Chapter 20

20

" M arried?" Adaira asked mischievously. "Well, it is about time, you two! We have all been waiting for a very long time for you to make up your minds, have we not, Dougie?"

She had to tilt her head to look up at him since he was no more than half an inch shorter than Murdoch.

"Indeed," Dougie nodded, agreeing. "But as we discussed a wee while ago, the community's consent will have tae be given, as will our clan name. We also need a leader."

"I am not volunteering to be the leader," Adaira said cautiously. "But why must we be a clan? Can we not just be a community? A group of people who love and look after each other?"

Dougie looked down at her lovingly. "That is a very good idea, hen," he agreed. "Especially the ‘loving' bit!"

Adaira laughed and then leaned against him. Whatever else had come out of their adventure, two sets of lives had been enriched by love, and that could not be a bad thing. As she watched Dougie and Adaira embrace each other, Keira knew that they had already made their commitment to each other, married or not. She had seen it in Adaira's eyes even before her wretched husband died. Here was yet another high-class lady with a guard as a lover. Now, as she watched her friend place a hand on her stomach protectively, she knew, and as Keira met Adaira's eyes, her friend gave a twitch of a smile and a nod. Keira grinned broadly.

"What are you smiling at?" Murdoch asked, his eyes narrowed in mock suspicion.

Keira shrugged. "I cannot tell you," she replied. "I am sworn to secrecy."

"I see." Murdoch looked between the two women, then at Dougie. "I swear they can read each other's minds!" he observed, laughing.

They stayed for another moment, watching as the settlement grew around them. Not everyone had left the castle or their crofts. Many of the tenant farmers had stayed behind to work the land and now sold their crops at the market instead of to the laird. They had also recovered the money and goods he owed them.

Although she was a female, Keira owned Glenmar Castle and could have lived there if she wished, or even sold it. However, she decided to give it over to the community, and it was used as a school, a hospital, and sometimes even a church.

A little factory had been set up for the weaving of cotton, silk, and linen, and seamstresses made them into dresses and sold them to noble ladies and farm workers alike.

Keira made sure that no one went without. If there were families who had a shortage of food, they had only to come to Glenmar or Nuabaile, as they had called the new village. There, they would be provided for until they could once more fend for themselves. Some of the rooms had even been given over to the homeless until they could find shelter.

Keira and Adaira would often be asked why they did not stay in the castle, and their answers were always the same: Archie McTavish.

"There are too many memories of him there," Adaira would say. "I do not wish to be reminded of him all the time."

As well as that, they had both fallen in love, and neither of them wanted to live and bring up a family in a place they hated so much, especially since the laird had died there. He had been given a dignified funeral since a few villagers had stayed behind to dig a grave and say prayers for him. However, neither Keira and Adaira had ever visited his grave and never would.

They stood for a while and watched as walls were being built from stones and wood was being sawn into planks for roofing. A cartload of straw for thatching stopped beside one of the cottages, and they watched as the skilled hands of thatchers began to cover the roof and make the building habitable. With two men working together, it would take a few weeks before it was finished, but there were always extra helpers willing to do their share.

Fishermen brought in catches of fresh cod, herring, and mackerel every day, and when the community had taken their share, the rest would be sold at the fish market.

Even the children were willing to help. Since the new community school only took three days out of their week, they were always available to fetch and carry food and ale to the workers. The older boys cut and sawed wood, and this had the added advantage of showing the girls how strong they were! Keira giggled at the thought of it.

Mealtimes were often a communal affair, cooked over an open fire, with songs being sung and stories being told until night fell and it was time to retire. Keira often contrasted this with the stilted conversations they had had at her own dinner table, usually the one-sided variety because Archie McTavish loved to hear the sound of his own voice.

That night was Saturday, and the community was preparing for their day of rest when all work would be laid aside and the cares of the week would be forgotten for a few hours.

Most of the families were drowsing around the fireside when Adaira, Keira, Dougie, and Murdoch approached; however, they woke up when Murdoch called for their attention.

"Does anyone mind if Keira and I become husband and wife?" he asked politely.

There was an immediate cheer, and some of the ladies came forward to hug and kiss the couple.

Moira, who was one of the last to do so, looked critically at Dougie, narrowing her eyes.

"Is it no' about time the two o' ye did the same?" she asked as she raised her eyebrows slightly and let her eyes drift to Adaira's stomach.

"Shall we tell them?" he asked softly, smiling at her tenderly.

Adaira nodded. "We were married in secret two weeks ago by the priest in Saint Patrick's," she told them. "We told no one because we did not want a fuss, and I am already with child—Dougie's child. Anyway, we knew that you two would be married soon, and we did not wish to steal your moment in the sunlight."

"Oh, this is wonderful!" Keira cried. "I am so happy for you, Addie!" Then she looked at Dougie. "And you too, Mister Prentice. Look after my stepmother, please, or you will answer to me!"

Dougie gazed at his wife, and the look in his eyes almost made Keira weep.

"I will spend the rest of my life daein' just that, Keira."

"When is the baby due?" Keira asked, kissing Adaira's cheek.

"Spring," Adaira answered happily. "I know it is usual to wish for a boy, but I would love a daughter!"

"I am so happy for you!" Keira's eyes looked suspiciously moist.

They sat down on the outside of the circle, and Murdoch called for silence in his booming voice. At once, everyone was quiet.

Murdoch looked around them all, grinning. "Now, for the second time, do any of you have any serious objections to Keira and I being married?"

"Aye!" one of the best jokers and raconteurs in the community shouted. "I want tae marry her myself!"

"Shut up, you!" his wife, Orla, said, laughing. "You'll get nay objection fae me, both o' ye. Whit took ye sae long?"

At that, they were deluged in a storm of hugs, kisses, and good wishes. Ale flowed freely, and after a while some extremely ribald songs began to be sung in slurred voices until eventually everyone had either walked or were dragged back, drunk, to their cottages. The more religious of the community pointed out that it was after midnight, and the Sabbath had already begun, so they went home early, but when the bride and groom stood up to go, the last stragglers went with them.

"I think they approved," Murdoch said, laughing, as he escorted Keira back to her rooms in the keep. "Were you surprised about Dougie and Adaira?"

"Not at all," she answered. "And I am so happy that Adaira has found the love of her life at last. After those dreadful years with my father, she deserves an abundance of happiness."

"We do too," Murdoch said tenderly. "I cannot promise you that your life will be filled with joy every minute of every day, Keira. That is impossible. But I think we will be happy."

Keira laughed softly. "I think so too." Her voice sounded dreamy. She felt pleasantly drowsy, and her heart was full of thankfulness and love. "This time last year, you were someone I passed every day in the castle without thinking about except to notice that you were very handsome. Now look at us!"

"I always thought you were lovely," he murmured, "but you always looked at me so coldly I thought I must have done something to offend you." He laughed ruefully.

"Never," Keira said tenderly. "You are the love of my life, Murdoch. If I ever made you feel otherwise, I am sorry."

She pulled his head down to hers and, in a moment, they were lost in each other again.

It began softly, but when Murdoch pulled her against him, cupping her bottom in his big hands and pulling her against the hard ridge of his arousal, Keira moaned her satisfaction.

He thrust his tongue into her mouth to tangle with hers, and their sensual duel began as it always did. It seemed that they would never be able to get enough of each other.

At last they drew apart, breathless, and Keira asked, "When will we be married?"

"How long will it take you to have a dress made?" Murdoch laughed.

"Pfft!" Keira swatted her hand in the air in dismissal. "I will wear one of the ones I have."

"Good," he replied. "I will wear my uniform."

"As long as the deed is done," Keira said, laying her head against his chest. "I want to be Keira Holmes. It has a nice ring to it."

"A nice ring?" He laughed at her unconscious pun. "I hope you are not expecting a gold one."

"I only want you and your name," Keira sighed. "That will satisfy me for the rest of my life." She looked at her own little section of the castle, which had enough rooms for a big bedroom, two smaller ones, and a nursery. She would soon be a mother; she felt it instinctively. "Mind you, I want babies too. At least four."

"I will do my best to oblige, mistress," he answered, with a mock salute. "At least four? That is a tall order!"

Keira hugged him as tightly as she could. "I have faith in you," she murmured.