Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

E rrol entered the sunlit garden walled off from the rest of the bailey, the air heavily scented with roses blooming all around him.

He had never washed up so fast at the barracks after hearing from a servant sent by Cora that Tira awaited him. His hair still damp from a swift toweling and his muscles sore from vigorous training that was all but forgotten when he spied her—och, his beautiful wife.

Her face alight as she gazed at the well-tended rose bushes and bright green herbs growing in abundance, Errol’s heart jumping when he heard a laugh from her at the white-winged butterfly perched upon the table where she sat.

Laughter from Tira…aye, the greatest gift he could have ever imagined, though she fell silent when he approached, her eyes grown wide as if she was startled.

His gaze riveted upon the lovely dove gray hue that had haunted his dreams and made him wonder now how she would receive him, but then she smiled and the whole world seemed to have righted itself.

Smiled ! He had yearned for such a moment, and could hardly believe it had finally occurred, Errol so dumbstruck that he stumbled over a tree root—Tira gasping and jumping up from her chair.

“Errol!”

The concern in her voice touching him more than he could ever say, he had caught himself before falling and smiled sheepishly at her, which made her own smile return, though now she looked a bit flustered.

“C-Cora suggested we have lunch here…in the garden, I mean. It’s a fine afternoon, aye?”

“Aye,” Errol agreed, wanting so fervently to take Tira into his arms and kiss away any nervousness, though instead he contented himself with drinking in the sight of her as she sat again and gestured to the other chair.

“We…we have a fine lunch, too. Buttered oatcakes and goat cheese and an apple tart drizzled with honey. Are you thirsty?”

Errol had to swallow hard as he nodded. It wasn’t water or cider he craved, his gaze fixed upon the soft ripeness of Tira’s lips as she busied herself with preparing a plate for him.

All of it…the sunny early afternoon, the nearness of her, her blushing cheeks a healthy pink hue, the glossy gold of her flaxen hair…making him feel as if he had stepped into a dream from which he never wished to awaken.

Was it possible that freeing herself last night from such terrible memories had brought about this change in her? He didn’t sense any apprehension in her at all and she truly appeared happy to see him—och, he wanted to jump up from his chair and shout to the heavens with elation!

Yet somehow Errol kept his composure as she poured amber cider into their cups, her hands trembling a bit while holding the pitcher, though she didn’t spill a drop.

“There now…let’s eat.”

Oddly, Tira made no motion to pick up an oatcake from her plate…and Errol didn’t, either, as she sighed softly and then met his eyes.

“Errol—och, I dinna know where tae begin. I-I want tae thank you for everything you’ve done for me, aye, and for the twins. Truly, if you hadna rescued me…”

She faltered, her chin trembling, which made Errol reach out his hand to reassure her—and to his surprise, she took it.

Tira squeezing his fingers as if her words weren’t enough to express how she felt, though he didn’t think his heart had ever felt so full.

“You needna say more, Tira. I would have gone tae the ends of the earth tae find you—och, do you know how much I love you?”

Her nod was all she seemed able to muster, and Errol could see that she swallowed hard as if her throat had grown tight with emotion.

Aye, even that was enough for him this day! He interlaced her fingers with his as he saw a flicker of dismay in her eyes, and guessed at once what she must be thinking even as she seemed to struggle to find words.

“Errol, I dinna know how long before—och, before we could ever…as husband and wife…ah, God.”

Tira looked so stricken now that he rose from the table and went down on one knee in front of her, his throat gone tight, too.

“I will wait for as long as it takes, you mustna believe for a moment that I want anything more from you than what you’re ready tae give. Do you hear me, lass? I want you healed and whole and happy…and the rest will come one day, you will see.”

Tira nodded again, and seemed to relax in her chair as she drew his hand, still clasping hers, to her breast and held it there.

Errol swore he could feel the rampant beating of her heart against his fingers, her touching gesture all the reassurance he needed that Tira must love him still…though she had yet to utter the words.

To his surprise, not one butterfly but a dozen or more suddenly appeared to flutter and swoop around them…and then alight upon a rose bush not far from the table.

Their delicate wings a bright white against the lush scarlet blooms, though Errol’s gaze was drawn back to Tira’s face when she sighed and lowered their clasped hands to her lap.

“Cora told me you will be leaving soon. A battle coming between Scotland and England?—”

“Aye, another attempt by King Edward tae subdue us, but he willna succeed. Gavin told me that King Robert plans tae meet the English army near Stirling before they’ve had a chance tae march further north, laying waste tae everything around them?—”

“Och, but you could be injured or-or…”

Tira fell silent, swallowing hard again as if she couldn’t bear to say the word “killed,” which only heartened Errol further.

“You’re a Highland warrior’s wife now…like Cora and so many others. You’ve already proved your bravery, lass, so you must be strong for whatever comes—though I swear, I will return tae you.”

Tira gazed at him so intently, searching his face, his eyes, and appearing as if she might say something else, which made Errol’s breath catch.

Would she finally utter what he hadn’t heard since that day in her father’s great hall when she had said she loved him?

He rose from the ground and drew her up to stand in front of him, her eyes never wavering from his and her hand trembling as he bent his head to kiss her…Tira lifting her face to him and softly parting her lips?—

“Sutherland! By God, I’ve been looking for you!”

Tira gasped and Errol spun around as Lorne MacSween rushed through the garden toward him, the bearded warrior’s expression grim.

“Two ships have been sighted due west—and they’re not Laird MacLachlan’s, the guards atop the ramparts could tell that much. We’re mounting up tae ride along the coastline tae see if we can get a better look and I want you with us. Come!”

“Two ships?” echoed Tira, her face grown pale, though she reached for Errol’s hand as if to reassure him. “I will be fine, you must go.”

He didn’t want to leave her alone, Errol torn as Lorne cursed impatiently behind him, which made him squeeze Tira’s fingers and then release her to stride across the garden, the head captain already well ahead of him.

Errol’s last glimpse of Tira saw her sinking into her chair to rest her head in her hands, and he knew then exactly what she must be thinking.

Had Thorgren Sigurdson guessed where she might be?

If so, that accursed Orkney raider was shrewder than Errol would have thought, his curse ripping the air as he lunged through the garden gate after Lorne.

“Errol?”

Tira had heard heavy footfalls coming down the hallway before the door swung open, and she sat up in bed, her heart pounding.

His tall, formidable shape so familiar to her, his presence swamping her at once with relief, though she couldn’t discern his face in the flickering light from the dying fire.

She should have gotten up an hour past to stoke the flames, but instead she had lain in bed and stared at the ceiling, stricken with apprehension and waiting…waiting?—

“All’s well, lass, I’m here.”

All was well ? Errol’s low-spoken words did little to soothe her after hours spent fearing the worst…that somehow Thorgren had come looking for her—ah, God, mayhap those two ships sighted earlier weren’t from the Orkneys after all!

As if guessing her anxious thoughts, Errol came around the bed to sink down and gather her into his arms…and Tira didn’t stiffen at all. Instead she clung to him, her head pressed against his shoulder.

He smelled of wind and the sea and a masculine scent of his own that she remembered so well from last year when he had held her close, aye, and from more recently, too, whenever he had swept her up to carry her?—

“Och, Tira, there’s nothing tae fear. We rode south along the shore and then northward as it grew dark and saw no sails. Merchants on their way tae the outer Scottish isles, most likely, they disappeared as if never sighted.”

Tira gave a relieved sigh at this news, but still she shivered in her nightgown as Errol pressed a kiss to her temple and then rose from the bed, sighing himself.

Why did she feel he wasn’t quite convinced of what he’d just told her? She drew the covers up to her breasts and watched as he went to stoke the fire, and then began to divest himself of his cloak and breacan, followed by his heavy sword belt dropping to the floor with a thud.

Errol was clearly exhausted from such a long ride and the hard training he had done earlier that day, which made her wonder if he was hungry or thirsty.

They never had a chance to eat in the garden, and she hadn’t touched the food, either, her appetite fled as she had wondered with a sick feeling that still plagued her if Thorgren?—

“Any raider would be a fool tae try and attack Castle MacLachlan,” came Errol’s voice with a harshness that made Tira shiver anew. “You’re safe here with our bairns—och, do you mind if I call them so?”

Tira met his gaze across the distance from the bed to the fireplace, though she couldn’t read his expression with the flames burning brighter behind him.

“I dinna mind, Errol, you’re my wedded husband and father now tae Monroe and Isobel. We dinna have tae ever tell them the truth of their birth if you dinna wish it.”

He didn’t respond, as if taking in her answer, though he sighed again and turned away from her to finish undressing, which made her lie back down and close her eyes…just listening.

Her fingers clutching the covers, she heard two thuds as he kicked off his boots and the swish of his tunic when he pulled the garment over his head…and then a scraping upon the floor as he moved the chair closer to the fire.

“It’s been a long day, Tira. Cora provided us some food and drink when we returned, so you needna worry for me…though I would have enjoyed sharing that fine luncheon with you. Go tae sleep, lass.”

Amazed that once again Errol had discerned her thoughts, she drew the covers up to her chin and nodded…her heart beginning to race when she heard him sit heavily even as Cora’s advice flew back to her.

Tonight invite Errol tae share your bed—but dinna fear, he’ll keep well tae his side until that day you tell him otherwise. Your husband needs good rest for what lies ahead, aye?

“Aye, he does— he does !” she whispered emphatically to herself, though she heard the chair creak as Errol must have glanced over his shoulder.

“Did you say something, Tira?”

Her heart pounding all the harder, she felt a blush race from her scalp to her breasts and she rolled over to face away from Errol’s side of the bed.

“I-If you wish, it would be better for you tae sleep here than in that chair, aye? It canna be comfortable and you need your rest, Errol— och !”

He had moved so quickly from the chair to the bed to fling aside his half of the covers, Tira was certain she had never felt her face burn hotter—her heart jumped to her throat.

“My thanks, wife—ah, this feels so much better.”

As the mattress shifted under his weight, Tira held tightly onto the bedspread and the linen sheet underneath as he yanked them up, or she would have been left with nothing more to cover herself than her nightgown.

Errol had rolled onto his side, too, and faced her, from the tickling warmth of his breath at the nape of her neck, which made her bury her head more deeply into her pillow and shift over even further.

“Och, take care, Tira, or you’ll find yourself tumbling onto the floor. Sleep well, my love.”

She stiffened, certain she had heard him utter a soft chuckle as the warmth of his body, too, seemed to radiate toward her. Only then did she realize he must be naked—aye? She surely wasn’t going to glance over her shoulder and look!

Another low chuckle came from Errol as Tira clutched the edge of the mattress…though mere moments later, she heard his breathing deepen when weariness must have overcome him.

Yet when would she be able to sleep with his muscled thigh suddenly pressing against her bottom? She knew he couldn’t have done so on purpose when he was clearly fast asleep.

The nearness of Errol’s body a stirring sensation she would never have imagined possible as he shifted again and drew closer, Tira sucked in her breath when…in the midst of a low snore, he draped his arm over her shoulder.

The heaviness confirming to her, indeed, that he slept deeply, which made her close her eyes, too, as a strange comforting feeling overwhelmed her to have Errol lying next to her.

Not keeping well to his side of the bed, but on hers, Tira’s last thought as sleep overcame her of how close they had come to kissing in the garden…and she hadn’t minded at all.

Miracle of miracles, she had wanted her husband to kiss her…