"And what?" Ada pressed.
"And I'll nae have other men speakin' about ye like ye're anythin' less than what ye are."
Ada's lips curved slightly. "Ye're jealous."
"I'm nae jealous, I'm—" Magnus stopped. Exhaled roughly. "Aye. Fine. I'm jealous. Is that what ye wanted tae hear?"
"A bit, aye." Her smile widened despite the bruise. "I like that ye're possessive of me. That ye sent them all away because ye dinnae want them watchin' me."
"It's nae funny, Ada."
"I'm nae laughin'." But her eyes danced with amusement. With something deeper. "I like kennin’ ye care enough tae be jealous. That ye think of me as yers."
Magnus groaned. "Ye're goin' tae be the death of me, woman."
"Maybe. But at least ye'll die happy." Ada's hand came up to rest against his chest. "Magnus, there's somethin' I need tae talk tae ye about."
His body tensed. "What is it?"
"Can we go somewhere more private? I dinnae want tae have this conversation where anyone might overhear."
Magnus nodded, took her hand. Led her away from the training yard toward a small garden tucked between the outer wall and the keep. It was secluded, quiet, with high hedges that blocked them from view.
"What's this about?" he asked when they were alone.
Ada was quiet for a long moment, her hand still in his. When she spoke, her voice was soft. Uncertain.
"I need tae ask ye about yer first wife."
Magnus went rigid. Every muscle in his body locking down. "Ada?—"
"Please. Just listen." She squeezed his hand. "I ken ye dinnae like talkin' about it. I ken it hurts. But I need tae understand what happened. Tae ken why ye pull away every time we get close. Why ye cannae seem tae trust me even when I've given ye nay reason tae doubt."
"It's nae about trustin' ye?—"
"Then what is it about?" Ada's eyes searched his face. "Because I'm tryin', Magnus. I'm tryin' so hard tae be patient. But I dinnae ken how much longer I can keep waitin' fer ye tae let me in."
Magnus looked away, his jaw working. Every instinct screamed at him to shut this down. To refuse. To keep that part of his past buried where it couldn't hurt him anymore.
But Ada deserved better than that. Deserved the truth, even if it destroyed whatever fragile thing was building between them.
"All right," he said finally. "I'll tell ye. But dinnae say I didnae warn ye. It's nae a pretty story."
"I dinnae need pretty. I just need honest."
Magnus took a breath. Released it slowly. And began.
"Freydis was me wife for three years. We married fer alliance, same as ye and I did. Her faither was a powerful jarl, controlled trade routes I needed access tae." His voice was flat, emotionless. Like he was reporting facts rather than relivingpain. "At first, it was fine. We got along well enough. She was clever, beautiful. Good at managin' the household. I thought maybe we could build somethin' real taegether."
"What changed?"
"She got pregnant. A little more than two years into the marriage." Magnus's hands curled into fists. "I was happy about it. Thought maybe a child would bring us closer. But she—" He stopped. "She wasnae happy. Started actin' strange. Distant. Would flinch when I touched her."
Ada's hand tightened on his.
"I thought it was just the pregnancy. That she was sick or scared or somethin'. So I gave her space. Tried tae be patient." Magnus's voice grew rougher. "Then one night, while I was in me study, she went intae labor. When I found out, I sent fer Mairi but it was too late. The baby—" He swallowed hard. "The baby was born dead. Too early tae have any chance."
"Magnus, I'm so sorry."
