Page 73 of Forever My Lass

“Then why push me away, Lord Glenburnie?” she murmured with a teasing smile.

“Because the wicked, sinful things I want tae do tae ye at the moment can only be done in bed, mo ghràdh.” He grinned at her and tapped the tip of her nose with his forefinger before he bent his head to nibble at her earlobe. “Would ye like me tae describe in detail everything I intend tae do with ye tonight, mo leannan?”

Iain’s teasing conjured up images in Madeline’s head that made her draw in a quick breath. The man had a way with words that set her on fire. Already she was aching with need. A knowing grin on his face, he winked at her, and Madeline scowled at him in frustration.

“You did that on purpose,” she muttered with annoyance.

“Dinnae ye once tell Grace and Ainslie that anticipation is part of the fun.”

“Hmm, I suppose that depends on what one’s anticipating.” Madeline blew out a puff of air as she directed a grumpy glare at him before she retreated from his arms with a laugh. Reluctant to separate herself from him completely, Madeline linked her arm with his as they walked into the study.

“Was your trip successful?”

“Aye, I acquired almost everything I wanted. Although, I had to settle for a third less of the steel I wanted to buy, but other than that, I did quite well.” Iain grinned with satisfaction. “There will be money for repairs and improvements to the manor, a new wardrobe for ye and the girls. And I will finally nae have any debt hanging over my head.”

“I don’t need any new clothes,” she said with a smile. “But the girls most definitely need new dresses. Ainslie seems to have grown two inches almost overnight. Her ankles are showing under her skirts, and poor Eileen is appalled.”

“I have a feeling Ainslie is going to follow your example in all things as she grows older.”

There was an odd note in his voice, and Madeline unlinked her arm from his to halt in the middle of the study. Iain didn’t look at her as he continued to make his way to the desk, where he pulled papers from his pockets and dropped them onto the desktop. Uncertain whether he was criticizing her or simply resigned to his youngest’s sometimes reckless behavior, Madeline frowned.

“Are you saying I’m a bad influence on her?”

“What?” Iain’s head jerked up at her quiet question to stare at her with a dumfounded look. “Of course, not, mo bhòidhchead fuilt dorcha. I think ye are an excellent influence on her. But all this talk of her becoming a horse doctor, I had hoped…”

“That she would be willing to settle down and have babies?” At his small shrug, she smiled with relief and shook her head. “Ainslie will be fine. I wouldn’t be surprised if she becomes a veterinarian and settles down. She knows what she wants and is not afraid to go after it.”

“Perhaps,” Iain said with a skeptical look. “She’s always been strong-willed.”

“Oh, that’s not on my head,” Madeline laughed. “She gets all of her stubbornness from you. There’s no doubt she’s her father’s daughter.”

Iain grinned as he circled his desk to catch her hand in his and pull her toward the fire. He sank down into his favorite chair, then tugged her down into his lap. Madeline wrapped an arm around his neck and smiled at him as he studied her with amusement.

“I will nae argue with ye on that point, but I reserve the right tae do so in the future.”

“You’ll lose the argument every time, and you know it.”

Her laughter made him shrug slightly as he grinned up at her. The sudden image of a little boy grinning up at her with stormy blue eyes just like Iain’s made Madeline look down at the large hand holding hers. Her face must have revealed her troubled thoughts despite her efforts to hide them. Iain’s grip tightened around her fingers.

“What’s wrong, Madeline?” When she didn’t answer his question, he cupped her chin with his hand and forced her to look at him. “Tell me, mo ghràdh.”

Madeline winced then quickly broke free of his embrace to stand up and begin pacing the floor. The moment she did so, Iain was on his feet with startling speed. Strong fingers dug into her shoulders as he stopped her and forced her to face him. Heartsick and uncertain how to tell him the news, Madeline helplessly met his gaze.

Almost as if he could read her mind, his dark blue eyes darkened as he looked down at her stomach. A second later, he released her and took two steps backward. The tension vibrating off of him was a tangible sensation, and a shiver skimmed its way down her spine.

“When?” His voice was devoid of emotion, and Madeline flinched.

Did he blame her for becoming pregnant? Her heart sank at the thought. Her hand pressed against her stomach, Madeline swallowed the knot in her throat that was beginning to choke her.

“Around the end of October,” she said quietly.

“How?”

The single word question echoed sharply in her ears. It wasn’t just the harsh note in his voice that left her feeling as if he’d hit her. It was the growing suspicion that he blamed her for getting pregnant. Shock held her rigid as she stared at him in disbelief. The silence grew between them like a rubber band being stretched until it was on the brink of snapping back into shape with a painfully unpleasant sting. A sudden burst of anger spiraled through her, and Madeline narrowed her gaze at him.

“How?” Madeline heard the icicles dripping off the word. “Are you suggesting I planned this? That I did something to make it happen?”

When he remained silent, Madeline drew in a sharp breath of pain. He did blame her. Speechless, Madeline stared at him in horrified disbelief. How could he think her capable of deceiving him in such a way?