His Lady of Castlemora(17)

Ban stretched out beside her, drawing her close. She smiled and closed  her eyes, feeling oddly content. It would be no hardship to repeat the  experience with him; quite the opposite in fact. If God allowed it they  might make a child together. The possibility filled her with hope and  longing. It would please her to give this man the son he longed for. It  might also bring them closer. Meanwhile, she would have a baby, a small  helpless being whom she could love and who would love her  unconditionally. Ban had already told her that he didn't love her but  perhaps, given time, they might grow closer. It wouldn't be hard to care  for a man who treated her with gentleness and courtesy.

Ban too was lost in his thoughts. Things had gone better this time but  there was a long way to go yet. He had been unable to arouse her as he'd  hoped to. Clearly she was still too tense, too reserved for that. It  was going to take a while to allay her anxiety and make her completely  comfortable with him. It was a considerable challenge but he intended to  meet it, to bring her to a climax with him.

When she'd experienced it once, she'd almost certainly want to do it  again. Only then would she be relaxed enough for him to take things  further and explore other possibilities. Imagination supplied a series  of highly erotic images in which she initiated their sexual coupling.  The result was a fresh wave of heat to his groin. He quashed it. It  would be a mistake to force the pace. He wanted more than just to bed  her again: he wanted her to enjoy it too. He wanted her to want him.  Just where that thought had come from he couldn't have said, but he  recognised the truth of it. This woman was going to be his, body and  soul.

* * *

For that reason he restrained the urge to follow up their tryst too  soon. Instead he let several days go by before suggesting another. If  Isabelle felt pressured she would be less likely to relax and that ran  counter to his plans. In the interim he used the time to talk to her on a  variety of subjects, drawing her out, listening, learning more about  her. The tactic paid off. She began to lose the anxious expression she  had worn before and to smile more readily. Ban saw it with approval.

The next time they met at the barn she was less tense and a rather more  willing participant. Again he was careful, ardent but tender, seeking by  every means to increase her enjoyment. Isabelle followed his lead,  clearly wanting to please him. While he wouldn't have described it as  perfect sex, it was certainly an improvement.

* * *

Over the following week they built on it. The secrecy of these meetings  combined with the limited time available lent them intensity and a  certain excitement so that Isabelle found herself anticipating the next  time they would be alone. It had become to her rather more than a  business arrangement now. In spite of all former resolution her emotions  had become involved too. She knew it was unwise at this stage, but  somehow it had ceased to be a matter of choice. He filled her thoughts.  His treatment of her was considerate and kind; she had never known such  gentleness in a man. He was passionate but he never hurt her. Each time  they made love it bound her more tightly to him. Except that he never  actually spoke of love. She smiled ruefully at her own folly: their  relationship was but new-fledged. It was far too early to be thinking in  those terms. When she was carrying his child things might change. We  may grow closer in affection. The notion resurrected all her former  longing and offered glimpses of a future she had never thought to have.                       
       
           



       

She would have liked to discuss the future with Ban but it was a  sensitive topic and she hesitated. Nor did he advert to it. She  attributed that to his reluctance to make plans that might never come to  fruition. He didn't want to make any promises. Their conversations  tended to focus on past or present instead. She could understand it but  deep down it hurt too. In spite of the consideration he showed her now  he would put her aside if he had to.

'Is everything all right, my sweet?'

She turned her head to look at him. 'Of course. Never better.'

They were lying on his cloak on a pile of sweet-smelling hay in an old  stall towards the rear of the barn. The light was muted here, the quiet  broken only by the occasional cooing of a pigeon in the rafters above.

'You looked lost in thought.'

'There is much to think about. My father's health grows worse.'

'God willing he will live a while yet.'

'He doesn't think so.' She sighed. 'It seems that Hugh will be laird before too long.'

'He has all the makings of a worthy successor.'

'I believe that too. It's not Hugh who concerns me as much as Murdo.'

'Surely he will serve your brother as he served your father.'

'Murdo has too much power and he has abused it. Hugh knows that. I hope he may redress the balance.'

'That may not be easy,' said Ban. 'Men like Murdo don't readily cede what they have won.'

'If my father had enjoyed better health the situation would not have  arisen but, as his condition progressed, he was glad to delegate more  responsibility. Many would say too much.'

'It wouldn't be the first time such a thing has happened.' He paused.  'But, if your brother is his own man, then he will eventually take back  control.'

'I hope so. Then perhaps Castlemora could go back to being the way it  was. The atmosphere never used to be so tense, so...threatening.'

'Why should you feel threatened by Murdo?'

She hesitated. It was dangerous ground.

'Isabelle?'

'He aspires to my hand.' Seeing his expression she hurried on. 'There was never any chance it would be granted.'

'Did you want it to be granted?'

'Good heavens, no! I detest him and he knows it. But, as you said, he's not a man to give up easily.'

Ban's eyes narrowed a little. 'He had best give up all thought of you.'

'He is no rival to you, my lord. Indeed I hope the futility of his ambition will soon become apparent.'

'I will suffer no rivals, Isabelle. You belong to me or to no man.'

Her pulse quickened a little. 'I am betrothed to you.'

'That you are.' He rolled, pinning her beneath him. 'And it is my intention to make my claim on you very apparent very soon.'

'Is something preventing you?' It was provocative and as soon as she'd  said it she was astonished at her own boldness. At the same time she  knew that she wanted him to match his words to action.

His eyes glinted. 'Nothing will prevent me, my sweet. I am jealous of my rights.'

'Say you so?'

'I do say so.'

'I might refuse.'

'You might try,' he conceded.

The words were deliberately provocative in their turn and she tested his  hold. It might have been steel. Ban surveyed her steadily.

'Rebellion, Isabelle?'

She regarded him speculatively. 'What if it were?'

'It would be crushed without mercy until I had complete submission.'

'Oh? And how exactly would you achieve that?'

He proceeded to show her. The method was swift and ruthless and devastatingly effective.

* * *

She relived it when she was alone in bed that night. The memory created  an unwonted glow deep inside her, and once again she found herself  looking forward to the day when their relationship could be declared  openly. Their conversation suggested that Ban wanted that too. The mere  mention of another man's interest had brought out a fiercely possessive  streak that was unexpected and, on balance, more pleasing than not. It  was another indication that he already thought of her as his. His  subsequent actions reinforced that notion strongly. She smiled to  herself in the darkness. It was impossible to think of any other man  when she was with him. Not that she intended to tell him, of course. He  already had too much advantage.                       
       
           



       

* * *

Ban too had reflected on their earlier conversation since it shed light  on some of the things that had initially puzzled him. Murdo's attitude  was one. If he entertained hopes of marrying Isabelle then his  aggression towards Ban and Glengarron became more comprehensible. When  Isabelle returned to Castlemora, Murdo must have seen that as a golden  opportunity. Marriage to her would secure his position once and for all.  He would also be gaining a very beautiful bride. The possibility that  she might be barren evidently didn't bother Murdo, or he was willing to  take a chance. That such an ambitious man should do so seemed suddenly  significant. Of course, it might just be that he was so deeply in love  that it didn't weigh with him, but, knowing what he did of Murdo, it  seemed unlikely.

Ban frowned, conscious of undercurrents that he couldn't identify.  Usually he was good at reading men but something here eluded him.  Moreover, he knew instinctively that it was important. Nothing in  Isabelle's manner caused him to think that she secretly returned Murdo's  feelings. Indeed she seemed to fear him. Either that or she was an  accomplished actress. He rejected that notion. A woman in love with  another man would have reacted very differently to their coupling.  Whatever Murdo's motivation Isabelle was already lost to him. As soon as  she was pregnant Ban intended to acknowledge her as his wife. That  would put paid to the upstart's pretensions. It would put paid to  anyone's pretensions in that direction. No other man would touch her  again. Effectively she belonged to him now.