Emelie jerked away so quickly that her head slammed into the underside of Dominic’s jaw and made him bite his tongue. “Don’t call me that. Ever.” Emelie hissed. “He called me that. I never want to hear it again.”
“Wheesht. I’m sorry,” Dominic soothed. Emelie eased back against his chest and released a shuddering breath as the sudden surge of rage dissipated. “I thinkmo sparradh beagfits better anyway.”
“I don’t speak Gaelic,” Emelie confessed, confused by the phrase she didn’t understand. She thought he called her a sparrow. Why did men keep calling her birds?
“It means my wee sparrow,” Dominic interpreted. “You are hardy, even if you are tiny.” Dominic tickled her ribs, and Emelie rewarded him with one of her coveted giggles. The sound shot heat to his groin every time he heard it. He forced himself not to shift in the saddle, but he feared he’d erred when he felt his cock twitch. He prayed she didn’t feel it, but Emelie’s quick glance before resting against him again told him she had. He barely moved until he felt Emelie’s breathing grow slower and deeper as she fell asleep.
Dominic hadn’t pointed out what he’d observed as a child who loved climbing trees. Sparrows also mated for life. As he glanced down at Emelie, he hoped they would discover they suited well enough to marry in earnest. It still surprised him how easily he accepted the idea of raising another man’s child. It hadn’t fazed him at all. Perhaps it was because he didn’t know the man, nor had he any claim over Emelie before she got pregnant. He was certain he would have felt the visceral opposite and refused to raise any child Graham had sired with Colina. Just as always happened when he thought of the lovers, anger filled his chest to near busting. He wanted to roar and throw something, anything, as he pictured the woman he’d devoted himself to in bed with Graham, his own half-brother.
When Emelie shifted, and her full breast brushed against his forearm, he reminded himself that Colina was his past and, hopefully, Emelie was his future. He didn’t want to think about that conniving woman while he held Emelie. He imagined all the ways he could introduce Emelie to passion, but he reminded himself that he might have many moons to wait before he could. He still didn’t know if it would be safe for a man his size to couple with a woman as petite as Emelie while she was pregnant. Laurel’s condition never slowed her or Brodie, but she was tall and sturdy. His brother treated his wife as the most precious thing in the world, but Dominic never saw Brodie treat her as fragile, which was just how he thought of Emelie while she was expecting. He would protect Emelie from any danger, including his own lust.
* * *
If asked, Emelie couldn’t recount much of the journey to Kilchurn. She began each morning on her horse with the sun shining on her face as they moved ever closer to a mountain range. The rugged landscape impressed her, and she found the fresh air suited her. But it also made her incredibly sleepy before midmorning. Dominic kept a close eye on her and lifted her onto his horse when she drooped. Then she would sleep away the rest of the first half of the day. He would rouse her for the midday meal, which she often had to refuse when her stomach recoiled at the dried beef. She dozed in the afternoon, once more riding with Brodie. She didn’t sleep as deeply as she did earlier in the day. She was ravenous by the time they made camp each night.
Dominic quietly slipped her most of his share of the rabbits and squirrels they caught and roasted. Emelie objected at first, horrified that her colossal husband ate so little while she scarfed down everything within reach. A little teasing and a passionate kiss tucked away behind a giant oak tree convinced Emelie to accept Dominic’s offers graciously.
When they bedded down each night, Emelie burrowed against the warmth of Dominic’s larger body. She wished he would initiate something intimate, and she even convinced herself that she would try. But she always she fell asleep before anything happened. She awoke each morning sprawled across Brodie’s chest with one of her legs between his, and his morning arousal poked her mons. The urge to press her mound against him made her body ache until she fell asleep for her morning nap.
Dominic was in agony. He’d never experienced such dreadful pain in his bollocks in all his life. His mind was split between keeping his raging cock from growing anytime Emelie was in reach, paying attention to any hidden danger, and ensuring Emelie didn’t fall from a horse when she drifted off. His need to relieve his ever-constant arousal tempted him to ease the ache during his nightly watch, but he would never risk being distracted. Not only did his men count on him to lead by example and to do his duty, now he had someone who needed his protection. He kept his back turned whenever he took Emelie near a loch or stream to bathe. He knew if he caught even a peek, he would likely throw himself at her. His only relief came when he could have his turn to bathe. He spent more time with his hand wrapped around his cock than he did scrubbing himself clean.
It was early afternoon on their fifth day of travel when they spotted Kilchurn in the distance. They traveled along the banks of the River Orchy, so Dominic roused Emelie and offered her a chance to refresh herself before they arrived. He knew the men were eager to arrive home, and they had traveled slower because of Emelie. But he was set on giving Emelie the chance to make herself more presentable. He could sense her worry increased each day they rode closer to home. She’d admitted she feared making a poor impression on her new clan members.
What she didn’t admit was she feared she would disappoint them compared to Colina. She knew the woman hadn’t been helpful around the keep and that she’d been unfaithful to Dominic, but she reasoned there must have been many excellent qualities about her if Dominic continued to grieve. She and Dominic shared a handful of passionate kisses when they shared their bedrolls at night and when they woke. They even caught brief moments alone, but there was almost no privacy, and Emelie slept most of the time. She wondered if things would change, but she was too nervous to ask Dominic.
The bells rang as Dominic, Emelie, and their entourage approached Kilchurn’s massive gates. As they passed under the portcullis, Emelie spotted Brodie and Laurel. Her former peer was noticeably pregnant, and even waddled a little as they descended the steps with Brodie’s arm wrapped around her waist. Halfway down, he lifted her off her feet and carried her down pinned to his side. Emelie watched as Laurel good-naturedly scolded him, but she watched the moment Laurel recognized her. Shock replaced the indulgent grin she’d offered her husband.
“Emelie?” Laurel called as she hurried toward them. Emelie had insisted that she ride her own horse into the bailey, but Dominic had merely shaken his head and hoisted her onto his. He’d explained that he wanted everyone to know he was glad to have her as his wife and that theirs hadn’t been an arranged marriage. It would make it easier for people to believe she’d gotten with child so quickly. Emelie had only nodded her head, realizing once and for all that Dominic viewed their arrangement as a marriage of convenience—one that was only convenient for her.
“Laurel,” Emelie greeted her friend hesitantly. The air whooshed from Emelie when Laurel’s arms squeezed around her. It was an awkward embrace with Laurel’s belly in the way, but Emelie felt the sincerity in Laurel’s welcome.
“What are you doing here?” Laurel bubbled. Emelie had never heard Laurel sound so effervescent. She relaxed when Dominic wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She dared for the first time to wrap her arm around his waist. She felt him still for a moment before his hold tightened, and he practically crushed her against him.
“Laurel, don’t think to monopolize all of my wife’s time,” Dominic teased. He couldn’t think of a better way to make the introduction, since he knew his announcement would stun everyone. He’d sworn never to marry again.
“We handfasted at court.” Emelie kept her voice low as Laurel and Brodie stared at her, then simultaneously swung questioning gazes to Dominic.
“It’s been a long five days, and I think we’re both starved. Perhaps we could eat and get settled before I launch into the story,” Dominic suggested. When Laurel’s eyes narrowed, he realized he’d excluded Emelie from the upcoming conversation. He hadn’t thought beyond knowing Emelie would likely need to sleep. As he considered that, he knew they would have to tell Laurel and Brodie their circumstances sooner rather than later, or Laurel would guess. He recalled she’d spent a sennight early in her pregnancy barely able to remain awake for more than two hours at a time.
“Mayhap we could talk first,” Emelie said as she looked at Dominic. He knew she’d come to the same conclusion as he had.
“We can go to our solar, and I’ll have a servant bring up a couple of trays,” Laurel suggested. Her astute gaze told Dominic that she was already piecing things together, but there was an accusatory edge that Dominic wanted to blunt. He wouldn’t let his sister-by-marriage believe he’d wronged Emelie.
Emelie felt people staring as she walked beside Dominic and followed Brodie and Laurel to a chamber abovestairs. It surprised her to discover that what should have been the lady’s chamber was a solar that Laurel and Brodie shared. There were two desks that faced one another, along with a padded window seat. Three chairs sat before the fire, and Emelie realized Dominic must have often spent time in there. He guided her to the window seat, and despite it being a squeeze, he sat beside her. No one spoke until servants brought food and drink, then closed the door behind them.
Emelie licked her dry lips as she watched Laurel ease into a chair near the fireplace. Brodie pulled a chair beside Laurel’s and took his wife’s hand as he sat. The weary travelers ate in silence. When Emelie could manage no more, she knew she couldn’t delay the inevitable any longer. Two expectant faces watched as Emelie gathered her thoughts. She sighed when Dominic took the lead.
“Emelie and I handfasted two days before we left Stirling,” Dominic began. “I know what I’ve sworn in the past, but I changed my mind.” Dominic wished that would be enough of an explanation, but he wasn’t foolish enough to believe it was. When a gentle hand rested on his leg, he glanced down at Emelie. He watched her muster her courage, so he squeezed her waist in encouragement. He realized it was the first time he’d been able to sit with his arm resting there. He found he preferred it immensely to any other position in which they could sit, short of her being on his lap. He didn’t think they’d reached that stage yet.
“I believed Henry Pringle, heir to his clan, was courting me. He promised me things,” Emelie confessed. “And I was too naive to understand he was playing me for a fool. He never forced me, but he coerced me into making the same mistake twice. It didn’t seem like a mistake at the time. I thought we loved one another. I thought we were going to get married.”
Emelie watched Brodie and Laurel as she spoke. She watched shock, then anger register on Brodie’s face. She feared he directed it toward her. Laurel didn’t look surprised. Emelie couldn’t decide if Laurel had deduced everything already, or if she expected little more from Emelie. She desperately wanted it to be the former, and it wasn’t implausible since Laurel was the most quick-witted person she knew.
“Stop scowling, Brodie,” Laurel admonished before she smiled at Emelie. “He’s angry on your behalf, not at you. Would you like me to save you from having to say it aloud?” Laurel’s voice softened with her question, and Emelie nearly burst into tears when she witnessed the genuine sympathy in Laurel’s eyes. She’d braced herself for scorn and ridicule. The kindness nearly overwhelmed her.
“I think we all understand,” Brodie replied. “I’m not angry with you, Lady Emelie. And I can already guess why my brother handfasted with you. I’d just like to know how it came to pass.”
“Dominic found me in the far end of the gardens just after I read a missive from my father. I’d grown concerned when Henry didn’t send word that my father approved his request to marry me. My father bluntly told me Henry couldn’t because he married Allyson’s aulder sister Alice.”
