The Laird's Captive Wife(64)

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When Iain left her he fully intended to return as promised and have the matter out. However, that was easier said than done. By the time he had settled the argument amongst Duncan’s circle the dancing had started again and Ashlynn’s hand was claimed for every measure. He noticed too that she made no attempt to seek him out or even look in his direction. What had happened to anger her so much? Surely a kiss could not be the cause, no matter how public.

From his vantage point Iain watched his wife laughing and talking with the other guests. To anyone else she would have seemed quite at ease. Iain, looking more closely, was undeceived. He could sense the tension in her. It occurred to him then that what had happened earlier might be due to reasons other than he had initially supposed. She must be missing her home and her family. With her emotions in this fragile state it would not take much to upset her. What was it? How he wished she would tell him. He was so preoccupied with the thought that at first he failed to notice the woman who had come to stand beside him.

‘She’s very beautiful, Iain.’

He looked round and saw Jeannie. ‘Aye, she is.’

‘And charming too,’ his sister went on. ‘She has but to smile to have men eating out of her hand. Women as well it seems.’

‘She has charm and to spare.’

‘I had not realised your taste was so good.’

‘I’ll take that as a compliment.’

‘I can quite see why you wanted her to wife.’ She paused. ‘What is much less clear is why she agreed.’

‘Don’t flatter me, Jeannie, whatever you do.’

‘You forced her to wed you, did you not?’

‘When the king commands it is unwise to do anything other than comply. I had no more choice in the matter than Ashlynn. Malcolm solved the problem with as little inconvenience to himself as possible.’

‘And yet you have not done so badly by the bargain.’ She shook her head. ‘In truth it is Ashlynn I feel for. A woman has no chance when pitted against the will of powerful men.’

‘She has an honourable position here. The alternative would have been a lot worse.’

‘So you were the lesser of two evils then?’

‘If you choose to put it like that.’

‘Oh, I do. As I said, I know you well, brother. All the same, I’m fascinated to see you in the role of protector to a lovely woman.’

‘I can assure you it is a role I take most seriously.’

‘I’m glad to hear it. The lass has had a bad time of it by all accounts.’

‘Aye, she has, but that is over now at least. Nothing shall hurt her again if I have the power to prevent it.’

The words were quietly spoken but Jeannie heard the resolution that underlay them and looked up in surprise, yet there was no mistaking the ingenuous tone. Recalling the cold and bitter man he had been before, she realised that something fundamental had changed and her heart knew a glimmer of hope.

Iain tossed off the remainder of his wine and cast another look across the room. Seeing his wife surrounded by a crowd of admirers all vying for her attention, he experienced a re-awakening of the feeling he’d had when he saw her with Robbie that day in the courtyard. Annoyance turned in on itself. He had no grounds for jealousy. Ashlynn was beautiful and men admired her, wanted her. Yet for all her banter and smiles she knew how to hold them at arm’s length. That of course just had the effect of making them try harder. He should know. He too was fully alive to his wife’s physical charms. At night he lay awake knowing there was but a door between them and that he had the key, knowing how easy it would be to use force. However, he wanted more than mere bodily submission. She must come to him or it meant nothing. And so he waited…and waited. Just when he thought he was making progress he found himself back where he’d started.

Watching her now he saw her excuse herself from the group and move to speak to her brother who was standing nearby. She put an arm about him, a casual and loving gesture that meant nothing and everything. His jaw tightened as jealousy resurfaced for the second time. What on earth was the matter with him that he should lose his customary sense of perspective over something so trivial? Ban was her brother and she loved him. Why should she not? The lad was handsome and brave and good company withal. In his presence she opened like a flower in the sun. With him her smile was unforced, her laughter from the heart. Ban too played his part well. It was a testament to their spirit that they would not inflict their sorrows on others even though the wounds were still raw.

His admiration grew, along with his frustration for, while he knew that Ashlynn wasn’t totally indifferent to him, she never looked at him as she looked at Ban, never smiled in quite that way. He had once told Ashlynn that she would see him every day of her life whether she wanted to or not. How ironic then that it was he who now suffered the torment of seeing her every day, of speaking to her, of being close enough to touch her and yet knowing himself as far away as ever. Be that as it might, he would know the cause of her displeasure before this evening was over.