Page 108 of The Laird’s Wrong Wife

Tommy leaned around her. “Is the bairn goin’ to take her away?”

Ceana crossed toward them at once, extending both hands. “Come here. The bairn has done nothin’ wrong.”

“Paisley,” Oscar said, pushing off the desk.

Paisley bolted out the door before either of them could reach her. Tommy followed immediately, one hand reaching for her dress as they disappeared into the passage.

Ceana started after them, then stopped at the threshold. Oscar had halted several feet behind her. Why did the children think she was going to die?

“They think I am goin’ to die because I am with child? What in God’s name did ye tell them?”

“I was tryin’ to make Paisley feel safe.”

Ceana pointed down the empty passage. “Does she look safe now?”

Oscar’s mouth tightened again. “I never meant for either of them to hear this.”

“They heard enough.” She faced him fully, keeping her hand on her belly. “I want this bairn, Oscar. I willnae apologize for wantin’ me own child.”

“Ceana.”

“I daenae want to ruin the life ye built for Paisley and Tommy. If me pregnancy threatens that life, I will go back to Morrag. Me parents will care for me there.”

“Ye arenae leavin’.” His voice rang across the study. Before she could respond, he took one step closer and stopped. “Ye lost yer balance today. The roads are wet, and ye have Muriel here. I willnae allow ye to endanger yerself.”

“Ye cannae accuse me of deceit and then decide where I must carry me child.”

“Our child,” he corrected her.

“Then tell me ye want it, Oscar. Tell me ye want me to give birth to this child. Tell me right now, and I willnae leave.”

His mouth opened, but no answer came. He looked toward the doorway where Paisley and Tommy had vanished, then back at her. His fingers flexed beside his thigh.

“I want ye alive.”

She could see the care beneath his roughness, but it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t enough that he had carried her through the castle in wet clothes because dizziness had frightened him. It wasn’t enough that all he wanted was her. It wasn’t enough that, if she stayed, she would be seen only as a risk to herself and her child. It wasn’t enough that she would receive such sentiments from her husband for the next seven months.

The culmination of those thoughts suddenly made the study—no, the entire castle—too small for her to breathe.

“Wantin’ me alive doesnae mean ye want our child.”

“I need time,” Oscar said. “Let me see to Paisley and Tommy. We will speak again when they are settled.”

The walls closed in on her as she moved again. “Take whatever time ye need. I will spend it at Morrag.”

His eyebrows drew low. “Ceana, ye cannae decide this while ye are upset.”

“I will leave at first light.”

She brushed past him. He reached for her arm, but she drew it away before his hand made contact. His fingers closed on empty air. It didn’t stop him from following her down the passage.

“The road to Morrag is too dangerous, considerin’ yer condition,” he reasoned. “Muriel has only just examined ye. Ye shouldnae travel before she has seen ye again.”

Ceana made for her chamber. She entered and closed the door before he could follow, then slid the bolt into place.

“Ceana.”

She pulled the traveling chest from the foot of the bed and lifted its lid. The gowns she had brought from Morrag went inside. She left the MacKane finery hanging in the wardrobe, untouched.