Flora entered, along with Struan, Sim and Luag. He was glad to see his men, but the room was becoming crowded. And he'd much rather spend all day alone with Jessie.

"I'll leave you to your visitors and come back in a little while," Jessie told Torrin. "Flora will take care of you."

He nodded. "Hope you'll get some sleep." He was disappointed to see her go, but he knew she needed rest. She must have stayed awake, watching over him, all night. He would have to find a way to thank her for that.

Chapter Fifteen

Jessie truly hadn't wanted to leave Torrin's side, for she worried over him. But she also feared she was growing much too attached to him. Maybe they needed time apart, though that didn't feel comforting at all. Knowing he'd improved much this morn allowed her to relax enough to sleep a few hours.

After a nap with her puppy, and then a bath, Jessie felt better. Having put on clean clothes, she ventured out to see how Torrin was when she met Isobel in the corridor.

"How is Torrin?" Isobel asked.

"When last I saw him, he was much improved. He ate a few bites of porridge and bannock. He was even jesting, so I think he is recovering quickly. Iain and Torrin's men came for a visit, so I took a wee nap."

"'Tis wonderful to hear." Isobel smiled. "I'm sure he will be well soon."

"I hope so."

Isobel bit her lip, sending Jessie a look that was both affectionate and amused. "Could I talk to you for a moment?"

"Aye, of course." Jessie was curious as to what her friend wished to discuss.

Isobel led the way to her bedchamber. Once inside, with the door closed, they took seats by the fireplace where a small fire warmed the room.

Isobel gave her that enigmatic, mischievous smile again. "Maybe I shouldn't ask. You will think I'm very nosy indeed."

"We're like sisters. You ken we can talk about anything."

Isobel tilted her head, giving her a sweet, warmhearted look. "You care for Torrin a great deal, do you not?"

"You can tell, aye?" Jessie asked in a dry tone. She'd known this was the subject her friend wished to discuss.

"Aye. After what happened when I introduced you two last winter, I feared you would never even talk to him again."

"Well, in truth, I didn't want to talk to him. And I had good reason." She told Isobel the story of how she had witnessed Torrin killing her foster brother years ago, and his reasoning for it.

"His poor sister," Isobel whispered, her dark brows furrowed. "In that situation, Cyrus or Dirk would do the same thing that Torrin did, seek justice for a sister's death."

"Aye. But I didn't understand at the time what was happening. I thought he was killing him for no reason. I was afraid to mention this to Torrin. If he knew I was a witness, I wondered what he would do. If I were to tell the Keiths, they would still seek revenge, even though Lyall was guilty of a horrid crime. Lyall's father, the chief, would especially want revenge, for he has never gotten over it."

Isobel's dark eyes widened. "You're not going to tell them, are you?"

"Nay, of course not. I'll do everything I can to protect Torrin."

Isobel frowned. "What of the lass Torrin supposedly loves who lives in the village near Munrick? Does he truly have children with her as Nolan told me?"

"Torrin said 'twas not true. He asked who had been spreading rumors about him. I didn't tell him that his brother had told you. We heard that Nolan had kidnapped you from your camp south of Munrick several weeks ago."

"Aye, 'twas horrible. I'd dropped my dagger, so I couldn't even stab him. Dirk ended up killing him."

"We heard that as well. I'm glad you were not harmed."

Isobel's eyes widened. "So, Torrin knows about his brother?"

"Aye."

"Was he angry?"

"Nay. He was saddened to hear his brother is dead, of course, but he knew Dirk had done what he had to in order to rescue and protect you."

"Thank the saints. I would hate for Dirk and Torrin to be at odds." Her expression turning to inquisitive, Isobel asked, "So, has Torrin asked for your hand since he's been here?"

A clash of emotions made Jessie's heart beat harder. "Aye."

"Are you reconsidering?"

"'Tis not so simple," Jessie said, studying her broken, jagged nails. They looked the way she felt inside. "I didn't tell you the whole truth before."

"When?"

"Last winter, I told you that when I was handfasted to Gregor MacBain, we only shared a bed three times. That isn't true. We shared a bed for three months." Jessie's face heated. Blast! How she hated blushing.

"Oh." Isobel gave her an inquiring look.

Though Jessie trusted Isobel, she still found it difficult to hold her gaze while admitting such things. "I was ashamed because I was unable to conceive during that time. MacBain found another woman, and she bore him a son. He believed I was barren, and… I'm afraid he may be right."

"Nay," Isobel said firmly. "That may not be the case at all. Look how long it took me to conceive—seven months. So you must not give up hope. And you will, of course, have to allow Torrin to seduce you several times to know what the outcome will be." Isobel smiled.

Jessie's face felt scalded now. "Aye. You're right."

"Well then, has he? Seduced you?"

Trying to hold back her smile, Jessie drew in a deep breath, then nodded.

Isobel's grin grew wider as did her eyes. "How many times?"

"A few," she admitted.

"I'm glad."

"One morning, Uncle Conall came to my room early to tell me about Aiden, and Torrin answered my door. 'Twas horribly embarrassing. Then, my uncle had a talk with me about how I should marry Torrin."

Isobel chuckled. "The same thing happened to Dirk and me! Except Conall barged into the chamber early in the morn while I was half asleep. I have no idea what he said to Dirk about it. Thankfully, we were married soon after."

Jessie smiled.

"What have you decided about Torrin?"

Jessie shrugged. "I refuse to handfast again, and I won't wed him legally until I am with child. I can't put him in a situation where he'll be unable to sire his own heir."

"That's very selfless of you," Isobel said softly. "Too selfless, if you ask me."

"Well, 'tis for my benefit, too. I fear if I were to marry him and not produce an heir, he would grow to resent me and put me aside sometime in the future. Chiefs have been known to do that. For many of them, marriage is not permanent, no matter what the Church says. Some have four or five living wives, some of which they've divorced, as well as mistresses and paramours."

"Aye. 'Tis true. Some men are goats. But not Dirk, and I don't think Torrin would behave that way."

"I hope not, but I have a hard time trusting men." Jessie had already told her about the first man who'd abandoned her the day before their wedding years ago.

"I can understand that."

"Do you feel any different since you are with child?" Jessie asked.

"I often feel sick in the mornings. I don't think I've ever fainted before either, but I did on the battlements when I was upset and afraid for Dirk."

Jessie nodded. "I don't feel sick in the mornings, so I don't think I'm with child."