Chapter 12

Odhrán smiled into the darkness, feeling great hope pierce his heart like a bright lance as he listened to Maddison's gentle breathing beside him. His lips still tingled from her kiss, and he exulted in it, sensing this was a turning point in their stormy relationship.

I cannae believe she kissed me! She's worried about me, I can tell. She actually cares about me, however hard she tries nae tae show it. If this is what it takes tae make her like me, I should injure meself more often.

The bump on his head throbbed dully, but he had suffered much worse injuries in the past battles he had fought for his father. And back then, in his lonely bachelor life, there had been no Maddison to tend to him, however grudgingly. Having her next to him in the bed, even if she was still so far away, was deeply comforting. And now he knew he was out of danger, he was not worried, certain the bump would not prevent him from going about his business.

He slept a little, but shortly after dawn he awoke, his manhood like rock inside his trews. Half fearing that in his aroused state he would not be able to resist claiming Maddison as his wife in the fullest sense, he decided he had better get up.

Besides, the matter of Rollo and the attacks had already begun crowding his mind. He dressed quietly so as not to wake Maddison, taking his boots and sword belt in his hand as he padded to her side of the bed in stockinged feet and stared down at her, drinking in her early morning beauty. His heart clenched to see her so radiant in repose, her skin perfect and pale, her cheeks a little hollow from not eating properly, her chin softly rounded like a peach.

Her long tresses, the color of mahogany, lay strewn carelessly across the pillow like a dark halo. He longed to run his fingers through their softness again, as he had when they had kissed. Leaning over her, he dared to touch his lips to her pale pink ones, relishing their soft yielding beneath his. She murmured and stirred in her sleep. Fearing her anger if she caught him, he pulled back.

"Sweet dreams, me love," he whispered, padding to the door and forcing himself to leave her and face what he knew was going to be a long and arduous day. As he strode down the hallway, he tore the bandage from his forehead and stuffed it in his pocket. On his way to his study, he gave orders to a servant for Jess the maid to take up some extra blankets for his wife and to let her sleep as long as she liked.

He intended to breakfast early and then devise a plan with Liam and Tadgh, who was feeling much better, to draw Rollo out. If they could do that, the council would have their proof and grant him the men he needed to launch an attack on Rollo's stronghold. He could almost taste victory on his tongue, and it tasted good.

"I dinnae think ye have tae dae anythin' but wait. Give Rollo enough rope and let him hang himself with it," Tadgh suggested as the three friends sat in the messy guardhouse office talking over the situation. "I reckon it'll nae take long fer him tae come out intae the open, and then ye'll have him just where ye want him."

"Tadgh could be right, ye ken, Odhrán," Liam put in. "Yer weddin' has obviously got Rollo on the run. And a man on the run makes bad decisions."

"'Tis possible, aye, that he might come out intae the open," Odhrán agreed. "But dinnae underestimate him. He looks like a fat weasel, and he's twice as sly. He's nae fool, and he kens very well the council will nae support me with arms while these attacks go on. He wants tae weaken me in their eyes."

"Well, he's nae succeedin' so far," Tadgh said with a loyalty that touched Odhrán's heart. "The folks are all grateful for the extra protection ye've provided against further attacks, and the council have stated that if they have proof of Rollo's intentions, they'll give ye the men ye need tae attack him."

"Aye, they want tae cover their miserable arses," Liam said with a hint of disgust.

"Any news from our scouts about what Rollo's up tae'?" Odhrán asked hopefully.

"Naethin' yet," Liam said. "I'd have told ye by now. But it wouldnae surprise me if he turned up here. I've strengthened security all around the castle just in case he tries tae surprise us with an attack."

"I dinnae think he'll try that just yet," Tadgh put in. "I reckon that when he sees the attacks are nae workin' as he hoped, he'll dae somethin' rash that'll convince the council he's a threat."

"So, ye think we should just wait?" Odhrán asked, wondering if Tadgh could be right. "Ye think he'll make a move that'll expose his intentions?"

"I cannae say fer sure, but as I say, I wouldnae be surprised tae see his ugly mug around here sometime soon. But I think he'll be careful nae tae be too obvious juts yet."

"Well, without any new information we cannae move against him anyway," Odhrán said with a sigh, frustrated. "So, we've nae choice but tae keep our scouts in the field and hope they come up with somethin' soon tae convince the council."

"Aye." The brothers spoke and nodded in unison.

"How's ye shoulder mendin'?" Odhrán asked Tadgh, actually curious about how his friend had gotten on when left alone with Alana but not wanting to embarrass him by asking.

"Och, pretty well, thanks, man. It was bloody painful when ye pulled that arrow out of me, I have tae admit. But Alana fixed me up pretty good, and she says it should heal well, although there may be some stiffness."

"Well, ye must let it heal afore ye go back tae yer trainin'," Odhrán warned him.

"Anyway, forget about me shoulder. What happened tae yer head?" Tadgh asked, staring at the lump Odhrán knew stood out on his forehead.

"Ach, 'tis just a wee bump," Odhrán said, too embarrassed to admit how he had gotten it.

"Are ye sure ye've nae been fightin' with Maddison again and she lumped ye?" Liam asked with teasing smile.

To cover his embarrassment, Odhrán laughed. "She'd have tae stand on a stool tae reach me," he said, brushing it off and hoping they would drop the subject.

After a little more ribbing, Liam had to go off for his rounds, checking the men were on alert for an attack. Unable to train, Tadgh went with him.

"Are ye nae comin'?" Liam asked as he grabbed his keys and prepared to leave the office.

"Nay, I have some work tae dae. I'll be in me study if ye need me," Odhrán told them, intending to do exactly that. But when he had taken his leave of the brothers and headed to his study, he was suddenly overcome with tiredness. Since all was in hand to deal with Rollo for the moment, he decided to take a nap until dinner time. He headed up to his chambers, half hoping to find Maddison still in bed. Juts the thought excited him.

But when he arrived, the chamber was empty, the bed neatly made. He saw that Jess had been in and left the extra blankets at the end of the bed as he had instructed. He did not want Maddison wandering around the castle in the dark again just because she was cold. Remembering the weight and warmth of her slight body against his chest as he had carried her to Alana warmed him. His heart ached to really hold her close and show her how much he cared for her. But Liam had said to take things slowly, so that she came to him, and he was not about to ruin things by getting ahead of himself, however much he wanted her.

With a tired sigh, he pulled off his boots and undressed down to his shirt. Then he climbed into bed and snuggled under the covers, appreciating the comfort. On a whim, he pulled Maddison's pillow to him and hugged it, breathing her perfume in deeply. With visions of her dancing behind his eyes, he smiled to himself and soon fell into peaceful sleep.

It was late afternoon, and Maddison had been visiting Alana. But when a patient arrived for urgent treatment, she left and headed back to the castle, feeling at a loose end. She guessed Odhrán would be up to his ears in problems to do with the attacks. She decided to go back to their chambers and read for a while before she had to start getting ready for dinner, hoping for some peace.

She was, therefore, very surprised to find him in bed, fast asleep. Finding herself anxious for him once more, she peered at his face for any signs of a fever. However, he looked fine and peaceful, and heartbreakingly handsome, the harsh planes of his face softened by sleep. Unable to prevent the warm glow the sight caused in her chest, she turned away from the bed. It was then that she noticed the blankets neatly piled at the foot. The warm glow expanded. She could not help but be touched. Amid all his troubles, he was still thinking of her comfort.

Deciding he needed the rest, she quietly took off her shoes, selected a book to read from the pile, and settled comfortably in the chair before the fire. She had been reading for some time, a fanciful adventure story about a rich woman stolen away by a pirate captain. It was, she knew, utter nonsense, but the storyteller was masterful, and she was soon engrossed.

"What time is it?" came the deep voice from the bed, pulling her sharply from her reverie. Startled, she dropped the book and looked around at him. He was sitting up in bed, and she blushed to see he was clad only in his shirt, with part of his chest, covered with springy dark hairs, on display. A strange thrill ran through her, and she had to look away.

"Um, about an hour before dinner time," she told him, getting up and going over to the bed. "How are ye feelin'?"

"I feel much better now I've had a proper sleep," he replied, yawning, flashing white teeth, and then stretching luxuriously.

"Ye'd best have some of yer tonic," she said, trying to tear her eyes away from his chest, the sigh of which was making her feel strangely hot. She went to the nightstand and poured a little of the tonic into a clean glass.

"Nae without whisky," Odhrán said, leaning over and retrieving the bottle. She held the glass while he topped it up with the golden liquor and set the bottle aside. "Thank ye. Here goes." He threw down the concoction with a grimace.

"D'ye feel up tae goin' downstairs fer dinner or would ye rather stay in bed and have it in here?" she asked. She was not unwilling, she found, to stay there with him. The room was warm and cozy, and she would rather not have to dress for dinner.

"Comfy as I am, I think I'd best get up and show me face. With these attacks goin' on, I need tae show I'm in charge," he said. "Otherwise, folk will start tae think I'm weak and nae fit tae be laird." She noticed a tinge of regret in his voice and felt a pang of sympathy for the weight he had to carry.

"Aye, I suppose so. All right. I'll dress and come down with ye. I'll ring fer some hot water tae wash and some tea." She went and pulled the bell rope to summon a servant.

"Thank ye," Odhrán said huskily, his eyes following her around the room and burning into her. It made her feel rather shy.

"Are ye responsible fer the extra blankets?" she asked, settling down in her chair again, partly to await the servants and partly so she would not have to look at Odhrán. The way he was making her feel was very troubling to her, but she could not find it in her heart to be mean to him just then.

"I just didnae want ye fallin' down the stairs again because ye were cold," he told her, running his hands through his hair in a very distracting manner. She decided to take the bull by the horns and ask the question burning inside her.

"Odhrán?" She took the chance of looking at him, wanting to see the expression on his face when he answered.

"Aye?"

"Why are ye bein' so kind tae me after the way I've treated ye?"

He looked startled by the question. Then he shrugged and looked at her, his dark eyes shing with sincerity.

"Maddison, I never wanted tae be at war with ye. I hate it when we fight. It makes me miserable, and I ken ye've been miserable too. I ken 'tis hard, what with our past and all, but we're married now, and I want things tae work between us, even if it means I have tae sleep on the floor for the rest of me life tae keep ye happy."

"Oh," she said, feeling rather small in the face of his humble generosity and earnestness. She could tell by his eyes that he meant every word. But what really bothered her was that she was not all sure she wanted him to go back to sleeping on the floor. She thought fast. "Well, ye must stay sleepin' in the bed until Alana gives ye the all clear on yer concussion. I still have tae give ye the tonic, remember?"

She almost regretted her words when she thought she spied his lips curling up at the corners, again suspecting he was wearing her down deliberately by stealth. But if it was the beginnings of a smile, he soon stifled it, and she did not take back her suggestion.

"Thank ye, I appreciate that," was all he said. The conversation was interrupted then as the servants arrived with the hot water, and Jess brought the tea tray. The fire was stoked until a good blaze warmed the room.

"I must have a shave," Odhrán muttered once they were alone again, rubbing his bristly chin. He swung his long legs out of the bed and stood up. A waft of his scent, sandalwood and woodsmoke, enveloped Maddison as she leaned across to the tea tray and took the cup Jess had poured for her. She settled back against the pillows and blew across the hot liquid before sipping it. It was sweet and reviving, laced with the honey she loved.

While she drank her tea, she watched her husband covertly. He wore only his shirt, and she could glimpse the outline of his body as he moved to the wardrobe and fetched himself a clean shirt. He was massive and powerful, the muscles in his arms and shoulders rippling as he stretched and yawned himself awake. Despite herself, the sight sent a hot thrill chasing up her spine.

"Ye might want tae avert yer eyes," he warned her over his shoulder as he went to the washstand. Maddison pretended to do so, but she could not help peeping at him. The breath left her body, her eyes flying wide open, when he suddenly, in one swift movement, pulled the dirty shirt over his head, dropped it on the floor, and stood naked, his back to her.