The priest didn't answer her soon enough. 'Do you know,' she continued, 'the more I reflect on this problem, the more I become convinced Alec should be the one giving you his coin. Why, this is really his sin.'
Father Murdock was having difficulty following her train of thought. He felt as though a whirlwind had just filled the room. A whirlwind with the sun shining through. The priest wanted to laugh with sheer joy. The gloom that had hovered over Alec's home since Helena's death would leave now. He was sure of it. He'd seen the way his laird watched his wife all during the night while she worked on Angus. He'd looked just as surprised as the rest of them… and just as pleased.
'Father?' Jamie asked. 'What think you of my worry?'
'Neither one of you has sinned.'
'We haven't?'
Father Murdock smiled over the surprise his statement had caused. Lady Kincaid looked flabbergasted. 'You're very devout, aren't you, Lady Kincaid?'
It would have been a sin to let the priest think that. 'Oh, heavens no,' she said hurriedly. 'I cannot let you believe such a lie. It's just that our priest back home… well, he is most devout, and I must tell you his penances are usually bloody awful. I think boredom led him to be strict. He made Agnes cut her hair once. She cried for a week.'
'Agnes?'
'One of my dear sisters,' Jamie explained.
'It must have been a terrible sin,' Father Murdock remarked.
'She fell asleep during one of his sermons,' Jamie confessed.
The priest tried not to laugh. 'We're not so rigorous here,' he advised. 'I promise I will never make you cut your hair, Lady Kincaid.'
'What a shame you didn't live with us then,' Jamie interjected. 'Agnes's hair hasn't curled since she was forced to cut it.'
'How many are there in your family?' the priest asked.
'There were five of us, all girls, but the eldest, Eleanor, died when I was just seven, so I don't remember her very well. The twins, Agnes and Alice, came next, then Mary, and I'm the baby. Papa raised us mostly by himself,' she added with a gentle smile.
'A sound family it seems to me,' the priest remarked with a nod. 'Are your sisters as pretty as you are?'
'Oh, much prettier,' Jamie stated. 'Mama was fat with me when she married Papa.
He'd lost his wife, you see, and Mama had lost her husband right after she'd married him. It made no matter to Papa though. I became his baby as soon as he wed Mama.'
'A good man,' Father Murdock commented.
'Yes,' Jamie agreed with a sigh. 'Just mentioning my family makes me miss them.'
'Then we won't speak of this any longer,' Father Murdock advised. 'Take this coin back, please, and put it to better use.'
'I'd rather you kept the shilling. My husband's soul could surely use some attention. He's a laird, after all, and has had to kill men in battle. Do not misunderstand me, Father, for Alec would never, ever take a life without a good reason. Though I don't know him as well as you do, I do believe he wouldn't go looking for trouble. In my heart I know this is true. You must take my word on this matter, Father.'
Alec walked into the hall just in time to overhear his wife's defense of his character.
'I agree with you, lass,' the priest answered. He glanced up and saw the exasperated look on his laird's face. He had trouble restraining his chuckle.
'Well, now,' Jamie said, her sigh of relief evident. 'I'm pleased you agree.
Though it's shameful of me to admit, I do get tired of having to think about my soul all the time. Father Charles made us confess every thought. 'Tis the truth there were times I made up a few just to appease the man. He's a most conscientious priest and we did lead a very sedate life. Nothing sinful ever happened.'
Father Murdock thought the priest sounded like a fanatic. 'We're much more relaxed here, Lady Kincaid.'
'I'm pleased to hear this,' Jamie returned. 'Now that I'm married, I must also take care of my husband's soul, and if that isn't enough to turn my hair gray, I don't know what is. Father, I do believe we shall become good friends. You must begin by calling me Jamie, don't you suppose?'
'What I suppose, Jamie, is that you have a gentle heart. You're just the breath of fresh air this cold old castle is needing.'
'Aye, Father, she does have a gentle heart,' Alec interjected. 'She'll have to try to overcome that flaw.'
'Having a gentle heart isn't a flaw.'
Jamie was thankful she'd made that emphatic statement while still looking at the priest, for once she turned around to confront her husband, she wasn't able to speak at all. She gasped instead.
Alec was half naked.
Alec was dressed like a barbarian. He wore a white shirt but that was the only civilized garment covering his huge body. The shirt was partially covered by the end of his plaid draped over his shoulder. The rest of his plaid was wrapped around his waist. It was folded into wide pleats, held in place by a narrow roped belt, and fell only to mid- thigh. Black boots, that were gray in the worn places, covered only a part of his muscular legs.
His knees were as bare as a baby's arse.
Alec thought she looked ready to faint. He hid his irritation while he patiently waited for her to get accustomed to his attire, then said, 'How's Angus doing?'
'I beg your pardon?'
She was still staring at his knees. 'Angus,' Alee repeated a bit more forcefully.
'Oh, yes, Angus, of course,' she answered, nodding several times.
When she didn't say another word, Alec commanded, 'You'll look at my face when I speak to you, wife.'
Jamie was startled by the harshness in his rebuke. She quickly did as he had ordered.
Alec was sure her blush could start a fire. 'How long do you think it's going to take you to get used to seeing me dressed this way?' he asked, his exasperation obvious.
She recovered quickly. 'What way?' she asked, smiling innocently.
A wry grin softened his mouth. 'Will I always have to repeat myself to you?'
She shrugged her answer. 'Was there something you wanted to speak to me about?' she asked.
He decided to embarrass her again. 'Wife, you've seen me without any clothes on, yet now you act-'
She rushed over and clapped her hand over his mouth. 'I've felt you naked, husband. I've not seen you naked. There is a difference,' she added. She dropped her hand when she realized what she'd just done, then backed up a space.
'Remember your manners in front of the priest, Alec.'
He rolled his eyes heavenward. She thought he was praying for patience. 'Now tell me what it is you wished to say to me.'
'I want to speak to Angus,' Alec answered. He started toward the bed, but Jamie stepped directly into his path, blocking his way. Her hands were settled on her hips again.
'He's sleeping now, Alec. You may speak to him later.'
He couldn't believe what he'd just heard. 'Wake him.'
'Your roar probably just did,' she muttered.
He took a deep breath. 'Wake him,' he ordered again. In a softer tone of voice, he added, 'And, Jamie?'
'Yes?'
'Don't ever tell me what I may or may not do.'
'Why?'
'Why?'
Before she could find the courage to answer him she had to remind herself that her husband had promised never to lose his temper with her. The look on his face was chilling. 'Why must I never tell you what you may or may not do?'
She knew he didn't like her question. His jaw was clenched now. The muscles in his cheeks flexed once, then
