Page 73 of The Highlander’s Tempting Touch

“Why did ye nae tell him tae be silent? That it was nae his business?” She whirled to face him.

“Because if I had, he’d have asked more questions. And so would everyone else who heard him. McKell’s a fool and he was drunk, but his braither’s a member o’ the Council, and he wanted the word as much as anyone else.” Alistair scowled back, disliking the reminder that he’d be dealing with more veiled questions the next time the council met, if not before then.

“It’s nae any o’ their business.” Niamh hissed. “And ye’re a laird. Ye should be able tae stop them.”

“I could, but I’d start a thousand more rumors in the tryin’.” Alistair retorted. “And would ye prefer I told them the truth, or led them tae believe that there was some problem with sirin’ a babe?”

“I’d prefer if everyone left the matter alone.” Naimh’s cheeks flushed. “Why cannae they just… ‘tis my choice!”

“It should be, and I’ve done me best tae give ye time tae make it, but ye’re the wife o’ a laird. ‘Tis something a laird’s clan is constantly wonderin’ about, until an heir is born.”

“I didnae want tae be married! And ye… if ye’d just…”

“Just what? Left ye alone?” Alistair stepped closer. “Sooner or later, this day would come fer ye, as a laird’s daughter. Would ye rather have a husband who wouldnae have cared fer what ye wanted, or what ye feared?”

The color in her cheeks deepened. “That’s nae what I’m saying. ‘Tis just…”

She was afraid, and she had good reasons to be. Perhaps she was afraid, however, that the constant pressure from members of his clan would be enough to make Alistair change his mind. She had scarcely known him for a moon. No matter that they were married, or that they were growing closer to each other with each passing day. She had lived with her fear for a score of years, and the one man she’d trusted to understand it, her father, had tried to trick her into marriage, and then let her be led away by her prospective husband.

How could she not fear that he might change his mind, or decide that she’d had enough time to worry? He’d shown her what pleasure could be had from a man’s touch. There were men he knew, good men, even, who would have thought that he’d been patient enough. And that, if she was so willing to give herself to him for pleasure, then why not for more?

He opened his mouth, just as she did, and the words came forth at the same time.

“Ye ken Ewan is my heir…”

“I think I want tae have yer child.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Time stopped. For a long moment, Alistair was certain he’d forgotten to breathe. All he could hear, all he could think of, were the words echoing in the air between them.

‘I want tae have yer child.’

He shook his head, trying to clear the fog of shock from his thoughts. “I… ye… did ye nae hear what I said? Me braither Ewan is me heir, so there’s nae need…”

“’Tis nae about that.” Niamh shook her head. “I ken ye have a braither, and he’s likely tae be yer heir until ye have yer own. But I didnae change me mind because I felt ye needed an heir. ‘Twas for other reasons.”

His first thought was of Master McKell, and his overbearing comments at dinner. “Have members o’ the clan been troublin’ ye about it?” A wash of fierce, protective anger flowed over him. “If any one o’ mine has been tryin’ tae tell ye that ye need tae produce an heir, or making comments about ‘doin’ yer duty’ or the like…” He took a moment to think. “ Give me their names and I’ll thrash them in the courtyard fer my next training practice.”

Even if they’re elders. Even if they’re members o’ me Council. Even if ‘tis a lass rather than a man.

Niamh shook her head again, a spark of anger and stubbornness in her eyes. “’Tis nae that. And nay one has been demandin’ aught o’ me. And why would they, when we’ve been at such pains tae convince them that we’re both…” She trailed off, her blush deepening.

Alistair understood her meaning. “Aye. But…” He shook his head again. “I dinnae understand. Ye were so against it afore now. Why did ye change yer mind?”

Niamh swallowed. “I… me maither died alone. When she was given’ birth tae me the healer wasnae there, nor was anyone else who could have helped her. But Catriona’s here, and all the women, they say they help each other through the birth, so nay one is ever alone as me maither was.”

“Even so…” Alistair swallowed in turn. He understood what she was saying, but now that she was considering the idea, all he could think of was how easy it would be for something to go wrong. “Ewan can continue the family line. And he will, if I ask him. Ye dinnae have tae…”

“I received a letter from me faither taeday. Two o’ them actually. The one fer me, and his part o’ the letter tae send tae me maither. I… I read them.” Niamh’s eyes sparkled with tears, though none fell. “The way he talks o’ me birth, the way he speaks in me maither’s letter o’ what it means tae have a child and tae love them… and then, I’ve seen Catriona with her lad, and the serving maids with their bairns, and ye with the younglings o’ the castle and the village…”

She stepped closer to him, reaching up to touch him lightly on the chest, where his heart beat. “I cannae say I have nae more fears or concerns, but I want that. Or I want the both o’ us tae have a chance tae have those things, and wee bairns o’ our own.”

“’Tis a risk…”

“But one that every woman takes, unless she be unwed or barren, and I am neither.” Niamh leaned into him, her warm breath stirring his blood. “And I want… I dinnae want me fear tae keep us from having a family and as much happiness as we can find.”

“But… it could… even with help…” Things could go wrong, even with the best of healers and all the help in the world. “I dinnae want ye tae have tae tak’ the risk if...”