Page 28 of Bride of the Merciless Laird
Were his eyes closed?
“Please. Leave the posset on the table and quit the chamber. The water in me bath is cooling and I wish tae step out of the tub.”
There was that infuriating chuckle of his again.
“Dinnae fash, milady. I’m aware of yer… er… state of undress, and I’ve turned me back.”
“That’s all very well, Laird Ewan, but I’ve nay intention of leaving me bath until ye depart the room.”
He coughed and she had the distinct impression he was trying not to laugh.
Once she heard his steps retreating and heard the door creak open, she peeked around at his departing form.
“Enjoy yer posset, lass. I’ll see ye in the banqueting hall fer supper. I’ll leave ye now fer me own tub.”
As soon as he was gone, she eased herself out of the tub and dried off on the linen towels, her body still thrumming. She made a mental note to keep the towels close to the tub in the future. Just in case.
She sipped the delicious posset, grudgingly acknowledging the thoughtfulness of his gesture.
Once she was dressed again in her drab woolen clothing, she fixed her hair in a circlet of braids around her head, adorned herself with earbobs, bracelet and necklace, and, feeling less than satisfied with her appearance headed for the banqueting hall.
Save for the figure of Duncan, lazing by the fire, the hall was deserted when she arrived. There was no one present at the high table, yet the servants were hurrying to and from filling ewers with wine and ale. One maid was decorating the table with a winding of holly berries and ivy. The room was welcoming in the candlelight and the warm glow from the fire in the enormous hearth.
Duncan waved a tankard and beckoned here over. “Come, Lady Tyra, join me by the hearth.”
She made her way through the vast hall, catching her breath against the chill, until she approached the blaze.
Duncan got to her feet and helped her into a comfortable chair.
“Would ye care fer a serving of ale, Lady Tyra?”
She nodded and he filled a tankard with the brew and passed it to her.
“Thank ye, Duncan.” She sipped, grateful for the distraction from her previous thoughts. She was still trying to make sense of the strange combination of embarrassment and feverish excitement she’d experienced when Ewan had intruded into her chamber.
“I daresay ye are greatly relieved ye are nae riding toward Moray in this fierce weather.”
She gave a soft laugh. “’Tis a thought that frequently crosses me mind, Duncan. Nay doubt I would have been frozen into a block of ice by now if I had continued on me way.” Making light of her situation took her mind away from the very real horrors she’d experienced and her grief at the loss of her two stout men-at-arms.
Duncan poured another splash of ale into his cup.
“And here ye are, about to become me braither’s bride and me sister-in-law.”
She grinned, liking the warm tone in his voice. “I look forward tae acquiring another braither. As a wee girl, I wished fer abraither, and this marriage will mean I have two. That is, if me brother, Edmund, and yer Council are in full agreement.”
He took a long draft of the liquor and slanted her a mischievous grin. “Indeed, the Council will be so grateful me braither is tae marry once more, I am certain they’ll be happy with whatever is proposed.”
“Once more?” She raised an eyebrow at him. “The Laird Ewan has been previously married?”
Duncan nodded. “Has he nae told ye?”
“He hasnae.” Tyra shook her head. She found this sudden discovery more than disconcerting but also a tad upsetting, which she found strange. After all, what difference could it make that he was married once before? He’d been determined theirs would be a loveless match. Did that mean he was unable to love again because he had loved and lost a dear wife?
Was that a lurking sense of jealousy roiling in her belly at Duncan’s news?
“Is he… still attached tae his first wife’s memory.” she asked hesitantly.
Duncan gazed into the fire. “It’s nae me place tae say what is in me braither’s heart. Yet I ken he is loyal and that his commitment, once given, is unbreakable. When he cares fer someone, he gives his whole heart.”
