21. Chapter Twenty

Lorena tried very hard to keep from heading back down the stairs and pulling every strand of red hair out of the woman's head. She'd been so proud of Craig when he told The MacKay that his wife was the right woman. That warm glow seeped out with every minute that woman had her arms wrapped around her husband.

She'd known from meeting Craig when she and her brother had gone to Dun Ugadale to speak about a marriage arrangement, that he was a favorite of the lasses. Tall, muscular, with dark hair that brushed his shoulders, and deep green eyes it was no wonder the lasses were drawn to him.

And him to them.

There were lasses at Dun Ugadale who had seemed unhappy when she and Craig had returned there after their wedding, but they were not as bold as the lass they had just met. And she had suspected that back at Dun Ugadale Helena would have put a stop to any untoward behavior.

"Doona pay attention to Beattie, wife. She is not known for her virtuous ways."

Lorena removed two of her better kirtles and shook them out to remove whatever wrinkles they'd gotten being transported from home. "She dinna bother me," she lied, "I barely paid attention to her."

He smiled, almost as if he knew she was lying. "I think I might take a short rest before we go down for the evening meal," she said. Almost from the day she'd learned she was carrying a bairn, she'd required a nap in the afternoon. Helena had told her it was very normal and she, herself, had a nice long nap in the afternoons when she was first pregnant. ‘Twould be so easy to just blurt out that he was to be a da, but she still held back, not completely sure why. How would a man who never wanted marriage feel about being a da, a further tie?

"Aye, ‘tis a good idea. I ken ye are no' used to travel so ‘tis sure I am that a short rest would do ye well."

She held her breath as she asked, "Will ye join me, husband?" Whatever was she doing? She was tired from the trip, she needed rest, not bedsport, but she couldn't help asking. Her husband had certainly made up for his absence the few days that he'd been home before they left for Varrich, but she felt the need to have him hold her after the encounter with Lady Beattie.

He walked to where she had been removing things from her satchel and took her in his arms. "There is no'thing more I would like to do now than join ye in that bed," he tilted his head toward the big, comfortable bed in the middle of the room. "But Robin wants to meet with me and Finn before the evening meal."

She nodded her head, trying hard to hide her disappointment. "That is fine, husband. I just thought ye might be a tad tired yerself." She tried to push away, but he wouldn't release her.

He leaned in close to her ear and spoke softly, as if they were in a crowded room and he didn't want to be heard. "I look forward to the end of the day when we both return here. I will bring a jug of wine with me."

Ach, how the man could manipulate her. ‘Twas no wonder the ladies were quick to lift their skirts for him. But she was not going to let that woman keep her from enjoying her trip to Varrich. "Aye, husband. That sounds like a verra good idea. I will make sure I am well rested by then."

He grinned again and kissed her on the forehead. "I look forward to it." With those words, he left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

She touched the spot where his lips had briefly rested and stared at the door. Ye are in a lot of trouble, lass.

***

When Craig had first asked Robin if he could bring Lorena along, he'd done it more to show his brother that he could be a decent married man. But now that Lorena was here with him, he found it quite nice to look forward to perhaps some dancing tonight and then the walk to their bedroom, with wine and a climb into bed to end the day.

He"d also enjoyed waking up the few mornings since he'd been back with her lovely, plush bottom pressed up against him. Taking her first thing in the morning when she was flushed with sleep was something he'd not experienced before. He didn't believe waking up alongside a lass he'd only pursued for a tup would have been as satisfying as bedsport first thing in the morning with one's wife.

Since his return, he'd seen nothing of the sharp-tongued lass he'd married. Aye, he did occasionally see the fire in her eyes at something he said to her that she assumed was more of an order, but he found he liked that about her. ‘Twas much more interesting to have wife who gave him a spirited disagreement at times. If he were to be married, even though he'd protested for years that he would not, he would find life with a very agreeable lass boring and more of a reason to stay away.

He made his way to the great hall just in time to see Lady Beattie chatting with two other women. As soon as she spotted him, she left her friends and sauntered over. "So, ye left yer wife upstairs, so ye doona have to spend time with her?"

"Beattie, please, just leave me alone the time we are here. I am a married mon now. I owe my loyalty to my wife and I am honor bound to adhere to my vows."

"Pssh," she said with a wave of her hand. "You will no' convince me that ye have changed yer ways." She stabbed him in the chest. "And I remember for years hearing ye say ye would ne'er marry. The only thing I can think of is she found a way to trap ye."

"Well, yer thoughts are wrong. Now if ye will excuse me, I have a meeting with my brothers." He walked off, not before hearing her call after him. "Ye will change yer mind, Craig. And when ye do, ye ken where I am."

"Have ye had a chance to speak with the laird, yet?" Craig asked as he entered the small room that he, Robin, and Finn had secured for their meeting.

"Only for a few minutes. There is some concern about the Gunn clan joining up with the Sinclairs and the MacLeods and forming an alliance. Right now that doona seem to be a concern, but if they try to join up with the Ross, the group would almost surround the Sutherlands. Since we're right next to them, it could be a concern for us also."

"I doona understand The Gunn. Why was he so verra anxious to have one of us marry Lenora and then send a note asking her to almost act as a spy? Was that his intent all along? Or do ye think that all ties in with their alliances with the other clans?" Craig said as he leaned back in his chair, studying his two brothers.

"That is what I believe The MacKay wants to discuss. He's expecting the Sutherlands sometime today and we will have a meeting of all the MacKay chieftains and the Sutherlands lairds."

"How do ye plan to handle Beattie while we're here?" Finn asked.

"I doona plan to ‘handle' her at all. She was always too forward for me, and I only visited her bed a few times, but for some reason she felt if I ever changed my mind about marriage, she would be the one." He shook his head. "I would no' want to tell the lass this and hurt her feelings, but she would be the verra last woman I would select for a wife. ‘Twould take all my time dragging her from other men's beds and raising bairns that dinna look anything like me."

The three laughed, although Craig did feel comfortable knowing that keeping an eye on Lorena for that reason would not be necessary. With the way she felt about men, he was fortunate that she turned out to be more passionate than he'd expected when they married.

After planning on what they would contribute to the meeting with the clan chief, the other MacKay lairds, and the Sutherlands, Craig returned to their bedchamber to find Lorena just awakening from her nap.

The flush of sleep on her face, and the dewy look in her eyes was enough to have him thinking of a skipping the dinner in the great hall and having food sent up to them.

But he knew Lorena was eager to join the others for dinner, and for certe the music and dancing afterward. With Fall fully underway, this would be the last gathering for a while because travel would become difficult once the winter and bad weather was upon them.

***

They washed up from their trip, changed into clean clothes and left their assigned room. As they reached the bottom step, Lady MacKay stood at the entrance to the great hall, greeting her guests and inviting them to take seats wherever they wanted. She, Craig, Finn and Robin sat at a table near the center of the room, surrounded by other people that Robin knew from other gatherings.

Lorena looked around at all the people as serving maids entered the room, carrying platters of wonderful smelling food. This time of the day was when her appetite really made itself known.

Just as she picked up her eating knife, she felt a nudge on her shoulder. "Would ye mind moving over, lass, it's been a while since I've spoken to the MacKays and I would enjoy dining with ye."

Stunned at Lady Beattie's forwardness, she moved before she even thought about it. Whereupon the woman wedged herself between Lorena and Craig. The others no doubt as startled as she was, said nothing.

However, after a few seconds, Craig stood and moved to Lorena's other side. "'Tis sorry I am, lass, but I enjoy speaking with my wife as we eat our meal."

The woman huffed but stayed in the spot and leaned over Lorena to speak with Craig. He was quite abrupt with her but that didn't seem to dissuade her. "I'm hoping ye will save a dance for me, Craig," she said, throwing Lorena a smirk.

"Nay, lass. My wife holds all my dances."

"Oh, I believe ye can save at least one for me. Ye ken we have always danced so well together." Again, she gave Lorena a smirk.

When Lorena made a move to dump her plate of food onto Lady Beattie's lap, Craig grabbed her hand. "Ignore her, ye doona want to make a scene in front of all the clans."'

Outraged, Lorena said, "But she—"

"—I ken, but it wouldn't look good for Robin if ye behaved in such a way."

Lorena was appalled to feel the tears gather in her eyes. What should have been a wonderful evening with her and Craig had turned into a tugging contest between her and this hateful woman.

Once the meal was finished, the tables were broken down and pushed against the wall while men gathered in a corner and began to play well-known Scottish tunes. Craig grabbed her hand and tugged her out to the middle of the room. "I doona ken how to dance verra well," she said.

"'Tis no problem. Just hold onto me and I'll guide ye."

After a few missteps, she picked up the idea, and with Craig's arm wrapped around her waist she handled the various dances quite well.

Hours later, with Lorena not even able to feel her toes anymore, she held her hand up to Craig. "I believe I've had enough, husband. ‘Tis time to retire."

His eyes glowed as he seemed to remember the jug of wine and their comfortable bed waiting for them upstairs. "Ye go on up, and I will join ye in a bit."

She nodded and flushed from the dancing, she looked forward to striping her clothes off her heated body and washing her body with a cool, wet cloth, then climbing into bed where Craig would heat her body up again. Just as she was close to the staircase, Lady Beattie stepped out from a dark corner.

"Do no' think ye won, lassie. I will have Craig before he leaves here. He could ne'er resist me and a plain lass as yerself will ne'er hold him." With those words, Beattie turned and flounced away, heading to the dance area.

And straight toward Mister Craig MacKay.