the only one who can tell me. I cannot imagine living anywhere but here, and I find myself wondering if she feels the same way about her home in England. I have already decided that I will like her,' she added.
'Yes, you will,' he predicted.
'You have much in common with Lady Gillian,' Ramsey remarked. 'You're both stubborn women.'
'Is she being forced to marry, then?' Bridgid asked, unable to mask her irritation.
Ramsey took a step toward her. 'No one is forcing you to marry, Bridgid.'
'Then may I please be excused?'
'No, you may not,' Ramsey snapped. 'About this Matthias…'
Impatiently settling her hands on her hips, she asked, 'Are we back to that?'
'Bridgid, I warn you, I will not tolerate insolence.'
She was immediately contrite. 'I'm sorry. I know I spoke out of turn, but I have already declined the offer.'
Ramsey didn't want to give up. 'Do you realize how many requests you've turned down?'
'Yes, I do.'
'You've broken many hearts.'
'I doubt that, Laird. None of those men know me well enough to have their hearts broken. If I could get them to stop asking, I assure you I would. It's very upsetting for me to have to go through this audience again and again. 'Tis the truth I'm beginning to dread…'
'Dread what?' he asked when she abruptly stopped.
Her face turned pink with embarrassment. 'Never mind,' she said.
'You may speak freely. Now tell me, what is it you dread?'
'The sight of you,' she blurted. 'The only time you speak to me is when you want me to hear a proposal. I know how distressing this is for you. You don't wish to waste your valuable time on such inconsequential matters.'
'You are not inconsequential.'
'But I am difficult, aren't I?'
'Yes, you are.'
'Are we finished now?'
'No, we are not. Bridgid, don't you want to get married?'
'Of course I do. I want children,' she said, her voice fervent now. 'Lots of children, and I'm going to love them the way a mother should.'
'Then why have you declined so many requests? If you want to have children-'
She wouldn't let him finish. 'I love another.'
The announcement took Ramsey by surprise. 'You do?'
'Yes, I do.'
'Who is this man?'
She shook her head. 'I cannot say his name.'
'Then marry him,' he suggested impatiently.
She sighed. 'He hasn't asked me.'
'Does he know how you feel?'
'No, he doesn't. He's a very stupid man.'
Brodick did laugh then, he couldn't help it. 'Yet you love him?' he asked.
She smiled as she answered. 'I do. I don't want to love him, but I do, with all my heart. I must be as stupid as he is. That is the only excuse I can give. Matters of the heart are most perplexing, and I'm not smart enough to sort them all out.' Turning to Ramsey again, she said, 'I will not have Matthias. I won't settle for any man I don't love.'
Ramsey's reaction to her announcement puzzled him. When she had admitted she loved another man and therefore wouldn't accept Matthias, he was at first surprised, but that feeling was quickly replaced by what he could only describe as irritation. Though he couldn't figure out why, the thought of her loving someone didn't sit well with him. His reaction didn't make any sense. Here he was trying to persuade her to marry Matthias, and if she had agreed, would he have had the same disappointment? No, he thought, and all because he knew she would never agree.
Shaking himself out of his confusing thoughts, he said, 'Tell me who the man is and I will speak to him on your behalf.'
'I thank you for your suggestion to help, but the man I love must decide without interference.'
'I wasn't making a suggestion. I was giving an order. Tell me his name.'
He took another step forward, but Bridgid stood her ground. It wasn't easy. Ramsey was such a big man his nearness was overwhelming, and she had to remind herself that as her laird, it was his duty to protect her, not harm her. She was a loyal member of his family, and like it or not, he had to look out for her best interests. Besides, she knew him to be a kind, generous man. He might scare the breath out of her, but he would never raise a hand against her.
She decided to try to turn his attention in hopes he wouldn't notice she hadn't answered his demand. 'Laird, where's Michael? I haven't seen him today, and I had promised him some time ago that I would take him tree climbing.'
'Tree climbing?'
'All boys should know how to climb a tree.'
'And you think you could show him how it's done?'
She slowly nodded.
'He's staying with the Maitlands,' he said. 'He and Alec have become good friends, but when Michael returns home, you won't be showing him how to climb a tree. It's unladylike, Bridgid.'
'I suppose it is,' she agreed reluctantly.
Ramsey once again demanded the name of the man she had declared she loved.
Disgruntled because her ploy to make him forget the question hadn't worked, she said, 'I don't wish to tell you his name, Laird.'
'That much is obvious,' he replied. 'But you're still going to tell me.'
'No, I'm not.'
He couldn't believe she had the audacity to defy him. 'I'm not going to give up,' he warned. 'Tell me his name.'
The man was as relentless as a dog chasing after a cat, and she had no one to blame but herself because she had foolishly told him what was in her heart.
'You have an unfair advantage,' she said.
'How's that?'
'You're Laird,' she said. 'You can speak freely, while I-'
He wouldn't let her finish. 'You've been speaking freely since the moment you came inside. Now answer my question.'
His voice had a definite bite to it, and she flinched. She didn't know how she was going to get out of the corner he had backed her into.
'Unless you order me to…'
'I've already ordered you to give me his name,' he reminded her.
His curtness embarrassed her. She lowered her head so he wouldn't see her face and said, 'I'm sorry, but I cannot tell you his name.'
Ramsey gave up and decided to let the matter go for now. He was disgusted with himself. It wasn't like him to let his temper flare with a woman. Yet, this particular woman did try his patience.
'Is it a sin to defy you, Laird?' she asked.
The question gave him pause. 'No, of course not.'
She smiled again. 'That's good.'
He let her see his irritation. 'You know damn good and well it isn't.'
Ignoring his comment, she said, 'I've taken up too much of your valuable time. With your permission, I shall take my leave now.'
