Page 33 of A Plaid Case of Loving Ye
Last night, she’d given him her virginity. After the Mother Superior had dragged her away—a thoroughly embarrassing moment for all of them—he’d cleaned himself and seen the evidence of her purity. Had he been a fool for assuming that hadmeantsomething?
She’s a healer.
Aye, and she’d said, when she’d pushed him into that chair, that she was only there to heal him.‘Tis no’ like I will enjoy this. But she’d been breathless when she’d said that, her eyes on his cock, and he’d thought…
God’s wounds, had he seen feelings in her which just weren’t there?
Had she really given him her virginity solely to ensure he regained his memory?
Had it really been so clinical? Didn’t she feel this connection between them?
Relic was twisting under his palm, the wee lad trying to push back against Ramsay, trying to turn to see him. Ramsay swallowed, wanting to focus on what really mattered.
Behind him, the Mother Superior spoke. “Lady Nicola, ye cannae deny—”
“Nay,” he interrupted her, his voice a harsh rasp he had to swallow down. He finally met Nicola’s gaze and hated that she’d managed to hide her emotions. Hated that she was chewing on her lower lip, and that just made him want to pull it betweenhisteeth.
God’s wounds, even now, even after that rejection, he wanted her. He wanted to taste her again, wanted to hold her.
“Nay,” he repeated, softer. “I’ll no’ force ye to do aught ye dinnae want, milady. I recognize I am less than—”
Something blazed in her eyes and she opened her mouth. He bit off the rest of his words, waiting…but she said nothing.
Instead, her eyes flicked toward the waiting nuns, then back to his, then down. He watched her nuzzle at Relic’s head, knowing she was inhaling the bairn’s sweet scent. She looked to be considering her words, thank fook.
Finally, she lifted her chin. “I’ll go with ye,” she declared, then shifted so she could address the Mother Superior, as if not caring her words had sent twin spikes of hope and dread through his chest. “I, too, made a deathbed vow to Lady Helen. I cannae give the bairn a place, but I can ensure he reaches the McIlvain keep safely.”
“Ye dinnae trust me?” he asked softly.
Her gaze snapped back to him. “Of course, I do.” ‘Twas said so quickly itmustbe the truth, and the band around his chest eased slightly.
“I promised, Ramsay,” she repeated quietly. “I have to do this. For Lady Helen. For Relic.”
For me.
He patted the bairn’s back. “Aye. Ye promised.”
She was doing this for Relic, not because she wanted to be withhim.
But God Almighty, that was going to be hard to remember.
“I’ll go with ye, Ramsay. To yer home. Because ye—” She bit down on whatever she was going to say. “Because I’m yer healer.”
Ah. He nodded briskly and stepped back, clasping his hands behind his back. “I understand.” ‘Twas difficult to get the words out past the lump in his throat. “I’d planned to leave today.”
When she nodded, she wasn’t looking at him. That didn’t make it easier.
It was the Mother Superior who broke the awkward silence. “I think that is a fine idea. Ramsay is yer patient, and of course ye’ll want to attend to him.” Her look was shrewd. “Purely as a medical professional, of course.”
She paused, waiting for Nicola to say something. When she didn’t, the nun’s lips curled slightly. “I’ll send word to yer family, Lady Nicola, and explain what a fine young man Ramsay McIlvain is.”
Nicola didn’t speak, but surely Ramsay wasn’t the only one to notice the way the blush climbed up her cheeks?
“I ken they’ll approve of him as a choice for—”
“Thank ye, Mother!” blurted Nicola, shoving the bairn toward Sister Mary Verbena, who took him awkwardly. The healer turned back to the Mother Superior and offered a hasty curtsey. “That sounds lovely!” Her voice was overloud, as if drowning out something only she could hear. “I must go ready my bags.”
Another curtsey, a hesitation—Ramsay noticed she very deliberately didn’t glance his way—and then she turned to flee up the stairs.
