And maybe that was why he was avoiding her. It was almost as if he knew that the more time he spent with her, and the closer they became, the more of a betrayal it would be when she learned the truth. Although he would keep his vow to Bruce, Eoin had no doubt that if this progressed as they expected, one day she would find out.
His beautiful young wife, however, looked none to happy with him right now. She glared up at him through narrowed eyes. “Are we married or not?”
The question took him aback. “What are you talking about? Of course we’re married.”
“I wasn’t sure, as I seem to be sharing a bed with everyone but you!”
Her voice had risen in her anger, and he pulled her away from a few of his men, who from their shocked expressions had heard what she’d said.
Still, his mouth quirked. “I don’t think you meant it like that.”
She thought for a moment, and then blushed. “Of course I didn’t mean that. I simply meant that I just wanted... I just hoped...” Her eyes caught his, and he felt his chest squeeze. “I miss you,” she said softly.
Eoin swore and pulled her into his arms. He was a thoughtless arse. He’d been so caught up in his own guilt about the promise he’d given Bruce that he hadn’t considered what his avoidance was doing to her. She felt abandoned—understandably so.
And it would only get worse. But he pushed that troubling thought aside for now.
God knows the past week and a half had probably been just as hideous for her as it had been for him. None of this was her fault, but he was acting as if he blamed her. He didn’t. He just cared for her too much and feared the toll joining his cousin’s secret army was going to take on them.
But what Bruce offered him was the dream of a lifetime and a challenge he couldn’t resist. It would give him a chance to test himself and operate at the highest, most elite level. He couldn’t walk away from that. He’d been working toward this moment his whole life. And he was fighting for something he believed in—deeply. His cousin was the rightful king and Scotland’s best—only—chance of seeing and end to Edward’s overlordship. He couldn’t walk away from that. Even for the wife he loved.
It wouldn’t be easy, but he was determined to have both Margaret and a place in the Guard.
“I’m sorry,a leanbh. I’ve been... preoccupied.”
It had been ten days since that day in the cottage, and his body was reacting to her closeness. She was soft and sweet and smelled like she’d just alighted from a steamy bath of wildflowers. He was probably responsible for the steam—his body heat had shot up about a hundred degrees just holding her—but how the hell her hair still smelled like flowers after a long day in he saddle, he had no idea.
She let her cheek rest against his dusty, leather-clad chest for a moment before pushing back to look up at him. “So you have not changed your mind?”
“About what?”
“Having a wife.”
What in Hades? “Of course not.”
She scanned his face, as if looking for any hesitation. “Then why are we not sharing a bed?”
God have mercy, the things that came out of her mouth! “Christ, Maggie, it’s not like there’s a lot of privacy.” He let her go, thinking that the heat must be getting too much for him. His face even felt hot. He couldn’t be blushing, damn it. Jerking off his helm, he dragged his fingers through his hair and tried not to stammer. “I’m not going to kick my mother and sister out of their tent.”
She studied him until he felt like a bug under a rock. “I’m not suggesting that. But there is no reason you can’t sleep in the tent with us.”
His face no longer felt hot. Actually it felt as if every drop of blood had drained right out of it as he stared at her in mute horror.
She held a straight face for as long as she could, and then burst into laughter. “I was only jesting. Good gracious, I wish you could have seen your face.”
She shook her head and giggled a few more times, while he scowled forbiddingly at her. To no effect, he noticed.Handful.
“I know there isn’t much privacy on the road,” she explained, “but your mother’s tiring woman sleeps near the fire with her husband—and a few of the married servants as well. We don’t have to...” She didn’t need to finish, the pink in her cheeks said exactly what she was thinking. She bit her lip a few times and looked up at him again. “It will be enough to sleep beside you.”
The soft plea ate at him. “I was only thinking of your comfort.”
She smiled. “Well, the tent is certainly that. I can’t imagine there is much furniture left in your castle with all that is in those carts. But I don’t need all that. I shall be perfectly comfortable beside you.”
At least one of them would be. He couldn’t think of anything more excruciatinglyuncomfortable than sleeping next to her night after night and not being able to touch her—or touch her in the way he wanted.
But she had a point about his mother. “I wish my mother and sister thought as you, it would make this trip a hell of a lot faster.”
“It is ratherslow, isn’t it?” she said in exaggerated understatement. “But perhaps we can use the time to get to know one another better?” Anticipating an objection he hadn’t been about to make, she added, “I know you are busy, but I thought when you were done for the day, or had a little bit of time, you could do what you promised.”
