“Are you sure, leannan? It’s outdated.”
“I’ve wanted to wear it since I was a wean. Please?”
“If that’s what you wish. Let’s hang it up, so it can air before it’s brushed out.”
Kieran’s gaze followed mother and daughters as they moved toward the stairs as he entered the Great Hall with Hamish and Lachlan.
“I’m afraid you won’t see them until the evening meal,” Lachlan elbowed Kieran. “Maude may not be one for lace and trim, but my mother and Blair are.” Lachlan and Kieran had met several times over the years, and while they were not friends, they were friendly. Kieran hoped he would develop a closer relationship with his soon-to-be brother-by-marriage. He had always longed for a brother, and while Kyle filled that role, Kieran looked forward to a brother who would one day share the same duties and burdens as laird that he did. Hamish and the two younger men took seats on the dais while servants brought out food. Kieran hadn’t realized that he was famished until the smell of fresh bread and cheese wafted to him. After they finished their repast, the three men retired to Hamish’s solar to draft and sign the betrothal documents.
* * *
“The mon is in love with ye, lass.” Amelia wasted no time with her proclamation once the three ladies were tucked away in Maude’s chamber.
“Mama, please don’t say that. He hasn’t made any declarations of his feelings. And neither have I,” Maude rushed to add. “I wouldn’t get my hopes up.”
“Hopes up?” Blair chimed in. “Everyone at court was buzzing aboot how quickly the elusive bachelor, Laird Kieran MacLeod, fell in love.”
“He’s fond of me, but I hesitate to say it’s love. Maybe one day,” Maude hedged. She didn’t want to hear her mother and sister try to convince her of something that might never come true. She didn’t doubt her own feelings of love, but she refused to assume Kieran felt the same. The disappointment would crush her to discover he didn’t reciprocate her depth of emotion. She was aware he was fond of her and desired her, but she wouldn’t believe he loved her. It seemed too farfetched in her mind. While the men in her family might marry for love, it was a rare novelty among her social class. Kieran denied her dowry, including the land that bordered his, mattered, but she would be a fool to believe him. It might not matter to him now, but it would once the newness of their courtship wore off into the daily grind of marriage and being laird to a large and powerful clan.
“Ye are blind, ma lassie.” Maude might disagree with her mother, but the sound of her mother’s voice, the brogue she never lost despite education and time at court, was a comfort. Maude wondered if she should give up her tight leash on her accent. She had adopted the Lowlanders pattern of speech during her eight months at court to fit in and knew Kieran did the same. She longed to let down her guard and might while they were at Sutherland, but she would decide once she met Lady MacLeod. Maude suspected the woman would look down her nose at Maude if she sounded like a Highlander. She’d learned that her mother-by-marriage-to-be was a Lowlander. It made her suspect that was why Kieran spoke without a burr with more ease than she did.
“Are you ready for tomorrow eve?” Blair wiggled her eyebrows to Maude’s horror as her eyes darted between her sister and mother, but their mother laughed. It was impossible to have parents as in love as Hamish and Amelia, along with live in a large keep such as Dunrobin, without learning much about what happened between a man and woman. Amelia had been honest with her daughters before they left for court, more to warn them of the dangers of how passion could carry them away if they weren’t careful. She’d appreciated her mother’s warnings even if she had disregarded them with Kieran.
“Aye,” Maude admitted.
“And do ye feel prepared?” Amelia stroked her daughter’s hair down the length of her back. Maude and Blair both unbound and released their hair to dry the moment they reached Maude’s chamber. “Do ye have questions?”
“Nay, Mama. I understand it may hurt at first, but I trust Kieran. He’s always been gentle and patient with me. He’s, um, generous with his attention.” Maude couldn’t believe she admitted to her mother that she’d shared intimacies with him, but Blair had left little to doubt with her knowing smile and still waggling eyebrows.
“Ye ken ye’re well suited in that area?” Amelia asked with the patience only a mother could offer.
“I suspect as much. So far we are,” Maude wanted to sink into the floorboards. She realized she had one question. “Mama, will there be a bedding ceremony?”
The color drained from her mother’s face, and she regretted asking. Despite her father’s objections and coming to blows with the Earl of Ross for a second time, Maude’s mother had suffered through the indignity of the ritual. Amelia’s father had his retainers restrain Hamish while women inspected her and shuttled her into bed. Hamish had wrapped his meaty hands around one man’s neck until they pulled the covers over Amelia, and the man hadn’t been able to speak for a sennight. He’d threatened to murder the Rosses in their sleep if anyone watched the actual deed, and Amelia’s father relented when he realized he was on the verge of causing a clan feud as the Sutherlands present in the chamber refused to look at the bed and paired up with Rosses, ready to come to the defense of their new lady. Even the women were prepared to take up arms led by Hamish’s younger sister, Kyla Sinclair.
“Yer da would never allow it for any of ye. And I suspect Kieran might murder every mon with eyes if we tried to insist. I dinna get the impression he’ll allow any mon to look upon ye.”
Maude breathed a sigh of relief, neither wanting anyone else to see her naked nor watch something so intimate. She felt exhaustion wash over her and couldn’t stifle her yawn. They were contagious, and soon Blair was yawning too, both women rubbing their eyes. Blair and Amelia left Maude to lie down while Blair did the same in her chamber, and Amelia saw to preparations for the evening meal. Maude didn’t realize how deeply she slept until a pounding on her door woke her. She pulled on her robe and trod to the door, which she opened a crack, recognizing only a man would knock so hard.
“I was worrying that you’d fallen unconscious,” Kieran teased.
“I think I may very well have. Did you rest?” Maude noticed the shadows under Kieran’s eyes were not as dark as they had been when they arrived.
“Aye, but not for as long as you did. It’s time for the evening meal. Will you join us, or should I have a tray sent up?”
“I’m coming!” Maude turned away and ran to her armoire. “I’m not missing our betrothal announcement.” She assumed Kieran would pull the door closed and either wait in the passageway or belowstairs, so she was unprepared for the muscular arms to slip around her waist. “You can’t be in here! My father will butcher you and serve you to the hogs!”
Kieran’s laugh vibrated against her back as he nipped at her neck.
“A fine way to go, if ever they was one, buttercup. I shall take my chances for a few moments alone with you.” Kieran continued his assault on her senses as his hands roamed over her breasts and belly until his hand cupped her mons. “Your father has moved the wedding forward to the morning. He saw how I chomped on the bit while we completed the documents, and he suspects I might carry you off to the priest before sunset.”
“Mmmm,” Maude moaned as Kieran’s mouth found the sensitive spot beneath her ear. “Even if we wed that early, it’s not like we can retire that early.”
“I have every intention of doing that very thing. Your mother agreed to a midday feast that can last throughout the night, but I will bring you up here after the first course.”
“You told my parents that?” Maude gasped, both from shock from his words and the butterflies that fluttered in her core as his fingers pressed against her entrance through the layers of clothes.
“Mayhap not the last bit, but I doubt it would surprise them. I’m sure that’s why they suggested we move the ceremony earlier.”
