The Heiress Bride (Sherbrooke Brides 3)

She yawned again, this one manufactured specifically for the occasion. “Nothing at all. Goodness, I feel I could sleep a week.”

“Joan, you are to stay out of my affairs,” he said quietly, too quietly.

“Certainly,” she said, starting to pretend to another yawn and then changing her mind.

He raised a brow at that. “You said a lot of things when I came ba

ck from Edinburgh. There were no brakes on your tongue when you were so ill. You went on and on about protecting me, not that that’s anything out of the ordinary or new, merely that there is MacPherson. I’m ordering you, my dear wife, to keep to the castle. You will leave me to deal with that bastard.”

“He is very pretty,” she said without thinking, then realized what she’d done and gasped, her expression now perfectly horrified.

“So,” Colin said, leaning closer to her now, his hands on the headboard of the huge bed, on each side of her face, “you have met Robbie, have you? When? Where?”

She tried to shrug but it was difficult, for his fingers were now lightly stroking her throat. She wondered if he would strangle her. “I was riding and met him at Loch Leven. He was a bit nasty and I left him, nothing more, Colin.”

“You’re lying,” he said, and sighed, rising to stand beside the bed.

“Well, I did, ah, take his horse. Nothing more, I promise.” She paused, then opened her mouth, but he forestalled her.

“You took his horse. Damnation, I never knew a woman could positively thrive on being so bloody meddlesome. No, don’t add to your deceit, just promise me that you will stay safe in the castle.”

“No,” she said finally, “I can’t promise you that.”

“Then I will have to lock you in our bedchamber. I won’t have you disobeying me, Joan. Robert MacPherson is a dangerous man. You had the cut on your cheek to prove it.”

Sinjun felt only mildly concerned; after all, both Sophie and Alex were here. Amongst the three of them, they’d save Colin from any possible danger.

“I agree,” she said. “He is dangerous. It’s odd since he is so pretty.”

“Perhaps that has something to do with his viciousness, but I’m just guessing. As he grew into manhood, his face didn’t grow into hard lines, his features softened. He became more difficult, more severe and violent, inside and out. Now, wife, will you obey me?”

“In most things, Colin, you know that I do willingly. But in some things you must grant me leave to behave as I deem proper and right.”

“Ah, yes, and one of the some things is our having sex together.”

“That’s right.”

“You speak with such confidence. Is it because you know I am not enough of a bastard to take you whilst you’re still weak from your illness?”

He had a point there and Sinjun was forced to nod.

He sighed, plowing his fingers through his hair. “Joan, I wasn’t very kind to you when I came home before.”

“You were a mean-spirited sod.”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” he said, giving her a harassed look, “but I realize that at least now my children care a great deal for you. My small six-year-old son risked his life to come to me in Edinburgh.”

“I know. It makes my blood run cold to think of it. He is a very brave boy.”

“He is my son.”

She smiled at that.

“Also Dahling—when she can be convinced to take her thumb out of her mouth—now sings your praises. Well, your mare’s praises more than yours, actually.” He sounded a bit baffled and, strangely to Sinjun, a bit put out.

“Will you also allow that it is my right and responsibility to be in charge of the household?”

“I suppose so. MacDuff said he had a message from you. It was something about you not stealing my box. What did you mean by that?”