“I’m the same man now I’ve always been,” he informed her.
“That well may be, but that was not the life I wanted, and I’ve given it up. I’ll live here, you there, if that’s necessary. But I won’t go back with you.” The green in her eyes seemed to become more vivid the more she fixed her darting gaze on him.
“You would deny me my rights as your husband?” he said.
“As long as you’re here, I’ll deny you nothing. Take me as you like,” she said with a haughty glimmer adding to her defiance.
Joshua looked at her, admiring that fire, but infuriated by her stubbornness. She was a maddening, aggravating woman when she was like this, but he would not want her to change. Indeed, it had been his mistake to try and change her.
Moved by a bout of highly charged lust, he picked up in his arms, and carried her up the stairs, into the grand room where their affair had begun. He held her fast to him even as he stripped away their clothes, and taking his advantage with her, he screwed her rapidly until the burning in his loins was satisfied.
Withdrawing from her, he pulled off completely, and dressed, while Fiona was still lying in her beautiful nakedness against the rumpled sheets, looking on in wonder. As he walked to the door to leave, he turned only to say, “I’ll be back.” He was down the stairs, and out the front door, before she had the strength to rise.
***
It was two days later before Joshua returned to the cottage. And his young redheaded bride spent those days in the constant fear that he was gone forever. When he finally rode into the cottage yard, she was inside the house, though hearing his approach, she ran to the window to see him.
This time, there was no anger. There was not a trace of that fierce rage that had so captivated her on their last meeting. Joshua Kane had returned to the man she knew best, even his coat was of a humbler cut than what he commonly wore at the estate. She watched him dismount the horse, and waited anxiously on the other side of the door for him to come inside. When he didn’t, she peered out again to find that he’d gone to the barn with the horse, and was opening the doors to the deserted blacksmith shop. He stood before it for the longest time, just stood there and stared, as if he was making decisions, contemplating something important.
Too anxious to wait for him to come to her, Fiona wandered out into the yard, and made a cautious journey to join him, as he eyed the cold forge, the bellows, and the ash that remained.
“You are a wise woman, Fiona McTavish Kane,” he said, still with his back to her.
“Am I, Mr. Kane?” she replied.
“Yes you are.” He paused. “I still need to attend to the business of my family. But you’re right. I’m happier living here, just as you are. It’s warmer, don’t you think, than that damp old house?” At last, he turned around and looked at her.
She smiled.
“It’ll be necessary to return to the estate, and as my wife, you’ll do so, but this will be our home. And God willing, we’ll raise our children here.” It was Joshua’s turn to smile, a broad one appearing on his face, though it faded for a moment. “You do understand my need, Fiona. I must have you with me, no matter where I am. Here or in my family home, I need you.”
“So, I’ll make a compromise,” she said, considering his statement.
“You will,” he replied quite sternly. “You have no other choice.”
She gave him a defiant grin, a spark, a flash of wild light in her green eyes. She acknowledged his need, knowing she’d complied. She’d give that much for love.
“Perhaps then, sir, we should be on with making children,” she said with a warm smile, and she took her husband by the hand and led him inside the cottage where they shared their cup of tea before they made their way to bed.
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In the Forest of the Night & The Barmaid and the Blacksmith Page 24
