Page 102 of To Wed a Wild Scot
Ever since their argument about her bargain with Lord Cowden, Juliana had been furious with him. Not because he’d shouted at her, or because he’d presumed to order her about as if she were a child. She hadn’t cared for either of those things, but she could forgive them.
What she couldn’t forgive was Logan saying she’d given up Rosemount to get him to leave England. He’d hurled that ugly accusation not twenty-four hours after she’d told him she loved him. That she didn’t want anyone but him.
He hadn’t said such a hurtful thing to her because he believed it was true. No, that was just an excuse. He’d said it because he’d been angry at her for giving up something she loved for him. Whether he realized it or not was anyone’s guess, but from the moment the accusation had left his lips, Juliana had recognized it for what it was.
A plea, and a warning.
Don’t ever risk yourself for me again.
Because apparently Logan was the only one in this marriage who was permitted to make sacrifices.Hecould take care of her, andhecould take care of Grace, but if anyone tried to take care ofhim…
Oh goodness, no! That wasn’t allowed.
Juliana’s hands clenched into fists under the table. Every time she thought about it, her entire body went rigid with anger. She’d known before she married him Logan had trouble accepting help from others. He’d been raised to be the rescuer, the savior, the one everyone depended on. He hadn’t the vaguest idea how to let someone help him.
Which might have been acceptable, if she hadn’t been hiswife.
Hiswife, damn him. What kind of marriage could they have if he refused to see her as his equal? She wasn’t some fragile piece of porcelain, too delicate to stand beside the husband she loved. If that was what he thought, then what made him any different from her father?
She could forgive her father for it. That sort of overprotectiveness was natural in a parent.
In a husband, it was patronizing. Dismissive. Especially from Logan, who knew better than anyone what she was capable of.
“What brings ye back to Scotland so soon?” Fergus asked.
“My husband.” Juliana jerked her chin at Logan. “He ordered us back to Scotland. He’s every inch the laird now, you see. Whether he trulywantsus here, well, that’s anyone’s guess, Mr. McLaren.”
Well. Perhaps she wasn’t too exhausted to fall into a temper, after all. There’d been a decidedly waspish note in her voice.
Fergus heard it too, and one of his bushy eyebrows shot up. “If he didna want to bring ye, why would he bring ye, lass?”
“Oh,that.” Juliana waved a causal hand in the air, but she’d been holding her tongue for days. The more she talked, the more the words she’d been struggling to keep inside fought to getout. “Well, we can’t be expected to remain in Englandalone, can we? It’s far too dangerous for two helpless creatures like ourselves.”
Juliana didn’t realize her voice had risen until several heads jerked in her direction.
Including Logan’s.
Ah. So, itwaspossible to drag his attention away from Alison McLaren. All she had to do was start shouting in the middle of the Sassy Lassie.
Suddenly, there was nothing Juliana wanted to do more. The one thing that could have stopped her was Grace, but when she glanced at her, she found Grace regarding her with a smile far too knowing for a child her age.
Despite Juliana’s untoward behavior, Fergus’s eyes were twinkling. “Oh now, lass. I wouldn’t say as ye’re helpless. Not but what some English lasses are, ye see, but ye’re more the wily, stubborn sort ofSassenach, wee as you are.”
“You have no idea how stubborn I can be, Mr. McLaren. But how refreshing to hear you say so. My husband seems to regard me as decorative rather than useful, despite what I must insist is ample evidence to the contrary.”
“Juliana.” Logan was staring at her from across the room as if she’d lost her mind. “What thedevilare you shouting about?”
Juliana shot him a look that made his mouth fall open. “Don’t youdarecurse at me, Logan Blair! If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be shouting at all!”
Logan strode across the room toward her, and Juliana leapt to her feet to meet him. She didn’t care if she only came as high as his shoulder. She’d climbed him once, and she’d do it again, even without the rats.
He closed his hand around her upper arm. “What’s this about, Juliana? I’m sorry if you didn’t want to come to Scotland with me, but there was no way I would ever leave you—”
“Not come to Scotland with you! Logan, how can you be such a…such a…eejit?” Juliana had no idea where that word came from. It was out of her mouth before she realized she’d even thought it.
A murmur went up around them. Juliana heard one man ask in hushed tones, “Did that lass just call the laird an eejit?”
Fergus was delighted. “Aye, she did! That’s it, lass! We’ll turn you into a Scot yet!”
