Jamie’s frown darkened, but she went on, “I’ve a right to privacy. Your father never broke down your mother’s door. He respected—”
“I’m no’ my father!” Jamie cut her short. “There’ll be no locked doors ’atween me and whatIwant. And once we’re well mated, you’ll no’ be wanting them, either.”
Sheena gasped. “Your confidence is extraordinary. And misplaced. I will always want a barrier between you and me!”
She stood, hands on hips, breathing heavily, chin jutting out, and Jamie’s anger fled. He chuckled.
“Och, but you’re lovely with that fire in your eyes.” He grinned. “’Tis easy to see I’ll never be able to stay angry with you for long.”
That statement from James MacKinnion, a man who carried anger to its worst conclusions? She didn’t believe what she’d heard.
“I dinna like being toyed with.”
“You dinna like, you dinna like,” he mimicked. “Is there anything youdolike, lass?”
“Freedom.”
“When have you ever known freedom?” he asked pointedly. “You were under your father’s rule ’afore you fell under mine.”
“He allowed me freedom.”
“Did he? Allowed it? Or did you just take it?”
Sheena couldn’t meet his steady gaze any longer. The man had too much insight.
“That doesna signify,” she replied uneasily. “But the fact is, I’m still under his rule, no’ yours. I’ll be doing whathesays, no’ what you wish.”
“Will you?” Jamie chuckled. “Well then, perhaps I should find him and put the question to him. A MacEwen would relish an alliance with a MacKinnion.”
“Nay!” she gasped.
“’Twould certainly be putting an end to all this pointless arguing.”
“Nay!” Sheena repeated forcefully.
“Well now.” Jamie pressed his point home. “If I want to find him, I’ll find him.”
Sheena suddenly realized what he’d said. “You’ll never find him. Go ahead, waste your time trying,” she said confidently.
But Jamie knew exactly where her confidence came from. “’Twill no’ be difficult. A talk with your aunt in Aberdeen should enlighten me.”
She was cornered. “I hate you, James MacKinnion!”
“Do you?” he said sharply, growing tired. “Well, I’ve no doubt of that, lass, no doubt at all. But ’tis the name you’re hating, no’ the man, and I’m sick and tired of it.” Her eyes widened, and he added quickly, “You didna object to me when we first met. ’Twas only after you learned my name that fear took you.Explain that. Can you?”
“I dinna have to explain anything to you,” she said weakly.
“Ah, of course not,” he said mockingly. “Your way of dealing with an issue is to ignore it. So letmeexplain, if you will: you’ve heard tales, terrible tales that made you fear me ’afore we even met. Speak up if I’m wrong, Sheena.” She stayed silent, and he continued. “I’ll no’ ask you what you’ve heard. I’ll no’ even deny there’s truth to some of those stories. But given the travelings of tales, you have to allow for some exaggeration.”
“Less of one than the other, I would imagine,” Sheena replied tartly. “More truth than exaggeration.”
“Sometruth, Sheena. No’ enough to condemn me,” he said earnestly.
“But enough to know you’re no’ to be trusted.”
Jamie’s brows drew together, and his lips formed into a hard line. “Look at me, Sheena,” he commanded brusquely. “You take away my name and look at me as I am. Have I ever givenyoureason to fear me? Have I ever threatened your life or caused you any harm?”
“You have!” she answered readily. “You order me around. You talk of handfasting when you know how I feel. You bully me at every turn.”
