Signy contemplated. “One ruin for every three official visits.”
“How about one ruin for every two official duties?” he argued.
“We’ll see,” Signy said. “It depends on the distribution of ruins. There’s no shortage. You have your choice of old churches, old farms, and old fortresses. I imagine you’ll find some more worthy of study than others. I look forward to sketching the church at Burnbray, which is very interesting. Luckily my drawings of the farm on Sky Hill survived since Loki didn’t go swimming.”
Ramsay stood and stretched his tired muscles. “I suppose after our grand tour of Mainland we’ll spend a few days at home, then visit some of the outer islands?”
She nodded. “Yes, people who live on the other islands want to see you, and you can meet the potential magistrates I suggested.”
“But now for bed.” He extended a hand to help her from her chair. She rose easily, and it was somehow natural that she came into his arms.
At first he just held her, enjoying the softness and strength of her wonderfully female form. “In case I didn’t mention it earlier,” he murmured, “thank you for saving my life.”
“Thor gets most of the credit,” she replied with a soft laugh.
“He supplied the brawn, but you supplied the brains. I’m told you summoned him from the far end of the beach with an ear-piercing whistle. You taught him to do that?”
“Yes, he loves learning new tricks, so I taught him some that I thought might be useful.”
“If you whistle like that for me, I’ll always come,” he breathed before he kissed her. His goddess. Strong, womanly, irresistible.
She responded with the intensity of a woman who had faced death this day, and her open-mouthed kiss triggered equal intensity in him. She filled him with desire and yearning such as he’d never known in his younger years.
His hands slid down her back, pulling her hard into his body, but it wasn’t enough. He wanted more. “We could share that bed upstairs,” he said huskily. “And share a bed forever if we marry. The better I come to know you, the more I realize that my grandfather was right. You would be the best of all possible wives. Will you marry me?”
Chapter 16
Signy froze at his words, jarred out of her sensual haze. Marriage. Forever. Indignantly she pushed herself away from him. “No!You may think I’m the perfect wife for you, but that doesn’t mean thatyou’rethe perfect husband for me. I’ve spent my whole life taking care of other people and their needs. I’mtiredof putting everyone else first!”
She hadn’t realized how much anger she’d buried until the words came blazing out of her. “I want to be selfish and let everyone solve their own problems rather than letting me do the work so they can then tell me how wonderful I am! I want to befree!”
Ramsay flinched and his arms dropped. “You’re right,” he said, his voice tight. “My grandfather and I have been far too willing to take advantage of your talents and loyalty.”
His words calmed some of her anger. “My service was offered willingly, but I’ve reached the end of my willingness.”
He nodded acceptance. “How can the balance be righted? What do you want? What, if anything, would you like from me?”
No one had ever asked her that, so she had to stop and think. “I’ve spent my whole life living at the end of the world, and I don’t want to die here without ever seeing any other places. I want to travel. I doubt I’ll make it to Constantinople, but at least Paris? First I want to go to London and study with an artist who will teach me how to really paint, and I want to have the time to learn how to do it properly.”
His face like carved marble, he said, “You’re right. It’s unfair that I had all the opportunities because I’m male.”
“I have often thought the same,” Signy said dryly.
“When do you want to leave Thorsay?”
She hadn’t thought much about leaving because the future was so unclear, but Ramsay’s acceptance was making it seem possible. “I’m willing to stay another three months to help you become settled into your position as the laird. Then I’ll be off.”
His voice low, he asked, “Will you ever return, or will you be gone for good?”
The thought of leaving Thorsay forever was like an icicle in her heart. She drew a deep breath, a little unnerved that her vague dreams were somehow becoming concrete. “I’ll return someday. Thorsay is my home. I have a house and a horse and friends. Maybe you can take Fiona? I don’t think she’d enjoy traveling.”
“Of course. I’ll enjoy her company, though I’m not sure how Odin will feel. He might storm off to the stables and ignore me ever after.” He hesitated. “Forgive me for asking, but do you have enough money to travel as you wish?”
“I’ve saved most of the salary the old laird paid me, and in London I can stay in Thorsay House indefinitely. I’ve handled the laird’s correspondence with the couple who run the house. I look forward to meeting them in person.”
“You’ll like the Browns and the house is pleasant and well located.” He drew himself up. “So for now, we continue on our journey, with you introducing me to people and places while I attempt to keep my hands off you. Is that correct?”
Remembering the warmth of his embrace gave her a sharp pang of regret. “That would be best.”
