Page 35 of My Notorious Highlander

"Jessie," he called after her, but she didn't stop.

There, she'd told him the truth, the reason they couldn't marry. They didn't suit at all because he needed an heir more than anything, and she couldn't provide one.

∞∞∞

A quarter hour later, Torrin knocked at Jessie's bedchamber door. The woman he wanted for his wife was not barren. 'Twas impossible. He refused to believe it.

Her kiss had bewitched him. Once his lips had touched hers, he'd been certain she was the only woman for him. Never had a kiss affected him so profoundly. 'Twas not only the lust which had consumed his body, but his heart had somersaulted within his chest. She was the woman he'd dreamed of the whole of his life.

He knocked again.

"Who is it?" Jessie's muffled response came from inside the room.

"Me. Torrin."

"What do you want?"

"To talk." That much should be obvious to her.

"There is naught to talk about," she assured him in a firm voice.

"I disagree," he growled. They had plenty to talk about. He had imagined her as the mother of his children for more than six months. And now, to suddenly be told that wouldn't be possible was a blow to his vitals.

"Did you not hear what I said outside?" she demanded.

"Of course, I heard. 'Tis why I'm here now. How do you ken 'tis true?"

"How do you think?" she practically yelled through the door. "When I was with MacBain, I was unable to conceive a bairn."

"Iosa is Muire Mhàthair." He detested the sound of MacBain's name, and to once again imagine the bastard lying with Jessie gutted him.

A chambermaid approached along the corridor. Once she had disappeared into a room, he turned back to the door. "Let me in. I want to talk about this in private. Servants are passing by."

"How grand," she muttered. "Gossip will be all over the castle by morn." She removed the bar from the door and opened it. "Very well. Do come in, m'laird. This is not at all scandalous," she said in an impertinent tone.

He slammed the door closed and barred it. When he faced her and saw the unshed tears glistening in her eyes, annoyance pounded through him. Not annoyance at her but at the situation. "Mayhap MacBain is not as virile as he thinks," he said.

She shrugged. "He was able to sire a son with his lovely wife after that."

"How many times did you lie with him?" Torrin hated the image in his head of Jessie with that whoreson. It made him want to break MacBain's nose again, along with a few of his limbs.

"I didn't count. 'Twas three months."

"Were you not in the trial marriage for a year and a day?"

"Aye, but he lost interest and found a prettier lass to secretly spend his nights with."

"There could be no prettier lass than you," Torrin muttered, remembering how her hair had shimmered like red flames in the sunlight today, and her eyes had rivaled the bright blue sky. Now, in the dimness of the room, the colors were more subdued but no less beautiful.

"I thank you, but…" She shook her head, tears dripping onto her cheeks.

He wanted to hold her in his arms, brush all her tears away, then kiss her, but he was unsure what her response would be. Seeing her cry was like a punch to the gut. "I should've hurt MacBain worse than I did. Should've broken both his legs."

"Nay. There was no need. I just hope he stays gone."

"Why did you not leave him when he turned his attention to the other woman?"

"I had no proof. Besides, 'twas against the agreement I'd signed. I had to stay for a year and a day, no matter what, other than physical abuse of course."