Page 26 of Highlander's Wild Lass
“I truly cannae stand ye most of the time, Celestia. Yer insufferable. But we would have to consummate the marriage, people will make sure of it.”
Celestia balked at the idea of people waiting outside Anthony’s chamber doors, waiting to see if they had indeed done what a husband and wife were supposed to do on their wedding night.
She held up her hand. “Stop. We’re discussin’ this like I already agreed. There will be nay movin’ to the castle, nay weddin’, and nay beddin’.”
“Will ye nae listen to reason? I ken ye to be a smart woman, Celestia. Our marriage will benefit us both. It will get the other chiefs off my back about marryin’ their daughters…I’ve gone too long without a wife; they’re gettin’ hungry for alliances.”
“I’m nae stoppin’ ye, go make yer alliances.”
“I daenae care to make marriage alliances with them,” he told her. “That’s beside the point anyway. Yer goin’ to give up yer entire family bein’ well off and taken care of after yer faither passes all because ye won’t agree to marryin’ me?”
Celestia was silent.
“Ye could do much worse, Celestia.”
She rolled her eyes. “Ye think far too highly of yerself.”
“Maybe I do, but I would nae be as stubborn as ye are bein’ about this entire thing. It’s simple, Celestia. We marry, the other clan chiefs leave me alone, Auralia gets proper tutors as do the boys. Chester and Hugo will be trained in swords and guns, to be soldiers. Yer faither will be well looked after. And ye will be able to do whatever ye wish.”
“Whatever I wish,” she repeated. “What do ye mean?”
“I mean whatever ye wish,” he told her. “We’ll be able to do whatever we want behind the castle walls. The only time we will truly have to act as man and wife is at gatherin’s, weddin’s, and the like. All other times, we can do as we please with our time.”
“Separately, ye mean?” she asked, loosening her hold of the arisaid around her.
“Aye, separately, but…” he said, a smirk growing slowly on his pink lips. “We could try the beddin’ part. I’m sure ye’ve nae forgotten that kiss, I havenae.”
Celestia laughed mirthlessly. “Yer nae doin’ a great job at persaudin’ me. The last thing on my mind is layin’ with ye.”
“Is it, lass? Are ye sure?” he said. “I’ve seen the way ye look at me.”
“Look at ye? I daenae look at ye in any such way.” She headed towards the front door. “This is the last time I’ll say it, Anthony. I willnae be marryin’ ye. Now take yer maids and yer men and be on yer way.”
“Fine, if that’s what ye want.”
“It is,” she said, holding the door open for him.
Anthony looked around the kitchen a final time, seemingly stalling to find something to say, before heading towards the front door where Celestia stood. He stopped just before the threshold, right in front of her.
“My offer stands nay matter how long it takes ye to see it as a good idea.”
“Ye’ll be waitin’ forever, then.”
“Nae, I daenae think I will be,” he said, smugly. “I can take care of ye in all ways, lass.”
Anthony reached out a hand and ran one of his fingers gently down her cheek and along the length of her neck. He moved closer, their eyes locked for a quick moment, then he looked to her lips.
He leaned in slowly. Celestia froze, and a heat unlike she’d ever felt before coursed through her body.
Anthony’s lips parted. Celestia couldn’t help but part hers. And she was suddenly hit with the realization that she had been waiting for another kiss, longing for one since the other night.
His lips hovered near hers. He exhaled a short, quiet laugh and pulled away.
“Till next time, Celestia.”
Chapter Seven
“Ye should really be takin’ it easy, Celestia,” Auralia said when she entered Celestia’s room. “I brought ye some toast and butter.”
