A Gentle Feuding

by Johanna Lindsey

  “Well now, will you look at this big beastie of a husband you have.” Daphne grinned at her sister. “ ‘Tis lucky I am my Dobbin isna here yet, or he’d be drooling over his new sister‑in‑law, too.”

  “Mine can drool all he likes.” Thais grinned, enjoying her husband’s uncomfortable look. “Jamie will see that drooling is all he does.”

  Poor Ranald had never understood the penchant for teasing among Red Robbie MacKinnion’s offspring. Nor was he really sure when to take Thais seriously. He glanced at her, and his eyes softened, as they always did, for he was quite in love with his lovely wife. The prettier of the two sisters, in his prejudiced opinion, with a golden tinge to her red hair that gave it a coppery hue and brown eyes that could tease, cajole, and flash with fire or love as the mood took her, Thais was beautiful. Aye, he loved Thais with a passion that surprised him at times. Yet after five years of marriage, he still didn’t know when she was jesting.

  Ranald squeezed Thais’ hand under the table, hoping it was not jealousy over her extraordinary sister‑in‑law that brought the sparkle to her eyes. “Extraordinary” was not even a good enough word to describe the beauty of the Fergusson lass. Skin so delicate, eyes so big and crystal blue, and that glorious hair so darkly contrasting against her pearly skin. Jamie was indeed a lucky man.

  Thais did not think Jamie so much lucky as deserving. She adored her older brother and wished for him anything he wished for himself. She would never be able to repay him for choosing Ranald of the Keith clan for her. Unlike Daphne, who was not satisfied with her husband, chosen by their father, Thais was completely contented with her life. She owed that to Jamie.

  It pained Thais to see that Jamie was not as happy as he ought to be, and she was reminded of his first disastrous wedding. Yet he apparently did not feel he had made the wrong choice. That was plain to see in the way he looked at Sheena.

  Thais was prepared to love her sister‑in‑law, simply because it was obvious that Jamie did. Whatever problems were causing the unhappiness between them could be mended. Nothing was impossible.

  Daphne also wanted her brother’s happiness. But, standing behind Jamie, she didn’t see the tenderness in his eyes when his bride appeared. She knew only of the bad mood he had displayed the evening before and the whole of the morning, and as far as Daphne was concerned, Jamie had made a terrible choice. What had possessed him to marry a daughter of their lifelong enemy? The match was fated to fail. It couldn’t possibly be otherwise. Colen knew it. Jamie likely knew it, too, or he wouldn’t be so coldly reserved now the deed was done. What had happened yesterday only proved there could never be peace between them.

  Daphne could see no way of making it better. There was certainly nothing she could do, so to get involved would be a pointless mistake. She couldn’t even hope that her sister‑in‑law would warm to Jamie. Daphne had seen how miserable Sheena was the day before. She looked no happier today. The lass obviously hated Jamie, hated living in his home. They were doomed.

  Well, Daphne could sympathize. She knew what it was like not to love her husband. But at least she didn’t hate Dobbin. In fact they got along well, due mainly to their hardly ever speaking to each other. And after so long, she was used to his occasional painful ruttings, over as quickly as they began. bobbin Martin was an insensitive brute, but Daphne still welcomed his obligatory visits, wanting desperately to have a child to fill the void in her life.

  Unlike Alasdair, who sighed wistfully on Sheena’s approach, Colen gritted his teeth. He had yet to speak to her alone since the wedding. He had yet to hear from her how miserable she was. But his eyes told him, and his heart ached for her. It was not that he still pined for her. But she had sworn she would marry only a man she loved. Yes, Colen ached in sympathy for her.

  It was painful, taking sides. The soft spot he felt for Sheena and his love for his brother were tearing at him. He was angry, but that anger was directed at the man responsible for ending whatever small chance Sheena had had for happiness at Castle Kinnion.

  Colen put the blame on Black Gawain, and he was, furious that Jamie had not. The wedding, meant to end the feud, had only fueled it. And the worst was not over yet. There was still a chance that Jamie might seek retribution for the raid. Sheena’s clan would be held responsible.

  It was impossible to get Jamie to confide his intentions. He flatly refused to speak of them. But Colen was certain, more certain than he had ever been of anything, that if Jamie attacked the Fergussons, he would never have peace with Sheena, never have the love he had gambled for, the love he so desired.

  Sheena, walking slowly toward her husband, his friends and family surrounding him, felt totally alone and despised. She feared these people, but she would not let them cow her. She held her head high, facing them boldly.

  She reached the table, and Jamie rose. Sheena stood stiffly away from him, and he didn’t extend his hand to her. His look was guarded, a little stern, revealing nothing.

  It was Alasdair MacDonough who broke the silence, having risen along with the other men. “You’re as sinfully beautiful as ever, lass,” he said.

  Sheena’s eyes widened, confusion mingling with surprise. “You’re no’ still angry with me?”

  “ ‘Tis only regret I’m feeling, and ‘tis growing worse by the second, now I’ve seen you again.”

  What could Sheena say? This was not the arrogant, conceited Alasdair she remembered. She began to feel her own regret, regret that fate had stopped her from marrying him instead.

  “I’m sorry, Sir Alasdair,” Sheena replied softly. “Truly, I wish‑“

  “Dinna be monopolizing her, Sir Alasdair.” Thais cut Sheena short, fearing she was about to say something she shouldn’t. “And you’re a great lout, Jamie MacKinnion, to be standing here without making introductions.”

  Jamie gave his younger sister a sidelong glance of gratitude. “Sheena, this is my sister Thais, and her husband, Ranald Keith.” Then he added, “And you’ve met my sister Daphne.”

  Sheena’s cheeks took on a rosy flush, and she smiled hesitantly at Daphne. “I fear I was a wee bit bemused for the better part of yesterday, when we met.”

  “You dinna have to explain, Sheena.” Daphne tried to put the poor girl at ease. “I can remember very little of my own wedding day except the terrible nervousness. I’m sure ‘tis the way with most of us.”

  Thais took Sheena by the arm and led her over to the fire, murmuring something about getting better acquainted while the men amused themselves. Daphne followed, and Jamie’s eyes followed the women. He was wary of Sheena’s being alone with his sisters. There was no saying what she might tell them.

  Ranald congratulated him again on his bride, and then half a dozen Gregorys arrived. The next hour was spent in heavy drinking despite the early hour, and Jamie was kept busy. Aunt Lydia had come down, bemoaning a nasty head, throbbing from the night before. She joined the women by the fireside. Jamie turned around to glance their way every few minutes and soon saw Sheena laughing with his sisters, apparently at ease and enjoying herself. The sight infuriated him. How dare she dismiss all that had happened?

  He needed to talk to her, needed to set her straight. She was his wife. What happened outside the castle would not change that.

  Chapter 34

  THE merrymaking continued throughout the day. Sheena was actually enjoying herself, especially so while Jamie was away. He left the hall without so much as a glance her way, and then returned a few hours later. He wore the same brooding face. Unapproachable was what he was, unapproachable when she needed to talk to him. She forced herself to forget about him and turn her attention to the company.

  She found she liked Jamie’s sisters very much, as she had liked Aunt Lydia from the first. What was it about these MacKinnion women that was so agreeable? Lydia was so warm and sympathetic. Daphne was more reserved, but charming and understanding. Thais, no older than Sheena, was vivacious, full of life and good cheer. Sheena found herself quite envious of Thais. And
of the family. She wasn’t used to a loving family. She had had Niall and her father but never the love of her sisters. The difference between these sisters and her own was appalling, making her wistful with longing. No wonder Jamie was tender with her at times. He had had so much practice with his two sisters.

  “So my Dobbin has finally arrived.”

  When Daphne spoke, Sheena turned to the en­trance and saw a big, brutish man with red hair and beard and eyebrows that were much too thick and bushy. Almost his whole face was covered with hair.

  Sheena couldn’t hide her surprise. “That’s your husband?” She knew she was staring.

  Daphne grinned good‑naturedly, used to people’s reaction to Dobbin Martin. “Och, now, we canna all have handsome devils for husbands. And mine’s no’ so bad. At least his temper doesna run’ amok, and his only real fault is his indulgence of his cousins­especially that one. She must have been waiting out­side for Dobbin, knowing she would find welcome here only with Dobbin as her escort.”

  Sheena saw the woman standing a little behind him. Jessie Martin. She frowned. Having hoped she would never see that viper again, she was unpleas­antly surprised.

  And if that was not enough, Black Gawain ap­peared in the entrance. His face was more darkly set even than Jamie’s, if that was possible. His anger stirred Sheena’s own temper. Was he here to cause trouble? His eyes lit on her with a smoldering inten­sity that signaled the worst.

  Sheena left the women by the fire and hurried to Jamie’s side without considering that she might be rebuffed. She pulled him away from his conversa­tion, away from the tables and any eavesdroppers. When she turned to face him, Jamie didn’t look at all pleased.

  Undaunted, Sheena let her anger spill forth. “Are you aware Black Gawain is here?”

  “Is he?”

  Jamie’s casual response brought sparks to Shee­na’s eyes, and she demanded, “Are these guests here for our wedding or no’?”

  “They are.”

  “Then have I no say in who is invited to partake of the celebrating?”

  “Dinna be a hypocrite, Sheena,” Jamie replied coldly. “You’ve made it clear you’ve no reason to cel­ebrate, so what does it matter if there is another here who feels the same way?”

  “I dinna want him here, that is what matters! I canna stand the sight of him, Jamie. If no’ for him . . .”

  She hesitated, and he demanded, “What?”

  But she wouldn’t admit that things might have been different between them if not for Gawain. She would have spent the night with Jamie, still in a haze of happiness, instead of crying her heart out alone. But she wouldn’t tell him any of that, so she said instead, “If no’ for Black Gawain, my cousin wouldna have been wounded. Do you think fain sur­vived the long trek home? He is probably dead even now!”

  “And only fitting if so, considering I’ve two kins­men of my own sorely wounded,” Jamie retorted cru­elly before he could stop himself.

  Sheena gasped. This was not the man she had come to know. Worse, it was the man she had been raised to fear. What was happening to him?

  “What will you do, Jamie?” she asked, as mildly as she could.

  But he had spent the whole day in a black mood and was not appeased by her sudden meekness. The fact was, he had made no decision about what to do, but he would keep that from her.

  “Whatever I do, lass, you’ll still be my wife. If you’re no’ clear about what that means, let me enlighten you. I’ll no’ stay away from our room again as I did last night. We will share that room‑and more. Do you ken?”

  Her chin came up stubbornly. If Jamie thought he could dominate her simply because he was her husband, he was about to learn differently.

  “I ken.” Her answer was controlled. “And now you ken. You think you have rights over me, but I’ll no’ honor them. I was made wife to you, but ‘twas no’ what I wanted, and in my mind those ties are severed as of now. So dinna expect me to ever call you husband, Jamie, for our marriage is a mockery.”

  Her words dissolved Jamie’s anger, striking him with terrible pain until his heart felt wrenched from his chest. He had lost her. He knew it was probably too late to change that. Panicked, he knew it was his own fault.

  “Sheena. . .”

  She turned away, unable to listen anymore. What she had said had stunned her. She hadn’t meant to be so . . . final. Her throat constricted. She hadn’t meant what she’d said. But having said the words, she couldn’t take them back.

  She looked at him, at the soft blond waves of his hair curling on his neck, the strong, handsome face. Pain reflected in his hazel eyes. Did her eyes mirror his? But hers were even more revealing, filling with tears she couldn’t stop.

  “I’m sorry, Jamie. I fear we’re both too stubborn.”

  She couldn’t say more, and she couldn’t stop crying, so she turned and walked swiftly from the hall.

  Chapter 35

  IF Jamie had meant to put on a good front, to deceive his guests into thinking all was well, he failed miserably. Sheena did not return to the hall. And more than one person had seen her leaving shedding dismal tears.

  How he wanted to go after her! Yet how could he? It had become a matter of pride and where pride was concerned, Jamie was too vulnerable. Pride had always mastered him, not the other way around. She had made their argument public.

  It was all Jamie could do to wait until the hour when he could retire without notice. It grew quite late, but there were still many guests in the hall. The Gregorys and the Martins were stout drinkers and would no doubt be at it long into the night. Deciding there was no discourtesy in it, he rose to leave. He had had a few hefty tankards, but had been careful not to drink too much.

  Jamie opened the door to his room. It was quite dark. The room was chilly, the fire out. She wasn’t there. In a moment or two he had a blaze going, but it was still chilly. And empty.

  He sat down on the bed with a sigh. Should he go searching for her? He should just let her stay wherever she was. There were any number of lasses who would warm his bed. Jessie, of course, had signaled that she was available again. She had ignored Black Gawain all evening, staying by her cousin, Dobbin, which put her closer to Jamie, as close as she could get. He could remember the warmth of Jessie’s body, so soft and yielding. Never would he get anger from her, only heady passion.

  “Who am I fooling?” Jamie muttered aloud in the cold room. He listened to the silence, then got up and left.

  He tried the room he had put Sheena in before their wedding. And there she was, curled up in the small bed, fast asleep. She had no business being asleep, looking so peaceful.

  He didn’t wake her, just removed her covers gently and scooped her up in his arms. She made a faint noise of protest but remained asleep and snuggled into his shoulder as he carried her back to where she belonged.

  Jamie laid her on the bed, then stood back ready for the fight to begin. But Sheena only stretched slightly without opening her eyes. Jamie grinned. She was making this very easy for him. He would have her at his mercy before she even woke up. And with that delightful thought, he quickly divested himself of his clothes.

  He began by slowly easing her thin woolen shift up her legs, running his fingers along the smooth skin as he did, stopping whenever she made a noise, beginning again when she was quiet. How he delighted in the silken feel of her, her legs so shapely, so firm yet pliant.

  When her shift couldn’t be moved any farther without disturbing her, Jamie left it alone, gently lifting only the front above her waist. He then devoted his full attention to the tender warm nest between her legs, touching her ever so, gently, his fingers teasing, beckoning a response.

  It was long in coming, but when she began to respond, his fingers glided easily over the moist surface. She was ready for him, but he held back.

  He knelt by her side and tugged her shift from under her hips, but she still didn’t waken. He positioned himself between her legs, then swiftly pulled the shift up.
r />   Sheena woke instantly, but before she could speak, he was pulling the shift over her head. Her cry of outrage was smothered as his mouth covered hers.

  She tried to turn her head away, but he held her still, plundering her mouth with his fiery tongue. His pulsing manhood glided smoothly into her.

  Sheena was shocked by the ease with which he entered her, filling her totally. More shocking was the way her body reacted, welcoming, arching toward him.

  I canna! her mind screamed. I canna let him master my body!

  But he was doing just that, and with such expertise. Sheena succumbed quickly. She wanted him. Despite everything, desire soared in her with a fluid rush. He was filling her, filling her to bursting. Nothing mattered but the heat inflaming her, and Jamie.

  Release remained just out of reach, maddeningly so. Jamie wouldn’t quicken his pace, and it was driving her crazy. He would bring her just so close, so near, then he would stop. Her entire body screamed for that last release. She moaned, her nails raking his back. But Jamie was determined to prolong this exquisite torture.

  Finally she realized that Jamie was no longer kissing her. Her eyes flew open, and she found him staring at her with such a pained expression that she knew what he was doing to her was hurting him, as well.

  Why? He told her soon enough, his voice beseeching yet insistent. “I’m your husband. Say it!”

  Her thoughts were too jumbled for understanding, so she gladly told him what he wanted to hear.

  “You’re my husband.”

  “You’ll never deny it again.”

  “Nay, never.”

  His body pummeled hers with a violence then that was sweetly savage, and Sheena thrilled to it, met it with equal fervor. She was starving, and he was the nourishment, and she could never get enough of him, never ....

  To have thought intrude on that delicious languor was regrettable, but intrude it did, after the fury was spent. When Jamie rolled over and pulled her body into the crook of his arm, when he began to move his fingers over her, caressing her with such tenderness, as if their lovemaking had settled everything between them, she couldn’t hold back anymore. She spoke up quickly, before his hands had a chance to work their magic again.