She snuggled up to his side and wondered if he would be there in the morning. “Hush. I am tired now.”
“Oh, I see. Ye have had your use of me and now ye mean to just rest.”
“Aye.” She patted his chest. “I believe ye have had your use of me as weel, so ye probably need rest, too,” she said as she closed her eyes.
He looked down at her and grinned. She had fallen asleep already. It was pleasant to think he had worn her out with pleasure, he decided, and closed his eyes. He would just have a short rest, he thought, then get dressed and go to his own room.
* * *
The light of the sun shone right into his eyes and Gybbon woke with a groan. He had forgotten to close the curtains. Suddenly realizing he was still in bed with Mora, he groaned again. It was nice to wake up with her, but it was not a particularly smart idea. While he suspected a lot of people had undoubtedly guessed he had taken her as his lover, he did not think she would be comfortable with them seeing the proof of it.
As quietly as he could, he washed and dressed, then crept out of the room. It did not surprise him to find Harcourt waiting for him in the hall. His brother looked amused, not angry, so he relaxed. He knew he could relax more if he did not have the suspicion that Harcourt knew something he did not.
“Ye are up early,” he said, as they started to make their way down to the hall.
“Young ones. They have no understanding of the joys of lying about in bed with one’s wife,” Harcourt bemoaned.
“And by the time they reach your age, ye will probably be too old and bent to have that enjoyment anyway.”
“Nay, I intend to remain strong and virile right up to the last day.”
Gybbon laughed. If anyone could, it would be Harcourt. He would do it just out of stubbornness. “So, what is to be done today?”
“I thought we might go have a look at that bit of land ye said ye would want if ye came to live here.”
With the thrill of the pleasure he had enjoyed last night still humming in his veins, Gybbon did not shy away from any talk of settling in one place as he might have done a week ago. “Sounds like a good idea.”
* * *
Mora was surprised when she woke up to a bedchamber filled with sunlight. She could not see any sign of Gybbon; she looked over the side of the bed and saw his clothes were gone. No surprise, she thought, as it was late in the morning. Mary must have stopped in, as well, for her clothes were tidily laid out over the back of a chair.
Slipping out of bed, Mora ran to the chair and pulled on her shift. It felt odd to wake up without him, which she found strange. She had only been in bed with him twice. Perhaps that was what lovers did, she thought, then blushed when Mary peeked in and immediately hurried over to help her dress and do her hair.
As she worked with Mary, Mora tried to recall all her mother had told her about the matter of men and women. Rona had spoken of honor but only briefly. Her mother had spoken more about feelings, about love, and how it was wrong to waste such a gift on a man with no honor. At the time she had wondered if her mother had suffered at the hands of such a man. She knew Gybbon was not unworthy even though she had no idea if he cared for her in any way.
She shook away such thoughts. It was too much thinking. She would make herself dizzy. She and Gybbon were lovers and that alone made her happy. Mora promised herself she would not ruin the good of that by thinking it to death or worrying needlessly about something she could not change.
Settled in her mind for the moment, she thanked Mary for her help and headed down to the hall. She realized that she was very hungry. When she walked into the hall and saw little Freya next to Gybbon helping herself to bits of meat, she smiled. Things were fine right now and she would not disturb the harmony with deep or dark thoughts. There was enough in her life to make her sad, so for now she would hold tight to what made her happy.
* * *
“Are they gone?” asked Niall as he pulled on his boots.
“Aye, just riding off now,” said David as he watched Robert lead the others away. “If I judge it correct they are riding back to the Ogilvy keep. Surprised they are up and about so early.”
“So, we will be able to go and see what may have happened to Aunt Maggie.”
“Aye, after we eat,” David said when there was a rap at their door.
The maid brought in full plates of food, and both brothers made quick work of it. After clearing his plate, David sat back in his chair and sipped at his ale. He finally felt some pleasure at being back in Scotland, but it was dimmed with the news he believed they would soon be given.
When the meal was done and cleared away and the maid given a coin, he went down and took care of their bill. Niall joined him just as he gave the call for their horses to be brought round. When they went outside, David looked down the road and sighed.
“Dinnae need to ride there,” David said, and caught up his mount’s reins.
“Nay, and it might be good to walk a bit after such a large meal.”
“It cannae hurt.”
