Violet rolled her eyes. “In bed, then. There. Are ye satisfied?”
“Nae yet.”
Her cheeks heated. “Ye are impossible.”
He swallowed and stared at her, as if the subject she had brought up was the most casual thing in the entire world. “Well, Iwillneed more heirs, eventually.”
“Ye have one.”
“One bairn isnae a succession plan.”
Violet shrugged. “It sounds like one to me.”
“And ye may find ye enjoy me company, regardless.”
“I highly doubt that.”
His mouth tightened, which gave her more satisfaction than it should have.
“Do ye have a lover?” he asked.
Violet stopped walking. “Of course nae. Do ye?”
“Nay.”
“Well, I daenae mind if ye take one, so long as ye daenae embarrass me publicly.”
His expression shuttered. “Such a generous lass.”
“I am being practical,” she said, holding her ground. “I’m serious. We need terms. I will help raise Jane’s son. I will stand where I must stand to keep him safe. But I daenae want children of me own.”
Connor’s gaze fixed on her. “Why nae?”
“No reason.”
“Even for a woman who seems to have a response for everything, that answer came too quickly.”
Violet didn’t respond to that. It was clear that if she did, it would become another issue, and that subject was not one she was ready to deal with, especially now.
“We have our terms,” she said. “Ye have yer heir, and I have the right to remain with him. Should that nae be enough?”
For a long moment, he said nothing.
“Fine,” he relented, eventually.
“Good.”
“Good.”
They turned in opposite directions, and Violet walked back toward the castle with her terms spoken aloud and her spine straight.
She should have felt victorious, but she did not. She was certain Connor had heard the lie beneath her refusal, and she knew already that he would not forget it.
Connor set the quill down before the ink could blot the page.
The letter to Laird MacAdair had taken three drafts and still displeased him. The man had every right to view the broken contract as an insult, even if the insult had arrived in a basket and screamed at Connor’s gate.
Lady Thalia’s honor would not be questioned by Clan Moore, and the border conduct would remain as agreed. Trade passage could be discussed again under renewed terms, and a meeting should be arranged.
