Jamie sobered at that. Indeed, there wasn’t another like this lass. That she did not want to marry Colen brought Jamie a great measure of relief.
“’Tis a fine mess we have here, and no mistake,” Jamie said thoughtfully. “’Tis plain you’re serious, Colen, but I canna consider only your wishes. You’ve kidnapped the lass.”
“But if shewerewilling, would you give your blessing on the match?” Colen persisted.
Jamie stared hard at the girl. How could he bear to see this particular girl wed to his brother? She was his vision made flesh. Yet how could he put his own desires above theirs?
With the greatest reluctance, Jamie was forced to say, “You would have my blessing on the match if she desired it. But I’ll hear what the lass has to say. Sheena is it?” She nodded, and he asked, “Do you want to marry my brother?”
Sheena shook her head adamantly. She knew her silence angered him, but she couldn’t help it. She just couldn’t bring herself to talk to the man.
“I know you’ve a voice, lass,” Jamie said, surprising himself with his own degree of patience. “If you dinna want to marry my brother, you’ll have to be telling me what it is you do want. I canna help you otherwise.”
There was no way out of it now. Sheena cleared her throat, but her voice came out in a mere whisper. “I…I want to leave here.”
“To go where?”
“Back to Aberdeen.”
“Dinna listen to her, Jamie.” Colen spoke upquickly. “She has no one there. She’d only have to fend for herself again, to beg.”
“So what are you suggesting, brother? You canna force the lass to marry you.”
“Och, I know. But she can live here. She’ll be better off.”
“Mayhap,” Jamie replied carefully.
Sheena gasped. So Colen’s plan was to keep her so that he would have time to win her. But could they really keep her when she was determined to leave?
Sheena’s fear made her bold. “Tell him why you really want me to stay, Colen. And tell him the truth.”
Colen turned around to face her. “I canna bear the thought of you alone in that crowded place, with no one to protect you. There’s no telling what would happen to you in Aberdeen.”
“What becomes of me is my affair, no’ yours,” she reminded him. Jamie’s direct gaze flustered her, and she stammered, “He is sure I’ll change my mind about him if I stay. That’s therealreason he wants me here.”
“That is possible,” Jamie said.
“Nay, ’twill no’ happen,” Sheena insisted firmly. “I’ll no’ wed a lad younger than me, and I’ll certainly no’ marry a Highlander.”
Too late Sheena realized she had insulted them both.
But Jamie laughed. “’Tis a Lowlander you’ve brought here, Colen, lad.” He grinned.
“That doesna matter,” Colen replied.
“It does to her.” Jamie chuckled. “They’re no’ like us, lad. Did you not know we’re all savages to them?”
“She’ll find out differently if she stays here.”
“Aye. She will.”
Sheena bristled. “I’ll no’ stay here, and you canna make me,” she said, hands going to her hips in a rebellious stance.
Jamie didn’t like being told what he could or couldn’t do, even by this girl who fascinated him so. “I’ll no’ argue with you, lass!” he said sharply. He watched with irritation as she backed away from him with wide, frightened eyes. He turned on his brother angrily. “I’ve no patience for this, Colen. When she’s ready to talk to me without shrinking, I’ll settle the matter.”
Jamie stalked from the room. Sheena collapsed into a chair and asked, “What did he mean?”
Colen grinned, for he had got what he wanted. “You’ll be staying, lass.”
