Page 25 of In Bed with a Scot

Madden took a drink as well, then swirled his cup around in the light of the fire watching the amber liquid move. He wondered whether he might ever have a wee laddie or lassie of his own. Such thoughts led to further thoughts of Isabelle. He frowned in frustration at himself. She is wed tae another. She is nae mine tae have.

“What are ye thinking of that has caused such a frown?” Keelin asked in concern.

Madden looked up feeling sheepish that his emotions had shown on his face. “What dae ye think about infidelity?”

“Infidelity? Has someone been disloyal?” Keelin asked in confusion. “Dae ye believe that it was someone within the clan who attacked the guard?”

He shook his head. “Nae, I dinnae mean that.”

“What dae ye mean?”

Madden sighed. “Marital infidelity.”

Keelin’s eyes widened. “I dinnae give much thought tae such things. Ye ken that I am a maid, dae ye nae?”

“Aye, I ken it. Me apologies. Me thoughts are nae me own these days.”

Keelin gave him a sympathetic look. “As ye ken, I cannae imagine being married tae anyone at this time in me life, but were I tae be married, I cannae imagine being disloyal tae me husband in that way. Why dae ye ask?”

Madden shook his head not wanting to give away any more detail. He regretted asking.

“Is it the nurse from France that ye are thinking of?” Keelin asked.

Madden had not been thinking of her specifically, but it gave him a way out. “Aye.”

Keelin sat in thought for a moment. “From what little I ken of such things, women who are unfaithful tae their husbands tend tae dae so because they are unhappy.”

“Fer men it is different. We enjoy the chase. I have only actually cared about two women in that way in me life. Neither of them were faithful tae the men that they were supposed tae love.”

“That is sad, Madden. I sorrow fer yer heart.” Keelin gave him a sympathetic look. “Most women dinnae have a say in the men that they marry. Most marriages are arranged. I cannae imagine that there is much happiness tae be had in a situation where love is nae allowed tae develop afore one is forced tae share their bed with a stranger.”

“Many men share their beds with strangers regularly and dinnae have an issue with it,” Madden remarked.

“It is different fer women. I cannae speak with any true authority on the matter as I have nae shared me bed with any man, but from what I dae ken about women, we tend tae be more emotional when it comes tae love. I cannae imagine sharing me body in such a way with a man that I did nae love. I am fortunate in that me maither has always been truthful with me on what tae expect of the marriage bed, but she loves me faither. Edith loves her husband, too. Nae all women are so fortunate.”

“What would possess ye tae be unfaithful if ye were wed?” Madden asked, trying to understand the women who had affected his heart.

Keelin sighed, thinking for a moment. Her eyes took on a sadness. “Honestly, it would mean that my heart was never his tae begin with. It would mean that I was unhappy, sad, alone, mistreated, abused. If me husband was physically abusive, I would most certainly leave him and try tae find happiness in whatever way that I could.”

Madden nodded his head. “I thank ye fer indulging me inquiry, Keelin. I apologize fer the unpleasant nature of the conversation.”

Keelin shook her head. “Thankfully, I will nae be faced with such a life. In our family, the women are allowed tae choose who they wed. It is a rare blessing and I cherish the freedom that it has allowed me.”

“All of the women in yer family?” Madden asked in surprise.

“Aye,” Keelin nodded.

“Then why did Isabelle marry Bain?” Madden had not intended to ask the question aloud, but it had left his lips before he could think to stop it.

Keelin shook her head. “I dinnae ken. I have often wondered that meself.”

“Surely it cannae be love, nae with the way that he treats her.”

“Perhaps she thought that she needed tae wed him. Her parents had just died, her braither was in France and she was alone. I dinnae ken why she didnae come tae me parents fer help, but she didnae. We found out in a letter after she had informed Arran. She told him that she married Bain fer love, but I doubted it from the beginning.”

“Perhaps she daes love him. Why would a woman who has the freedom of choice marry fer any other reason?”

“I dinnae ken, but could ye love a man such as Bain Sutherland?” Keelin’s question hung in the air between them.