Rogue's Challenge (20 page)

Colin looked at him then at Amelia lying prone in the bed. His mouth poised for comment, Amelia cut him off.

"I'm fine. Honest. But I'm not done with him,” she said, shooting Ian a glare.

With a stern frown, Colin stomped from the room.

Ian rubbed his ear as he eased toward the door.

"You take one more step and so help me, I'll knock you on your ass so fast..."

He stopped in his tracks. “Amelia, dearest, you really should rest and I am doing naught but upsetting you, ‘tis obvious."

"Oh, you don't know upset, buddy. Now sit.” He eyed the door, curious if he'd make it out of the room before...

"Sit!"

He cringed then returned to his chair. It was best to placate her now and do whatever necessary to keep her and the babes safe.

"First, whether you like it or not—and with your inflated male ego, you'll probably hate this—but Jenny is loaded. We're talking owning small countries, Ian. Not just some estate deal. Get me? So your lack of prospects doesn't mean squat to her."

His jaw fell slack. She had never quite explained Jenny's situation in such a way before. He knew her to be wealthy, but this was more than overwhelming. And nay, he did not like it! It was a man's duty to provide for his wife, not the other way around.

"And as for titles, they don't carry any weight with Jen. Lastly, and I so can't believe you think so little of yourself, but Jenny wouldn't care if you were the result of an alien abduction, much less illegitimate."

"Alien ab—?” She raised her finger, and he instantly closed his mouth.

"That leaves you with two real problems."

"It does?” he asked, trying to grasp it all.

"The time thing bites. She's okay here, but it's not her thing, get me?"

"Um, I am trying, dear heart."

She huffed, and said, “She isn't as comfortable in this time as I am. It's hard on her. She really likes her gizmos and gadgets—you know, her lab equipment and junk."

"Ah, yes, things such as her spectacles."

"Exactly. That and loads of other stuff."

"You mentioned two problems,” he said, nearly terrified of the second. The first was naught but a simple thing. He would enjoy seeing her time. Perhaps even live there.

"Jenny probably figures she has to play this thing light because another girl will catch your eye and she'll be old news."

He jumped to his feet. “I may look like my father, I may have his damnable blood running through my veins, but I am not him!"

Amelia smiled. “I never thought it for a minute, but it's good to hear you're a faithful rogue, just the same. So, now that you know what you're dealing with, how are you going to play it?"

"Are you quite certain that she will,” he swallowed his trepidation, “welcome my suit?” The thought of Jenny's rejection was beyond terrifying.

"Positive. I think she's falling for you. After all, you're her Prince Charming,” she said with a grin. “But remember, I
will
break every bone in your body if you hurt her."

He chuckled and leaned down to kiss Amelia's brow. “I will not trifle with her heart, sweeting. I vow it. For I fear mine is quite involved."

Moments later he knocked upon Jenny's door. She bade him enter and he found her sitting by the fire.

"You should not be out of bed,” he said, striding toward her.

"I can't lie there any more. It's boring."

A grin stole over his lips as he scooped her up. “I can think of a few things that may occupy your mind, little one."

She giggled and did not complain or fuss as he carried her to the bed.

He pulled the covers up to her neck and brushed his thumb across her pouty lips. “You sorely tempt me, mistress."

"I thought that was the idea?"

He chuckled. “You are injured. And what I wish to do would not be helpful."

"I'm much better, I've been telling you that for days. I think it would be greatly beneficial,” she said lowly, one small hand sneaking out from beneath the coverings to glide up his arm. “I'm the doctor, aren't I? I should know what's best for me.” She gripped his doublet and pulled him down for a kiss.

He moaned at the feel of her moist full lips. “I suppose if the physician has prescribed it, who am I to argue?"

She loosened the lacings of his doublet and shoved the clothing aside. He could feel her short nails raking across his fevered flesh over his shirt. In moments he was beneath the covers, feeling her bare skin against his. There would be time later to explore her feelings for him, to see if she would indeed welcome his suit. She would not return to her world for months yet, allowing him the opportunity to fully win her heart. And perhaps her hand in marriage.

Aye, they had all the time in the world.

If she didn't get this Gummy Bear recipe right and soon, she'd scream or ... throw-up. The smell of the gelatin during processing was nauseating beyond belief. Odd, Jenny thought. Smells hadn't ever been much of a problem for her. Working in a lab and her learning experiences in med-school had numbed her olfactory nerves, psychologically, at any rate.

It had been weeks since she and Ian had returned from Edinburgh and she'd barely made any progress on the recipe. And she really needed to get it right. Tuck was handling her confinement as well as could be expected, but the candy would certainly improve her disposition.

"There you are, dear,” Elspeth said as she bustled into the kitchen and over to Jenny's makeshift laboratory. “Michael and Fiona have returned from Tobor Morar with some cloth for your new dresses. When you get time, come tae the solar and we'll have a look at the lot."

"Thank you, Elspeth. I won't be much longer."

"Here ya are, lass,” cook said as she placed the latest batch of gelatin on the table then went back to her other chores.

Jenny swallowed hard and pressed a hand to her stomach.

"Why you're as green as can be,” Elspeth said. “You look like Amelia, the poor wee thing, during her first months."

The blood drained from Jenny's face to her toes, she knew it had, because she felt certain she was about to faint.

"Jenny, lass, are you no’ well?"

She clutched the side of the table and forced herself to breathe. “I'm fine,” she squeaked then cleared her throat. “Just a little tired."

"Perhaps you'd best rest. You've been workin’ on this concoction for an age. We can look at the cloth later."

"Yes. Yes, that's a good idea. Thank you, Elspeth."

Elspeth left the kitchen with a worried frown.

Her face turned away from the gelatin, Jenny took several deep breaths. How could she have missed it? Her breasts were fuller and more sensitive, smells that never bothered her before bothered her now, she felt
off
in the mornings, and more tired than usual. God, she'd just thought it was time for her period, but as she quickly calculated, she realized she was late. Very late.

"How could I have been so stupid?” she whispered. She wanted to cry, scream ... and smile at the same time. She was going to have a baby. Ian's baby. How was she ever going to tell him? And how was she going to tell her father?

Absently, she completed the last steps of her experiment and failed. Not surprising since her mind swirled with the concept of becoming a mother. She would be five months along when it was time to go home. She didn't think that traveling through the portal would harm the fetus, but she was a bit concerned.

Staying, however, was out of the question, she reasoned as she made her way to her room for a nap. She was the only true physician here, and she wouldn't risk the baby's life by giving birth to him under such harsh conditions. She was not Amelia Tucker MacLean.

Considering the similarities between Jenny and her own mother in size and health, and the fact that she had died due to complications during childbirth, could not be ignored. No, she had to have the best care possible and that could only be found in the future.

She laid her head on her pillow and drifted off, forcing her thoughts to settle. It wasn't long before she felt Ian lay down beside her.

"Are you not well, sweeting?” he asked, his lips brushing her brow.

"Just tired. Too much time in the kitchen,” she lied. She wasn't ready to tell him about the baby, but she wouldn't be able to keep it a secret for too much longer.

"I didn't expect you back from your search so soon,” she said with a yawn. He and Colin went out every day to look for Vernon, but after weeks of searching, he was nowhere to be found. She wondered if he was still alive.

"There is naught a trail to follow. ‘Tis a waste of time and effort at this point to continue."

She grinned as he curled her in against his side. “So you've decided to guard me in case he shows up, is that it?"

He chuckled softly. “Aye, you have the right of it. Now rest, love."

Vernon shivered with disgust. How long did these McKenzies plan on keeping him here? What had it been three weeks, four? He didn't know any longer. If only he had his gun.

He idly wondered how that brat, Jenny, managed with a bullet in her leg. At least that's where he thought he shot her, the stupid woman. She'd better still be alive, he needed her. But if she wasn't, he could always use that Englishman to get home. He knew how the portal worked.

If he'd had more bullets he would've shot the stupid Scots who'd grabbed him. How the hell was he supposed to know he was on MacKenzie land? It wasn't like there was a sign posted somewhere.

A guard appeared with his lunch. Vernon tried again to convince him that he wasn't a threat, but the man ignored him. He tried to think of a bribe, anything, but he had nothing on him but his borrowed clothes. Except...

"Tell your Laird, that if he wants more firearms like mine, I know where he can get them,” Vernon said, grinning at his brilliancy.

Turning his back on the guard, he kicked a rat out of the way and took the wooden bowl from the floor. The first few days, he'd let the rats have it, but the longer they kept him in this dungeon, the more he realized he'd have to eat to keep up his strength.

He'd trick these stupid Scots into thinking he'd lead them to more guns, then he'd make a break for it. Then he'd find Jenny and make her pay for this. It was all her fault. And her father's.

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Ian had tried to work up the courage to ask Jenny to be his wife, but each time he began, he nearly choked on the words. Not that he didn't wish to wed, quite the contrary. But the thought of her refusing him scared the wits out of him. Their nights together were like nothing he'd ever experienced before. If she refused him, their time together would come to an abrupt end.

He found her in the kitchen yet again fussing with her strange concoctions. Only Tuck knew what she was brewing, or attempting to brew. Something edible he was certain, as he'd seen Jenny taste the odd bit of glop herself. He shivered at the memory. A less palatable creation he had ne'er seen before.

Jenny lifted her latest attempts to her lips. She cocked her head as she tasted the morsel, discerning the various flavors and texture, no doubt.

"I take it from that small grin on your lovely mouth that you have finally succeeded,” he said, taking a seat beside her.

"Mmm, as close as I'll get, I think."

"Now may I know what it is? I sorely dislike secrets and this one has nagged at me from the beginning."

"Here,” she said, holding out a small unsavory looking glob.

"Must I?"

"You must,” she said with a delightful giggle.

He studied the thing in her hand then lifted his gaze to hers. “I would rather spend a day in the lists after Colin has been tossed by Amelia. But for you, sweeting, anything."

Her eyes seemed overly bright as he popped the oddity into his mouth. But before he could contemplate why she seemed overly emotional by his declaration, the sweetness of a ripe strawberry bathed his tongue then melted in glorious bliss.

Jenny blinked away her burgeoning tears and watched Ian's eyes widen as the gummy creation dissolved in his mouth. He couldn't know how his words touched her. If only
anything
was possible.

"Is it acceptable?” she asked, knowing full well it was. She'd gotten the recipe almost perfect, although Maggie had been quite put out by her constant presence in the kitchen. It was well worth the effort. And even though the smells were nearly unbearable, it was something to occupy her mind. It was that or go mad pacing in her room, or examining Tuck far too often. She didn't need her friend suspecting something was wrong. But they would all know eventually.

Ian swallowed and reached for another one. “What do you call it?"

She let him take a few more then shifted the tray away. “At home they're called Gummy Bears, but since I can't make them into small bear shapes, I think they need a new name."

"Mm, a different flavor this time. Tell me how you created this wonder,” he said, popping another into his mouth.

He made her smile, something he was always able to do no matter what troubled her, and he didn't even know it. She proceeded to explain in great detail how she'd recreated Tuck and Colin's favorite treat. For once she felt someone other than a fellow scientist actually listened to her with true interest. Ian didn't nod blankly or hum here and there in agreement, he asked intelligent questions, added his own unique comments. Jenny hadn't enjoyed herself so much in a very long time. Well, except for their time in bed.

Ian slid his arm around her and pilfered a few more sweets.

"It looks like I'd better take these to Tuck before you eat them all,” she said, and placed the treats into a container.

Ian took her arm as they made their way to Tuck's room.

"You are a wonder, sweeting. This is a truly magnificent achievement."

"If you're trying to butter me up so I'll make you a batch, it won't work,” she said with a giggle.

He splayed one hand against his chest in mock surprise. “I am wounded that you would think so poorly of me."

She laughed and shook her head. “You're terrible. But you'll be happy to know that now that I have the recipe I'm going to show Maggie how they're made. You can place orders with her."