Page 3 of My Notorious Highlander

"Why are you headed to Castle Dunnakeil?" MacBain asked. The bold whoreson obviously had no qualms about prying.

"Business. Land," Torrin said and continued eating. Of course, 'twas a lie, but if he could indeed marry Lady Jessie, he would receive the land in her dowry—land that bordered his own. And a marriage was a business deal in most cases. Still, those things were of little importance to him at the moment. He'd wanted a wife like Jessie most of his adult life. 'Twas as if God had taken the woman from his imagination and created Jessie.

He'd never say that aloud, of course; people would think him mad. At times, he wondered if indeed he was going a bit mad. He dreamed of her often, and she occupied his mind during the day. His primary concern now was protecting her from this wily MacBain bastard.

MacBain sat on a rock near him. "I understand Jessie's father passed last fall. Do you ken her brother, the new chief?"

"Aye, Dirk MacKay is a good man. Fair, honest." A bride thief. Torrin held back a grin for, in truth, he was thankful Dirk had stolen his betrothed. Isobel was beautiful, but if Torrin had married her, he would've missed his chance with Jessie. Aye, he had to believe he had a chance with her, despite her resistance.

Torrin glared at the man beside him. Maybe MacBain was the reason Jessie was turned against marriage and men. That had to be it. She would likely be furious that MacBain was back, sniffing at her slippers.

"I'm hoping Chief MacKay will be receptive to my offer of marriage to Jessie," MacBain said.

Doubtful, although Torrin wouldn't tell him this. Let him find out for himself that things were not so rosy. This would give Torrin an excuse and time for Jessie to get to know him. He wanted her trust… and a lot more.

"Why did you send her home at the end of the handfasting?" Torrin asked.

"Another woman bewitched me. 'Twas not something I planned. But I met Ellen about three months after I'd signed the trial marriage contract. I was smitten with her."

"So you sent Jessie home and married Ellen?"

"Aye, but I waited until the year was up so I wouldn't break the contract without good reason and rile her father. 'Twas difficult as Ellen was with child and I had to keep her condition a secret."

Difficult? Did he not think it was difficult for Jessie, watching her "husband" frolicking with another woman? Bastard.

"Lady Jessie must have been hurt and angry," Torrin said, as if only vaguely interested.

MacBain shrugged. "Aye, she glared at me a few times. Gave me the cold shoulder. But I'm certain I can warm her up again."

"'Haps." Ha. The man was full of horse dung. Jessie was more likely to dirk MacBain in his sleep than smile at him. And he hoped she would.

"She's a fiery one."

Torrin glared at him, not wanting to hear one more word or he might choke the bastard before they made it to Durness.

"Why are you pursuing her instead of some other lady?" Torrin asked. "Surely, 'twould be easier if you didn't have a history with the woman."

"Her dowry is…" MacBain clamped his lips shut.

"Aye?" Torrin prompted.

MacBain eyed him suspiciously. "Well, I suppose I can tell you. You won't tell anyone, will you?"

Torrin shook his head. "Nay. Who would I tell?"

"I heard that her brother increased her dowry, and added some land in."

"Ah." Money-hungry whoreson. All he wanted was the dowry. Not Jessie. Torrin knew this happened with a lot of marriage arrangements. Land was important to him as well, so his clan could grow more food and not starve. But for him, the woman he took to wife would be far more important than the land she brought to the marriage.

"You won't tell her I said that, will you?" MacBain's brows scrunched together.

"I barely know her." But he intended to change that, though it might take some time. Besides, he wouldn't need to tell her why MacBain was pursuing her again. She'd know. She was one of the canniest women he knew. He hadn't talked to her much, but he'd watched her plenty during the month he'd been at Dunnakeil last winter. He knew her to be friendly and caring, quick with a smile. Not for him, of course, but for those she was close to. She'd been managing the servants at that time and 'twas obvious everything was spotless.

She would make a perfect wife for him. He looked forward to convincing her of that.

∞∞∞

During supper at Castle Dunnakeil, one of the guards approached Lady Jessie MacKay at the high table. "We have visitors, m'lady," he said, raising his voice over the roar of conversation in the candlelit great hall.