“I’ll not have the men think of my wife as a prisoner and give them authority over her,” he said. “I’ve told them you’re responsible for her and her daughters’ safety in my absence.”
Robbie scowled but had the good sense not to give voice to his thoughts.
Will, the only member of David’s family who was not angry with him, brought him his horse. After squeezing Will’s shoulder, he took the reins.
He had one foot in the stirrup when he caught sight of Alison emerging from the keep with the girls, her delicate beauty like a shaft of sunlight breaking through dark clouds.
She had come, but she did not look any happier about it than Robbie. The girls ran down the steps and made their usual happy squeals when he picked them up. When Alison joined them, she remained silent and aloof.
“Remember,” David said to Beatrix and Margaret, “none of you ladies are to leave the castle while I’m gone.”
“Not even a wee ride on my pony?” Beatrix asked.
Ach, this lassie thought she could wheedle anything from him.
“Nay,” David said, giving her a hard look. “But if you’re good, I’ll take ye when I return.”
“Can we have a picnic too?”
A picnic, for God’s sake. “When the weather’s good,” he said, which seemed to satisfy her.
Both girls giggled when he set them down and rubbed their heads with his knuckles. His wife’s expression, however, remained stony.
“I see no reason I can’t take them on short rides,” Alison said, after he drew her aside. “Surely you’ve terrorized the entire countryside sufficiently that no one will attack us if we stay close to the castle.”
“One day you’ll be able to take them riding again,” he said “’Tis not safe for ye to do it now.”
“Do ye think I’ll attempt to escape?” she said. “I’m no fool. I know I wouldn’t get far with two bairns on small ponies.”
Ach, she was being obstinate again.
“This is important,” he said, gripping her shoulders. “You’re never, under any circumstances, to leave the castle without my permission.”
“Let go of me.” She tried to twist away, but he held her firmly.
“When I’m away,” he said, leaning closer so that they were eye to eye, “I need to know you’re safe behind these castle walls.”
“Safe or safely imprisoned?” she snapped, and turned her face away.
“Damn it, Alison,” he said, taking her chin and forcing her to look at him. “I must have your word on this.”
“As ye command me to give my word,Laird Wedderburn,then of course ye have it.”
She spun around, leaving him to watch her stiff back as she climbed the steps to the keep. Ach, she was being as difficult as Rob. He would protect his family whether they liked it or not.
Yet, deep down he knew it was not his order to stay within the castle walls that had upset her. It was not enough for her that he would lay down his life to protect her. She wanted more from him—his trust and perhaps even his heart.
These were things he would not give her, even if he could.
CHAPTER 23
“Robbie! Will ye play hide and seek with us?”
Alison cringed as Beatrix’s voice carried across the length of the hall to where Robbie was sitting with a group of men.
“Hush,” she said as she intercepted her daughter and grabbed her hand.
Her admonition came too late. The men were snickering, and Robbie’s face was scarlet.
