The king nodded, but Sir William knew what Queen Joan was attempting to tell them all, and smiled to himself. Then he made a rather foolish move upon the chessboard, almost chuckling as the king’s eyes lit up and he crowed, “Checkmate!”
Then it dawned upon James Stewart what Sir William Douglas had done. He looked at the chessboard, and then a further enlightened grin split his face. He nodded at his opponent. “Cleverly done, my lord,” he said, standing up. “I will therefore bid you good night.” He crossed the hall and entered the new chamber at its end.
Maggie MacLeod was already pushing her husband up the stairs to the small chamber where they slept.
The Douglas clan chieftain stood as well and, with an answering smile, bowed. “Good night, my liege,” he called. Then, turning to his son, he said, “I believe Tam has prepared a bedspace for me here in the hall. ’Tis been a long day, and I am not as young as I once was, but I am content to have seen you wed this day. The match is a good one for you, Kier. And she will do her duty in all things, I know, for she has been bred to it. Now lock up your house. Then go plow your mare well and deep. I will expect a grandson from you within the next year.”
The laird of Glengorm’s eyes danced with amusement at his sire’s directive. “I live to obey you, my lord,” he told him. Then he went off to make certain all was secure as, chuckling, his father pulled off his boots and climbed into his bedspace to sleep.
Cicely had ordered that her bedchamber be prepared for her wedding night. It was slightly larger than Kier’s chamber down the hall, and the bed was bigger. The fresh sheets were scented with lavender. Orva helped her mistress remove her gown and shoes. After brushing the gown, she folded it away into a trunk, placing the shoesin a smaller trunk. Cicely handed Orva the gold caul she had removed, leaving her long hair falling loose, along with her few small pieces of jewelry but for the narrow red-gold wedding band Kier had slipped on her finger when Ambrose had blessed them this morning. Then she washed her face and hands in the basin of scented water, scrubbing her teeth with the cloth she used for washing.
“Go along now, Orva,” she told her tiring woman. “The fire is set for the night. My lord cannot come until the other guests have departed the hall.”
“Good night then, my lady,” Orva said, and hurried out.
Cicely climbed into bed. It smelled wonderfully fresh as she leaned against the pillows. It had been a long day, but it had been a good one. She was not unhappy any longer, but she could not help but wonder if Kier would ever come to care for her. Oh, she knew she would never be loved again as Ian Douglas had loved her. His love had been a rare thing, but Cicely knew now that she wanted Kier to at least like her. She fell asleep, not awakening even when he entered the chamber.
Kier Douglas looked at Cicely as she lay in their bed. When she was asleep, all the wariness in her face was gone. She was truly beautiful with her delicate coloring. The cheeks of her pale skin held the hint of peach, quite in keeping with her auburn hair. Her eyebrows arched elegantly above her closed eyes, and the auburn eyelashes brushing her cheeks were tipped in gold. He pulled his clothing off until he stood naked by the side of the bed, debating whether to wake her or not. Deciding to allow her to awaken on her own, he climbed into the bed, noting with just the faintest irritation that she was wearing her chemise. He would remind her that in the future he wanted her naked in their bed.
Kier lay upon his back with his eyes closed. Beside him Cicely slept peacefully, her breathing rhythmic. He felt himself relaxing next to her calm warmth. It had been a long day for him as well, and he easily drifted off into sleep after a few minutes. She was his now, and Glengormwas his. Kier Douglas felt true contentment for the first time in his life. It was a good feeling, he thought just as he fell asleep.
Cicely awakened to see the gray light of predawn coming through the wooden shutters of her chamber. And then she was suddenly aware of the body beside her. Giving a little gasp, she turned to look at him, realizing that he was naked.Blessed Mother!It had been their wedding night, and she had fallen asleep! Yet he might have awakened her when he came in, but he hadn’t. Did he find her so unattractive, dislike her so much, that he hadn’t cared to wake her?
And then she realized with shock that his blue eyes were staring up at her. “So, madam, you have finally awoken,” he said. “It is past time we did what is expected of us. Will you remove your chemise, or shall I rip this one from you too?” His eyes were laughing at her, although his demeanor was deadly serious.
“It’s almost light,” Cicely answered him.
Kier chuckled. “Not quite,” he replied.
Cicely unlaced the chemise, and then drew it over her head, discarding it on the floor by the bed. She made to lie back.
“Nay, stay as you are,” Kier said. “I would admire you, madam. Your breasts are quite beautiful. Why do you blush? ’Tis truth.”
“You did not wake me when you came in,” Cicely said softly.
“I was tired, and you were tired too,” he said. Then, reaching out, he cupped her face in his big hand. “You looked very pretty as you slept, madam. I will admit to being tempted.” The hand caressed her face. “You are more than passing fair, Cicely.”
Her heart raced madly. He was the most irritating man, and yet she felt strongly drawn to him. Far more than she had been to Ian. Why was it so? she wondered. Why was she more fascinated by this man who professed to dislike her than she had been by the man who had given her his unconditional love? It was irrational.
“You are pondering something,” Kier said, “and you should not be.”
“Then what should I be doing, my lord?” Cicely asked him.
“This!”he said, pulling her into his arms and kissing her. “I have not had the pleasure yet of kissing my wife, and I briefly recall her kisses are sweet.” His lips returned to hers, feeling her mouth willingly yield to his, parting just enough to allow his tongue to find hers and begin to stroke it.
He had wrapped his arms about her, and Cicely now lay almost beneath him. She was breathless with the pleasure his kisses gave her. But then she stiffened. She remembered how Ian’s kisses had left her weak with delight. Kier’s kisses were very different, yet they seemed to have a similar, if not the same effect on her. She felt brief guilt at enjoying Kier’s kisses.
He lifted his dark head, his lips breaking away from hers. “What is the matter?”
Tears sprang into her eyes. “I thought of Ian,” she said softly. “How his kisses and your kisses are the same, and yet they are not.”
“Did you really love him then?” Kier was curious. He had not considered that she might have actually cared for his cousin. Ian hadn’t really courted Cicely. He had abducted her, and she had had no real choice but to wed him.
“He loved me,” Cicely said, low, and she blinked away her tears.
Looking into those blue-green eyes of hers so filled with sadness, Kier was overcome with a wave of jealousy. “Did you love him?” he repeated in a hard voice.
“Aye, but not as he loved me,” Cicely whispered.
