Free Devil in a Kilt by Devil in a Kilt Page B

the squire, then assisted Robbie in washing
his hands as well. For his sake, she tried to ignore the tension emanating
from her husband, but doing so was hard.
    Despite
herself, Linnet's heart wrenched at the sight of the mighty Laird MacKenzie.
    His
son's presence wouldn't affect him thus did he not truly love the child.
    This
man needed to be taught an important lesson. If only she could open his eyes
and heart, make him realize and admit he cared for the lad whether or nay his
blood ran true in Robbie's veins.
    Only
then would she tell him the truth.
    A
small tug on her sleeve caught her attention. "Should I leave, lady?"
Robbie's eyes were rounded, full of an unwanted child's vulnerability.
"I'm not supposed to come near the high table."
    "What
nonsense," Linnet disagreed. "Someday you will be laird. All chiefs,
present or future, must sit at the high table."
    Linnet
shot a quick glance at her husband. "Is it not so?"
    His
jaw twitched, and he took his time answering, but finally he grudgingly
admitted, "Aye, ‘tis the accustomed way."
    Sitting
up straighter, Linnet smoothed Robbie's hair and said, "Be assured, son,
‘tis your place here as well as mine."
    "Son you say," Duncan leaned close and whispered into her ear. "And
is he, I ask you?"
    Turning
to face him, her breath caught in her throat, so intense was his stare. "I
canna yet see, milord," she lied, once more begging the good saints to
guide her. "Mayhap if I saw more of you both together I could tell."
    She
wouldn't have deemed it possible, but the expression on his face grew darker.
"Mayhap if you would hone your gift such wouldn't be necessary?"
    "And
if you, milord, would but look into your heart, a gift such as mine would not
be needed," she whispered back, not caring if she raised his ire further.
"But then, ‘tis said you do not possess one."
    From
the other side of her, Linnet heard the Sassunach offering Robbie sugared
wafers. Anxious to avoid further confrontation, she turned her back on her
liege husband lest he grow so riled he raise his voice, hurting the child with
his cruel words.
    Yet
even facing away from him, she felt enveloped by his dark presence.
    Linnet
shivered. Mayhap ‘twas more good fortune than insult that he didn't want her
for a true wife. She'd rather stay a virgin all her days than be bedded
by a man so cold-hearted as Duncan MacKenzie.
    Gazing
at the boy on her lap, she prayed for wisdom. She'd oft heard none were given a
burden heavier than they could carry, yet she mightily doubted her ability to
shoulder this new one she'd taken upon herself.
    Her
instincts told her both father and son needed her, both husband and stepson
suffered great pain.
    But
could she aid them without unduly hurting either?
    Would
she hurt herself in attempting to do so?
    ‘Twas
this truly the reason she'd been sent here ... or was she merely interfering
where she had no right to meddle?
    Robbie
shifted his position on her lap and the cuddly, warm weight of him softened
her heart and strengthened her resolve. Glancing at him, she saw he sat
rigidly, innocently mimicking his father, glancing neither left or right, his
hands fisted tightly in his lap.
    He
stared fixedly at the mug of goat's milk a servant had placed before him, his
face, so like his father's, now pale and tense. He obviously struggled as
diligently to ignore his sire as he in turn struggled to ignore his son.
    It
was unnatural for a lad to be so nervous, yet how could he be aught but shy and
frightened of a father who'd shunned him?
    And
it was equally unnatural for a father to shun his son.
    Gently,
Linnet rubbed Robbie's shoulder, hoping to soothe him, extraordinarily pleased
when he didn't pull away, but leaned into her hand as if he welcomed her touch.
    His
acceptance of her filled her with a contentment she'd never known, swelling her
heart with love for the child she could now call her own.
    If
her husband would respond as willingly to her overtures, mayhap she'd have half
a chance