"What?" Torrin blurted the word before he could stop himself, outrage and disbelief tensing his muscles.
The man's smile broadened. "I take it you ken who she is as well."
Torrin wanted to smash his fist into the man's face. "I've met her," he said instead, keeping his response discreet so as not to alert MacBain to his interest in her.
"She is lovely," the man mused.
Torrin had no inkling that Jessie had been in a trial marriage. That meant this bastard had taken her virginity and then cast her off like a worn-out shoe. Had she been hurt by his rejection, or happy to leave him? And why would he send her away? Was she barren or had he simply tired of her?
"So… you're no longer married to her?" Torrin inquired in a light tone.
"She was at my castle for a year and a day, as is customary, but…" MacBain shrugged. "I found someone else and sent Lady Jessie back to her family."
"Ah. So you found a more suitable wife."
"Aye, briefly. She bore me a fine son but she died soon after. I'm now in need of a wife again."
Torrin narrowed his eyes and nodded. Why hadn't the man kept Jessie as his wife in the first place if he was but chasing on her skirt-tails again? He disliked indecisive men.
"A chief must have a wife," MacBain said. "You ken what I'm talking about, aye? Are you married?"
"Nay, not yet. Soon, I hope."
MacBain nodded.
"Well, if you will allow us a few minutes to break our fast and finish packing up, we'll ride north with you."
"We need a rest anyway." He turned to his men. "Water the horses." The remaining MacBain clansmen dismounted.
Torrin's men had the camp mostly packed up and his cook was handing out bannocks within minutes.
While Torrin ate, he eyed MacBain. "I take it you are going to visit Lady Jessie."
"How did you guess?" The man smirked.
Torrin shrugged. He didn't like the cheeky bastard. He'd appeared friendly at first, but once he'd started talking about Lady Jessie and his deceased wife, he'd become highly unlikable. Obviously, he had no respect for women. Nor could MacBain make up his mind.
"Are you going to try to arrange another trial marriage with her?" Torrin took another bite of the bannock, although he was swiftly losing his appetite.
"Aye, she was rather smitten with me, so I'm certain she will be agreeable to it."
Hmph. She damned well better not be. Nay, Lady Jessie was intelligent. She wouldn't submit to being the rushes beneath this man's muddy feet. And if she even considered it, Torrin was bound and determined to change her mind. She deserved a man who would treat her like a goddess. Torrin could do that.
Weeks ago, when Dirk and the MacKay party had stopped for a night or two at Munrick Castle, Torrin had been disappointed that Lady Jessie was not traveling with them. For the second time, he'd asked Dirk for Lady Jessie's hand in marriage, but Dirk had said he wouldn't force his sister to marry someone she didn't wish to. Torrin could understand that. If his younger sister were still alive, he wouldn't force her to marry anyone she didn't want to either. A stab of sadness lanced his gut as it always did when he thought of Allina.
He pushed the cutting emotion away and focused on the beautiful image of Lady Jessie in his mind instead. Every time he thought of her, his mood lightened even though she'd rejected him. She simply didn't know him; that was all. She was skittish and suspicious. But he didn't fault her for it; he didn't trust easily either. He'd simply have to prove his worth to her. She made him want to be a better man.
Minutes later, after everything was packed onto the horses, the MacBains and MacLeods rode north.
Torrin hoped Lady Jessie would not give MacBain one moment of her attention. He didn't deserve it. Was there some other reason he was now going back for her? Torrin was certain it had naught to do with MacBain having any feelings for her.
Jessie's older brother, Dirk, was not in Durness, which prevented a marriage arrangement from being made, but MacBain didn't need to know that. He might try to use it to his advantage, or even try to steal Jessie away. Torrin refused to let that happen.
At midday, the sunlight and blue sky glimmered off the dark water of Loch Stack, near blinding him. They stopped to eat and allow the horses to rest. Torrin was staring at the snowcapped mountains in the distance and thinking about Jessie when MacBain approached.
"Why are you headed to Castle Dunnakeil?" MacBain asked. The bold whoreson obviously had no qualms about prying.
"Business. Land," Torrin said and continued eating. Of course, 'twas a lie, but if he could indeed marry Lady Jessie, he would receive the land in her dowry—land that bordered his own. And a marriage was a business deal in most cases. Still, those things were of little importance to him at the moment. He'd wanted a wife like Jessie most of his adult life. 'Twas as if God had taken the woman from his imagination and created Jessie.
He'd never say that aloud, of course; people would think him mad. At times, he wondered if indeed he was going a bit mad. He dreamed of her often, and she occupied his mind during the day. His primary concern now was protecting her from this wily MacBain bastard.
MacBain sat on a rock near him. "I understand Jessie's father passed last fall. Do you ken her brother, the new chief?"
"Aye, Dirk MacKay is a good man. Fair, honest." A bride thief. Torrin held back a grin for, in truth, he was thankful Dirk had stolen his betrothed. Isobel was beautiful, but if Torrin had married her, he would've missed his chance with Jessie. Aye, he had to believe he had a chance with her, despite her resistance.
Torrin glared at the man beside him. Maybe MacBain was the reason Jessie was turned against marriage and men. That had to be it. She would likely be furious that MacBain was back, sniffing at her slippers.
"I'm hoping Chief MacKay will be receptive to my offer of marriage to Jessie," MacBain said.
Doubtful, although Torrin wouldn't tell him this. Let him find out for himself that things were not so rosy. This would give Torrin an excuse and time for Jessie to get to know him. He wanted her trust… and a lot more.
"Why did you send her home at the end of the handfasting?" Torrin asked.
"Another woman bewitched me. 'Twas not something I planned. But I met Ellen about a month after I'd signed the trial marriage contract. I was smitten with her."
"So you sent Jessie home and married Ellen?"
"Aye, but I waited until the year was up so I wouldn't break the contract without good reason and rile her father. 'Twas difficult as Ellen was with child and I had to keep her condition a secret."
Difficult? Did he not think it was difficult for Jessie, watching her "husband" frolicking with another woman? Bastard.
"Lady Jessie must have been hurt and angry," Torrin said, as if only vaguely interested.
MacBain shrugged. "Aye, she glared at me a few times. Gave me the cold shoulder. But I'm certain I can warm her up again."
"'Haps." Ha. The man was full of horse dung. Jessie was more likely to dirk MacBain in his sleep than smile at him. And he hoped she would.
"She's a fiery one."
Torrin glared at him, not wanting to hear one more word or he might choke the bastard before they made it to Durness.
"Why are you pursuing her instead of some other lady?" Torrin asked. "Surely, 'twould be easier if you didn't have a history with the woman."