Meagan lingered after the others filed out. A stunning woman, with hazel eyes and auburn hair, she'd been the ideal of many a Highlander before her marriage to the McDougall. Kindly eyes met hers. "On my wedding night, I was as terrified as you. It's odd isn't it? To be brought to a new home, to different people. It is terrifying to start a life that is decided upon by our families."
Elsbeth nodded and fought not to tear up. "Aye, I thought myself prepared for this, but it seems I am not. Not in the least."
"Dugan is a good and patient man," Meagan offered. "He will see to it that you are comfortable and protected. You've done well for a husband, do not fret." With a last pat to her hand, the woman left.
Not too much later, boisterous laughter broke from the other side of the doorway. Males’ voices rose in chants and laughter. Without thinking Elsbeth raced for the large bed and scrambled onto it. She pulled the blankets up to her chin just as the door burst open.
If not for the fear enveloping her, she'd laugh at the sight of the large Scot being carried into the room. Most of his clothes removed or askew, he was held at odd angles. Dugan twisted in an effort to dislodge himself from the fists grabbing at him. Through it, he laughed the entire time, as if enjoying the embarrassing display.
"Ah, daughter, we bring your husband," her father's words slurred and she glowered at him. Her narrowed gaze served only to bring a chuckle from the robust ruddy man who turned and slapped Dugan on the rear. "A fine bra laddie, fer ye."
After dumping her husband non-too-gently onto the bed, the men then streamed out, claiming they'd worked up a thirst from the weight they'd carried.
Elsbeth could only stare at the shirtless man who lay sprawled across the bed without moving. She wondered if he planned to remain atop the blankets all night. Although he did not look comfortable, she hoped he did.
Dugan lifted his head and blinked as if not sure where he was. Then he looked at her and grinned. "I'm a wee bit dizzy, they decided to twirl me about for a bit before bringing me up. After the large meal and ale, ‘twas not the best idea I fear."
Of all the moods, she did not expect him to be in such jolly spirits once with her in bed. She could only stare at him dumbfounded. "They will not be content until they are presented with..." Her face reddened, she could not finish the sentence.
"Ah, yes," he slid from the bed and stood not seeming dizzy at all. Instead with graceful moves that seemed at odd with his size, he went to the window and peered out and chucked. "Ha! They gather now beneath."
Elsbeth moved from the bed, each motion made her heart thump harder against her chest. If ever there was a time not to disgrace her father this was it. She'd been mortified to find she'd fainted at the chapel. Then to wake to her mother crying and her father’s embarrassment, she'd promised herself to make the best of it and maintain her composure for the rest of the ceremony. She was not about to fail now.
"We have to do this, I will not be shamed before my clan," she told her new husband who turned to face her with lifted brows.
"I would not allow it either," he responded and moved toward her. The sheer size of the man made her waiver. How was it possible for someone to be so large? He was easily the largest male in the region, even in a room full of warriors; he'd stood head and shoulders above them. Her brothers and the McDougall laird were large men, yet Dugan still was taller and broader.
He reached for her and she pretended not to see it, instead she climbed back onto the bed and laid flat on her back closing her eyes and placing her hands alongside her body.
His footsteps neared. "Ye look like yer laid out for your final resting," Dugan told her and she opened her eyes to see he leaned over her, his brows scrunched together. He studied her for a moment longer. "I will not take ye, lass. Don't fret, just move away for a bit."
"Yes, you will," Elsbeth lifted to her knees and grabbed his shoulders. "I will not be dishonored."
When he did nothing more than gawk at her, she hurried from the bed and yanked her nightdress up over her head and threw it on the floor. Trembling from head to toe, Elsbeth stood before her husband totally bare. Then she turned and walked to the bed, lay upon it and looked to him. "Do it now."
The man had the audacity to laugh. "What in the devil are you doing?"
At noting his study of her body, she yanked the bedding to cover herself and pushed to a seated position. "It is our wedding night, we must consummate the marriage." She pronounced each word with emphasis in case he was daft and didn't quite know what to do. "Have you not done this before? Joined with a woman?"
His eyebrows hitched and his mouth fell open. "Aye, of course. Many times. Well, not many but... What the devil, woman? You haven't done this before and I'm trying to spare you... until you are ready." He picked her up and deposited her on the edge of the bed. "Now, remain still."
He took a dirk from his belt and she stiffened. Her mother had not explained anything about a blade being involved. Perhaps she'd not wanted to frighten her. "W-what is that for?"
Dugan removed his boots and breeches to stand before her bare as a babe. Her eyes bulged. She'd caught a sight of nude males before, of course, as a girl growing up in a keep full of clansmen. Several times as an adolescent, she'd peeked into the great room at night where the warriors slept. But in comparison to any man she'd seen bereft of clothing, this man was magnificent. Her eyes locked onto the large cock between his legs and it twitched.
When Dugan cleared his throat she gasped and looked up to see that he smiled and lifted a brow. "I'm flattered to garner your attention, wife."
With a sniff, she turned away, her face burning. "Mere curiosity as I am not used to seeing a man so...bare."
"Ah. Yes, bare I am, as are you."
"What?" Elsbeth's eyes widened when he placed his foot on the bed and then pierced his calf with the blade. Blood spilled onto the sheets. He then picked the sheet up and held it against the wound.
With a mischievous smile, he smeared the blood on the sheet with his hand. "May be a bit much," he told her and studied the stain. "Never paid much attention to wedding sheets, I'm afraid. Have you?"
Elsbeth shook her head as it dawned on her what he planned to do.
"All right then, come on." He yanked her, bedding and all, from the bed and carried her to the balcony. The bloody sheet hung from his arm yet he managed to hold her against his chest ensuring she was well covered. They exited and waived to the cheering people below.
The next moments were the most humiliating of her day. Apart from fainting during her wedding ceremony, which of course did not make a good impression on her new clan. She was nude, plastered against Dugan's body while the idiot waved the sheet and made grunting noises.
"I wish to go back inside now," Elsbeth hissed at him. "I believe they believe your proof."
"Ah, yes true, we should rest. After all you are wearied after such a quick loss of your maiden head." Dugan lifted her up and once again the crowd cheered. She hid her face against his neck, finding to her surprise that he smelled clean, fresh, and masculine. He must have bathed for the wedding.
Dugan deposited her back onto the bed and went to hang the sheet from the railing. After which he returned, donned his breeches and looked at her with his brows drawn together.
"I think we should sleep, tomorrow will be a busy day indeed." He picked up her nightdress and handed it to her.
Elsbeth got up from the bed and quickly dressed aware he watched her closely, and then scrambled back to the bed to lie on the side furthest from the doorway.
Most of the blanket was off the bed, leaving the stuffed mattress bare. Seeming to have forgotten her presence, Dugan grabbed the blanket and placed it on the exposed mattress. He worked the corners around her. "If you move, I can adjust the bedding."
Feeling like a child, Elsbeth scooted over so he could.
He shrugged. "That will do, I suppose."
Her new husband grumbled something she could not make out between yawns and edged onto the be
d. Somehow he managed to fit his large size to take only half of the space.
The bed sunk when he rose back up and leaned over her. "Goodnight then, wife." His lips pressed over hers. The action caught her by surprise. His kiss was gentle and soft, not at all what she expected. Elsbeth found she enjoyed the sensation of his mouth covering hers.
"Goodnight," she replied a moment later when he'd already laid down and within a few instants a soft snore escaped.
Elsbeth stared at the ceiling and went over the events of the day. Married, a wife, she was no longer a free maid. Her eyes widened.
Something strange happened. An occurrence she didn't foresee. She'd feared he'd take her, that the large male would hurt her by his sheer size alone. Instead of feeling relieved at his not joining with her, she felt something altogether different. Something confusing.
Did he not desire her? Was the man planning to never touch her? He'd said they'd wait until she was ready, but how was she supposed to know when that was?
Rising up to her elbow she studied her husband by the moonlight streaming in from the window. Long lashes swept down almost touching the tops of his sharp cheekbones. Beneath his elegant nose, his full lips were slightly parted. Her eyes traveled to the indentation at his chin and she sighed at realizing how handsome he was.
The broad expanse of his chest rose and fell with each breath he took, the well-formed muscles twitched at something he dreamed.
No she didn't feel relieved at all.
She was curious more than anything.
Chapter 25
Two days later Dugan stood by as Elsbeth bid a tearful farewell to her mother and father. The McNeils left with much fanfare and discussion of competing against the McDougalls at the next games. He remained beside his wife presenting a united, content front until her family disappeared into the horizon.
Once inside, they made their way to the great room, Dugan looked forward to a quieter meal now that the other clan had gone. He sat and waited for the serving wench to bring a trencher. When Gertrude came to serve him, the maid's eyes lingered on him.
He smiled at her. "Good day, fair Gertie, I am pleased to see you are well and beautiful as ever." The wench pursed her lips and fluttered her lashes before moving away. Although appealing and a good one for a tumble, the woman was no comparison to his new wife.
Wife.
He'd forgotten that Elsbeth sat at his elbow. Dugan swallowed and not brave enough to look to see if she'd taken notice of his flirting he instead turned and met his brother's wife Meagan's wide eyes.
Finally he garnered the courage to look to Elsbeth who continued to eat, seeming to not have heard. Or she simply ignored his comments to the serving wench. Of course she didn't care, his wife had been very clear by her actions that she preferred anything but being married to him.
"Dugan, perhaps you can take Elsbeth to the loch's shore. It's beautiful this time of year." Meagan attempted to save him from the awkward moment and he was grateful.
"Aye, good idea," he replied in a voice much louder than warranted. He regarded his wife. "Would you like to go for a ride today?"
Flat eyes met his. Ah, yes she'd heard his comment to the serving wench. Dugan waited for what he was sure was a stiff refusal. But then her gaze flitted to Meagan and she nodded instead. "Of course."
Elsbeth paced in their bedchamber; instead of changing into something more suitable for riding than the gown she'd worn to see her parents off. How to spend the day alone with him now? It was time to get to know him of course, yet things felt so awkward.
Dugan had not spared her the wedding night because he was kind. It was clear to her now. The man had been easy with a smile and compliments while flirting with the serving wench.
Of course, she was aware he'd married her out of duty. It was not a love match after all. How would she deal with the fact he had no qualms in maintaining his trysts with the serving woman or whoever else caught his eye? Elsbeth took a shaky breath. With her head held high, of course is how she'd sustain. What else could she do?
The oaf had yet to claim her, to fulfill his husbandly duties. Well, she'd see to it that he did and claim her solid status as wife. Perhaps bare a child, a son to give her purpose, something to cling to.
She'd win in this battle of wills. Her father had constantly chided her about the fact she was not one to change her mind or course of thinking, once it was made up.
Resolute in her decision, Elsbeth pulled a serviceable brown frock from her trunk and changed into it. After lacing her boots, she braided her long golden hair into a single braid that fell down her back. Afterwards, she went to find her husband, but not before stopping to see if Meagan was available.
The laird's wife didn't seem to be surprised at her appearance in the sitting room, instead she smiled and held a hand out to her. "I hope you forgive Dugan's inexcusable blunder at the meal. Men can be thoughtless at times. Has to get used to the idea of being married I suppose. I assure you he meant nothing by it."
"I am not so sure," Elsbeth sat and fidgeted with the folds of her dress. She raised her gaze and met her new friend's. "We've yet to consummate the marriage. I was willing, I tried, but he said we should wait until I was ready and more comfortable." Her face burned with humiliation, but Elsbeth continued. "It's been two nights. I thought by now..."
The warmth in Meagan's eyes helped settle her nerves and she relaxed. "I suggest you don't make it too easy for him." Meagan's words caught her by surprise.
"No?"
"Of course not. I made things much too easy for Calum and before I knew it almost two years passed before we came to relish each other. It is only recently that we've, how can I put it, began to discover how to enjoy the marriage bed."
Elsbeth was shocked. There was no mistaking the passion that transpired between the couple. She'd caught plenty of heated looks between them and assumed they'd been in love since the beginning. "What should I do?"
"Bring him around slowly little by little until he cannot resist you," Meagan replied with a wide smile. "And then enjoy him. Being with a handsome man like him can be quite enjoyable. Free your mind of all the nonsense you've heard. In the marriage bed it should be only about you and your husband. Be brave when joining with him. You will not be sorry."
"Will he think badly of me?"
"Of course not. McDougall men have always had it easy, women fall into their beds without them having to so much as bat an eye. Their fair faces and stature do all the work for them." Meagan laughed. "So we as wives have to teach them, we are not for only their pleasure, but need our own as well."
"Oh." Elsbeth's lips curved. "I think I understand. Tell me more."
Elsbeth's hips swayed gaining all his attention. With her head held high and shoulders squared, her eyes on his, she seemed to float down the staircase toward him and Dugan could barely tear his eyes away.
Her hand lingered on the banister at the foot of the stairs while her eyes raked over him. When she lifted her gaze to his, her lips curved as she reached for his forearm. "It looks to be a beautiful day for a ride, husband."
"Aye." Dugan's throat was suddenly dry and he swallowed past it. "Indeed it is."
The day was quite pleasant and Dugan was charmed by Elsbeth's excitement at viewing the McDougall lands. He was proud to show her the vast expanse of lush green lands cradled by mountains on one side and a loch on the other. It was sunny day, yet the mists remained atop the mountains giving them a mysterious feel.
With bright eyes, she took in the different vistas he showed her and her husky laughter rung out at spotting a deer that darted into their path. They dismounted by the loch's shore and he tied the horses to a tree where they could eat and drink.
She walked along the water's edge careful not to wet her shoes and leaned over every once in a while to inspect stones and plants. "Come look," she waved him over to where she stood on a fallen moss-covered stump. "The wee fish are plentiful here."
Dugan peered down at the fish noting n
othing of interest about them. "Aye, wee fish."
When she placed her hand on his shoulder a trace of warmth traveled from it and he looked up to catch her studying him. A heated trail formed as her fingers slid from his shoulder to his bicep, but she no longer watched him, instead her attention was diverted back to the water.
He doubted she realized how her touch affected him as her fingers lingered on his skin. Then just as quick as a butterfly's ascent, she removed her hand and stepped away.
It was a new experience for him to follow behind her like a pup as she picked flowers and pointed to certain plantings telling him of their medicinal qualities. He learned much about his wife as she meandered about enjoying the outdoors. She admitted to leaving her keep quite frequently to pick herbs and seek looking at rare birds.
The sun was beginning his descent, the hours flew past and Dugan was surprised how much he'd enjoyed himself.
"Perhaps we should return to the keep," she told him making her way toward the horses.
Dugan caught up with her and took her elbow. She turned to him with an expectant expression.
"Yes, husband?"
"I want to show you one other thing." He was not ready to leave. Dugan scrambled for something to show her, but came at a loss. He guided her past the horses to a flowering bush and pointed to it. "That's pretty, don't you think?" He hoped she didn't notice the huskiness in his voice.
Elsbeth's braid fell forward when she leaned to sniff at the flowers. Just as she did, Dugan realized the bush was a poisonous plant with nettles that caused horrible itching. He grabbed for her and she squealed in surprise, "What are you doing?"
Caught off balance, she fell into his chest. Lips parted, eyes wide, his stunning wife lifted her face and he covered her mouth with his.
Highlander's Kiss: The McDougalls, Books 1-3 Page 14
