Though the others strode off, not interested in anything but fighting and swiving or talking about doing those things, Young Dougal walked silently at his side into the keep. Dougal, unlike Angus, knew when to keep his mouth shut and Aidan liked that about him. Entering the great hall, Aidan found both of their fathers at the high table, though Rurik sat at one end while his father sat in the centre with his mother next to him. With a nod of his head, his father directed him to the other side.
The disputes heard this morn were not serious in nature, but they needed the chieftain’s wisdom and his support of whoever won the argument. One farmer claimed another had stolen livestock. A man asked approval for a marriage between his son and a woman from outside the clan. About ten matters in all needed to be heard.
He bowed to his mother as he walked up the steps and then took the seat next to his father. When he looked at Rurik at the other end of the table, the man’s gaze narrowed and then he nodded. A flurry of exchanged glances between his parents and Rurik ended with them all looking at him with some awareness in their eyes.
Did he wear the fact that he’d finally shared Catriona’s bed like a garment? The good thing was he saw no censure in their glances, but he suspected they would have words with him about it soon.
* * *
The morning passed slowly as villagers and men sworn in service and merchants came before the earl to settle their disputes. Though not with each, his father had asked for his counsel as much as he did his mother, so Aidan thought he must be meeting his father’s expectations. When the session was done, it was time for the noon meal.
As the servants prepared the table and then brought forth platters of cheese and roasted quail and other meats, his father called him to speak with him and Rurik. His mother was too busy directing the servants to notice.
‘So, ’tis a thing done then?’ his father asked him.
He did not pretend not to understand the question.
‘Aye.’ He crossed his arms over his chest, mimicking the taller, stronger, older Rurik’s stance.
‘No matter that she has taken you to her bed, arrangements are moving forward for finding you a suitable wife. Think not to delay it because you’ve found a pleasing place between her legs.’
Anger filled him then, but he held it in check. So, his father thought this was no different than all the other women before her? He could not blame him or anyone else who thought this was the same as his past behaviour. But it wasn’t. He didn’t know how this differed, but it did.
‘I know my duty and she knows her place, Father.’
‘It is easy enough to forget once the chase is done and the quarry is in your grasp. Success in capturing what, or whom, you wanted and pursued at such a cost as she did can lead to a loss of control over your feelings, Aidan. Do not let yours run loose and unbridled.’
‘As I said, I know my duties and she her place.’
His father’s only reply was a curt nod, while Rurik grunted. Aidan knew not if it was in approval or something else.
His mother called them to table and Dougal joined his father there. They ate then, speaking mostly about their journey, who would accompany them and what tasks would be most important during their absence. All they waited on was for the warmer air to allow the snow in the higher passes to melt and they would be on their way.
All through the meal, his thoughts wandered to that house on the far side of the village. How had she looked when she awakened? Had her paleness been replaced by the rosy blush she wore as he pleasured her? Would she sink back into the demure, unassuming demeanour or would she remain the woman who boldly took her pleasure and screamed out her delight throughout the night?
Did his message arrive? The boy was so excited by the offered penny that Aidan wondered if he’d even heard the words he wanted said to Catriona.
Did she seek out Ciara for lessons this morn? Was this day like any other to her or had last night’s intimacies changed her?
‘Aidan?’
His mother’s voice broke into his thoughts. The silence around him let him know everyone noticed his distraction.
‘Aye, Mother. What did you say?’ A few deep chuckles down the table confirmed they’d all noticed.
‘Join me in my solar before you leave the keep, if you will?’
She rose then, as did everyone at the table, when the lady left. Others walked away then for all had duties to be seen to. With a word to Dougal that he would seek him out later, he followed his mother across the hall to the chamber she called hers. They entered and he waited until a servant poured wine into cups and served them before speaking.
‘How can I serve you, Mother?’ he asked, taking a sip of the wine and taking note of the shelf of books there.
‘Tell me about this woman you have set up in the village,’ she said. ‘I met her once under the worst circumstances.’
‘Why do you question this? I have had women in the past and you never raised a concern,’ he said. Drinking some of the wine, he turned to face her.
‘You have never arranged a house for any of them. That speaks of an ongoing arrangement between the two of you,’ she explained. ‘I am concerned because of the upcoming negotiations on your behalf.’ The same issue his father had raised. When he began to say that, she held her hand up and waved him off.
‘More than that, it makes me ill to think you are preying on an unfortunate with no choice in the matter. Taking advantage of her misfortune after her husband’s death to get her into your bed.’
