“A messenger came just before I came upstairs. I am to be one of Bothwell’s groomsmen tomorrow. Matthew will escort ye to the church.”
“He does ye honor,” Annabella said.
“I dinna like being known amid these foxes and wolves,” Angus remarked.
“We will remain until spring, and then go home to Duin,” she said. “The queen is being generous and courteous to invite us, but we are nae so important that it will be necessary for us to remain more than a month or two.”
Reaching out, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her mouth.
Annabella enjoyed the kiss, but then pulled away from him. “Ye need to bathe before ye play, sir,” she scolded him. “If ye are to be in the limelight tomorrow, then ye must nae have a dirty neck or ears.”
He pulled her back into his embrace, cupping a breast in his hand as he did.
Annabella whacked him gently with a bath brush.
“Ow! Madam, ye hae injured me sorely,” he complained, rubbing the side of his head with a big hand. But he had released his hold on her breast.
“Nonsense,” she told him. Then, picking up a cloth, she soaped it, washed his face, ears, and neck, and rinsed them free of the lather. Then, picking up the brush, she pushed him about, scrubbing first his shoulders and back, spinning him around again, then washing his broad, smooth chest. When she laid the brush aside, he pinioned her arms to her sides, pushed her back against the tub, and kissed her hard.
Releasing one of her arms, he growled in her ear, “Fondle me, wench. I have a need to fuck ye.” Then he kissed her again, groaning into her mouth as her hand played with him, stroking his cock, teasing his balls with skilled fingers. Her small round breasts against his chest aroused his lust. He felt her thighs against his as his hands reached about to cup her bottom and lift her up to impale her on his manhood.
“Ohhh, Angus.” Annabella sighed as she felt him filling her. It was too delicious. She wrapped her arms about him, enjoying every stroke of his manhood until finally they both achieved pleasure.
“Damn, wife, ye can render me a helpless bairn wi’ your sweetness,” the earl said to her. He kissed her mouth hard. “Shall we continue this in our bed?”
Annabella was breathless as she recovered from their passion. She laughed weakly. “Once, but nae more, Angus. We must be on time to the wedding.”
“Twice,” he growled into her ear. “Am I some old man, then, that I cannot appreciate my wife’s loveliness more?” He climbed from the tub, taking a warmed drying cloth from the rack near the hearth and toweling himself before heading for their bed.
Annabella followed, exiting the tub, drying herself off, and climbing into bed to snuggle next to him. Mother of all mercies, she surely had to be the most fortunate woman in all the world, she thought as his arms wrapped around her. They made love a second time, for Angus Ferguson was of no mind to be denied. They slept and indulged themselves a third time before falling asleep for the night beneath the down comforter. When she awoke she found Jean laying out her clothing for the day, but Angus nowhere in sight. “Where is he?” she asked sleepily of her tiring woman.
“Gone to Bothwell’s house,” Jean said.
“Is it that late?” Annabella sat up.
“Nay, nay, ye’ve plenty of time. I’ve brought ye a tray, and ye’re to eat every bit of it,” Jean said. “Heaven only knows when ye’ll eat again. I hear the wedding feast is to be at Holyrood.”
“Nay, Bothwell would not have it so. ’Twill be at a place called Kinloch House. ’Tis the home of a wealthy merchant who owed Jamie Hepburn a great favor. It is said that the bride and groom will honeymoon at Seton.”
“They say the Earl of Bothwell is crude in his many amours,” Jean said. “Pity the poor bride.”
Annabella smiled. “Aye, I suspect Bothwell is hurried wi’ a serving wench, but I am sure he will be more delicate wi’ his wife. Still, he is a handsome fellow. Now tell me, what was Angus wearing when he left? I made some suggestions, but ye know him. He will nae always do what he should.”
Jean laughed aloud. “Aye, he’s a stubborn man, but he was in his finest. His doublet was of plum-colored silk brocade. The puffed sleeves were slashed to show a lavender silk. His short velvet cape was plum velvet. He wore that heavy gold chain with the Ferguson bee on a thistle.”
“Then I shall wear my lavender velvet gown,” Annabella said. Then she began to eat the food from the tray Jean had brought her. An egg poached in cream and marsala wine. A rasher of bacon. A slice of warmed bread with butter and cheese. The cider was not as sweet as Ferguson cider, but it was probably not stored as well. When she had finished her meal, Annabella quickly washed herself in a basin, and then with Jean’s aid she dressed. The gown’s bodice was cut very low, with just a ruffle of lace from her chemise showing over the top, although it did little to conceal her swelling breasts. She had noted that her breasts seemed to be increasing in size of late.
Seeing her mistress staring into the looking glass, Jean asked, “When are ye going to tell him?”
Annabella turned, a puzzled look on her face. “Tell who? And what?” She admired the bodice’s puffed and slashed sleeves showing a cream silk underneath.
“Ye’re expecting a bairn, lass,” Jean said. “Are ye nae aware of it? That’s why yer breasts are getting larger.”
“I wasn’t certain,” Annabella said slowly. “If I had said anything Angus would hae used it as an excuse nae to come. I canna allow him to offend the queen or Bothwell. My lord may avoid politics and hide us away in our western borders, but he canna allow Duin to offend any if we are to remain safe.” She slipped her feet into short fur-lined boots with a fur trim. It was winter, and her footwear was fashionable if not formal.
Jean nodded her agreement. “Ye’re far wiser than my brother, although we shall nae allow him to know it, Annabella.” She put Annabella’s beautiful hair into a chignon.
Annabella laughed. “I think it best too, Jeannie.” Then she finished dressing. She was particularly pleased with the underskirt of cream-colored silk brocade, with its narrow silver stripes that showed amid the heavy lavender velvet.
