“You’re a hard woman, Adair Bruce,” he told her.
Adair giggled. She could not help it. “You are a hard man, my lord.Very hard.”
He laughed aloud. “It’s our wedding night.”
“There’s a bairn in my belly, Conal. We had our wedding night long ago,” she told him pertly. “Fetch my chemise. I am cold.”
He got out of their bed, his lust for her visible.Whata waste of a randy cock,he thought as he picked up her chemise and handed it to her. He donned his own chemise and poured himself a cup of wine, sitting by the warm hearth to drink it. When he finally returned to bed Adair was already asleep. He reached out and touched her face gently with a finger. She was so beautiful, and she loved him. He had to gain the courage to say those three words to her before their child was born.
Conal Bruce joined his wife, but his mind was yet active.
In the chamber next to his the next king of Scotland was enjoying himself with a woman. Aye, he would remember Cleit’s hospitality, but it would not be enough to wipe out the debt that the laird owed the prince for making his marriage to Adair possible. What would he ask? Conal Bruce knew he would have no choice but to repay the debt, and repay it with whatever was demanded. Would it endanger his small holding? His family? It mattered not. He finally fell into a troubled slumber.
***
In the morning the hall had been cleared of the last of the guests, many of whom had fallen asleep at the trestles, filled with too much wine and ale. Enough of his clansmen who served as men at arms had remained sober in order to protect the keep, and they virtually ran the last of the guests out. They sat eating their food sto-ically as the laird entered the hall. Adair was already there overseeing everything.
Prince James came into the hall. He was full of en-ergy, and smiled at everyone. “Good morning, cousin!”
he said cheerily to Adair, who waved him to the high board.
Patrick Hepburn, Duncan Armstrong, and Murdoc Bruce appeared, looking somewhat the worse for wear.
They had been up very late drinking and dicing.
“Sit down and get some food into you,” Adair ordered them.
“Perhaps a wee drop of the hair of the dog that bit us might help,” the Hepburn suggested as he lowered himself gingerly into a chair.
“Flora, fill their goblets,” the lady of the keep said as Grizel brought trenchers of oats and platters of food.
The Hepburn blanched at the sight of the platters, but bravely lifted the goblet to his lips, as did his companions.
The laird caught his wife’s eye and grinned. Adair grinned back.
“I am happy, my lord, to see that you enjoyed our hospitality,” she said.
“I will attempt not to die in your keep, madam,”
Patrick Hepburn told her.
“The prince enjoyed his evening as well,” Adair continued. “Did you not, Your Highness? I have heard that Agnes is a most accommodating lass.”
“She’s a braw girl, cousin,” the prince replied. “I shall be visiting her when I am once again in the vicinity.”
And he chuckled.
“You mean you had a wench, you young devil?” theHepburn said. He looked aggrieved. “You did not offer me a wench, madam. If I had had one I should not have drunk quite so much, and not had the aching head I have this morning. And worse, I lost a groat and three silver pennies dicing.”
“Alas, my lord, there was only one wench. We are a small keep,” Adair said sweetly, and her violet eyes were twinkling at the Hepburn as she spoke.
“I’m afraid I wore poor Aggie out,” the prince said.
“Send her home in the cart, Conal Bruce. She served her prince very well.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Adair told her husband. She left the hall and went upstairs to the bedchamber where she knew Agnes Carr would be lying. Opening the door, she saw the girl sprawled facedown and naked on the bed, her red hair awry.Lucky wench,Adair thought. Then she gently shook the girl’s shoulder. “Agnes, awake. You must go home now.”
Agnes Carr slowly lifted her head from the bed. “Am I still among the land of the living?” she groaned.
