He wanted to tell her how very pleased he was with her, wanted to hear her words of praise, too. No, he decided. He wanted more than that, more than pretty words of praise.
It was high time the little woman realized just what her real duty was. He shouldn't have to explain it to her, however. He wanted her to understand without being instructed.
It was her duty to love him.
The full realization of why he wanted her love hit him like a blow: he was already in love with her.
How in God's name had it happened? She was the most opinionated, ill-tempered, illogical, stubborn-to-the- bone woman he'd ever encountered. No one else would have her, he told himself. He smiled then, recognizing his own lie. Oh, they'd have her, all right, but she belonged to him.
With a resigned sigh, Alec closed his eyes and gave Jamie a fierce hug. He could hear her ragged breathing still, could feel her heart pounding in rhythm with his own. Her passion belonged to him, too, he thought to himself.
And his heart belonged to her. Alec let out a loud yawn. He guessed he was never going to get over this strange affliction.
His gentle little wife needed her rest, he decided with another yawn. He would stay with her for just another minute or two, until he was certain she'd fallen asleep.
It was his last thought before he started snoring.
He knows now that someone tried to kill his wife. By nightfall everyone will have heard of the sin. She'll be guarded well. He won't want to take any chances with her safety.
He doesn't understand that she wasn't meant to die yet. I'm much more cunning than he is, but I wish I could boast to someone of my prowess. I dare not, of course, and must therefore let them all believe they intervened in time. Oh, I knew she would be saved. The fire wouldn't have gone undetected. I knew.
It is his torment I want to see now, not his anguish. I'll not finish the kill until tomorrow… perhaps even the day after if I can control my greed.
I can still hear his scream. He was calling her name. I think he has begun to love her. This lesson will be all the sweeter if he does…
I want to touch her when she's dying.
Chapter Fourteen
Jamie gave Gavin quite a start when she came up behind him and gently tapped him on his shoulder. He had not heard her approach. He whirled around to meet the challenge, then eased his stance when he saw it was his mistress standing before him. She was carrying a pair of shoes. He stared at them, feeling foolish, then admitted the obvious. 'I never heard you approaching.'
'I didn't mean to startle you,' Jamie replied. 'And do lower your voice, Gavin.
Alec's having a little nap.'
'The Kincaid?'
'Please, Gavin, don't shout so,' Jamie said. 'You needn't look so incredulous, either. Alec is human, after all. He wouldn't be sleeping so soundly if he didn't need the rest, now, would he?'
Gavin shook his head. He was trying desperately not to shout with laughter. The Kincaid hadn't looked the least bit fatigued the last time he'd seen him. Of course, he had been on his way to bed, but Gavin knew he hadn't planned on doing any sleeping.
God, he couldn't wait to bait him.
Jamie took hold of Gavin's arm to balance herself while she put her shoes on. 'I believe I'll ask Hessie to help me clean the bedroom upstairs now.' She let go of his arm, smoothed her skirts, and tried to walk around him.
Gavin quickly moved to block her path. 'I'll send one of the men to get her for you,' he announced.
'The walk will do me good.'
'Save your strength for your chore,' Gavin advised.
'All right, Gavin,' Jamie agreed, thinking to placate the soldier. He looked worried. She gave him a perplexed look. 'Are you feeling well? You're acting very strange, you are.'
He let her put the back of her hand to his brow before he answered her. 'I'm feeling quite well, Jamie. Now, why don't you get started on your chore?'
She gave him another long look before she turned and started up the steps. Gavin was right behind her. She didn't make mention of that oddity until she reached the third door. Then she turned around to him again.
He blurted out his explanation before she could ask. 'I thought if there was something you needed moved about, I could lend you a hand.'
She offered him a pretty smile. 'How very thoughtful of you, Gavin. Father Murdock already helped me move a chest, though, and there's now plenty of space for my things when they arrive.'
'Your things did arrive, milady,' Gavin suddenly remembered. 'Early this morning. Should I have the men bring the baggage up from the lower bailey?'
'If you would, Gavin,' Jamie answered. 'Did you see… Was there a chair among the items in the wagon?'
'There wasn't a wagon's worth,' Gavin explained. 'It isn't possible for a wagon to make the narrow climb. There were four packhorses,' he continued when he saw how disappointed she was looking. 'Packed to the sky, milady, and yes, I did notice a rather odd-looking-'
'My very own chair,' she interrupted, clasping her hands together. ' 'Tis odd because of the legs, you're thinking, but it rocks back and forth, Gavin. It belonged to my mama's family. Papa liked to sit in it every night and it was most thoughtful of him to send it on to me.'
'A chair that rocks, milady?'
'I know,' she said with a sigh. 'The novelty will never catch on I fear. Still, it was my mother's and I will of course keep it until I die. It shall be handed down from generation to generation.'
Gavin wondered what daft man had fashioned such an illogical chair but wisely kept his thoughts to himself.
He left Jamie to her dusting. He accompanied her up the stairs just to make certain no one was waiting to catch her unaware. Marcus was just coming inside when Gavin started down the steps. 'Marcus, I need have a word with you,' he called out.
'Aye, Gavin?'
The second-in-command didn't explain himself until he had Marcus well inside the great hall. From where they stood, Gavin could keep his eye on the door above the stairs. No one could go in or out without him noticing. 'I want two soldiers below the window.'
'What window?'
'Jamie's working in the first room above the stairs,' Gavin explained. 'Put two soldiers outside the door and two others below her window.'
'Do I give them a reason?' Marcus asked, frowning intently.
'Of course. They protect their mistress,' Gavin snapped out.
'Gavin, what are you trying to tell me?' Marcus asked, his patience wearing thin.
'You haven't heard?'
'Heard what?'
Gavin let out a sigh, then explained the near tragedy. 'Someone trapped her inside, Marcus. I'm the one who lifted the beam of wood away from the door,' he couldn't help but boast. 'And still I could barely believe it.'
'Who could have done such a thing?'
'No one saw anyone near the ridge,' Gavin explained. 'And Alec wants you and me to keep our guard up.'
'He mentioned me specifically?' Marcus asked, looking as though he didn't believe that.
'He did. He values your loyalty, Marcus. Do you doubt it?'
Marcus shook his head. 'I've not given him reason to doubt my loyalty,' he said.
'Still, I made it obvious I wasn't pleased with his marriage, forced or not.'
