She didn’t know what was going on but she held him anyway. When he stopped trembling, he slid to her side and tugged her into the crook of his arm. His breath was shuddery and she found herself resting right on top of his pounding heart. As her breath evened out, the reality of what she had done began to settle on her. She had lost her innocence without the coverage of marriage. What would her mother have said to her? What look of condemnation would be lobbied at her?
Her heart was about to speed up and a toxic mix of worry and shame was about to envelop her when a thumb traced over the delicate arch of her cheekbone. She twisted only to have her mouth be taken in a kiss.
“Did I hurt ye?” Angus asked quietly.
Magdalene saw a tight furrow of worry in his brows and reached up to press it out with her fingers. “Yes, but it went quickly, and I felt the best pleasure I have ever felt in my life.”
His sigh of relief was audible as he wrapped her closer. His lips were on her temple, “Ye make me happy, Magdalene. More than ye ever can ken of.”
She warmed. “I feel the same way,” for a moment she considered, not knowing how to phrase her question. “Why did you…er, remove yourself from me?”
“Me seed, Magdalene,” Angus nosed at her hair. “Ye are not ready for a bairn yet.”
The soft rumbles through his chest, his warmth and the lingering spurs of pleasure were lulling her to sleep. She still felt contented to ask, “Bairn… that is a child, correct?”
“Aye,” Angus said as his hand ran over her back in soothing strokes. “Aye, it is.”
Magdalene was silent as her breathing had evened out. Angus was almost sure she was asleep when her drowsy voice muttered, “I wouldn’t mind having your child.”
Thank God she was asleep so she wasn’t able to see the absolute shock painted on Angus’ face. Nor did she see the slow, spreading smile that took its place after.
Chapter 20
Never in his life had Angus hated waking up. He actively loathed the very notion of blinking his eyes open as it might very well dispel the sheer comfort of having Magdalene beside him. His nose was buried in a bed of her silky hair and the soft rounds of her breasts were pressed on his side. This was heaven on earth to him.
But there was a constant knocking on his door and no matter how he tried to ignore it, it kept coming. A particular heavy thump had him cursing and shifting Magdalene away from him. He slipped out of bed feeling to meet the interrupter with his sword while he wrapped his plaid around his waist and tightened the belt.
He forwent the shirt and yanked the door open ready to let loose the tide of curses building on his tongue. It was his mother. He clamped down on his mouth so quickly his teeth audibly clicked. Lady Isobel, dressed in a traditional tartan gown, ran her shrewd eyes over his chest and then they rolled in exasperation.
“So, I ken yer recovered,” Lady Isobel drawled mockingly. “But I would like to remind ye that today is yer birthday and yer presence is required to meet all the clans that will come.”
Running a hand over his face, Angus nodded. “Aye Mother.”
Lady Isobel came closer and her eyes narrowed with a thinly-veiled threat, “Did ye treat her right?”
Angus felt like a child again under her stare and was tempted to ask ‘which she’ but knew he would be walking a thin line if he tested her patience, especially on this day. “On me honor, Mother.”
She came closer and her eyes were slits. “Ye dinnae get her with child, did ye?”
His hands pressed on his eyes in deep mortification. He was not going to speak with Mother about this, “Mother, please, for the sake of God—”
“Dinnae ye dare drag God into this,” Lady Isobel hissed and accented her reprimand with a jab to his chest but she sounded pleased. “But good for ye. This castle has been preparing for this day for three days now and we’re almost done. Get yerself ready for yer duties. I’ve sent a gown up to Magdalene’s room for her, too. Ye two should get down to the great hall in an hour.”
“Aye, Mother,” Angus said and closed the door behind him. Magdalene was up in the bed and rubbing her eyes. The sheets were pooled around her waist and her hair was covering her nipples. His arousal flared and he suddenly ached to feel her against him again.
Before she could realize how bared she was, Angus got back into the bed and tugged her to him. He kissed her cheek and then nibbled at her ear. “Dae ye have any regrets, m'eudail?”
“About what we did?” Magdalene asked as her cheeks began to redden. “Last night?”
“Aye,” Angus said, as he pulled away to peer into her eyes. She had not answered him directly so he wanted to see if her eyes had the answer instead.
Her gaze was not wavering so he hoped that what he was seeing was right. What he did not expect, though, was to see that though Magdalene’s eyes were a lovely green he saw an undertone of deep blue. A faint memory or possibly a thought niggled at his mind but he brushed it off. “Did it bother ye? Ye did say it would if others kent.”
“No,” she shook her head. “It did not bother me. I…you took care of me and I…wouldn’t mind doing it again.”
“Music to me ears,” Angus grinned. “I wouldnae mind doing it again either but for now, I need to ask ye a question. Today is me birthday, and I’d like if ye would come to the festivities. I ken ye are concerned about being seen in case word gets out to yer Uncle. If ye would like to stay in yer rooms, I will understand but if nae, would ye go with me?”
Indecision rested in her eyes and Angus had to stop himself from doing something that might sway her into his favor. He wanted her there, with him on his arm and looking radiant but it was not his place to force her.
“I’d like to, but are you sure I’ll be safe?” she asked.
“I assure ye,” Angus grinned as he reached out and took her hand. Lifting it to his lips he kissed the back. “Mother has a gown for ye sent to yer room.”
Looking down at herself for the first time, Magdalene went bright red. Her bare body was littered with forming love bites and she slapped an arm over her breasts. Angus laughed and pulled her hand away. “Nothin’ I haven’..ae seen and loved, lassie. Now, let me take ye to yer room and Mother already kens about ye and me so dinnae ye fash yerself about that.”
“Dinnae…fash?” She asked uncertainly.
“Dinnae ye worry about it,” Angus clarified as he went to fetch her discarded gown. He handed it to her and kissed her cheek, “Let me take ye to yer rooms, Mother is waiting for ye.”
While going to get a shirt, Angus briefly pondered on how this would look to his family. Malcolm was going to get big-headed and declare that he knew it all along and Ailsa would glare at him. But he did not care.
Magdalene was the one he wanted and if God smiled upon him, she was the one he was going to have, hopefully, for the rest of his life. He might have to convince a few people, namely Magdalene’s aunt, and her mother, but ultimately it was the lassie’s choice and as far as Angus saw, she might have already made it.
A soft hand touched his shoulder and he twisted to give Magdalene the best reassuring smile he could. She had to be anxious about leaving the room knowing that servants would be running all around the castle and someone was bound to see her. Just like before, he rested his hand on the small of her back. “No one is gonna look at ye in any demeaning way when I’m with ye.”
She shot him the withering look his mother would have given him, “The problem is when I am without you, Angus.”
He shrugged, “I’ll make a decree then, anyone who would dare shun ye, I’ll have his head.”
Wide eyes were turned on him. “His head? As in—”
Angus made a slashing motion across his throat. “Gone.”
“Angus!” she cried in horror. “That’s a bit extreme, isn’t it? You cannot go decapitating a person because he looks at me judgmentally. I can love with them looking at me— eh, why are you laughing?”
“I am just foolin’ with ye, lass,” Angus chuckled
as his hands rested on her shoulders. “But today will be so busy I doubt anyone would give ye a second look with all this run-around. I give ye me word, anyone who dares sneer at ye will answer to me. It a benefit of being a Laird.”
The lines in Magdalen’s face told him that she still had her reservations, and Angus had to admit to himself that she probably was right. Some of the older clansmen were very traditional and would cruelly snub her if she was known to have slept with him. Some, like Malcolm had derisively said, would demean her as his plaything instead of a wife and he actively dreaded that.
“Now,” Angus said, feeling that time was ticking down on them, “Let’s get ye to yer room.”
Her reticence was still noticeable as they left the room and a corridor down almost collided with a servant who barely looked at them. “Apologies, Me Laird.”
Angus shot a pointed look at Magdalene, telling her wordlessly that he was right about them being ignored.
They had to take a circuitous route to avoid going to the main stairs because that was the easiest way to get her to her rooms. Servants did scurry along the corridor with washbasins or dusting cloths in their hands but aside for greetings, seldom did any of them give Angus and her deeper attention.
Holding the door for her, Angus kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll see ye soon.”
“You, too,” Magdalene said with a nervous smile as she slipped inside and closed the door behind her.
The castle was busy and with all the attention directed on finishing the preparations, he thought he had time to take a quick run to the loch and bathe there instead of having water carried to his room. Unfortunately, his Mother, too perceptive for his liking, had his wooden tub filled and his formal plaid laid down on a new set of sheets.
He groaned audibly—now his mother knew exactly what had happened. There was no way she—and the washerwoman—was going to miss the blood from Magdalene’s maidenhead. Shaking his head, he shed the shirt and prepared the razor and mirror for shaving. Many Scotsmen were proud of having long thick beards as his father had but not him, he preferred a clean slate.
Running a hand over his shaved face, and satisfied with the result, Angus went to the bath. He was mulling over which of the clans he might encounter and how to go about securing a stronger alliance with them. He was not about mixing business with celebrations when others might have shunned it. His father would always tell him that anyone who was drunk enough would agree to almost everything.
There was going to be the reception of his guests, a formal meal, then a jousting tournament, a dance, and then when all formality was over, merrymaking until possibly dawn. From his window, he could hear the sound of bagpipes, light and airy coming from the front of the bastion. The first Clan had arrived, possibly the Montgomery Clan as they were the Williamson’s nearest neighbors, well, friendly neighbors. Laird Iain Montgomery was a close friend of his.
Angus wore his blue, black, and grey plaid proudly, securing the fly of his plaid with a jeweled brooch at his shoulder. He only took a moment to slide a likewise jeweled sgian-dubh into his plaid’s hose.
After a quick detour from the main staircase, he popped into the great hall to see if all was in order. The tables in the great hall were rearranged to make four long tables, set for the Clans Montgomery, Douglas, Maxwell and Stewart. Just below the high table, another table was placed for the elders of his clan. New rush-mats were on the floor and the tables were littered with welcoming springs of thistle and heather.
Satisfied, he made it to the large foyer in time for his mother to enter with Magdalene—God’s teeth, a resplendent Magdalene—in tow. The young woman was in a deep green shoulder gown with her hair in waves down her back and shoulders. She looked like an angel just descended from heaven, a spirit of pure beauty and wonder. Her pale skin was glowing and her hair even more so.
As she came to stand near him, he looked closer and saw the faint outline of her nipples, taught in anxiety perhaps, against the bodice of her gown and nearly swallowed his tongue. Would it be too reprehensible for him to beg off this meeting, throw her over his shoulder, and find a room where he could taste those sweet rosebuds again?
“I ken my old dog Rufus had the same look ye have now,” Ailsa jeered him as she took her place. “Wipe the drool of yer chin, brother, ye cannae have ye be lookin’ like a dobber to our guests.”
Squaring his jaw and refraining from slapping his smart-mouthed sister over her head, Angus dragged his eyes away from Magdalene. “Where is Malcolm?”
“Who kens?” Ailsa shrugged. “Malcolm always was a law unto himself.”
Grunting at his brother’s audacity to be absent, he then faced the doors as they opened. A lady, flanked by two men, walked in, all three clad in beautiful dark cloaks lined with animal fur. The lady’s coat was lined with white rabbit and the other two were lined with red fox fur. Behind them were a slew of people, all members of the main family and their helpers.
Angus bowed just as the ladies curtsied. Deciding to ignore the Laird he focused on the lady. “Me Lady, Arwen, how are ye doing with yer brute of a husband?”
The woman’s lips twitched while the man nearest her had a sudden storm cloud blowing over his face. “Nae bad, Me Laird, but ye might have some groveling to do. Iain is nae, er, in the best of moods today.”
“And it’s getting worse,” Laird Montgomery growled. “Yer attitude Angus is nae helpin’.” Despite the gruff words exchanged the two embraced and backs were slapped. “Me best wishes to ye on yer thirty-one year.”
“Thank ye,” Angus said, then looked to the silent third man, the Laird’s cousin, a tall dark-haired man with a thick beard and sharp grey eyes. “How are ye, Kenneth? I expect ye’d be participating in the tournament, eh?”
“Wouldnae miss it for the world, even brought me trusted lance, Me Laird,” Kenneth Montgomery grinned to him. Angus glanced over his shoulder to Iain and his wife, who had gone off to greet his mother as Kenneth added, “Is that yer sister or a squire?”
Grinning, Angus turned to a scowling Ailsa. “A weed, Kenneth, a veritable weed.”
“And the other lass?” Kenneth’s voice had dipped as his eyes shot over to Magdalene. “I dinnae ken I’ve seen her before.”
Following Montgomery’s gaze, Angus watched Magdalene stand aside as his mother spoke to Iain and Lady Arwen. He felt pleased when Ailsa stood beside her as support. “Its… complicated, Kenneth.”
“Eh, nae so complicated to me,” the man grinned. “But this is nae the time or the place to have this conversation, aye? Lead me to the great hall, and after I have a pint in me then we can talk.”
Angus should have expected the man to spot his emotions towards Magdalene in a heartbeat. With almost a decade older than him and with Kenneth learned in the way to see shifts in body language and understand wordless cues, how could he have not expected the man to pick up on it? Shaking his head, he directed a squire to show the family to the great hall.
Another flurry of bagpipes announced another clan. Angus wanted to go and take Magdalene to be beside him but that would only raise more questions than he had leeway to answer. It was best for all their sakes if she stayed with his Mother.
Clan Douglas, an ally clan from the lowlands, came next and only a group of men entered. There were squires and pageboys but no women and seeing as they had come from so far, it made sense to not carry any women with them. The chief-at-arms, a Raibert Douglas, apologized for the absence of his Laird, Mungo, as he was tied with dealings with the MacKenna clan.
Angus welcomed them and sent them to their table in the great hall. It did not pass him when wondering eyes were cast over to Magdalene, some with pure curiosity, others with deep admiration, and a few with unbridled lust. It had taken all his control to not snarl at the man or grab Magdalene and claim her as his in front of all present with a deep kiss. But he didn’t. His fists did clench and his teeth did grind, though.
Clans Maxwell and Stewart came through and as they went off to th
e great hall, where happy chatter and the clinging of toasting cups were heard, Angus was about to gather his family and take their place at the head table when his mother went stiff and Ailsa went white. Frowning, he spun towards the entrance and his eyes laid on a woman that he had not thought he’d ever see again—Ithel MacTavish.
Chapter 21
Seeking an answer from Ailsa, who was now pale, and Lady Isobel who had gone rigid, Magdalene’s only hope was with Angus who she looked to last. His eyes were trained towards the doorway and she followed his gaze. Standing there was a beautiful woman, pale-haired and blue-eyed, with four men standing with her. The oldest and closest had greying hair, and by the hand resting on the woman’s shoulder, he was probably her father.
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