“Aye, it makes sense. A hard chair for a hard man.” He shifted and then repositioned her so he could see her face as they spoke. “Now, if this were another foot or so wider, it would have its uses.”
“As what? ’Tis a chair.” She frowned and shrugged.
“You see, love. With more room on each side, your knees could slide in here and we could…you could…” He let his words drift off. At her beautiful blush, he knew she understood what he meant. “And you could use the back to steady yourself for the ride.” He moved his hands there to give her some idea of it.
“It would be worth trying,” she said, smiling this time.
“Now, before I carry you to that bed and wear you out with my affections, there are a few more things you must know.”
“Sebastien, please do not say more.” She placed her fingers over his lips. “I cannot bear to think on such things.”
“Once I am assured that you know the essential information, I will not say another word about these arrangements.” She nodded and he explained. “You are to hold the castle until I return.”
“Hold the castle? But Sir Hugh…”
“Hugh will be at your side, but the decisions are yours. For your safety and the children’s, you must stay within the castle walls—no chapel and no battlements.”
“I have not gone to the chapel since…” She stopped abruptly and nodded her assent.
“And you will not until the secret entrance is found and sealed.” He paused, for he had never asked her directly about her knowledge of Eachann’s escape. “Do you know where it is or where it leads?”
“I only know that it is in the wall behind the altar. I did not detect how he opened it or closed it. He threw me to the ground and then left through it. I did not see.”
“Eachann seems to have left the area, but I cannot be certain. So, stay within the castle.”
“And the battlements? You know that I love to walk there.”
“Mayhap with Hugh or Connor or Jamie at your side, but not alone. An arrow shot from many different places could reach there.”
“Very well, I will stay off the battlements,” she agreed. “But now tell me what you hesitate to say. It must be bad for you to hold it in for so long.”
He kissed her then and laughed at how close to the truth she came. “Hugh has the power to overrule any decision you make if he thinks it a danger to you or the children or my men or the castle.” He waited for the explosion and the anger that did not come.
“A sound decision.”
“What? I thought you would be opposed to it.” He lifted her chin so he could see her eyes.
“I would not have Dunstaffnage fall again on my account.”
“Lara, you are softhearted and I do not want to see anything happen because you could not make the decision needed. Hugh knows you are to be obeyed unless there is some extreme situation.”
She nodded and then curled up against his chest. “How long will you be gone?”
“If all goes as planned, no more than three days.”
“So, it is close, then?”
“We sail to Glen Gour on Ardgour, across the firth to the north.”
“Have a care, Sebastien. My father sails those waters…”
“I will, and I will send word if we are delayed.” He shifted in the chair and slid his arms under her legs. “If we are done talking, there are still some things I must say before I can sleep.”
He stood and carried her to the bed. Laying her on it, he stripped off his clothes and boots and knelt next to her. Peeling back the blanket and lifting the chemise over her head, he loved her with everything in him and made certain she knew it. As he entered her body with his, he let his love spill out to her.
“Lady of my heart,” he whispered.
“Forever,” she answered. And, when she gifted him with the passionate sound he would never tire of hearing, he knew he would remember it to his dying day.
