“Is this about your first marriage?”
Tears made her eyes glisten and she blinked rapidly to try to disperse them. She pressed her lips together, looking everywhere in the room except at him, before finally throwing her hands up in the air. “I believe I mentioned afore, my late husband was no’ a good man to me.”
He nodded in encouragement.
She wet her lips before continuing. “Our marriage was no’ one of love, which isna necessarily uncommon. Sometimes love will develop, but for us, it didna. Nay, for him it didna, however, I grew to love Gerard. The feelings were one-sided and that ne’er changed. He found himself more interested in other,” she paused as if it pained her to continue, “In other more experienced women. More beautiful women. He had no qualms about traipsing them in front of me. Being as loud and rambunctious as they could whilst closed away in his bedchamber,” she sniffled.
“Willamina—”
She held her hand up and shook her head, swiping at her tears angrily. “I canna do that again. I ken our marriage is a ruse. But, I am sorry. I willna allow that again.”
The look of pure betrayal and pain on her face was more than he could bear. He wrapped her in his arms as she sobbed into his chest, her breaths shallow and ragged. He said naught. Just stroked her hair in comfort as he waited for her to calm down.
When the sobs subsided and all that was left was sniffling, he rested his chin on her head. “I vow to ye, Mina, I wouldna show ye such disrespect. Your late husband was a vile man of low character to do such a disgrace to ye.”
He handed her his handkerchief and she dabbed at her eyes and then her nose, which was now a bit pink from her crying. “That means a lot to me. I understand it is a sacrifice for ye to agree to such a demand.”
His hands on her shoulders, he forced her to look at him. “’Tis no sacrifice, Mina. I mean it.”
Her eyes bore into his, as if the deeper she tried to dig the more information she would find.
“I am an honest man.” He dipped his head sheepishly. “With the exception of my father’s will and I promise I will ne’er hide anything from ye again. Ken what I am saying as the truth. What we are doing is no’ a sacrifice. Taking a mistress has ne’er and will ne’er cross my mind. That is no’ something I would lie about.”
She nodded and took a step to the side, out of his arms and he felt the loss of contact immediately. Dropping his hands, he watched her. He could see she needed her space, and he would grant her that.
“I think I would like some more wine,” she said quietly.
He grabbed the decanter off the table and fetched her glass from the mantel and filled it before handing it over to her.
“My offer to sleep on the floor still stands.”
She took a long sip of wine and then shook her head. “The bed will be fine.” She bit her lower lip and he could almost seethe wheels of her mind working. “Though I have an idea, if I may?”
He lifted his hand and shrugged. “Of course.”
Walking to the bed, she drew down the covers all the way to the foot of the bed. “How many pillows do ye sleep with?”
What was she getting at? “One,” he answered.
She turned back to the bed and gathered the pillows, leaving one on each side of the bed. Climbing on the mattress, she arranged the pillows in a line in the center, creating a barrier between them, while he admired her round bottom. He didn’t feel guilty about it one bit.
He dipped his head, hiding his smile. He had meant what he said when he told her he would never take advantage of her. But if a physical ‘wall’ between them set her mind to ease, then he would allow it. Whatever made her comfortable he was fine with.
If his friends could see him now they would never let him live it down. Before Alexander had married Clarissa, he was the one in their group that had a continuous stream of lassies warming his bed. But Finlay was a close second. But once he’d met Willamina he’d been like a whipped puppy when it came to her. Truly, the thought of taking a mistress disgusted him. Why would he do such a thing when he had perfection sitting right before him?
She looked over at him warily. “I hope ye dinna mind?”
Giving her what he hoped was a smile that would put her at ease, he shook his head. “No’ at all. Are ye hungry or are ye ready to retire for the night?”
“I think I have had enough excitement for the day and would like to go to bed.”
“I shall take me leave so that ye may ready yourself for bed in private.” He turned to leave, but she called him back.
“Finlay?”
He stopped and turned to her. “Aye?”
Wringing her hands together, her cheeks flushed. “I, um, er.” She blew out an exasperated breath. “I canna undo my gown.”
