Page 93 of My Notorious Highlander

"Nay," Isobel said firmly. "That may not be the case at all. Look how long it took me to conceive—seven months. So you must not give up hope. And you will, of course, have to allow Torrin to seduce you several times to know what the outcome will be." Isobel smiled.

Jessie's face felt scalded now. "Aye. You're right."

"Well then, has he? Seduced you?"

Trying to hold back her smile, Jessie drew in a deep breath, then nodded.

Isobel's grin grew wider as did her eyes. "How many times?"

"A few," she admitted.

"I'm glad."

"One morning, Uncle Conall came to my room early to tell me about Aiden, and Torrin answered my door. 'Twas horribly embarrassing. Then, my uncle had a talk with me about how I should marry Torrin."

Isobel chuckled. "The same thing happened to Dirk and me! Except Conall barged into the chamber early in the morn while I was half asleep. I have no idea what he said to Dirk about it. Thankfully, we were married soon after."

Jessie smiled.

"What have you decided about Torrin?"

Jessie shrugged. "I refuse to handfast again, and I won't wed him legally until I am with child. I can't put him in a situation where he'll be unable to sire his own heir."

"That's very selfless of you," Isobel said softly. "Too selfless, if you ask me."

"Well, 'tis for my benefit, too. I fear if I were to marry him and not produce an heir, he would grow to resent me and put me aside sometime in the future. Chiefs have been known to do that. For many of them, marriage is not permanent, no matter what the Church says. Some have four or five living wives, some of which they've divorced, as well as mistresses and paramours."

"Aye. 'Tis true. Some men are goats. But not Dirk, and I don't think Torrin would behave that way."

"I hope not, but I have a hard time trusting men." Jessie had already told her about the first man who'd abandoned her the day before their wedding years ago.

"I can understand that."

"Do you feel any different since you are with child?" Jessie asked.

"I often feel sick in the mornings. I don't think I've ever fainted before either, but I did on the battlements when I was upset and afraid for Dirk."

Jessie nodded. "I don't feel sick in the mornings, so I don't think I'm with child."

"I'm not certain every woman feels that way. You might ask Nannag about it."

Jessie was too embarrassed to ask the healer about it now. Nannag always gave her that sweet, knowing smile every time Jessie and Torrin were together. Did Jessie really want her to know she and Torrin had been intimate? Nay. Jessie would just wait and see if she developed any of the symptoms Isobel talked about. But she was starting to fear she never would.

∞∞∞

'Twas near noon and Torrin still lay in bed, thankful the pain was not as bad as it had been. The rest of his men and several others had visited during the morning, but Jessie had not yet returned. Though he would love to see her, he hoped she was having a good nap. Flora had just given him another half cup of the herbal tea for pain and fever when Dirk appeared at the open door.

"How are you feeling?" Dirk asked, entering the room.

"Better. I think you have the best healers in Scotland here at Dunnakeil."

Dirk gave a sharp nod and glanced at Flora. "I have to agree with you there."

Flora actually blushed, then executed a small curtsy. "I thank you both. Nannag is a skilled teacher. I'll just be in the corridor if you should need me." Flora exited and closed the door behind her.

"I must thank you for your hospitality these last few weeks," Torrin said. "I was not trying to impose. I wanted to protect Jessie from that knavish MacBain."

"Aye. She told me what an impressive job you did in rescuing her from MacBain in the attempted kidnapping, and when Haldane took you both hostage."