Seeing the distrust in his eyes made her heart ache. Although he smiled, it didn’t make his eyes sparkle. She slipped her arm around his and cuddled next to him, laying her head on his shoulder. “Should I scold you now or later?”
His head snapped toward her. “Scold me, my dear?”
“Do you think I’m blind? I saw the look of suspicion on your face when you entered the office.”
He remained silent.
“Malcolm, how many times must I defend myself? I’m not Kat. I love you completely and would never do anything to hurt you.”
His body relaxed. “I’m but a normal man, my love.” He chuckled. “A man who succumbs to jealousy quite easily, I might add. Please, be patient with me. Both my first wife and Kat found me repulsive, so forgive me if I can’t trust my own feelings.”
Camilla reached up and cupped his chin, and he glanced at her. “Why would another man turn my head when you are the most handsome, the most loving person I have ever met?” She trailed her fingers across his bottom lip. “I don’t want any other man because I have you.”
He laughed and turned his attention back to the road. “Sometimes I don’t think I deserve your love.”
“You do, and I’ll not give it to anyone else.”
“You truly are a forgiving woman.”
She squeezed his arm. “I know you have had a lot on your mind. Mr. Kennedy has even noticed how irritable you are.”
He sighed heavily and slumped his shoulders. “Broderick followed Kennedy last night, and he met with Captain Wilkes. They were discussing something in secret.”
“Was this before or after he accosted me?”
“Before.”
“Oh.” She nodded. “Did Broderick discover what they were discussing?”
“Unfortunately, no. But curiously, Broderick had been given a note from an unknown woman who alerted him to the secret meeting.”
“And you don’t know who this woman is?”
Malcolm’s gaze stayed on her a little longer this time before he returned his attention to the road. “No. We have no clue.”
Her heart twisted. Why did she have a feeling he was still keeping secrets from her? She longed for the time he would trust her completely.
He stopped the wagon near a patch of wildflowers. Although the sweet scent of spring wafted through the air, she didn’t take the time to enjoy it. Malcolm’s problems weighed heavy on her mind. Sometimes she wanted to take him by the shoulders and shake him senseless, then kiss him to distraction. But none of these methods would force him to trust her.
He turned to climb down, but she grabbed his arm to stop him.
“Malcolm?”
He gazed into her eyes and smiled. “Yes, my love?”
“What is truly bothering you? What have I done to lose your trust?”
His eyes widened, and she detected panic. This wasn’t good at all.
Chapter Eighteen
Malcolm smiled andtook Camilla’s hand, helping her out of the buggy. Shadows of doubt filled her eyes, making his chest ache with sorrow. He had been an imbecile, plain and simple. But he didn’t want to doubt her, and he didn’t want her to mistrust him. Bringing her hand up to his mouth, he kissed her knuckles. “My love, I trust you with my life.”
“Then prove it. Tell me what bothers you so.”
He hooked her arm over his and grabbed the quilt. She picked up the basket of food and walked next to him to the grassy field. After laying out the quilt on the ground, he sat.
She placed the basket of food in the middle and knelt in front of it.
