Iain nodded. "I will call the council together tomorrow," he announced. "For two separate purposes. First I'll talk to them about an alliance with the Dunbars."
He didn't continue. "What is the second purpose?" Brodick asked.
Iain found his first smile. "Judith."
Patrick and Brodick were the only ones who immediately understood what Iain was telling them.
"Father Laggan's thinking to leave early tomorrow morning," Brodick said.
"Detain him."
"For what purpose?" Alex asked.
"The wedding," Iain answered.
Patrick laughed. Brodick joined in. Alex continued to look confused. "What about Judith?" he asked. "Will she agree?"
Iain didn't answer him.
Chapter 9
Patrick didn't tell Frances Catherine or Judith that Iain had returned home. He left early in the morning to go up to the keep. Judith helped her friend give the cottage a thorough cleaning.
It was a little past the nooning hour when Iain knocked on the door. Judith opened it. Her face was covered with smudges and her hair was in wild disarray. She looked as though she'd just finished cleaning the inside of the hearth.
He was so damned happy to see her, he frowned. She smiled back. She was flustered over her appearance. She tried to straighten her hair by brushing the curls away from her face.
"You're back," she whispered.
The man wasn't much for greetings. "Yes. Judith, come up to the keep in one hour's time."
He turned and walked away. She was crushed by his cold attitude. She chased after him. "Why must I go up to the keep?"
"Because I wish you to," he answered.
"But I might have plans set for this afternoon."
"Unset them."
"You're as stubborn as a goat," she muttered.
The gasp from the doorway indicated Frances Catherine had heard her remark. Judith still wasn't sorry she had said such a rude thing, because she believed it to be true. Iain was stubborn.
She turned away from him. "I don't believe I missed you at all."
He grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her back. "Exactly how long was I gone?"
"Three weeks, two days," she answered. "Why?"
He grinned. "But you didn't miss me, did you?"
She realized she'd trapped herself. "You're too clever for me, Iain," she drawled out.
"'Tis the truth, I am," he agreed with a grin.
Lord, she was going to miss this battling of wits with him, she realized. God's truth, she was going to miss him.
"If you want me to come up to your keep," she said, "you should put the request to Patrick first so your chain of command will be properly followed. Do let me know what he has to say."
She was deliberately trying to provoke him. He laughed instead.
"Iain?" Frances Catherine called out. "Is the council up at the keep?"
He nodded. Judith saw her friend's reaction to that news and pulled her hand away from Iain's.
"Now you've done it," she announced in a low whisper.
"Done what?"
"You've upset Frances Catherine. Just look at her. She's worried, thanks to you."
"What did I do?" he asked, thoroughly confused. Frances Catherine did look upset, and he couldn't imagine why.
"You've just told her the council's up at the keep."
Judith explained. "Now she's worried I've done something wrong and they'll send me back home before she has her baby."
"You gathered all that from one frown?"
"Of course," she answered, exasperated. She folded her arms in front of her and frowned at him. "Well?" she demanded when he kept silent.
"Well, what?"
"Fix it."
"Fix what?"
"You needn't raise your voice to me," she ordered. "You upset her. Now soothe her. Tell her you won't let the council send me back home yet. It's the least you can do. She's your dear sister-in-law and you really shouldn't want to see her upset."
He let out a sigh fierce enough to part the branches on the trees. He turned and yelled to Frances Catherine. "Judith isn't going anywhere." He looked at Judith again. "Have I fixed it to your satisfaction?"
Frances Catherine was smiling. Judith nodded. "Yes, thank you."
He turned and walked toward his stallion. Judith hurried after him. She grabbed hold of his hand to get him to stop.
"Iain?"
"What now?"
His gruff tone of voice didn't bother her. "Did you miss me?"
"Perhaps."
That answer did prick her temper. She let go of his hand and tried to walk away. He caught her from behind. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he leaned down close to her ear and whispered, "You really should try to do something about your temper, lass."
He kissed her on the side of her neck, sending shivers down her legs.
He never did answer her question. Judith didn't realize it until he'd ridden away from her.
The man could turn her mind into mush just by touching her. Judith wasn't given long to mull over that flaw, however, for Frances Catherine was insisting on gaining her attention.
She all but shoved Judith through the doorway, then shut it behind her.
"Iain's in love with you."
Frances Catherine sounded thrilled. Judith shook her head. "I will not allow myself to think about love," she announced.
Her friend laughed. "You may not allow yourself to think about it, Judith, but you're in love with him, aren't you? I've kept silent long enough. He never needs to know."
The last remark caught Judith's full attention. "Know what?"
"About your father. No one ever needs to know. Let yourself-"
"No."
"Just think about what I'm suggesting," Frances Catherine said.
Judith collapsed into the chair. "I wish you would have your baby so I could go home. Each day I stay makes it more difficult. Dear God, what if I am falling in love with him? How do I stop myself?"
Frances Catherine walked over to stand behind her. She put her hand on her shoulder. "Would it help if you thought about all his flaws?" she asked.
She was jesting with her friend. Judith took the suggestion to heart. She tried to come up with as many flaws as possible. She couldn't think of very many. The man was almost perfect. Frances Catherine suggested that was probably a flaw, too. Judith agreed.
The two friends were so intent on their discussion, they didn't notice Patrick standing in the entrance. He'd been very quiet when he opened the door out of consideration for his wife. She often took afternoon naps, and he didn't want to disturb her if she was sleeping now.
Judith's remarks caught his attention. As soon as he realized she was giving his wife her opinion of Iain, he couldn't help but smile. Judith knew his brother almost as well as he did, and when she mentioned how stubborn he was, Patrick found himself nodding agreement.
"But you're still attracted to him, aren't you?"
Judith sighed. "Yes. Frances Catherine, what am I going to do? I feel such panic inside when I think about what's happening to me. I can't love him."
"And he can't possibly love you, either," Frances Catherine asked. "You're fooling yourself if you believe that. The man cares about you. Why can't you just accept it?"
Judith shook her head. "What do you suppose he'd do if he ever found out Laird Maclean was my father? Do you honestly believe he'd still care about me?"
Years of training to control his reactions kept Patrick on his feet. God's truth, he felt as though he'd just been given a hard blow to his midsection. He staggered back outside, then hastily pulled the door closed behind him. Patrick found Iain in the great hall. "We have to talk," he announced. "I've just found out something you need to know."