Page 46 of When A Laird Loves A Lady
“What do ye mean?” Alex thundered.
Bridgette notched her chin up. “Ineeded to visit the seer and I did nae want to go alone. On the way back, Ifell and she risked her life to save me.”
“That’s not true!” Marion said.
Iain shifted his gaze between thewomen, his rage receding and amusement rising to the surface. They’d obviouslyformed a fast and loyal friendship in the few hours they’d known each other. Hewas glad for Marion that she’d made a friend and gladder still that herappearance was due to trying to save Bridgette and not from harm done to her byanother. Yet she put herself in danger by not listening to him, and he’d haveto speak with her about that. And think of some sort of punishment. Yet thetruth was, he could not imagine punishing Marion. He’d had the same problemwith Catriona, and he sometimes feared it was why she’d done as he’d told hernot to and swam in that freezing water, in spite of her poor health.
“Of course it’s true!” Bridgettereplied, bringing Iain’s attention back to where it should be. Bridgettescooted away from Alex, who looked as if he wanted to throttle her with hispinched mouth and flaring nostrils. “Ye did save me!”
“No, no. I helped you saveyourself,” Marion said, her embarrassment obvious in her trying to belittle hercourageous act.
Iain smiled behind his hand. Onlyhis wife would be so selfless as to refuse to take credit for rescuing another.
Bridgette looked thoughtful for amoment. “I suppose that’s true enough. I did do much of the work hanging overthe edge as I was, and I had to find the footholds.”
Iain and Alex let out a collectivegroan that caused both women to look at them. Iain wanted to grab Marion andkiss her soundly, but he could not let her think it was acceptable for her todisobey him.
“I require an explanation,” he saidin a hard, stern tone.
She sucked her lower lip betweenher teeth, then promptly released it with a hiss. “I know.”
Bridgette cleared her throat. “IainMacLeod, if ye’re going to be angry at someone ye can direct yer temper at me.I talked yer Sassenach wife into going with me, and I ordered my maid to sit inher bedchamber and claim to be Marion should anyone knock.”
That explained why Rory Mac andAngus had not come to tell Iain that Marion was gone. The men didn’t know. Hecould hardly fault them, though. Nor could Iain lay complete blame atBridgette’s feet. Marion should have obeyed him, in spite of her new friend’scompelling words.
His wife let out a small sigh.“Bridgette, that’s really so kind of you to try to—”
Marion gasped as Iain whisked heroff her feet. He needed to be alone with her now. Not just to chide her but tomake sure she was not hurt.
With one hand under her legs andthe other around her back, he met Alex’s gaze. “My wife and I will be upstairsuntil supper. It seems we have some things to discuss.” Iain could see thesmile Alex was fighting, but his friend managed to keep his face blank.
“I ken. I’ll see ye at supper andhopefully yer lovely wife, as well, as I’ve yet to formally meet her.”
Iain nodded but did not bother topresent her. There’d be time enough for that, and the need to touch her wasmaking him shake. He turned to stride away just as Alex started talking in arush of angry words at Bridgette.
Marion gazed up at him with afrown. “That was very rude not to—”
He glared at her, caught betweenanger for her disobeying him and relief that she really did seem to be safenow. Marion fell silent and dropped her gaze to his chest.
“Where is your bedchamber?” hedemanded.
“Bridgette mentioned that it was upthe stairs and to the right,” she mumbled. Her small, pitiful voice made himwince with guilt that she was worried, but God’s truth, the woman needed toworry a bit so she’d not repeat what she’d done.
He took the stairs two at a time,and when he came to the top and rounded the corner to where her bedchamber was,Angus and Rory Mac scrambled to a standing position from the spot by her doorwhere they’d been sitting. Both men gaped at Iain.
“How did she get out of thebedchamber?” Rory Mac asked, his brow furrowed. The man looked at the closeddoor and then back at Iain.
“My crafty wife never went in thebedchamber,” he growled as he set Marion on her feet. “Knock,” he demanded.
Marion’s eyes widened. “But—”
“Knock,” he said more harshly,though he did feel bad about it. She had to understand there were consequencesto her actions, and he’d just realized how to best make her see it.
Her shoulders drooped as shestepped to the door and knocked.
“I’ve a stomach malady,” a womancalled from within. “Please leave me.”
Beside Iain, Angus hissed, andMarion turned back toward them, her cheeks stained with her embarrassment.
