Ian nuzzled into her hair as she asked, “Why are you so smiley?”
“Aye, sweeting, the smile cannot find enough room on my face. For a time this night my heart held such fear. Never could I explain it to you. Now, I lay here holding the woman I love with the knowledge she loves me in return. Such a sweet feeling has consumed me that I am near to bursting with joy.”
Claire cupped his face in her hands. “I was afraid of what you would be thinking. Please don’t doubt me again, Ian.”
“‘Twas foolish of me. I kenned it at the time but could nay stop myself. No more doubts. Only us together, ‘tis all that matters.” He held her tightly and asked, “What kept you this night? Why were you so late?”
“I was with your sister. No one told her about us. I should have, but with not seeing Aliana for the last few days, I forgot she didn’t know.”
Well aware of the fire Aliana possessed, Ian said, “I am assuming this was nay a pleasant conversation.” He wondered how he could have been so foolish. His sister hated not knowing anything and was well known to react badly to almost everything.
With a soft laugh, Claire said, “Honestly, it started very badly. Things were said that I never expected. If Hagan had not arrived when he did . . . let’s just say he broke it up just in time.”
“It pains me to hear you argued with Aliana, sweeting. It has been apparent from your arrival that a bond was forming between the two of you. Is there peace now or should I go speak with her?”
“It’s fine now, Ian. I told her the truth, all of it, how we met and where I am from. I think the shock of it took any anger away. Things are fine now.”
Regret that he had left Claire vulnerable to anyone filled him. “Forgive me. I should have spoken with my sister. On the morrow I will ensure that there is no misunderstanding. She should also hear all of this from me.”
“No offense, but I think she’ll be looking for me. There may be a question or two she has to ask.”
“Now you ken why we did not speak of your home to my sister. Her questions are likely to continue for days.” A part of Ian could not fathom how Claire was able to forgive Aliana’s outburst. In his mind, he could assume what had been said. He knew his sister too well. Yet they lay wrapped in an intimate embrace, skin to skin, and laughing about it. With a soft kiss to her hair, he enjoyed her soft breath against his neck and the feel of the skin of her back and hip as his hands softly roamed.
“So it seems jumping to the wrong conclusion is a family trait,” Claire teased as she placed a kiss against his throat.
Once again there was laughter in his chamber. “So it would seem, sweeting. My sister and I both need to ask first and judge later. Let us put the foul part of the day behind us.” The lack of reply from her made him question, “Was there more to your argument?”
“Aliana said something, but never mind, I’m sure it doesn’t matter,” Claire answered.
Brushing the hair from her forehead to place a soft kiss, he said, “‘Tis something if it makes you this quiet.”
Claire snuggled closer. “Your sister was angry and probably just trying to make me mad.” Ian pulled her body away from his side and forced her to meet his gaze. She reluctantly continued, “She asked if I was like the others, just one more woman you talked into bed.”
Ian could only smile at the comment until the moment Claire looked away from him. “Sweeting, you misunderstand.” He forced her gaze back to him. “My sister was only speaking from anger. Aliana has never seen me talk a woman into bed. There is no denying I have bedded others, but never here within our chamber. And you will never find a lass who can lay claim to any part of my heart. I have saved that for you. You are all to me, Claire. Whatever was past has no hold on me.”
“I think I understand what you’re saying. I’m sorry I brought it up.”
“‘Tis nay over until your body seeks my warmth.” Ian noted the distance between them. “I have loved only you.”
Once again, she snuggled against his chest and tucked her head under his chin. “This can be over as soon as you stop talking about it.”
“‘Tis over. We are both fools. You have jealousy over something that meant naught to me. While I fear another man, a man you dislike, for making an offer of marriage. Mayhap we should just play chess.”
“Deal. Tomorrow night we play chess, and tonight we can agree on being fools.” With a light kiss to his chest, she said, “I meant it, Ian. No offer will ever change how I feel about you. You are all I want.”
“As you are all I want, my sweet Claire.” Ian pressed his lips to her hair and pulled the bedding over them. “You give meaning to my life. There are no words to express the joy in my heart that you bring. You are my life.”
“You are my life, too,” Claire answered as the yawn escaped.
Ian saw the tiredness in her eyes. Regret should have filled him with the way their evening had been spent, but he was unable to find that emotion. While the night had held its challenges, he and Claire had talked them through. He nestled his cheek against her hair, and he was confident they would see through life’s challenges together. “There are things I should have asked from the beginning.”
“What questions, Ian?”
His fingers pulled through her soft brown tresses. “Would you prefer to bind your hair for sleep?”
“No. I hate sleeping with my hair tight. It drives me crazy.”
He continued to pull her soft locks through his fingers. “For this I am grateful. Your hair is soft and sweet, to be denied its feel would be a loss too great to bear.”
“What else?” Claire asked as she nestled in his arms.
While he caressed the soft skin of her back, he said, “Would you like your shift to sleep in?”
“This is how I normally sleep.”
Claire softened against him as he leisurely rubbed his hand over her hip and side. “This pleases me greatly, sweeting. The feel of your warm skin against mine as we sleep is a pleasure I did nay ken could exist.” Ian sensed her body relax as sleep took hold far too early for his taste.
“You have a gift with words, Ian,” Claire said with a voice filled with sleep. “What else?”
“‘Twas all, sweeting. I merely wish to make certain you are comfortable as sleep finds you.” As her breathing evened out, a soft sigh of contentment reached his ears and answered his unspoken thoughts. Their evening had started too late. There were things he wished to speak to her about and hear her thoughts. Ian smiled as she snuggled close to him in sleep and held her. Once again he looked forward to the new day.
Chapter 20
She stared into Ian’s face as he rested on his elbows above her; she traced the stubble that appeared every morning. Claire was still breathing too hard as she eased her legs from their tight grip on his waist. His eyes were warm and gentle as a smile slid across his mouth.
“Good morrow, sweeting.” With a kiss to her lips, he said, “I can nay think of a finer way to welcome the new day.” Ian gazed to where their bodies were still joined.
Light streamed in from the window. She had meant to leave at first light, but waking him to say she was leaving had led to her staying. She returned his grin. “I thought I said I was going to get dressed and you should go back to sleep.”
“I dinna believe you complained about staying a wee bit longer with me.” Settling on his side, Ian pulled her into his embrace. “‘Tis too hard to find sleep again without you tucked into me.”
Claire forced herself to move away from his warmth. With a quick kiss, she sat up in bed and wished she were someone who could go back to sleep. “Too late, I’m up. Go back to sleep. I will see you at the meal.” Her vocabulary had changed, and she liked it. Her movements felt heavy as she rose and dressed, and she was unable to stop the yawn that escaped as she stretched.
; “You are still tired. Come back to bed, sweeting.” Ian offered with a mischievous grin.
“Then going back to bed will not help.” Claire laughed while she sat to lace her boots and Ian struggled to sit up.
“One week in my bed and you are already tired? Come, we will sleep some more, I promise.” Ian’s grin revealed the thought on how he planned to wake her up later.
While the offer held temptation, she wanted to be gone before the household woke. “I need to go. Go back to sleep.” The kiss goodbye resulted in Ian grabbing her, and he gently threw her back on the bed to land on top of her. “Let me up. I’m leaving.”
“What will you do this day, sweeting?”
Her hands ran over his strong shoulders. “The sun is finally out after a couple of days of rain. My guess is that Neala will want to get some laundry done.”
“Fine. Your skills are nay required for such tasks. There are plenty of lasses here to accomplish the work. I am planning to ride out to meet with the men who care for the livestock. The day would be far sweeter if you joined me.”
Who could refuse? “That sounds great. When do you want to go?” She was excited at the thought of leaving the grounds as realized she hadn’t been farther than the village since her arrival.
“Mid-morning. Mayhap you can ask the kitchen to pack us a meal. We can eat outside after the business is finished.”
Claire smiled at Ian perched over her and rewarded his idea with a warm kiss. “I like the sound of that.”
She wasn’t surprised Ian took full advantage of the situation. He deepened their kiss, and she questioned if she would ever get enough of him. Against her better judgment, her mouth opened to allow his tongue’s exploration. Even after a night of very little sleep, her body tingled with anticipation of what could happen next.
The question danced in her mind. Why would I ever want to leave this bed? Footsteps in the corridor provided the answer. She preferred everyone not know where she spent her nights, at least not yet. The hand on the laces of her gown was pushed away as the fear of being discovered crossed her mind.
“Off me, Ian. I would prefer to have my bath before Cerwyn wants his meal.” She took full advantage of his lax posture, and with a shift of her hips and a push on his thigh, she forced Ian off and onto his back. She landed to sit on top of him. “Maybe now I can get out of this chamber.”
Ian lifted his eyebrow. “‘Tis a fine move, lass. But why leave now when I am at your mercy?” Ian pulled her down and peppered light kisses against her neck.
Claire knew if she didn’t leave now then she never would. She said, “I’m off to the baths. Go back to sleep.” She lifted herself off of Ian and scrambled to the floor. He rose from the bed and followed her to the door. A naked Ian wrapped his arms around her waist and held her against his chest. “I thought you wanted to go back to sleep?”
“I merely wished to make sure you made it safely to the door, sweeting.” He turned her to face him, and his grin gave away the falsehood in the statement. “There will be no more sleep for either of us this morn. Go to your bath. I will see you at the meal.”
Caught in her gaze, Ian’s face was an open book. Claire knew he understood her desire to keep this from being household gossip. “I will see you in a little bit.” With a quick kiss, she left the chamber.
The smile fell from her face as the door closed from behind as a voice called out, “Claire, is that you?”
With a heart that beat far too quickly, panic consumed her at the scene that was to come. “It’s me, Mairi. Let me explain.”
Mairi stepped back into her chamber. “Quickly, come in, before you are seen.”
She followed Mairi into the room, grateful that the confrontation would be private. Once the door closed, the stench hit her hard. It had only been four days since the room was cleaned. The air was simply foul.
Mairi paced and shook her head in an obvious attempt to clear her thoughts. “I saw you, Claire. I saw you leave the laird’s chamber. What have you done?”
“Please, Mairi, let me explain it to you. There is a lot you don’t know.” The girl paced, and Claire mentally prepared for the outburst.
Mairi fell to her knees in front of her. “You have sinned, Claire. Sinned for me. When we prayed for deliverance, I did nay ken what form it would take.” Mairi grabbed Claire’s hands. “You have saved me. No one has even lifted a finger to help me. Yet, you risk the fires of hell to save me from him.”
Mairi’s reaction completely mystified her. She was prepared for a rant of sin or anything other than this. Filthy hands wrapped around hers, and Claire found that Mairi’s gratitude tasted bitter. There was no honor in the deception. She finally answered, “Mairi, I didn’t do this for you. I did this for me.”
Mairi’s laughter came out like a squeak. “Dinna you see, Claire? The prayers worked. The Lord has saved me because my prayers are so strong. Finally, he has heard me. Will the laird now cancel the marriage? Can I go back now?”
Now she had to be the one to tell her nothing had changed. “No, Mairi. You will still marry. I can’t change that for you.”
“I understand, Claire. My dowry is still wanted.” Mairi said as she lowered her head.
She knelt beside the girl. “I’m glad you understand. This is your home now. Remember, we talked about that.”
“I remember. But now he has you. He will take out his evil lusts on you. I shall find some peace, won’t I?”
She knew there were way too many devils in the details to contemplate this conversation. “Yes, Mairi, most nights the laird will spend with me.”
Mairi nodded. “You sin for me, Claire. I will pray. I will pray every day for your soul. I promise you, my days will be spent repaying you.”
A sad smile covered her face. Mairi should be outraged, not thankful. “Thank you, Mairi. Your prayers are a kind offer.”
Mairi rose to pace again. “‘Tis nay enough. Tell me how I can thank you. Anything, Claire, anything for you.”
I shouldn’t take advantage, but opportunities like this are going to be rare. Claire said, “There is a way you can thank me.” She led Mairi by the hand and led her to the door. “Come with me. You are going to take a bath.” When panic filled Mairi’s face, she added, “Where I am from, they say that cleanliness is next to godliness.”
“I trust you, Claire. But I will nay enjoy this pleasure for the flesh.”
The pair walked hand in hand toward Neala, who waited to assist her as she did every morning. “Mairi would like a bath, please.” Claire returned her attention to the bride. “Mairi, this bath will involve a lot of scrubbing. There will be little to enjoy.”
Encouraged that there were no further complaints, the two women led Mairi to the bathing chamber. Thankfully, Neala took charge of the situation. Women were sent to clean the chamber and instructed to bring clean clothes. Neala was to do the actual bathing. Claire’s only role now was to keep Mairi as calm as possible. Finally, four hair washes and two body scrubbings later, Neala declared it done. The housekeeper helped the girl rise from the bath.
Claire found herself comparing her figure and Mairi’s as she helped to dry her hair. She noted the sagging of her flabby body, the skin marred from body acne and most likely poor hygiene, and knew she was much better looking naked. Claire forced the nasty thoughts away. Any physical comparison would only lead to resentment toward Mairi, and she’ll never understand why.
“These are nay my clothes,” Mairi said as Neala held up a clean gown for her to wear.
“They are now, my lady. The lasses have worked hard to make new, more appropriate gowns for you. ‘Tis my hope it pleases you.” Neala’s response was formal and surprised Claire as she had never heard the woman so distant.
“Should I keep this on?” Mairi asked clearly confused.
“
Yes, Mairi. It is much more appropriate and quite lovely,” Claire said. The gown was simple, light green, and laced up the front. Yet even clean Mairi was still Mairi. She had to squint to see anything with her small, dark eyes. No wardrobe would hide the fact the girl was short and fat. The skin on her face and body was marred by acne and the scarring left behind. Claire knew it was wrong to note all of this, but she couldn’t stop her mind from cataloging the physical flaws.
“May I return to my chamber now?” Mairi’s agitation grew more obvious with the request.
“There is no permission needed. I shall escort you myself. Some food will be brought to your chamber if you prefer.” Neala’s voice was curt and polite.
There was no reply they understood, so Neala led Mairi to the door. Neala spoke to Claire while she led Mairi out. “Child, leave the mess for now. The lasses will come to clean this chamber. Use the other one. ‘Tis already late, and the wee one wakes any time now.”
She smiled at the soft command and the clear affection. “Thank you, Neala, for all of your help this morning.”
“Dinna thank me. I believe you ken how pleased I am to have this done. I will bring you a clean gown. Enjoy your bath.” Neala turned her attention back to the muttering Mairi. “Come now, my lady, back to your chambers.”
Claire made her way to the adjoining chamber and hoped a soak in the tub would help her make sense of what had just happened and maybe wash away the guilt that threatened to consume her.
After wiping away the mess from Cerwyn’s face and hands, Claire said, “I’m not sure if you eat more or wear more.” She was rewarded with his laughter, but loud voices from the kitchen caught her attention. With Neala not in sight, she scooped up the child and made her way to the kitchen. Tavis’s voice was harsh and angry. “I said this is nay to be used today!” Two young men carried in casks of some type of beverage through the kitchen door. Tavis attempted to block Finella from the casks and was entirely unsuccessful.
[2015] The Draig's Woman Page 21
