When they finally arrived home the following day, Ramsey attended to one task above all others. As Graeme reported on the status of the clan in his absence, he gave Lochlan messages.
"Send for Father Laggan," he said loudly, piercing Bridgid with his determined stare. She did not miss the exchange and turned away from him to visit her mother's cottage.
Then he leaned quietly to Lochlan.
"Send an invitation to Laird and Lady Maitland for Sunday. Tell them to bring my brother Michael with them. And, send an invitation to Laird and Lady Buchanan. They should be arriving home as we speak."
"Shall I give them a reason," Lochlan asked.
"They will know," Ramsey curtly replied, and followed Graeme into the keep.
After a frustrating few hours catching up with her mother, Bridgid was just about to leave when there was a loud knock at the door. When her mother Leah opened the door, Ramsey filled the space. He was holding the small amount of things that were Bridgid's on the journey.
"Laird Sinclair, welcome," Leah rushed in greeting. "Come in, come in. Can I get you something to drink? Bridgid has been catching us up on your adventurous journey."
"Thank you, no. I cannot stay. I am only here to return Bridgid's things and to ask that she stay here with you for the next two nights." He turned and motioned for servants to bring in Bridgid's things from the servant's quarters where she had been staying.
Leah was flustered by the request, though knew she could not refuse her laird.
"Two nights," she said in questioning.
Bridgid was livid.
"It will only be until Sunday."
"And what happens on Sunday?"
Bridgid knew the words before they came out of his mouth.
"Leah, there has been another proposal for your daughter's hand in marriage. And, this time," he said glaring at his lovely bride-to-be, "it is simply an offer she cannot refuse."
"A love match, then," Leah clapped, looking at Bridgid and then Ramsey.
"Yes," Ramsey said.
"No," Bridgid said at the same time.
"'Tis far too rare in these parts, is it not," Leah asked.
"Yes," Ramsey said.
"Yes," Bridgid said at the same time.
Ramsey turned to the door. "I must be off, then. I have pressing matters to attend to."
"Of course. Certainly. We understand, Laird," Leah said.
Ramsey pressed a request into Bridgid's ear. "You will dine with me this evening." Leaving her no opportunity to refuse, he left.
At dinner Ramsey fussed and fidgeted like a child. The chair to his right was conspicuously empty. He fumed that she had the nerve to refuse a direct order while he listened to his soldiers prattle on about training and his need to assign someone the important duty of commander since Gideon's death. Any other evening, he would have shown a keen interest in these topics. Tonight, however, he had one thing on his mind. Her. Where was she?
He stood in the midst of his meal, wiping his mouth and dropping the linen on his plate. Graeme looked up from his litany of reports and suggestions. "Laird?"
"I will be right back."
He strode out of the keep and headed directly to Leah's cottage. He banged on the door. It swung open. Leah stared questioning.
"Laird, two surprises in one day? How can we serve you this evening?"
He stared inside the cottage at Leah's husband and Bridgid who were standing near the table.
"I've interrupted your dinner," he said.
"'Tis no interruption, Laird," Leah said, waving him in.
"I've come for Bridgid."
"Bridgid," she said, turning to her daughter. "Has she done something wrong?"
"Mother," Bridgid chastised her mother, "why would you instantly conclude I had done something wrong? Perhaps I have done something to deserve the laird's favor. Had you not considered that?"
"Is that it, then," Leah asked.
"Sorry, no. It is the former." He crooked a finger at Bridgid. "Come here."
"Would you have me rudely leave my mother's table in the midst of dinner?"
"Bridgid." Now it was Leah's turn to chastise. "I apologize, Laird. But, if you know my Bridgid, then you know that she can sometimes be a handful."
"Indeed, I am fast learning that. 'Tis the truth, it is a trait I would not see changed."
"Then, you are a better man than most, Laird, and with far more patience," Leah said.
"'Tis kind of you to see it. Would that your daughter could." He turned to Bridgid again. "Do not make me ask you again."
Bridgid stomped past Ramsey and out of the cottage. They walked back to the keep with Leah's apologies floating heavy on the breeze.
Inside the keep, he directed her to sit and called for her to be served.
"Thank you, no. As you saw, I have already eaten."
"Very well."
Ramsey sat and concluded his meal. He peered at her from time to time, smiling. He was pleased with himself. He ate and drank heartily and, though Bridgid refused food, he filled and refilled her wine goblet that he could finally see her relaxed.
The keep was all but deserted. He had killed his usual dinner companions only weeks before and his new ones had left when he went in search of Bridgid. Servants cleared and served but mostly stayed away. He thought it a nice evening after all.
"Come and sit with me by the fire," he said, standing from the table. He grabbed their wine goblets and she followed him over.
Seated now and studying her beautiful features, he took a deep breath. "I had hoped that we would have some time together before Father Laggan's arrival." He took a sip. She did, too.
"Would you like to marry? Consider the question without me. What of the sacrament, the institution? Have you some strong feelings that do not pertain to me that I should know about?"
"I am happy to marry, Laird, and one day have children. Is it not a woman's only sacred duty?"
"I care not of a woman's duty. I care about you."
She looked at him, then. "Do you?"
"Certainly, I do. As a laird cares for his clan, I care for you."
"Umm," she said, resting her lips on the rim of her goblet. "It is as I thought."
"Enlighten me, then. What have you thought?"
She took a deep, calming breath. "Laird –"
"Ramsey, please. I would like very much for you to call me by my given name."
"Ramsey," she chose her words carefully, "you honor my father and mother…you honor me," she met his eyes pointedly, "with your suit. I would have you know that I do not dismiss it lightly. I could not. I would never."
He looked to the fire, then. His eyes stared blankly as he rubbed a finger along his lips, listening.
"You are a good man," she continued, "the best of all men in my eyes. And, yet…"
She stopped and he looked up at her, desperately wanting to hear what was behind the hesitation she so clearly showed.
"…You do not see what I do and that is," she rushed on, "that you only asked for my hand to remove me from England, to gain my obedience. You use my father's pledge and my…feelings as simple tools in your arsenal. You solve problems, Ramsey, and I have been a continual thorn in your side since you became laird." He shook his head. "You have admitted such. You want me in your bed. Aye. You and nine others." He frowned at this. "But, do you want me by your side? Do you love me?"
She searched for him behind his mask of contemplation but he had no easy answers for her. After waiting and watching, she knew the answer that he refused to say. She stood to leave.
"You ask too much."
"No."
"Marriages in the Highlands have been arranged for less."
"I know. But, less is not good enough for me."
He stood, meeting her gaze.
"I want you, Bridgid, and no one else."
"I know. But, the true question is: how much?"
He kissed her, lightly. He was holding back. His mind and heart were in a whirl of confusion. But, she seemed to fill in the spaces where his chaos reigned. Her lips opened timidly and he seized upon her desire. Their tongues met and mingled. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her to him, never wanting to let go.
Strange sensations coursed through her body. An insistent tingling crept through her breasts and moved lower, turning into a dull ache. It was a delicious feeling and, oddly, she wanted more of it, more of the ache, more of him.
Wisely, and none too soon, Ramsey pulled away from her. "We will soon render your feelings moot if we continue like this."
She stared up at him bemused.
"We must be to our beds, separately, alone," he stressed, "for now."
In her haze, she was slow to come to comprehension. When finally what he was saying began to register, she stepped back, flustered.
"Of course." She turned and fairly flew to exit the keep. Ramsey quickly followed to see her to her cottage safely.
At her mother's door, she clasped the latch and Ramsey placed his hand over hers to stay the action. "We are not done with this conversation," he said.
"Have you a different answer, then?"
"I do not know."
"Well, when you do know, seek me out. I will be the most curious to hear your answer."
"Though I am as certain as ever."
"Certain, Laird, of what?"
"Sunday. You will be my wife on Sunday."
"We shall see about that."
"Yes, we shall."
And in turning away from each other, they both sank into wondering.