She shook her head because she didn’t want to believe it.
“Connor ordered Ian to take ye to bed, so he would have a husband’s right to take Knock Castle,” Gordan said. “I heard Connor say it.”
“Ian told Connor not to worry, he would ‘take care of it.’ ”
She felt her checks flush with mortification.
“Ye know I’ve never lied to ye,” he said.
“I won’t hear this,” she said, backing away from him.
“You’ve been a fool for Ian for five years,” Gordan said. “I’m begging ye, don’t be a fool for him for the rest of your life.”
The long years of waiting still hurt. And for certain, Ian had not been faithful to her while he was in France. Did a ring and a few soft words make up for that?
“For God’s sake, Sileas, open your eyes and see the man for what he is.” Gordan drew in a deep breath and blew it out. “If ye change your mind, I’ll be waiting.”
Her lip trembled as she watched Gordan turn away and walk up the path toward his home. No, she would not believe it. She knew Ian’s heart. He wouldn’t deceive her.
But as she ran toward the house, all she could remember was that Ian had not once told her he loved her.
CHAPTER 20
Ian hummed to himself as he poured the second pot of boiling water into the tub. In a wink, he stripped and tossed his dirty clothes into the corner, then settled into the steaming water with a long, satisfied sigh.
Tonight. Tonight would be the night he consummated his marriage and tied Sileas to him for life. He wanted it all to be perfect for her. Of course, he couldn’t be sweet-smelling like Sileas, but at least he would be clean for her. He’d bring a flask of wine up to their bedchamber and set the room ablaze with candles.
He rested his head against the back of the tub and smiled to himself, thinking of the night ahead.
Damn. Was that the front door opening? With his da asleep and everyone else gone to see the neighbors’ new babe, he expected to have the house to himself a while longer. Ach, he’d best get down to business before the women came into the kitchen to fix supper.
He sat up and scrubbed his face. After he dunked his head in the water to rinse the soap off, he felt fingers in his hair.
“Sileas,” he said, smiling like a fool with his eyes closed and water streaming down his face.
She laid her hands on his shoulders, and he sighed as she slid them down his chest. But something was not quite right… He sat bolt upright and spun around—and discovered it wasn’t Sileas who had her hands on him.
“Dina. What are ye doing here?”
“What’s this?” Dina snapped the cord that held the crystal over his head before he could think to grab her arm to stop her.
“Ye need to leave—ye can see I’m bathing.” He held his hand out. “Give that back to me before ye go.”
She swung it in front of him, just out of his reach, then laughed and put it around her neck. “This would be a lovely gift for ye to give me in return for what I’m going to give ye.”
“We’re not giving each other anything, Dina,” he said, losing his patience with her. “Now give that back to me.”
“You didn’t ask what I was going to give ye.” She ran her finger down the cord to where the pouch that held the crystal lay in the cleavage between her breasts.
“By the saints, Dina, what do ye think ye are doing?”
“I couldn’t help noticing ye been sleeping in the old cottage,” she said. “Seems a shame to sleep alone, when ye don’t have to.”
“I’m not interested in what ye are offering,” he said. “Now give me that and go.”
He leaned forward and grabbed a handful of the skirt of her gown and pulled. “Give it to me.”
She must have unfastened her gown already, because she stepped out of it as the damn thing came away in his hands. He looked up from the gown clenched in his fingers to see her standing in her chemise. Then, before he could say a word, the chemise was off.
Now, he was a man. He didn’t mean to look. She wasn’t the woman he wanted. But Dina did have attractive… attributes. And she was standing right in front of him stark naked. It didn’t help matters that Sileas left him in a constant state of frustration.
Against his will, his cock sprang to life. That did not mean he intended to use it.
“I want ye to give me that back, get your clothes on, and leave the kitchen, so I can finish my bath and get dressed.”
“Come and take it.” As she intended, his eyes went to the pouch, which was lying between her naked breasts.
He looked around for the towel. Damn, he’d left it on the stool on the other side of the table. Dina must have followed his gaze, for she ran around the table, breasts bobbing, and snatched up it up.
Ach! He wanted to strangle the woman.
