Rogue's Challenge (21 page)

"I doubt she will be as accommodating as you,” he said with a grin, and knocked on Tuck's door.

"Come in, anyone, someone!” Tuck called.

"I believe the lady is not in good spirits today,” Ian said, and opened the door.

"Being confined to bed is not her idea of a good time."

"Ah, but your surprise will cheer her."

Tuck was indeed surprised. Ian had not seen her smile so bright in a long time. When Colin entered and she presented him with the treats, he nearly stuffed the lot of them into his mouth at once.

"I thank you, Jenny. ‘Tis sad thing tae be so addicted tae such as these,” he said, and pulled the bowl from Ian's reach. “Get your own, Sassenach."

Ian tsked. “An old dog with his bone has better manners than you."

Jenny laughed and pulled Ian out of the room. “You'll have your own soon enough. Now Tuck needs to rest."

"Tuck needs to have these babies!” Amelia called out as they closed the door.

"Aye, then maybe we can have a bit of peace!” Colin bellowed.

"They are so right for one another it's almost scary,” Jenny said softly.

"Aye that they are.” He swallowed hard, his moment of opportunity couldn't be better.

She stopped just inside her room. “Ian, are you all right?"

He realized he'd stopped in the doorway, his body not responding to anything his brain was telling it to do. All his energies were bolstering his courage. What if Amelia had been wrong? What if Jenny did wish for a title? What if his illegitimacy concerned her? What if...

What if she didn't love him?

"What is it? What's wrong?” She stepped closer, a pensive frown on her face.

"Will you be my wife?” Ian blurted out.

"What?"

"Will you be my wife?” he asked again, his voice nearly a whisper. She did not seem overly ecstatic with the question as he noted tears filling her eyes.

"How did you find out about the baby? How did you—never mind, you know. That much is obvious. It's logical considering everything,” she said her voice quavering. “Well, it's of no consequence. I can handle the baby by myself."

All feeling went out of his limbs and he gripped the doorframe. “What?” he croaked.

"But thank you for asking,” she said, ducking her head to the side. “It was noble of you."

His heart jolted and set his blood to boiling. He would not be his father! “Noble? No consequence? Like bloody hell ‘tis of no consequence!"

"It's none of your concern."

"None of my—we will be wed at the earliest opportunity,” he bit out.

"We will not!"

"I will not have my child born out of wedlock! I will not—” he swallowed down the bile creeping up his gullet. “I will not let my son be born a bastard,” he hissed.

"Single mothers aren't uncommon in my time, and that's where he or she will be born. Legitimacy isn't an issue."

"You will not be taking my child away from me! Do you understand me, woman?"

"Oh! I'll go where I like,
when
I like, and you have nothing to say about it!"

"I have plenty to say about it!"

A sharp whistle split the air, and they both turned to Colin standing in the hallway, his hands braced on his hips. “I doona have a care what you two are fightin’ over now, but do it somewhere else!"

"Sorry,” Jenny said, then turned back to Ian. “The answer is still no.” She slammed the door in Ian's face. He raised his fist to pound on it, but Colin eyed him, and not warmly.

"Bloody female,” he groused as he stormed off, furious and profoundly hurt. Did she not care for him at all? And what of their child? How could she not wish to protect their babe from the cruelties of the world?

He made his way to the stables in search of something to ease the troubles in his mind, although he feared nothing, not even mucking out stalls would distract him.

Days later and they'd not spoken a word to one another. The nights were cold and lonely without Jenny by his side. Seeing her everyday and knowing she cared not for him was pure torment. And as the days marched on and she grew round with his child, he would be forced to watch from a distance, never touching her, holding her, feeling the movement of his child in her womb. How was he to bear the pain? And how would he survive when she left his world with his babe, his family?

"I think I may no’ be well,” Michael said, his voice shaky.

"Buck up, lad,” Colin said, slapping him on the back as they all walked to the front of the little church where the priest stood. “'Tis naught but the rest of your life,” he jested.

The rest of his life, Ian thought. If he were to but have that chance with Jenny. He forced a smile to his face. “You have naught to fear, lad. Look you how Colin has fared. All will be well."

Michael nodded with a sickening smile on his somewhat green face as he took his place in front of the priest with Colin at his side.

Ian sat beside Amelia in the first pew with Jenny on her other side. She had allowed Amelia this outing, but then no one would have been able to stop her from seeing Michael and Fiona's wedding. Nor did they wish to try.

Ian helped Amelia stand as the bagpipes began to play signaling the bride's entrance. Ian looked down the aisle as Fiona appeared in the doorway looking more beautiful than ever.

He cast a glance in Jenny's direction, his heart aching anew at the knowledge she would never walk down the aisle to him. Her gaze met his for but a moment, then turned swiftly back to Fiona as she joined Michael at the altar.

Once they were seated the priest began. His solemn tone rang through Ian's bones and he cast his eyes back to Jenny. She held his heart, his soul ... his future. How could he bare to go through his life without her and their child a part of it?

She glanced his way and his heart lurched. Were those tears in her eyes? Was the touching scene before them calling to her heart as it called to his? He prayed it was so, for if it was so then she may have some feelings for him after all. His mind tumbled over the many ways in which he could persuade her to marry him. Sadly, none of them included a bed, but he would do his best to win her over.

A stray tear slid down her cheek, and she turned her head. He watched as she wiped it away with a quivering hand. Aye, he would pursue her affections. He had to. She was his world and he would be lost without her in it.

Jenny sniffled, hating how easily the ceremony stirred her. Although seeing Ian in his fine clothes hadn't helped. She missed him terribly. If only he hadn't ruined things with his guilty proposal.

She sighed silently. That was a lie. Even if he hadn't proposed, things would've changed between them. To be honest, she was surprised he was still here. She'd thought with her refusal, he'd hop on his horse and move on to someone else and not return until she was gone. Her and the baby.

Her eyes found his again. She wasn't sure what to think about the way he watched her, the soft smile on his face. She'd thought she'd seen pain there, but knew it was just her imagination. He may be agitated about her refusal, and he wasn't very happy to learn he was about to become a father, but she didn't think for a minute that he wanted to marry her for real. He felt honor bound to propose, it was as simple as that.

She let her mind wander for a moment, trying to imagine what it would be like to be Ian's wife. At first it would be pleasant. They could wake together every morning after having made love all night, instead of him slipping out of her room before sunrise. They would take long walks, have long talks, argue over theories. But as the days wore on and she got bigger, he would likely find another woman to spend his time with. Her body, large with child, would no longer entice him in the least.

Applause broke her from her thoughts. Michael led Fiona down the aisle a broad smile on his face. The sound of the pipes, intending to be joyful, sounded lonely to her ears. But she forced a watery smile to her face, not wanting to do anything to spoil their day.

Colin helped Amelia to her feet and walked her out of the church. Jenny started to follow when Ian quickly took her hand and slipped it into the crook of his arm. She shot him a glare and tried to pull free.

"Easy, love,” he said softly. “Let us not make a scene in church."

She let him guide her outside and into the main hall where a feast was laid out for the couple. Ian didn't let go of her until she was seated at her place at the table. Unfortunately, he sat beside her.

Why would he suddenly be nice to her after she'd flatly refused his proposal? She knew she'd hurt his ego. His grumbling around the castle for the last few days was proof of that. But why the sudden change? It was a new puzzle. One she intended to solve.

"I don't know what you're up to, but it won't work,” she whispered.

"I am up to naught but to make certain you do not overtax yourself.” He leaned close to her ear. “You carry my child in your womb, little one. It would be remiss of me to not care for you."

Care for you
. If only he did, if only he loved her as she loved him. If only it wasn't his honor, his pride at stake.

"I'm fine,” she snapped. “I don't need you or anyone else looking after me. I'm a doctor, remember?"

He took her hand and pressed a kiss to the back. “And as I recall, doctors make the worst patients,” he said with a wink, then placed a filled trencher in front of her.

"I can't eat all that."

"You shall try, sweeting. ‘Tis what is best for you, both of you,” he added with a whisper.

"I know how to take care of myself."

He sighed and looked at her, his eyes filled with—could it be pain?

"You will not allow me my child when the time comes. Is it so much to ask that I have some part in his life now?"

Her throat tightened. He may not love her, but he did care about her. They'd become close friends, and perhaps it wasn't impossible for him to care for his unborn child.

She nodded and lifted a small morsel to her lips, not tasting anything.

"Och, glad I am tae see you've made up,” Elspeth said, patting them both on the back. “I've no’ cared for the scowls you've both been wearin’ these past days.” She moved on to take her seat next to the Laird.

"Aye,” Ian said with a broad smile. “I have not cared for the like either.” He brushed the backs of his fingers across Jenny's cheek. “Might I have but one smile, sweeting? ‘Tis a happy occasion."

She gave him a small one.

"Nay, I would much prefer one that reached your beautiful eyes."

She shook her head with a giggle. He was charming her, the rogue. And she loved every second of it.

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The festivities went on for ages, then came to an abrupt halt as Tuck got to her feet and said, “Fiona, Michael, congrats on tying the not, but I've got to duck out of this party. I've got an appointment I can't break."

Colin jumped to his feet. “Now?” he asked and wrapped his arm around his wife. Tuck nodded with a grim smile.

Jenny rushed to her friend's side. “How far apart?"

"Ten minutes."

"You've been in labor for hours, haven't you?"

Tuck laughed roughly as Colin gave her support on one side while Jenny was on the other guiding her to the stairs. “You betcha. I didn't want to ruin the wedding. Can we move this train along? I don't know how much longer these guys are going to wait."

Colin gave Jenny a nod and scooped Tuck up and strode up the stairs to their chamber. Jenny, Elspeth, and Ian followed with blessings and prayers from the crowd.

Once Amelia was settled, Jenny started barking out orders. Ian was amazed. She was a sight to see, and he was ridiculously proud of her.

It was only a matter of moments before he and Colin were ordered from the room. Although Amelia had told him that men in her time stayed and assisted during the birthing, when Colin turned green after the first major pain, she decided it might be better if he didn't. But Colin did not seem to be taking the order well.

"Ian, get him out of here. And keep him out,” Jenny instructed. “No matter what, understand?"

"Aye, love. I will not fail you.” He kissed her quickly then pulled his large friend, and with no little effort, from the room.

Amelia's moans followed them through the door. Colin fought against Ian's hold, but he would not relent. Jenny had given him a task, one he knew was important.

"Let me go, Sassenach!"

"Nay! You cannot go in there, you bloody Scot! You shall only be in the way!"

Another moan bled through the door. Ian had to get Colin out of hearing range or else he'd have to knock the man unconscious.

"Come, let us have something to drink while we wait.” With Herculean effort, he pulled Colin down the corridor to the solar where he might manage his charge more effectively.

"I'll no’ leave her!"

"You shall be no more than a few strides away. Jenny has told me these things can take hours. She knows her skill. Have faith, man!"

His large shoulders slumped, his head dropped to his chest. “Aye, faith.” He followed Ian into the solar and made for the bottle of whiskey. He poured two generous drafts and handed Ian a cup. Colin tossed his back then sank to a chair, the look of a man beaten.

"All will be well,” Ian said.

"I pray you are right, my friend. I pray you are right."

Hours later Jenny wiped her brow and fell into a chair by the hearth in Tuck's room. She'd sent Elspeth after Colin, having little strength to go get him herself. Mother and children were doing fine. Although early by at least a month, the babies would be fine. She'd watch them closely for the next month or so, but they were a good size and had healthy lungs as their wailing attested to.

Colin burst into the room, immense joy on his haggard face. He fell to his knees by Tuck at the head of the bed, a baby in each of her arms.

"I'd like you to meet your son and daughter,” Tuck said, her eyes misty.

"Such wee things.” One of the babies let out a cry, and Colin laughed. “With braw lungs."

Jenny's gaze shifted to Ian standing at the foot of the bed watching their friends. God, help her. She'd never seen such a look of longing in her life. How could she take his child away? And what would she tell their child when he asked about his father?