“I did no’ think it would.”
She sat up and looked over at him, his face and form outlined by the low flames behind him. “Truly? Whyever not?”
“Once I remembered seeing the babe come forth from ye there, I feared ye would no’ feel me at all.”
“Oh.” She had not thought about what he saw of her thatnight. She’d been too near death to worry about it then and had forgotten it afterwards.
He laughed and looked over at her. “My hand and my arm were inside ye, Anice. After that I did no’ think my cock would find a tight fit. I did no’ think ye would feel it at all moving within ye.”
Mortified at his easy talk of such a personal event, she lay back down and scrunched her eyes closed, trying to ignore his chuckling.
“Well?” she called out to him. He could not expect to make such a comment and then not answer the doubts it raised in her thoughts.
“Aye, Anice, ’twas snug there for me. Ye fit around me like a falconer’s glove is made to fit his hand, surrounding it wi’out space between skin and leather. That tight.” His voice ended on a sigh and she heard him shifting around on the floor.
It was then she noticed the wetness in the spot he spoke of, and how her breasts tingled again, aching for his touch on them. His words had stirred her to arousal just as he told her they could and now she lay, alone in her bed, trying to ignore the throbbing that built within her core.
“Do you think that two times might lessen my fears, Rob?”
“Two times? What do ye mean?” He sat up now as she did and gazed at her across the flame-lit room.
“You said yourself that it would take more than one time at this to lessen my fears. Mayhap we should try the second time here on the bed instead of there on the floor?”
Robert was at her side in a second, but he slowed himself as he got closer. She smiled; he was ever mindful of not frightening her. He stopped a step from the bed and waited for her signal. She slid back in the bed and lifted the covers. He held her gaze as he loosened the plaid still at his waist and let it drop to the floor. It was too tempting for her to ignore and, by his wicked smile, he knew what she would do. She moved her gaze down him to that part of him and watched as surged in size before her eyes. Breathless, she looked back his face.
“As ye wish, wife.” He leaned forward and slid into the bed with her. And it was as she wished it would be.
They droveeach other to distraction and exhaustion as she became accustomed to his body and the ways in which they could join. ’Twas quite easy, she discovered, to arouse her husband. With just a look or a glance at his groin or the slide of her tongue on her lips, she could draw that groan from him. He played the same game and she often found him waiting in dark corners for her approach. Her joy at being able to take pleasure from their joining and all that came before and after overtook her life and she found laughter once again filled her.
Robert also helped her to discover the darker fears, the embraces and touches that she could not abide. He knew never to embrace her too tightly or hold her hands behind her and that even the feel of his hand resting on her head brought on the shuddering terror. Even though the remnants of Sandy’s depravity still existed within her, Robert’s gentle touches and concern were helping her to lessen its importance in their life.
Each night he stayed longer in her bed, until he slept by her side the whole night through just a fortnight after their first time. She would come awake in a fright sometimes, but now the feel of him at her back soothed the fears for her.
The clan noticed the change in their relationship, as did Struan. Although he never commented on it, she caught him smiling at their antics from time to time. The smile would always turn quickly to sadness and Anice was tempted to speak to him about it. He would wave her off whenever she tried to talk with him alone about any matter.
Life was changing for her into something that she had longed for. She loved Robert—she knew that each time she looked at him or thought about him—and she thanked the Almighty every morning and night in her prayers for ever bringing him to her. She was practical enough to recognize that he did not love her back, but that was fine. He had given her his protection and she would make sure he never regretted his bargain with her.
The call cameto her at the worst possible time. As she struggled through another contraction and her bairn forced its way into life, the wisdom pulled her to it.
“Firtha, help me stand,” she called out to her sister-by-marriage. “I must get to the hearth.”
“Moira, yer bairn comes. ’Tis no’ the time to walk now.”
“Pol!” she screamed. Waiting a moment more, she called to her husband again and louder this time. Pol stood at the doorway, looking pale and uneasy, as every man did in a birthing room. “I must get to the flames.”
“She is delirious, Pol. Leave her and I will see to her.”
But thankfully Pol knew the importance of what she needed to do and came to her side. Lifting her in his huge arms, he carried her over to the hearth and helped her to kneel before it. Waiting until she had her balance, he did not leave her until she nodded that she was ready. Then, taking hold of Firtha’s arm, he pulled her from the room over her very loud objections.
She tried to take in the deep cleansing breath she needed, but the pain from her womb grew until she wanted to scream. Curling her body over, she waited for it to pass and hoped there was time before another began. Her daughter was impatient to be born. However, she knew from the strength of the call that the wisdom would not be ignored. The pain lessened and she stared into the flames and waited.
The visions came upon her with the same force as her labor and she watched the flames as she saw the colors and faces and scenes appear. She tried to discern the message within the wisdom as she observed them before her. Just as they began to fade, a much more powerful contraction struck her and she fell to her side.
“Pol!” she screamed.
Her husband raced in to help her and Firtha followed him into the room. He must have explained how the wisdom worked, for she was much calmer now. But Moira knew she did not have much time. The message must be delivered before it was too late.
“I must see Struan. Please call him here.”
