The chain drew his attention. He pulled the ring from her gown and once again looked at it.
She immediately snatched the ring away and hid it in her fist.
And it was the fist that prodded his memory at last.
He took a step back, away from her. 'Iain? Is something the matter? You've turned gray.'
He didn't answer her.
It took Judith a long while to give Frances Catherine all the details of the inquisition. The retelling was made more difficult because her friend kept interrupting her with questions.
'I think you should go with me to see Isabelle and the baby,' Judith told her.
'I would like to help her,' Frances Catherine replied.
'And I would like for you to become Isabella's friend. You have to learn to open your heart to these people. Some of them are certainly as sweet as Isabelle is. I know you'll like her. She's very kind. She reminds me of you, Frances Catherine.'
'I'll try to open my heart to her,' Frances Catherine promised. 'Oh God, I'm going to be so lonely after you leave. I only see Patrick during the evenings, and I'm so sleepy by then I can barely concentrate on what he's saying to me.'
'I'll miss you, too,' Judith replied. 'I wish you lived closer to me. Perhaps then you could come to see me every now and then. Aunt Millicent and Uncle Herbert would love to see you again.'
'Patrick would never let me go into England,' she said. 'He'd think it was too dangerous. Will you braid my hair for me while we wait?'
'Certainly,' Judith replied. 'What are we waiting for?'
'Patrick made me promise to stay home until he finished an important duty. He'll be happy to walk with us over to Isabelle's.'
She handed Judith her brush, sat down on the stool, and asked about Isabelle's laboring again.
The time got away from them, and a good hour passed before they realized Patrick still hadn't returned. Since it was almost the supper hour, they decided to put off the visit until the following morning.
They were in the midst of preparing the dinner when Iain knocked on the door. Frances Catherine had just made an amusing remark, and Judith was still laughing when she opened the door.
'Oh heavens, Iain, you aren't going to tell me Father Laggan has thought of another question to put to me, are you?'
She was jesting with him, and fully expected a smile at the very least. She got a curt answer instead. 'No.'
He walked inside, gave Frances Catherine a quick nod, then clasped his hands behind his back and turned to Judith.
She couldn't believe this was the same man who had been so sweet and kind to her not two hours ago. He was as cold and distant as a stranger.
'There won't be any other questions from the priest,' he announced.
'I knew that,' she replied. 'I was only jesting with you.'
He shook his head at her. 'Now isn't the time for jests. I've more important matters on my mind.'
'What pressing matters?'
He didn't answer her. He turned to Frances Catherine. 'Where is my brother?'
His abruptness worried Frances Catherine. She sat down at the table, folded her hands together in her lap and tried to look calm. 'I'm not certain. He should be back any time now.'
'Why do you want Patrick?' Judith asked the question she knew her friend wanted to ask but didn't dare.
Iain turned around and started for the door. 'I need to speak to him before I leave.'
He tried to walk outside after making that remark. Judith rushed in front of him to block his path. He was so surprised by that boldness, he stopped. He smiled, too. Her head was tilted all the way back so she could look up at him. She wanted him to see her frown of displeasure.
Before she realized his intent, he lifted her out of his way. She looked over at Frances Catherine. Her friend waved her after Iain. Judith nodded and went running outside.
'Where are you going? Are you going to be gone long?'
He didn't turn around when he answered her. 'I'm not certain how long I'll be gone.'
'Why did you want to speak to Patrick? Are you going to take him with you?'
He came to an abrupt stop and turned around to give her his full attention. 'No, I'm not taking Patrick with me. Judith, why are you asking me all these questions?'
'Why are you acting so cold?' She blushed after blurting out that thought aloud. 'I mean to say,' she began again, 'earlier you seemed to be in a much more lighthearted mood. Have I done something to displease you?'
He shook his head. 'We were alone earlier,' he told her. 'We aren't now.'
He tried to leave again. She rushed in front of him to block his way a second time. 'You were going to leave without saying good-bye, weren't you?'
She made the question sound like an accusation. She didn't give him time to answer, either. She turned around and walked back to Frances Catherine. He stood there watching her leave. He could hear her muttering something about being damn rude, and assumed she was referring to him. He let out a sigh over her impudence.
Patrick came down the hill, drawing his attention. Iain explained his intention to take Ramsey and Erin to the MacDonalds' holding for a meeting with the Dunbar laird. The conference would be held on neutral ground, but Iain was still taking all the necessary precautions. If the Macleans got word of this meeting, they would attack in force.
Iain didn't go into detail, but Patrick was astute enough to understand the significance of the conference.
'The council didn't give their blessing, did they?' Patrick guessed.
'They don't know about the meeting.'
Patrick nodded. 'There'll be trouble.'
'Yes.'
'Do you want me to go with you?'
'I want you to look out for Judith while I'm away,' Iain said. 'Don't let her get into trouble.'
Patrick nodded. 'Where do the elders think you're going?'
'To the MacDonalds,' Iain answered. 'I just didn't tell them the Dunbars would also be there.' He let out a sigh. 'God, how I hate this secrecy.'
Iain didn't expect a reply to that statement. He turned to remount his stallion, then suddenly stopped. He tossed the reins to Patrick and strode back over to the cottage.
He didn't knock on the door this time. Judith was standing by the hearth. She turned when the door slammed against the stone wall. Her eyes widened, too. Frances Catherine was sitting at the table slicing bread. She half stood, then sat back down again when Iain walked past her.
He didn't say a word in greeting to Judith. He grabbed hold of her shoulders and hauled her up against him. His mouth slammed down on top of hers. She was too stunned to react at first. He forced her mouth open. His tongue moved inside with blatant determination. The kiss was possessive, almost savagely so, and just when she was beginning to respond, he pulled away from her.
She sagged against the corner of the hearth. Iain turned around, nodded to Frances Catherine, and left the cottage.
Judith was too stunned to say anything. Frances Catherine looked at her friend's expression and had to bite her lower lip to keep herself from bursting into laughter.
'Didn't you tell me the attraction was over?'
Judith didn't know what to tell her friend. She did a lot of sighing the rest of the evening. Patrick walked with Frances Catherine and her over to Isabelle's after supper. Judith met several more relatives, all women, and all on Winslow's side of the family. A pretty little woman named Willa introduced herself. She was heavy with child, and after explaining that she was Winslow's third cousin twice removed, she asked Judith if she would please go outside with her for just a few minutes to discuss an important issue. Judith was immediately filled with dread. She guessed the issue was actually a request for help with the birthing.
