She blinked. Of all the things she’d anticipated him saying—that he’d heard men searching for them nearby, that his mount or hers had gone lame—never had she considered this. Nor, after their words last night, did his concern make sense. “I could be, but one night far fromassures such.”
He didn’t react to her comment, nor exhibit the tenderness she wanted to see given the intimacy they’d shared. A flicker of doubt speared her.
He would want their babe, wouldn’t he?
Of course he would.
He’d asked her to wait for him, had wanted her to keep his mother’s cross, so why was he so concerned by the possibility that she might carry his child?
“Once I seize Tiran Castle,” he said, his voice firm,“we will wed.”
Duty, not that he loved her, wanted her, found joy that their passion would gift them with a son or a daughter, butan obligation.
Had she read too much into last night? He’d warned her that he could make no promises, but she’d assured him that she didn’t care, had pushed him until he’d taken what she’d freely offered. Yet regardless of what she’d said, a part of her had wanted him to realize what he felt for her was more than caring deeply but love.
Foolish thoughts. Those were her dreams, not his.
Hurt, angry at herself for becoming caught up in dreams and longings, she stepped back, and secured the ties of her shift. “I didna make love with you to trap youinto marriage.”
“Nor did I intend to imply ’twas your plan. I care for you. ’Tis that our child willnabe a bastard.”
Her temper threatened to spike. Elspet wanted to rail at him that she didn’t give a damn what others thought. Odd; all her life she’d dreamed of a nobleman sweeping her off her feet, but now she realized that naught mattered without love, nor would she settle for less.
“If we discover that I am with child, we will discuss it further. For now, I willna marry you.”
Blue eyes narrowed. “You will.”
“I will not, and I think by now you would have learned that I willna allow you, or anyone, to force me. I ride, I fight, I make love. My choices.”
“Being an unwed mother isnot a choice.”
She tilted her chin. “Nay more than being an unwilling bride.”
His jaw clenched and his mouth opened, but he didn’t speak. At last, he said, “This is not the time for a properconversation.”
Her heart breaking, she glanced toward the entry, where the first rays of light streaked across the sky. “’Tis time to go.” She walked to where they’d stored their belongings near the fire and began packing the few itemsthey’d brought.
* * * *
Wind-tossed branches overhead fractured the midday sunlight streaming through the forest, creating smears of blackness upon the pristine blanket of white. Cailin wove his mount between dense brush littered with dead leaves clinging to the branches, then up a steep incline. At the top, he glanced at Elspet.
Face set, she stared straight ahead, a remote look she’d worn since their discussion in the cavetwo days past.
After telling her that he cared for her the evening before, he’d expected her to be pleased with his offer of marriage, that he’d want their child to not be a bastard. She had no family except for her despicable stepbrother, and no coin.
Why hadn’t she agreed and made this simple? Then, when he departed to rejoin the Bruce, she would have been safe at Tiran Castle, and he could have focused on serving their king until his return.
Blast it, this whole disaster was his fault. Never should he have touched her. Regardless if she’d wanted him and had asked for no promises, or that he’d foolishly allowed himself to believe that her having his mother’s cross was a sign of her blessing, neither removed the fact that his taking Elspet’s innocence had made her his responsibility.
Frowning, he scanned the surrounding bens, guiding his destrier around a large drift at the base ofa sheer cliff.
A hawk screeched overhead. The fierce predator glided upon the currents over the trees.
Mayhap he should try to engage in conversation? He grimaced. As if she’d replied to any of his questions with more than three words since they’d departed the cave. In time, she would calm; then he’d convince her that his plan held merit.
A blast of wind rich with the scent of pine swept past him as he toppedthe next ridge.
Beneath the afternoon sun, seated at the edge of a lock, stood Syridan Castle. A massive fortress, its defenses a formidable challenge for the best-trained troops. Men moved along the wall walk, and the distant clash of blades rang out.
