Page 108 of My Notorious Highlander

She grinned. "Sounds like you're hungry."

"Mayhap."

At a rustling sound behind her, she turned to find Flora rising from her pallet near the fireplace. Jessie moved across the room, awoke Dolina and sent her after Torrin's breakfast, while Flora changed the poultice on his leg.

A half hour later, Jessie fed Torrin porridge. She enjoyed the task of giving him sustenance. He had argued and insisted he was capable of feeding himself, but she refused to let him. She simply wanted to help him in any way she could.

A knock sounded at the door. Dolina answered it, and a pretty, young, dark-haired woman entered the room, dressed as a lady rather than a servant.

"Good morn. I'm Rhona, Nolan's wife," she told Jessie, a solemn expression on her face. "How are you feeling this morn, m'laird?" she asked Torrin, moving closer.

"Better. This is Lady Jessie MacKay," Torrin said.

After pleasantries were exchanged, Torrin frowned and asked, "Has anyone told you about Nolan?"

"Aye, Sir Iain did. 'Twas one reason I wished to speak to you."

"I wanted to tell you myself, but I was blacked out and had a fever for… I don't ken how long it has been."

"Just over a week," Jessie said.

"Saints! That long?" he asked.

"I know," Rhona said. "I'm simply glad you are feeling better today. Sir Iain didn't tell me everything. When did Nolan die, and how did it happen?"

Jessie detected no emotion or tears in the young woman's gaze, which she found interesting and unusual.

"Several weeks ago, south of here," Torrin said. "He kidnapped Lady Isobel, and Chief MacKay killed him. 'Twas only a couple of nights after they stayed here on their journey. 'Twas a fair fight. Nolan was an outlaw."

"Aye," Rhona said, frowning. "I knew someone would kill him."

"When I'm up to it, some of the MacKays are going to take me to his gravesite. I ken you probably cannot go to the grave, because of wee Lainie, but we'll have a funeral for him here in the kirk."

She nodded. "After the funeral, with your permission, I would like to take Lainie and go stay with my mother and father for a while."

"Of course. Whatever you wish," Torrin said.

"I'll come back later and bring Lainie to see you." She gave a hint of a smile.

Torrin nodded. "My niece," he said to Jessie.

She forced a tight smile and watched Rhona leave the room. Once the door was closed, Jessie gave Torrin another bite of porridge. "She did not seem terribly upset over the death of her husband."

Torrin shook his head. "'Twas not a love match. Nolan seduced her, the daughter of a chieftain, got her with child and was forced to marry her. They were miserable together."

"I see." Each of the young women Jessie knew either had a bairn or was expecting a bairn, even those who'd had unhappy marriages. She felt completely lacking.

∞∞∞

"Come, lie on the bed with me and get some sleep," Torrin said to Jessie late that night when they were alone.

As far as he could tell, she had slept very little since she'd been here at Munrick, for every time he awoke, she was there. Thank the saints for that, but she needed rest, too.

"Nay. Are you mad?" she asked in a loud whisper. "Someone might come in."

Flora and the maid had moved to the small chamber next door, but 'twas possible Flora would come in and give him more herbal tea later.

"Bar the door," he said. "That way you can open the door for them and they won't see us in bed together."