Fiona ran off with the kitten.
“Bannerette?”the laird repeated.
“The kitten’s tail is like a little black and white banner. When she grows up, it will be more obvious. And since she is a female, she is Bannerette, not Banner,” Alix explained to him.
“As Fiona grows, I understand her less and less despite the fact I adore her,” Malcolm Scott said. “But you understand her completely.”
Alix laughed. “She is a girl. Of course I understand her.”
The laird pulled Alix into his arms and, caressing her face, he said, “You are the most perfect woman, lambkin.”
“And you are the most perfect man,” she responded, gazing up at him adoringly.
He kissed her tenderly, wondering why it had never been like this with his wife. But he had been given a second chance, and he was going to take it. He loved her, and she loved him.
“I will give you all the children you want, Colm,” Alix told him. “A son, however, will displace Fiona as your heir. Will you mind?”
“You want more children?” Was he pleased? Of course he was pleased!
“Don’t you?” She looked concerned by his question.
“Aye! I do! But if you did not want to have them . . .” His words trailed off.
“Of course I want children!” Alix exclaimed. “Why would I not? Son or daughter, my father did not care. But he and my mother had both agreed that they would only have one child. My mother did not want to give up her duties as one of the queen’s ladies. Now I wonder if perhaps she had and we had gone back to Anjou, she would be alive today. But if that had happened, I should not have met you, Colm,” Alix decided.
“You would have been wed to some wealthy merchant’s son,” he decided with a grin. “And you would get fat with his children and good cheese.”
Alix laughed. “Now I will get fat with your babes. What is it you call them?”
“Bairns,” he replied. “You will get fat with my bairns. And I intend plowing a deep furrow with you tonight, lambkin, and every night thereafter until you bloom with my bairn.” The laird found her lips again and kissed her hungrily. “I did not like sleeping in a sleeping space at Ravenscraig while you lay alone in a tower chamber.”
“I was not alone, my lord,” Alix reminded him breathlessly. “I had Fiona with me, but for a wee lass she takes a great deal of space, and she kicks. I am quite bruised.”
“I shall kiss those bruises away tonight,” he promised her.
“Come to the board,” Fenella said, and they realized that the hall was filling up with the men-at-arms and the servants.
And to Alix’s delight the meal was a hearty venison stew filled with chunks of meat, carrots, and onions all swimming in an herbed brown gravy. There was crusty bread, butter, and cheese as well as baked apples with cinnamon that had burst their skins and oozed into the serving dish surrounded by thick yellow cream. The wine in their goblets was heady. Fiona fell asleep at the table. She was quite exhausted from her journey. Alix picked the little girl up and took her to her chamber, where she undressed her, tucking her into bed. Kissing Fiona’s head Alix went to her own bedchamber.
To her surprise, Fenella was there overseeing some of the men as they brought hot water to fill a tall oak tub. “I thought you would like a bath,” the housekeeper said.
“I could certainly use one,” Alix admitted. “I have not had a proper wash since we left Dunglais almost a month ago. And I am surprised I do not have nits in my hair.”
“While you bathe more than most,” Fenella said, “I will admit a good bath tonight will not harm you. Downwind you do bring the flavor of the court.”
“Where is the laird?” Alix asked her.
Fenella smiled. “Still in the hall,” she said.
“I think he might use a bath too,” Alix murmured.
The serving men had filled the tub and departed.
“Give me your clothing for the laundress,” Fenella said.
“Where is Jeannie?” Alix wanted to know.
“Her mother is ill. She’s been at her cottage caring for her and her brothers. I’ll send for her on the morrow,” Fenella replied.
