The Bairn of Brianag

"Insatiable wanton."

Heat rushed to my loins and I felt the moisture flow in me. I turned my mouth to his, and our eyes locked together. "Robbie," I whispered. "I need you. You have not touched me for so long."

He put his hand on my neck, drawing me close. "Ah, Jessie," he said, kissing my mouth, then my throat. I quivered with desire for him. "Jessie, lass. There is something I must tell you."

"Yes?" I was almost swooning from his touch.

He released me and straightened up, putting a small space between us. I tried to breathe moderately, but my bosom was straining against my stays. He waited for me to compose myself, his head to one side, his mouth curved up. I glared at him, and he laughed again.

"My uncle has agreed to our marriage upon conditions," he said.

I stared at him, vacuous and stupid. "Conditions?" I said.

"Yes."

"What conditions?" I said, dread crawling over my skin. I did not want to hear his answer.

"We are to go away from Brianag, to hide our shame," he said, and the mocking, derisive note was back in his voice.

"Go away from-from Brianag?" I said faintly. "Go where?"

"Ach, it matters not where!" he said, laughing again. "Perhaps we shall go to live at Gillean!"

I raised my hand to slap him. He caught my wrist, squeezing it until I gasped, then tossed my hand back at me.

"Have we not told you that you cannot always have exactly what you want, Jessie?"

he said softly, and his eyes held mine. "My uncle and aunt wish to keep up appearances, of course! My uncle is an important man in this district! Would you shame him and my aunt, and my cousin?"

The vision of Cathy with her son at her breast sprang into my mind's eye.

"Where shall we go?" I whispered. "Tell me, Robbie."

"We shall go to the back country, to live among the McDonald clan," he said. "My uncle has said that we may return when two years have passed. Only then may we live at Brianag."

"Two years?" I whispered. My vision began to cloud again; I could not breathe for the restricting stays. Robbie took me by the shoulders and shook me. I gasped.

"Do not faint," he said through his teeth. "Do not."