“And for you.” He paused. “I wasn’t exactly happy when I learned you had left. When she suggested that maybe it was for the best, I let her know in no uncertain terms just how wrong she was.” He shook his head. “Christ, I’m sorry, Maggie. I didn’t want to believe it. Hell, maybe Icouldn’tbelieve it.”
Her brows furrowed. “I don’t understand.”
“I had so many things pulling me the other way, how could I have left you? I needed you to be somewhere where I thought you were safe.”
So he could concentrate on what he needed to do. Strangely she understood. “It’s different now,” she said. “Eachann will help. We both just need to give it time.”
He seemed to understand that she was asking him not to interfere. He nodded, but he didn’t look happy about it.
“Speaking of our son,” he said. “You were right about his skill with a chessboard. It’s remarkable for one so young.”
“Did he beat you, too?” She couldn’t hide her delight at the prospect.
He lifted a brow. “Of course not. But I did have to pay attention.”
“Which is more than you can say for me, is that it?”
He gave her a lopsided grin that would have made her breath catch, if she wasn’t so outraged.
“I didn’t say that.”
She scowled. “But you were thinking it.”
He just shrugged and his grin broadened. “He liked my chess set. Actually, he said it looked like his.” He pulled something out of his sporran and handed it to her. “Does it look familiar?”
She froze, staring in astonishment at the painted figure he’d given her. It was a piece from the set she’d worked so hard on for him all those years ago. “Where did you get it?”
“In town. A priest had given it to a shopkeeper to sell. I thought it was magnificent. I can’t believe you did this, Maggie. The craftsmanship is extraordinary.” He took the piece—the king—and held it up, twisting it in his hand. “It’s me, isn’t it?”
She nodded.
He shook his head. “I should have known there was a reason the queen has red hair.”
She laughed. “I wanted to make sure you knew who was in charge.”
He pulled her into his arms. “Is that right?”
She nodded, and he covered her mouth in a long kiss before releasing her.
“Hmm. We’ll have to see about that. You can show me tonight. But first there is someone who I think will be eager to see you.”
Margaret couldn’t think of anyone on Kerrera who would be eager to see her. Even when he led her to the stables and told her to wait, she didn’t guess. So when he led out the big black stallion, her knees wobbled and the blood slid to her feet in absolute shock. “Dubh?”
At the sound of her voice the horse’s ears perked up. She rushed forward and threw her arms around the startled animal. She murmured soothing words against his silky coat to calm him—and herself. When she finally lifted her face to meet her husband’s amused gaze her eyes were damp. “You kept him?”
“Actually, Fin did.” That didn’t surprise her. Fin had made no secret that he wanted the animal. “He gave him back when I returned.”
“You mean when the MacDougalls were defeated, and he changed allegiance to Bruce?”
He nodded, and Margaret let the matter rest. She didn’t want to talk about Fin or his opportunism. She was too happy to have her horse back.
“Should we stretch his legs?” he asked.
She hesitated. “Your knee is strong enough?”
“You’re as bad as Helen.”
She arched a brow. “Is that an answer?”
