His lighthearted expression changed into something she’d rather not see, not have to acknowledge. His blue eyes blazed with hunger.
Petro coughed exaggeratedly. “There is time enough later for the two of you to make amends.”
“All right,” Jamie said, hugging wee John to his chest. “Aye, I swear to protect these children with my life.”
But somehow, even though Jamie saidthese children, Helen guessed he meant to protect her, too.
Chapter Seventeen
After the childrenwere held by nearly every guest and sent abovestairs to sleep, the celebration continued well into the night. Even Lady Helen seemed to forget the tight control she had been exercising over herself and drank more wine than Jamie ever guessed she could. If he were less of a man, one with only his own interests at heart, he would take that beautiful woman abovestairs and undress her, lay her down on that bed fit for a queen in her chamber, and love her until she screamed his name, until she couldna walk, until she couldna imagine living without waking up to him every morn.
Fook.He wanted Helen Sutherland. In bed. In his heart. In life. But the lass dinna belong to him. According to her sire, she belonged to Baran Munroe—a man better off dead. A man who deserved to feel the fatal strike of Jamie’s sword for killing his past wives. And Jamie, no matter the consequences, would make sure Helen never married the bastard.Never, he repeated a thousand times in his head as he watched Helen finish dancing with one of Alex’s soldiers.
She had been in high demand tonight. The soft light of the candles, the excellent food and drink, the melodic music that could tame the wildest creature, that kind of fae magic did things to a man’s mind. And any one of these virile MacKay warriors would die for a night with Helen.
Jamie sucked down the rest of his ale. He’d been unusually careful about how much he had drunk. He couldna afford to lose his sharpness of mind again, not with Helen’s future at stake. Not with his sanity already in question.
“What is it?” Keely asked, reaching over and patting his hand. “Thank ye for coming back in time.”
“Tis nothing,” he said. “John and Rebecca are lovely bairns, Keely. Ye saved our clan.” He kissed her cheek.
“I know ye well, Jamie MacKay. Something isna right. And unless ye tell me, I will haunt yer days and nights until ye give me the truth.”
God help him, now he hadtwowomen to make his life difficult. “I left here with the intention of not coming back until Helen Sutherland was gone.”
Strangely, Keely dinna look surprised. “What changed yer mind? And doona use my babes as an excuse.”
Jamie leaned back in his chair, reluctant to say exactly what he felt. But Keely wasna a maiden, and she would understand. “I havena been a saint, Keely.”
His confession made her smile. “What MacKay is?”
“I love women.”
“Aye.”
“They love me.”
“Ye’re arrogant, Jamie.”
“Maybe a wee bit,” he admitted. “I tried to bed one of my maids after I went home.”
“What do ye mean,tried?”
Why in the name of all that was holy did she have to ask that question? Couldna she figure it out without further explanation? He leaned closer to his cousin-by-marriage. “I kissed her, but it dinna please me.”
“Nay?”
“Are ye toying with me, Keely?”
“Nay. I am just proud of ye.”
Women never failed to confuse him. She approved of the fact that he had kissed another lass? How could that be, when Jamie was certain Helen had confided in Keely about their intimacy at the loch.
“Ye need to talk to Helen, nay me. But I give ye fair warning, Jamie, as I know my husband has done. She’s a fragile lass, unsure about herself and the future. Doona lead her down a false path. Give her the truth.”
Jamie could keep that promise. “I will.”
*
