I wrenched myself away from him and slapped him as hard as I could.
He stepped back, his hand to his cheek, his eyes dark with shock.
"I will not be your whore any longer," I said, and my own voice was little more than a shaky whisper.
"Jessie, lass-"
"Do not address me!" I cried. "Do not speak to me! I cannot bear it, truly, I cannot!
You have put me away, and made me believe you wanted no more to do with me, and now you would take me like a-like a common-"
"Jessie, Jessie," he whispered, taking my shaking hands, "no, lass, no, you are wrong!"
I jerked free and started to hurry back down toward the swamp. He caught my arm and pulled me around. I could not stop the sobs which began to heave in my chest and though I tried to pull away from him, he held me fast.
"Jessie, lass, you are wrong," he said. "You are mistaken. I sent you home because I know this is where you love most to be! I couldn't keep you at Barraigh, only to sit at my bedside, when you suffered so there, and longed for Brianag!"
"You sent me away," I sobbed, "and I wanted to stay with you. You sent me away, Robbie! I came to you, and you sent me away!" I covered my face with my hands, and the tears poured from beneath my fingers. "I wanted so much to stay with you!"
"You wanted to stay with me?" he said, and the note of amazement in his voice stopped my tears instantly.
"Why would I not?" I said. "You are the most exceedingly stubborn boy I have ever known, Robbie Stewart. Have you never once listened to me? Do you not believe that I know my own heart when I tell you that I love you?" I was shouting now. "I am your wife! I will be yours always! I love you! I love you!" My tears flowed again, and I struck him in the chest with my clenched fists.
He fell to his knees. "Jessie, Jessie, lass, listen to me," he said, holding tightly to my hands, looking up at me. My handprint was a dark mark beneath the tan on his cheek. "I have caused you so much pain, I know that I have! I am sorry! I am! I thought that by sending you home I would be giving you what you wanted. And I swore-" He stopped.