Page 6 of To Wed a Witch (Reluctant Brides #3)

Bhaltair scowled and shot a sharp look at his men, particularly Dugald, who looked as if he was about to barge his way into their conversation. "My men will remain outside of the gate," he said firmly.

Dugald snorted. "But laird, surely we could stop for a wee bit of—"

"Outside, Dugald," Bhaltair growled, not taking his eyes off Sìne. "All of ye. Guard the perimeter."

The men exchanged glances, and Dugald muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like "possessive bastard" before stepping back with obvious reluctance.

"I would welcome the chance to speak with ye privately," Bhaltair continued to Sìne.

Something in his tone made her pulse quicken.

There was an intimacy to the idea of being alone with him that both thrilled and terrified her.

But then she remembered why he could not set foot inside.

.. not yet. She found herself unsure what to do.

Her maid Paisley was still running errands in the village, and that meant Sìne would need to find another way to keep the determined man out of her cottage.

"Of course. But would ye mind waiting a moment so I might ready the hearth to receive ye properly?"

Bhaltair frowned at her behavior. If he was not mistaken, Sìne seemed desperate to have him leave.

Her eyes kept darting about with nervousness toward the cottage.

What is she hiding? he wondered. It was then a sound came from within.

It was a gentle thudding noise followed by what sounded almost like. .. babbling?

Sìne froze, her face going pale. Bhaltair's eyes narrowed, his warrior's instincts immediately alert.

"What was that?" he asked, his voice sharp with suspicion.

"Nothing," Sìne said quickly, too quickly. "Just... the wind. Or perhaps one of the goats got loose."

But even as she spoke, another sound drifted through the door.

Bhaltair wondered why she would not let him inside. Then he was struck with all manner of thoughts he did not want to entertain. "Is there a man inside? Do ye have a lover ye scurried back here to meet?" he demanded. For some reason, he was filled with jealousy over the fact.

He caught the panicked look on her face. Guilty!

Before Sìne could respond, Bhaltair did not wait.

He barged past her and stormed toward the cottage as Sìne ran after him desperately trying to prevent him.

But when he opened the door, he inhaled a shocked breath as he took in what he was seeing.

By the hearth sat a cradle, and within it a small bonnie toddler with large brown eyes and curly hair was sitting up inside it, banging her small hands against the cradle and frowning at him.

Bhaltair stopped in his tracks. "Whose babe?"

Sìne, despite her protests, had moved swiftly to place herself between him and the child.

"She... she is mine."

Bhaltair stared in shock for a moment, then asked, "And her father?"

"He was killed in a skirmish before she was born, but even before that he refused to acknowledge her once he kenned I was with child."

"So ye were not married then."

She blushed and shook her head. That was enough for Bhaltair to realize what was really happening now.

He clenched his fists and asked, "Do ye love him?"

She frowned in confusion. "I dinnae understand."

"I meant her father. Do ye still harbor feelings for him?"

Sìne thought it a strange question but answered regardless. "I... at the time I thought I did. But I dinnae believe so. He promised we would wed, then refused in the end. "

"So he abandoned ye, then went off and got himself killed."

"Aye."

"Were ye going to tell me?"

She shook her head.

He merely nodded at her honesty, then he paused as if contemplating something. "Let me guess... yer father thought it best to keep her a secret. That's why ye snuck out of the Keep... because a babe needs her mother."

"Aye. I was to make my final goodbyes and forget she ever existed. But I could not."

Bhaltair flinched at her words and frowned. He looked about the cottage with clothes folded ready to be packed and then through the window to the garden when it struck him. "Ye were preparing provisions to run away with the bairn, weren't ye?"

"Aye. So ye see, ye are not getting the good end of a bargain. Not only am I a mad witch who foolishly lay with a man who was not her husband, but I would have abandoned my duty without a word for the sake of my child."

"As any good mother should," Bhaltair replied. His tone was weighted as something flickered in his eyes. Something Sìne could not quite catch, but she knew there was more to the statement than she could fathom at that moment.

"And is this why ye were moved to the middle of nowhere to eke out an existence? Hidden away from the world with everyone thinking ye a witch living in the haunted woods?" Bhaltair asked.

"Aye. I believe so... but—"

"But what?"

"Seeing as we are being truthful, the rumors also began because I hear voices."

The babe chose that moment to fuss for her mother and reach out her arms. Bhaltair gestured for Sìne to see to her daughter, which she willingly did. He watched as she lifted her into her arms and soothed her with loving gestures as she gently rocked her.

Bhaltair frowned and asked, "What voices?" He waited for her reply, even as he was mesmerized watching her care for her child.

Sìne continued, "In the mist, I mean. Since I was a child. When the mist comes, I ken 'tis always for a reason. I hear the whisper of voices often."

Bhaltair replied, "Aye, I also sensed something in the mist when we made our way here. Nothing menacing but present nonetheless."

"Ye did?" Sìne asked in surprise.

"Aye, but I consider 'tis best not to entertain what ye canna control lest ye give it more power than it's worth."

"And it does not scare ye?"

"We walk between two worlds, one seen and unseen. Any god-fearing person would ken that much. But I choose not to dwell on it. I say my prayers and stick to lighted paths lest I open doors best left well alone."

Sìne watched Bhaltair with astonishment, and she felt profound relief that he understood without judging her. But he was right, it was not good to dwell or put much stock in such things.

Her daughter began fussing again. Sìne cooed and kissed her.

"What is her name?" Bhaltair asked.

"Aidyn MacKay," she replied.

"Ye did not name her after her sire?"

"No, it did not feel right since he did not want to acknowledge her. I have raised Aidyn alone with a little help from my maid Paisley, who will return shortly from the village. But I... I must change her cloth then feed her milk. She is weaned but hungry nonetheless."

Bhaltair nodded. "Do ye need help?"

"No, thank ye—I can manage. But if ye take a seat by the fire, we will join ye shortly for some repast. There is much we should discuss."

"I agree," he replied, and despite himself he smiled at the child, who surprisingly returned it.

Soon the three of them were settled by the fire with freshly brewed tea and bannock before them. Aidyn had a full belly now and was content sitting on Sìne's lap.

"I take it the wedding will not go ahead now," Sìne asked.

"What makes ye think that?" Bhaltair replied.

"Well, 'tis just that I ken ye will not want an unwed mother and her bast—"

"It goes ahead as planned," Bhaltair cut her off with a determined voice.

She stared at him with shock. "But ye can renege from the betrothal."

"Why would I wish to do that?"

"Because 'tis clear I dinnae come to the marriage a virgin." She blushed at the word.

"I hope ye dinnae mind me saying this, but if we're being honest... neither do I," Bhaltair replied.

Sìne stared at him askance. Deep inside, she wanted to scratch out the eyes of any woman he had been with, but then she recognized the hypocrisy of such a thing.

Bhaltair continued, "What matters is that we satisfy the marriage contract and make the best of things."

"Oh, I see." Sìne remembered that he needed her dowry desperately, and that put a slight dampener on things.

At that moment, Aidyn gurgled and reached out for Bhaltair.

Sìne was about to stop her, but without thought Bhaltair took the child.

He settled her against his chest and began rocking her gently.

To Sìne's surprise, Aidyn rested her head against Bhaltair's shoulder and sucked her thumb, seemingly content with her place in the world.

It was not long before Aidyn's eyes began to droop, and soon she proceeded to fall asleep with her head safely tucked against Bhaltair's shoulder.

In response, Bhaltair placed his large hand against her back to hold her secure.

It was all Sìne could do not to burst into tears at the gesture. It struck her that even her daughter instinctively felt safe with this Highlander. Then she had a disturbing thought. What if Bhaltair meant to leave Aidyn with the MacKays?

"I'll not leave Aidyn behind," Sìne declared.

"I dinnae expect ye to. A child should be with her mother and a wife should be with her husband," Bhaltair replied.

The relief on Sìne's face was so clear. "I thank ye. I promise she will not be much trouble and—"

"Calm yerself. There is no need to fret. While I canna believe yer father omitted this part, now that I ken the truth, Aidyn comes with us."

"Thank ye."

"Dinnae thank me, lass. Before now I felt ye were bringing everything to the bargain and I nothing. But now..."

"Now?"

"I can at least offer ye something in return. My name for yer daughter and her mother to wed."

Sìne's tears fell then freely, and she could barely speak. She felt grateful and decided there and then she would do everything in her power to be a good wife to Laird Ferguson, even if he would never love her... it was enough that he accepted her child.

Then his face became serious when he said, "But, Sìne..."

"Aye?"

"Ye will never mention her father or talk about him in my presence. He forfeited that right when he abandoned ye and Aidyn."

"I dinnae intend to—"