the lasses vying for your hand.”
He laughed, collecting the arrow again for her. “Does that mean you’re going to vie for my hand? You’re comely enough. You need to learn your place and a few manners, and then you’d be a contender.”
“Are you serious?” Abby rolled her eyes. “As much as I’ve enjoyed you teaching me this afternoon, and being kind…sort of, I’m not doing this to earn your favor. And I’ll certainly never ‘learn my place’ to gain a husband. Do you have any idea how annoying it is to hear a man speak about a woman in such a way?”
“’Tis the natural way of things. I don’t understand why you’re so upset.” He crossed his arms, pulling her gaze to them.
Damn it. She tore her attention back to his face and focused on his eyes. “You’re putting women in a box. Making them think they’ll never be anything other than a servant who’s taken a vow and married a man.” She paused, firing off another arrow, hitting the oak dead center. “Just imagine if my only need of you was sexual.”
Abby walked up to him, walking her fingers up his chest before gliding her hand over his skin. A muscle worked in his jaw, and she half smiled. “How would you feel if you wanted to marry me because you loved me? That you couldn’t imagine your life without me, and I turned around and said, ‘I’m sorry, I may have sex with you, but there’ll never be any emotions involved. You have a job to perform and you better do it good, or I’ll find someone else who can.”
He watched her quietly for a moment, before sighing. “Are ye trying to tell me, lass, you’d like me to tup ye?”
“What? No!” she said, stepping away and laughing in spite of herself. “I’m trying to explain to you how making your future wife go up against other women is foolish, not to mention, mean. You should pick a wife with your heart, not your head.”
“And why’s that?”
“Because I fear your head is beneath your kilt at the moment, and not thinking clearly.” She paused. “You’re going to be with this woman for a long time. There has to be affection, because the lust will wane.”
“I cannot marry a simpleton who’s good in my bed but has nothing between her ears. My wife must be accomplished in all things.”
“And I understand that. I do. But don’t marry a perception of what you think is perfect, marry the perfect girl for you. I know you’re a laird, and with that comes certain obligations and standards that are expected. But most of the time you’re here, with your people, and no one is watching. And if you don’t like your perfect wife, what are you left with? Do you see where I’m coming from?”
Aedan scooped up the spare arrows near her feet, silent for a moment. “Aye, I see yer point,” he said. “But such thoughts are foreign to me. ’Tis not how it’s done, not the way I was brought up to think. If we’re to work together, and make what little time ye have here peaceful at all between us, ye must concede to my way of thinking as well.”
“That’s a fair point, and I promise I’ll try.” She asked for an arrow and took another shot. It embedded itself into the ground. “Why do you need to have a wife from one of these visiting clans, anyway? From what I’ve seen of your people and your home, you don’t seem to be low in coin. Everyone seems well fed and looked after.”
He sat down on the ground beneath a nearby tree and watched her. “I’ll need many men to take down the O’Cain clan. The horrors they put Jinny through I dinna even want to imagine. A strong marriage that will unite two great homes is what’s required to succeed.”
Pain crossed his features, and she knew he was thinking of his sibling. “You feel guilty about it, don’t you?”
“Aye.” He nodded. “I do. Verra much so.”
“You cannot be held responsible for other people’s actions, Aedan. Whatever happened to your sister under the care of the O’Cains is their cross to bear. Their error of judgment. You were trying to gain peace. How would anyone know they would use your act of goodwill in an evil way?”
“I should not have bartered my sister. It was a mistake that’ll haunt me for the rest of my days.”
Abby came and sat