Rogue's Challenge (5 page)
"Go ahead, Jenny. It takes me a long time to get to my room. This bus has only one gear, low,” Amelia said with a snort. “And I do have a few medical supplies, remember?"
"Oh yes, I'd forgotten. They'll help, but I'm sure you didn't pack an extra pair of glasses for me.” That last comment was aimed at him, Ian was certain.
Elspeth took Jenny's arm and guided her up the stairs with Amelia slowly moving along behind.
"Bloody spectacles,” Ian grumbled, stomping along behind them toward his chamber.
Jenny could barely believe it. Tuck blubbering on her shoulder and as huge as a house? It seemed unreal. Well then, so did time travel, so she supposed it fit into the scheme of things. Her big bad bodyguard was going to be a mother. It was the last thing Jenny had ever expected. She hadn't time during her brief journey to contemplate why Colin and Tuck would've sent Ian to get her. There were too many other variables involved in her situation to allow her a moment to turn her attention to that puzzle.
Like a strong man with a hypnotic voice and heavenly lips?
She silently chastised herself for letting her thoughts run amok. There were other things to think on, like Tuck's child. Men were not in the equation. And there were so many other things to consider.
Mostly, she realized as she ran her hand over the homespun dress she wore, she was in sixteenth century Scotland. She was living a dream, she was experiencing a great adventure. The reality of it all had her perching on the edge of the bed, her knees a bit weak.
Never had she ever guessed where her association with Amelia Tucker would take her. Locked away in her lab for most of her adult years, she'd never imagined she would have such exploits. Her father's insistence that she take a trip to Europe had led to the most amazing adventure of all. She'd been beyond jealous of Tuck and her trip through time, but was too much a coward to take the trip herself. But Ian Southernland had left her no choice.
She moaned and rubbed her forehead. With luck, the bedpost won't have left a mark where she plowed into it earlier. But that wasn't the cause of her headache. She had to thank the pigheaded Englishman who brought her here, but it galled her to do it.
There was a knock at the door. “Jenny dear, are you ready?” Elspeth called.
"Yes.” She stood and watched a blurry round woman come into the room. Elspeth took her hand and led her safely past the bed, through the door, and down the hall.
"Elspeth, I'll need you to be my eyes while I examine Tuck."
"Of course dear,” she said, and patted her hand. “I'm not sure what you've seen thus far, but Amelia is very large. I have no’ seen anyone so big with child afore."
"Really? Interesting. How far along is she?"
"She's only in her seventh month, I'm thinkin', but ‘twould seem closer tae her ninth if you but look at her.” She sighed. “Tae believe I am about tae become a grandmother and a great aunt at the same time. I have been truly blessed."
"Yes, you have,” she murmured, recalling that Elspeth had wed Colin's father during Tuck's first visit.
She cleared her throat, dissolving the jealousy rising inside her. Was she doomed to be alone, not wanted, with no family of her own her entire life? Even her father's insistence that she take a tour of Europe was mostly to get her out of his hair after her completion of her tests on EQ13.
He'd placed high hopes that it would make him
more
millions. But as she surmised, the drug was only a passing success, nothing too earth shattering and definitely not worth millions. So he sent her away, told her it was for her own good, when she knew it was because he couldn't stand the sight of her. Even the kidnapping threats hadn't stopped him from pushing her out. At least he'd assigned Tuck as her bodyguard.
The thought of her bodyguard-turned-friend brought a smile to her face. Tuck was her only friend. One who wanted her here to help her with her pregnancy, but not just because she was a doctor. Tuck trusted her, cared about her. That was something Jenny couldn't ignore. What a shame she had to live in a different time. It put a major damper on visits, and yet here she was.
"Do you suppose ‘tis the fare I've been giving her that's made her so big?” Elspeth asked, pulling Jenny from her thoughts.
"I doubt it. She wouldn't eat unless she was hungry and, well, both Tuck and Colin are big people, so a large baby isn't surprising."
Elspeth chuckled. “Aye, that they are. Glad, I'll be when you've had a look at the lass."
Jenny cringed. How could she possibly be of any use without her glasses?
"Here we are,” Elspeth said as she led Jenny into Tuck's room.
"Finally! I can't wait to hear what you've got to say,” Tuck said, her voice tight with worry as she shoved the bag of medical supplies into her hands.
"I'm sure you're fine. Isn't that right, Elspeth?"
"Aye, tae be sure. Now, Colin, this is woman's work. Off with you."
"I'll no’ be leavin’ at a time like this."
Jenny laughed softly, wishing for the hundredth time that someone might care for her that much. “It's okay, Elspeth. Without my glasses, the sort of checkup I'm going to give her won't be very invasive. There isn't any point, since I won't be able to see what I need to see."
"I will leave for Edinburgh on the morrow,” Ian said as he strolled into the room. “There I shall acquire you a new pair of spectacles,” he said with finality.
Jenny held in the shiver his voice caused. “You won't be able to find any. Not in this century. Not like the ones I require,” she said, refusing to look at him. His impressive height and size were all quite visible, and she knew how it felt to be held against his massive chest. Not looking would help her to not want, or so she theorized.
"I will find you a pair of spectacles. For the most severe myopia ‘twas e'er seen."
"You mean for someone blind as a bat,” she snipped, jerking the stethoscope from the bag then clipping it around her neck.
"'Twas not what I said."
Turning to face this irritant, she fisted her hands at her hips. “You still can't choose them for me. It would be a waste of time."
He stepped closer, towering over her. “I can and I will."
"You won't."
"I say you need the bloody things and I
will
get them!"
"And I say you won't get anything but a piece of worthless glass!"
"Colin, do me a favor,” Amelia said. “Grab him and get out of here so I can have my physical. Before I kill both of them."
With a chuckle, Colin kissed her, then snagged Ian by the collar.
"Bloody termagant,” Ian bellowed as he was hauled backward.
"Obstinate ass!"
The door slammed soundly ending the argument.
"Well,” Elspeth said. “Now that that's settled, let us see tae my grandchild, shall we?"
"Did you hear what she called me?” Ian sputtered.
Colin chuckled heartily. “I think the lass has spirit."
"Spirit? She is a-a-bloody lunatic! Regardless of the facts presented before her, she is determined to disagree with them, merely because I am the bearer of such information. I shall grant you she is intelligent, but never a more hard-headed woman has it e'er been my
dis
pleasure to meet."
"Like her that much, do you?"
"That ‘tis a very poor jest, my friend."
"But an apt one, eh? Do you no’ remember how Amelia and I were at crossed swords in the beginning? ‘Tis the first woman you have e'er met, other than my Amelia, that meets you head on as a man instead of swooning at that pretty face of yours. And you, my friend, doona know what tae do about it.” He slapped him on the back. “That annoying charm of yours willna’ help you this time."
"As usual, you have lost what little brain you were gifted with upon your birth. That female is not for me,” he protested, but Colin only grinned wider. “'Tis inconceivable!"
"The woman is tiny aye, but a very pretty lass she is. And you canna lie tae save your soul, Sassenach, so doona try."
"I ne'er said she was not pretty.” He adjusted his doublet from Colin's handling. “She is quite comely. Until she opens her mouth.” Unless he was kissing her, then her mouth was quite a joy.
Colin laughed heartily. “'Tis such a good turn tae see you suffer as I suffered."
"Delusional, as usual. You are imagining things. Seeing things that are not there through those lovesick eyes of yours. Either that or the fact you are about to become a father has stolen the last bit of sense you e'er had."
Colin sobered. “A father. I still canna believe it.” He leaned against the wall and stared at the closed door before them. “What do you suppose is takin’ so bleedin’ long?"
Ian relaxed and took a place beside him against the wall. “We shall no doubt know something soon enough."
Ian worried for Amelia, but his friend's previous observations were what plagued his mind. They were entirely too accurate. Yes, he liked the woman, far more than he liked any other, and yet he could not fathom why. She was stubborn, hardheaded, and argumentative. They were at odds over nearly every topic thus far. And she was a tiny thing, when he was a rather large figure of a man. He'd always leaned toward those women who were hardier than Jenny Maxwell. One of the many reasons he'd hoped, although only idly, to court Amelia when they'd first met. But it wasn't long before she fell quite hopelessly in love with his friend.
But this woman. No, the idea was ridiculous. He admitted that her fey-like features and delicate form were enticing, but she was not for him. He stroked his chin. That kiss however...
The door opened, thankfully interrupting the direction of his thoughts. Colin braced himself, no doubt afraid of the worst. Ian gripped his shoulder, offering his support in whatever was to come.
Elspeth's smiling face peaked out and motioned them inside.
Colin rushed to Amelia's side where she lay upon the bed, her face awash with tears. “Mavourneen, what ails you?"
Ian stole a glance at Jenny as she took the stethoscope, he believed ‘twas called, from her ears. She sported a bright smile. Whatever the cause of Amelia's tears, they were happy ones, thank heaven.
"We—we're—” Amelia blubbered and loudly. A sight Ian would ne'er get used to, but since the babe, she seemed to do so often.
"What is it? Tell me what's wrong,” Colin demanded of Jenny, his face contorted with worry.
"You're going to be the father of twins,” Jenny said, still smiling. She was quite lovely. And although Ian felt the weight lift off his shoulders at the good news, he couldn't help but notice a faint sadness in Jenny's eyes.
"Twins?” Colin squeaked, not a manly sound, but considering the news, Ian could not fault him for it.
"Everyone is quite healthy and I expect a somewhat easy delivery, considering things, but she is confined to bed for the duration,” Jenny said.
"Hell,” Amelia grumbled with the last of her sniffles.
Jenny giggled. A sound, not unlike tiny tinkling bells Ian once heard a long time ago in a church. Sweet and clear.
"They'll be early,” Jenny said, completely unaware of his discomfort. “We're looking at maybe a month at most. Not too terrible a wait, Tuck. You'll be fine. Take up knitting or something."
Amelia shot her a glare with a faint growl. One he knew Jenny could not see, but the maid laughed. There was no doubt she knew her friend well.
"Twins, I canna believe it,” Colin rasped.
"Two hellions to drive you sorely mad. Now that ‘twill be a delight to see,” Ian said.
"Would you care to hear their heartbeats?” Jenny asked Colin.
"Hear their...” he swallowed hard. “Aye."
He moved down the side of the bed while grasping Amelia's hand. Jenny handed him the stethoscope and he placed the tips in his ears. She felt her way down his arm and took hold of the disc and pressed it to Amelia's large belly. The smile and wonder that spread across Colin's face was a sight to see, one that warmed Ian deep inside.
With a tear glistening at the edge of his eye, Colin snatched the things from his ears and hastened to the head of the bed. He took Amelia's tear-stained face in his large hands and pressed a most gentle kiss to her lips.
Ne'er in his life had Ian e'er been jealous of his friend, not in truth, not until now. This overwhelming love before him was a wonder. It was a miracle, a gift, one he would never know, for he was not only a fourth son, but a bastard son.
His heart lay heavy on his chest as he watched his friends’ loving display. He could not be happier for them, but it could not dissuade the emptiness surrounding his soul, for no woman of gentle breeding would ever want a bastard for a husband.
A sniffle to his right caught his ear. “Let us leave them to their privacy,” Elspeth said with a faint clearing of the throat, and escorted Ian and Jenny from the room.
"Ian, you mind the lass while I tell Douglas of the news.” Elspeth bustled off down the hall toward the Laird's chambers before he could protest.
"Would you care for a tour of the castle, Mistress Maxwell?” he asked awkwardly. “Or perhaps I can escort you to your chamber?"
"Um, a tour would be nice. Although I won't be able to see much of anything."
He let out a long harsh sigh, but decided to leave the old argument alone this time, and slipped her hand onto his arm. As they wandered the halls, little was said between them, other than Ian's comments about the rooms.
Upon entering the solar, he introduced her to Douglas, Colin's father and the Laird of the clan, who sat with a very large smile on his face beside Elspeth in front of the fireplace.
"Would ye believe I'm about tae become a grandfather? Of twins, no less?” the old man said with hearty laugh. “I thank ye for coming tae Amelia, lass."
"I'm glad to be here,” Jenny said softly. She felt Ian's gaze with that statement. Slowly, she turned toward him. “Thank you for bringing me. I
am
glad I came. Even without my glasses."
Ian bowed and escorted her to a chair. “I will do my best to find what you need, mistress.” He sat near her on a sturdy bench.
