‘Do ye think so?’ His bright green eyes showed his doubt, but he shrugged and nodded. ‘I could try.’
Cat smiled and urged him to, knowing it was really just a way for him to calm down and then he might remember whatever message Aidan had sent to her. ‘Go on with you now. Try.’
With all the seriousness of a warrior going into battle, he sucked in a breath that filled his wee chest almost to bursting and then pushed it out with great force. So great a force that she nearly coughed in response. But she waited as the smile grew wider across his face and he nodded.
‘He said to bid ye to visit his cousin this morn. And he will speak to ye further on in the day.’
He let out a shout and jumped up and down, clearly thrilled with himself for carrying out his duty. She stood then and smiled at the boy.
‘I will tell Aidan that you carried out your task well, Alasdair,’ she promised.
She bade him to wait a moment and went into the house and found the last oatcake. Boys his age were hungry every moment of every day and he snatched it out of her hand with a quick word of thanks. He reached the end of the walk where it joined the lane and turned back to her.
‘Just call me if ye need a message sent back to the laird’s son, mistress. I am good at carrying them and will find him for ye.’
Wee Alasdair did not wait for an answer, for he stuffed the last bit of oatcake into his mouth and ran off, holding a penny in his fingers which Aidan must have paid him for his services.
The day grew brighter then, no matter the clouds that rolled overhead and threatened that the springs rains would fall. A smile blossomed on her face as she looked at the single flower in her hand.
He had left, but he had thought of her.
And he placed a task before her—a reminder, a request more, that she visit Ciara and learn to read and write. Aidan said it would be hard work to learn her letters and numbers and she did not doubt that.
Now, though, with the possibility of a future ahead of her, she realised that knowledge and a skill like that could give her opportunities once Aidan married. So learning with Ciara could help her to be on her own. Right now, this morn, that felt right to her.
She finished dressing and went to begin a new part of her life then—one in which she could make decisions for herself. One that included some joy.
And one in which there would be a large measure of passion.
Chapter Thirteen
Aidan walked towards the keep, regretting with every step that he’d left without seeing her smile this morn. And though he had taken her without ceasing all through the night, his body ached for her even now.
Catriona was everything he’d hoped for in a lover even if her innocence in bedplay was clear. She opened to him and he brought her to release and to pleasure for what must be the first time in her life. Her body answered his every touch and he had so much more to show her. How it should be between a man and woman. How pleasure should be shared and should be for both of them. His blood surged and his cock rose in spite of how many times they’d joined all through the night.
Duty, his father, summoned him to his side this morn. When his parents left for his uncle’s wedding, Aidan would stand in his father’s place. And make judgements in his stead. Today, he would hear disputes and resolve them, just as he would once he took over control of Ord Dubh.
He passed through the gates and waved to the guards. When his friends saw him and followed, he wanted to sing out Catriona’s praises to them, but he held the words. Though ever eager to share stories of their prowess with each other, somehow, exposing her to them felt...wrong.
So, as they recognised the signs he could not seem to hide on the morning after a good bout of sex and asked for the details, he brushed them aside.
‘Just tell us her name?’ Angus said.
‘You are daft!’ Caelan said, smacking Angus on the side of his head. ‘Everyone knows who she is. He’s been after her for weeks.’
‘I was not sure which of the rumours spoke true of it, but I can tell from your stride that you have been well f—’ Angus stopped and changed the word when Aidan glared at him. ‘Well tupped.’
Aidan stopped then and looked at them. ‘Speak of this, of her, to no one lest Munro hears of it. And I will not have it said she dishonoured her vows before Gowan’s death.’
He needed them to know that truth. Something within him would not allow her to be shamed by his actions.
‘Munro kens of the house you gave her,’ Dougal said. ‘Everyone kens.’
Aye, everyone would know every move he made, that was the way of things. And what they did not, his father would anyway.
He’d counted on everyone knowing, to ease her way and to keep her safe from harassment. But he did not wish to speak of her openly with his friends. Not in the way they usually shared details of their conquests and their bedding of this woman or that one.
‘My father waits on me,’ he said, walking towards the keep then. ‘Do you wish to watch?’
