Page 26 of To Wed a Witch
With Aidyn fed and settled in her cradle, and Paisley retired to the neighboring chamber, Sìne curled up in the narrow bed and exhaustion finally claimed her when she fell into a deep sleep.
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HOURS LATER, HEAVYfootsteps echoed in the corridor outside.Bhaltair pushed open the door to his chamber, weary from a long evening of dealing with clan matters, expecting to find his wife and daughter waiting.He'd been looking forward to spending time alone with them for the entire day.Instead, he found empty space.
The fire still burned in the grate.But the room held none of Sìne's belongings that he was sure his men had moved up to his chamber.There was no sign that she'd ever been there at all.
His jaw clenched.Where the devil was she?For a moment he thought perhaps those in his clan who were unhappy with her presence had sent her elsewhere.
He stormed back downstairs and bellowed down the corridor."Ada!"
The housekeeper appeared moments later."Aye, my laird?"
"Where is my wife?"
"In her chamber, my laird."
"Her chamber?And where might that be?"
Ada seemed confused."Why, the chamber adjoining yers.The servants told me she had moved herself there this afternoon."
Bhaltair didn't wait to hear the rest.He strode back up the stairs and down the corridor to Sìne's room and threw open the door without ceremony.
Sìne jerked awake at the sudden intrusion, her heart hammering as she tried to focus in the dim light."Bhaltair?What—"
But he was already moving, quietly and stealthily as if trying not to wake the babe.He hefted her traveling chest over his shoulder as though it weighed nothing and carried it toward the door.
"What are ye doing?"she whispered, scrambling from the bed.
"What does it look like?I'm moving my wife and bairn into our room."His voice was tight with barely controlled anger.
Sìne watched in amazement as moments later he returned for Aidyn's cradle, lifting it with the same grim determination.Aidyn stirred but didn't wake, somehow remaining peaceful despite the movement.
"Bhaltair, wait—" Sìne grabbed her shawl and hurried after him as he carried the cradle back to his chamber."I dinnae understand.I thought we were to use the smaller room next door—"
"Ye thought wrong."He set the cradle down in the small cozy chamber adjoining his bedchamber that had been used as a nursery.Checking that Aidyn was still sleeping and comfortable, he then strode across to where Sìne was standing in stunned silence."Ye're my wife, are ye not?"
"Aye, but—"
"Then ye belong at my side.Not hiding away in some servant's chamber like ye're ashamed to be here."
The accusation stung."I wasn't hiding!I was trying not to presume—"
"Presume what?That ye have the right to share yer husband's bed?"His dark eyes flashed with something between anger and hurt."I bring ye home to my Keep, and ye run away to the first bolt-hole ye can find?"
"I did not run away!"Sìne's own temper began to rise."Ye disappeared the moment we arrived!What was I supposed to think?"
"Ye were supposed to think ye were my wife!"
"In name only!"The words burst out before she could stop them.
The silence that followed was deafening.Bhaltair stared at her as though she'd struck him.
"In name only?"he repeated, his voice deadly quiet.
Sìne felt heat flood her cheeks but held her ground."Ye've never said otherwise.'Twas a marriage of convenience, nothing more.I brought ye the dowry ye needed, ye gave me respectability, accepted my daughter.I thought...I thought that was the extent of it."
"Did ye now."He moved closer, and she could see the muscle ticking in his jaw."And what gave ye that impression?"
