Tender Feud
“My own heart,” Raith murmured against her mouth.
His tender endearment arrested the beating of that particular organ for the longest moment, it seemed, before it finally began racing again.
Katrine shut her eyes. Her hard-hearted, bitter Highland lover was proving to be a silver-tongued devil like his cousin. But she wouldn’t allow herself to be swayed by honeyed blandishments.
“No, it won’t work, Raith,” she murmured as tartly as her breathless state would allow. “You won’t win me over with sweet words.”
“Very well, then, I’ll be more plainspoken. I want you to return with me because I miss your nagging.”
Katrine’s eyes flew open. “My nagging!”
“Yes, my sweet shrew, your nagging. I need your sharp tongue to keep me alert. No one ever argues with me the way you do. You’ll make me an excellent wife, once you have a bairn to occupy your time.”
“No, I won’t! I won’t make you any kind of wife at all!”
“And you’ll make Meggie an exceptional mother. I can’t think of anyone who would better fit the position.”
Katrine glared at him. “I would have made her a good mother two months ago, but you were too pigheaded to see it.”
“I agree—and I’m willing to admit I was a fool. Meggie’s new governess is good, but she can’t hold a candle to you.”
Katrine started to ask how Meggie was faring in her absence, but then caught herself. “Don’t you dare use that child again to make me feel guilty,” she demanded, her eyes shooting green sparks.
“All right then, I won’t mention Meggie. But I will admit that I’d like for our child to have my name.”
“The Campbell name isn’t good enough, is that it?”
“I didn’t say that…but MacLean is definitely better. And you can’t have considered the consequences of refusing to marry me. It won’t be easy for you, a lass trying to rear a child alone.”
“See, I knew it! You don’t want me, you just want to provide for your ‘issue.’ Well, let me tell you, I can provide for my child without you.”
“Our child,” Raith corrected. “And I do want you, Katrine.”
“No, you don’t! You only want to satisfy your male esteem, not to mention your clan pride.”
“What is so wrong with wanting to provide for you? To protect you and cherish you and keep safe?” His voice had softened again, its insidious gentleness curling around her. “Ah, Katie, come back home with me. You’ll never know how unbearably dull my life has been without you. The sunrise isn’t nearly as lovely with you not there to share it.”
He was doing it again, trying to get around her with his smooth appeals. But she wouldn’t listen!
“No,” Katrine cried in frustration and pain. “I won’t marry a lawless brigand who can’t bear the thought of my English blood, a low-life cattle thief who is always fighting with my clan. I don’t want a marriage founded in hate! I won’t settle for it.”
“And I would never ask you to, sweet Katie. I love you, Katrine…” Raith paused, sliding his hand between the folds of her dressing gown, against her nightshift, splaying his fingers over her abdomen. “I love both of you.”
Katrine fought the tiny shivers that emanated outward from his palm, trying vainly to squelch the anguish in her heart. “I don’t believe you.”
Raith’s expression contorted in a grimace of impatience. “Now, who is being pigheaded?”
Katrine set her jaw, determined not to give in.
“I won’t return without you, Katrine. My clan wouldn’t give me a moment’s peace if I did—”
“Good, you don’t deserve a moment’s peace.”
“And my heart won’t give me any respite, either.”
She refused to respond to such a patent falsehood. He hadn’t shown any sign of a broken heart two months ago when he had sent her away. “I’m not going anywhere with you. The only way you will get me to leave is to abduct me again—”
“Well, I suppose I could if there was no other way to convince you.”