Page 49 of Wedded to the Twisted Highlander
“I’m nae,” Melody said, her voice high-pitched.
“Good, I dinnae want to hear that ye’re causin’ problems. The Laird has been very kind to us, so far. I dinnae want to give him a reason to throw us out.”
Melody shook her head as she darted toward the window. The evening air flowed into the room, and she inhaled deeply.
“He would never do that. Eileen has told me that Thomas takes his duties far too seriously and how funny it has been watchin’ him get all wonky wit’ ye around.”
Astrid’s heart stopped. She didn’t dare believe a word that was coming out of Melody’s mouth, yet she clung to every syllable.Her thoughts drifted to the way her husband had looked in the corridor. Not like the domineering laird of the castle, but a boy just happy to have his father back.
“Eileen is mistaken, or she’s been listenin’ to the servants, who will soon be talkin’ about how I’m wit’ child,” Astrid said with a heavy heart.
She wished she could be more like a normal bride, one who craved her husband’s touch.
It wasn’t that Astrid didn’t want the Laird to touch her. Oh, how she did. He was gentle and soft despite his size.
Yet, she knew that every man kept a dam locked tight. What would happen if she broke his dam? Would his lust for her overpower his gentleness and patience?
Images of Laird Chalium flashed before her eyes. Astrid hated the fact that her thoughts jumped to him.
“What do ye think of the Laird?” she asked, her voice cracking with emotion.
She couldn’t trust her wit or reason, not when they so easily betrayed her.
“He’s kind. And he’s promised to teach me to ride, can ye believe it? I dinnae think I’ve ever been so excited,” Melody gushed as Astrid guided her to the bed.
Astrid pulled back the sheets and fluffed the pillow for Melody. Carefully, the little girl climbed into the bed and snuggled down. Tucking her in, Astrid’s heart swelled with joy and love for her.
“I didnae ken he was goin’ to do that.”
“Aye, he promised me at the wedding that he’d give me lessons.”
“That was very kind of him, but I wouldnae get me hopes up—the Laird is a very busy man. He may nae have the time.”
Melody bobbed her head as she snuggled beneath the covers. “Well, he had enough time to write that.” She nodded her little head toward the side table.
Astrid followed the movement and spotted the piece of parchment dangling off the edge. She reached for it as her heart went into a wild tizzy. It was as if there was far too much air in the room.
“When was this delivered?” she asked, cautiously unfolding the parchment to read the letter.
“It was on the floor earlier when I came in with Olivia. Ye ken, I dinnae think that she likes me very much,” Melody said. “She always seems so busy. Unlike her sister. Do ye think I could have a sister one day?”
The question floored Astrid, pulling her directly out of the mire of her thoughts. The answer to Melody’s innocent question was far more complicated than she could express.
“I dinnae ken,” Astrid managed to say. “I suppose that is in God’s hands.”
“How does that even work? If ye’re now married to the Laird, he’ll be wantin’ a bairn.”
“And how do ye ken so much about these things?” Astrid asked, shocked that such a topic would even enter into a child’s mind.
“Olivia,” Melody answered innocently. “She says that now that ye’re married, ye’ll nae spend as much time wit’ me.”
“That couldnae be further from the truth. I willnae abandon ye. Have I nae always been there for ye?” Astrid asked, throwing her arms around Melody and pulling her to her bosom.
The very idea of giving up Melody was so outrageous that Astrid clenched her jaw. She was going to have a word with Olivia. There was no way she was going to let Melody think that she could be so easily discarded.
“I love ye.”
“And I ye,” Melody answered, squeezing her even tighter. “But so much is goin’ to change, now that we dinnae have to move around. We can actually stay.”
