Gabriel stareddown at Magdalene sleeping so peacefully, her tousled hair a burnished gold upon the pillow in the dawning light—and hated himself all the more for what he intended to do with her.
Yet he had no choice. Not if he wished her to live.
He thrust his head through a clean tunic that he’d pulled from the armoire, his clothing filling only a quarter of the space while Magdalene’s gowns—most of them once belonging to Anna—occupied the rest.
Soon her wardrobe would be packed for the journey back to the convent, though he could not help wondering if she would wear them there. Mayhap she would even burn them—aye, he had no doubt she might hate him, too, for a time, until she accepted that what he’d done was only because he loved her.
So fiercely that the thought of her gone from MacLachlan Castle made his heart ache with a piercing pain he’d never felt before, Gabriel turning from the bed to go thrust on his boots.
They lay beside the tub where he had discarded his clothing yesterday…the rest of the day and deep into the night spent in impassioned lovemaking, Gabriel unable to get his fill of her. Nor could he suppress even now a smile at the memory of their empty stomachs growling in protest long after it had grown dark.
Aye, they had eaten finally, the braised chicken and vegetables cold, but it had tasted like the finest fare with Magdalene at his side.
Both of them sitting on the rumpled bed, offering bites to each other, wine spilling down her pert breasts that had only been an invitation for him to—och, why was he tormenting himself?
His boots on and his sword belt fastened around his waist, Gabriel decided to forego his breacan for now.
When he returned to fetch Magdalene, he would finish dressing—if she hadn’t bolted the door against him. Just as she had fought him while pretending to be a lunatic, he had every expectation that she would resist his decision—
“Gabriel?”
Her sleepy voice making his heart pound, he steeled himself and went to the bed. Seeing him, her eyes widened and she looked at him with confusion.
“You’ve dressed already. Is aught amiss?”
“You might think so, but there is nothing tae be done about it, Maggie. I’m taking you back tae the convent. It’s the only way I have tae protect you—”
“The convent?”
Her voice stricken, Gabriel had never seen her more stunned, though again he steeled himself to see the thing done.
“Aye. I’ll summon Donella and Euna to help you pack. I would never have brought you here if not for Seoras’s command—”
“No, Gabriel, I willna leave you! I love you—”
“And I, you, woman, more than I can say, but the curse still hangs over this place! I willna see you dead in your grave because you married me—now get up, get dressed!”
Tears filled her eyes at his harshness, which made Gabriel turn on his heel and stride to the door for fear he would relent and sweep her into his arms.
“Gabriel, wait!Gabriel!”
“No more, Maggie! As soon as the men are readied, we’ll be leaving for Dumbarton.”
Chapter 26
Magdalene stared in shock as Gabriel left the room without a backward glance, slamming the door behind him.
She couldn’t move…could hardly breathe! Surely she was trapped within a nightmare and she had only to look beside her and see Gabriel sleeping—och, he wasn’t there! Dear God help her,she wasn’t dreaming!
She lay there immobile, staring blindly at the canopy as passionate memories swept over her. Not a one from the moment they had been left alone in their bedchamber yesterday gave her any clue of what had transpired this morning—no, not a one!
Yet that wasn’t true, Magdalene realized suddenly. The blankets fell from her breasts as she sat up and shivered in the coolness of the room, Gabriel leaving her without even stoking the fire as if not wanting to encourage her to linger.
He had spoken of not wanting harm to come to her, aye, and that the curse had been upon his mind since he had first agreed to take her as his bride.
He had said, too, that they wouldn’t speak of it anymore that day…but clearly for her to awaken to such a terrible surprise, the curse had never been far from his thoughts even while they had—
“Ah, God, he knew all along what he was going to do,” Magdalene murmured, her fingers pressed to her lips, still swollen from his impassioned kisses.
