Page 113 of The Dawn

Lochinvar nodded. “The vessels are harrowing, the voyage is terrible, but tis worth it for the food.”

She leaned back in her chair. “Dost they hae… I believe tis called ‘chocolate’?”

I nodded. “They have wonderful chocolate where I come from, my favorite is a chocolate bar with salted caramel.”

“Someday I would like tae try that.”

Her attention was drawn down to the Earl’s end of the table, and I spoke to Lochie in whispers, “Phew, I had no idea what to say.”

He said, “Aye, twas difficult.”

“It was.”

We finished our meal and I began eating my dessert. He whispered, “My wife, ye ought tae eat quickly, we need tae return tae our room.”

I said, “Aye, m’laird, that sounds perfect.”

He raised his brow. “What sounds perfect? I dinna even mention what we would do in the room.”

I smiled and batted my eyes. “Oh I know what we will do in the room.”

He said, “Och, yer smile is the undoin’ of me, I canna look or I winna make it tae the room. Even though we are stuck, I am verra glad we were married first, or we would be discussin’ right now where I would be sleepin’. I daena think I could bear it.”

“I am very hot for you, I would be trying to talk you into sleeping on me or under me…”

“Lady Ash would be drawin’ me intae a sin?”

I sighed. “Yes, I would, because I would totally regret putting you off — Ididtotally regret it, though I’m glad we are married now. And relieved I didn’t need to steal a time machine and go back to that moment in Balloch when I told you that the thumb oath didn’t count.”

“What would ye say tae yerself?”

“I would tell myself to hush up.”

“I told ye, I told ye ye were causing trouble where it dinna need tae happen.”

“Well, I was sure I was right, it’s very hard to turn me from an opinion once I believe it is rightly made. One of my drawbacks, I’m glad you married me before you got to know so many of my drawbacks.”

“Och, ye are opinionated… ye are certain of yerself, these are not drawbacks. I tell ye, Ashy, the men of m’clan are always tellin’ me, ‘Lochie, ye canna be such a braggart, tis causin’ trouble.’ But I tell them ‘It is better tae be certain than uncertain.’ I hae confidence, so do ye, I winna hold it against ye.”

“You say that but I haven’t argued with you about anything yet.”

“Ye argued with me about gettin’ married! Ye won the argument! I had tae live with the consequences of it! I had tae shift time tae marry ye in a medieval church in front of a king, och nae, I think we hae argued plenty.”

“True. And I suppose you still like me.”

“Aye, I do, verra much. I am verra glad I winna hae tae sleep on the floor.”

“That must have been really uncomfortable.”

He chuckled. “Twas torturous. Hae ye seen yer face when ye sleep, Ashy? Ye are the most beautiful thing I hae ever seen, tae hae ye within reach, but telling me I couldna touch ye, drove me senseless…”

I said, “Then we better get to it.”

He grinned, asked permission of the Earl that we leave, then, once granted, he stood, pulled out my chair so I could stand, and said his goodbye to the Earl and his guests. We left for our room.

CHAPTER 45 - MAGNUS

THE FOREST BETWEEN KIPPEN AND STIRLING - JUNE 20, 1291

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