Page 56 of Her Forbidden Highlander Husband

“Except my husband is so worried he’ll make my injury worse he won’t sleep with me or touch me.”

“Oh.” Kenna winced. “I hadn’t anticipated that.”

In truth, Evelyn was angrier with herself than with Kenna. The woman had tried only to help. Evelyn shouldn’t have attempted to mislead Liam.

“I should have just spoken to him directly.” Evelyn let her head fall into her hands. She hadn’t realized what a coward she was until she’d started navigating a marriage.

“Aye. A direct approach is usually the most successful,” Kenna agreed. “I’m sorry I didn’t suggest it.”

Evelyn shook her head. “In truth, it might be better this way. Liam wants a family to love. It’s a simple enough wish, and he deserves to see it fulfilled more than any person I’ve ever known.”

“It seems an easy thing,” Mari said. “Which means there must be something complex keeping it from happening.”

Evelyn nodded. “I promised my daughter I’d always be there for her, and then my father forced me to break my vow by sending her to stay with someone in the village so no one in our clan would know she was my child.”

Kenna gasped and set a kind hand on Evelyn’s shoulder. “I can’t imagine such a thing.”

“When I had the chance to run away with Liam and take her, I renewed my promise that Gwennie would be my priority. I never wanted her to feel I didn’t love her.” She took a breath. “But already I’ve left her with others so I could be with Liam. Last night when he didn’t come to our bed, I realized how much I’d been distracted by him. I can’t be distracted. I’m a mother.”

Kenna sat up straighter and she and Mari exchanged a look of surprise. “Do you think us bad mothers because we leave our children in the nursery at times to be with our husbands?”

“Of course not. I’ve seen you both with your children and know how much you love them.”

Mari nodded. “We do love them very much. They are our hearts and souls. But our husbands are as well. One day, sooner than we think, and with the Lord’s blessings, our children will grow and move on with their own lives and we will have but our husbands for comfort. Having a close bond with our children is important, but not more or less so than the bond we have with our men.”

Kenna nodded in agreement. “Mari and I understand your fears. Our father was obsessed with our stepmother’s happiness over that of our own. But I’ve come to realize my heart is capable of loving everyone within its grasp. My children don’t suffer because I’m smitten with my husband.”

“You can have it all,” Mari said with a sly smile. “And I hope that you do.”

Evelyn looked over at her daughter playing with the other children and knew she was in no danger of ignoring Gwennie. She knew equally well Liam would not dismiss his responsibilities to their daughter.

She needed to make things right with her husband if there was any chance of having it all.

“Might I leave my daughter with you again so I can take care of matters with my husband?” she asked.

Kenna smiled. “We wives are always happy to help one another. How do ye think there came to be so many children to look after in the first place?”

Chapter Twenty-One

When Liam didn’t see Evelyn in the hall for the evening meal, he worried nearly to the point of panic. Kenna was quick to tell him his wife was fine and wanted to see him in their chamber.

Thinking she may be resting, he took their food with him. She’d seemed distraught the night before when he’d fed her in the hall in front of everyone. Perhaps she didn’t like the attention. Liam hadn’t minded. It was what was done. Families cared for one another. Or at least that’s what he’d seen. He was excited to put the rule into practice with his own family and care for them.

He tapped on the door before entering. To his surprise, Ev was sitting on the edge of the bed. The splint was gone, and her eyes held worry.

He set the tray down and came to sit next to her. “Kenna said you should wear the splint for a few weeks, so your arm heals properly.”

Ev frowned as tears glistened in her eyes. She must be in so much pain.

“Do you need willow bark tea?” he asked. “It tastes like the devil’s piss, but it helps with the pain. I’ll get you some.” He stood and went for the door, but she stopped him. Grasping his hand firmly with the arm that was broken.

Perhaps Kenna had been wrong, and it wasn’t as bad as she’d thought.

“I’m so sorry, Liam. I lied. I didn’t fall. I didn’t injure my arm at all.”

He stared at her in surprise. He’d known women to act the damsel to get attention, but he didn’t think it of Evelyn.

“Why would you do this?” he asked as he sat next to her again. She must have a good reason. His wife wasn’t given to unnecessary drama.