger on Elizabeth,” he bellowed, his words echoing off the walls as she recoiled from him.
He took a deep breath so as to calm his rapid breathing and lowered his voice as he continued.
“Ye have to believe me. Elizabeth was a good woman, but we married for the sake of the clans. I would never have seen her come to harm, especially nae when she was carryin’ me child, but I didnae love her, and I ken she didnae love me.” He paused, feeling the familiar pain spark in his chest. “I would have loved that bairn, though, with me whole soul.”
Leah calmed at that, pity flickering in her eyes as she watched him. “I am sorry that you lost them both,” she said quietly. “I could not imagine any man wishing to harm his unborn child. Why does Gibson think that you hurt her?”
Magnus ran a hand through his hair, beginning to pace as he tried to unravel it all.
“In truth, I have never believed Elizabeth’s death was an accident,” he admitted.
“Whatever do you mean?” she asked, looking puzzled.
“Elizabeth died suddenly as she traveled in a carriage back to the castle, but I have never believed it was an accident. I have always suspected that someone was tryin’ to get to me through her and to destroy me future and me legacy all at once by killin’ me bride and me unborn child.”
He walked to the far corner of the room and turned back to look at her pleadingly.
“It is partly why I havenae wished to have ye here with me. I believe whoever hurt Elizabeth isnae done with their revenge, and they may wish to see ye harmed in order to get to me.”
Leah sniffed. “So you wish to protect me from your enemies? Or yourself?” she countered, taking a step toward him and placing her hands on her slim waist.
“Both,” Magnus answered truthfully. “I am nae the husband any woman should wish for.”
“And what do you suppose a woman should wish for? Do you presume to understand every woman’s wishes based on your own assumptions?” she asked.
He raised his eyebrows as he walked a pace toward her. “And what do ye mean by that, lass? That Iama husband that ye’d wish for?”
She shook her head, backing away, but Magnus could see the lust in her eyes now, her gaze roaming over him.
“I said nothing of the sort.”
“I think it is best if we lead separate lives, just as I said,” he murmured, coming to stand in front of her and putting a hand on the small of her back, pulling her toward him. “But right now, the idea of bein’ separated from ye would break me.”
“What on earth do you mean?” she asked, her eyes widening as he slid his hands down her back.
“After all, ye are me wife. I couldnae stay away from ye now if me life depended on it,” he said firmly, pulling her body against his as she gasped.
Her hands came up to brace against his chest as he lowered his lips to her neck, feeling her shudder beneath him.
“Ye smell like wildflowers on the moors,” he whispered as he dragged his teeth across her collarbone, and she arched into him with a low moan.
