Thorburn smiled, stood up and began putting his shirt back on. He laced it up and put on the jacket, starting in on the buttons. Ailene thought, that's what it all boils down to, dinna it. Trust. Trust my husband, trust his love is true and nae misplaced. Trust his brothers, trust that they will be discreet and nae bring shame to her or Stuart. Trust myself. Trust that I will nae feel like a whore and that I can handle whatever happens and make it work.

Ailene said, "What exactly were you hoping for? Do I kneel, bend over a sack of potatoes? What?

Thorburn paused on his last...