“A good sign. But, since Idoknow what is under the skin, I still think I will check.”
“Weel, if ye must, I will allow it,” he said as he tightened his hold on her and tugged her closer.
“You willallowit?” She glanced at his arm. “And just what are you up to now?”
“Weel, I have been thinking about the day Robbie had his tumble, the day I helped ye down from the apple tree. That was almost a week ago.”
He could not tell if the look she was giving him was one of annoyance or amusement. She put her hands against his chest but did not push him away. He could remember the sweetness of her kiss and how right her slim body felt pressed against him. Alert for any sign of unease or rejection, he kissed her.
As before, she softened against him, her body relaxing in his hold. When he ended the kiss and turned his head to kiss her neck, she slid her arms up and around his neck, bringing them even closer together. He nipped at her lips, and when they parted a little, he deepened the kiss, slipping his tongue into her mouth. Geordie could tell she was new to such kisses, so proceeded gently until she began to mimic him.
Her body began to go down beneath the gentle press of his weight. Geordie savored the feel of her slender warmth beneath his body. She even shifted as he moved over her so that he was nestled very comfortably between her thighs. He had to grit his teeth to push aside the strong urge to rub against her.
“What are you doing?”
Belle had to bite back a screech and fight the urge to shove Geordie away as she heard Abel speaking right near her ear. She calmly pushed Geordie aside and pushed herself up until she sat with her back against the arm of the settee. “Where did you come from?”
“Auntie’s. School ended early today because our teacher got sick. She threw up right in front of the class,” Abel said gleefully and smiled. “I thought we could put the boat in the water today.”
“Ye have a boat?” asked Geordie, pleased to hear that the fierce need he had felt had not roughened his voice.
“Just a small boat with oars. To save having to pull it in or out of the water because of the weather, we have a post and anchor we put with it. Used to just pull it up on the beach but it’s been floated off by waves before and was hard to drag into the water on many days. Why? Do you like boats?”
“Dinnae ken. Have not really been on one save for the trip over here and I dinnae e’er want to do that again.”
“We only use the dingy to travel up and down along the beach, maybe do a little fishing.”
“Weel, I rather like fishing. Certainly like eating fish.”
“Then perhaps we can do that before you head home.” Belle looked back at her young brother. “Why do you want to do that now?”
“It is nice out and summer is coming, so why not get it done? Then the next time it is nice and sunny we don’t have to bother.” Hands on his hips, Abel stared at the front door as if he could see right through the wood to the boat waiting for them. “We can just go and use the boat.”
Belle sighed. “I suppose we can.” She stood up and took the boy by the hand. “We will get that done now then. Coming, Mister MacEnroy?”
“I believe I will.”
They were headed for the front door when Belle heard a sound as they walked by the infirmary and she abruptly stopped. She let go of the boy’s hand, whipped toward the door, opened it, and marched in just in time to find the two young men in there trying to quickly hobble back to their beds. Belle put her hands on her hips and glared at them.
“What the devil are you two fools doing? Was there a word in the order ‘Do not put any weight on that leg!’ that you did not understand? I am sure Abel here would be happy to explain it all to you.” She ignored Abel’s giggles.
“We hobbled with skill,” said Will as he settled down on his bed and pulled the covers over himself.
It was difficult but Belle bit the inside of her cheek to banish the urge to laugh as she went and gently pulled Will out of his bed. “No, you will now sleep next to Robbie, as it will be a shorter distance for you to hobble. But, do try to stay in the bed. You are slowing your recovery every time you try to walk around. Or feel the inclination to ‘hobble with skill.’ I will be back soon to check over your wounds.” She ignored their groans as she marched out. “Now we can go out in the boat and put Abel to sleep.”
“He sleeps when you go rowing?”
“Almost always. Even when he was a baby, my father would bundle him up when he would not sleep and take him for a little ride along the shore.”
As soon as they were back inside she ran up to her room to change into a dress. When she went back down the stairs she realized she did not smell coffee. She quickly hurried into the kitchen. Geordie was already placing their cups on the table.
“I hope ye dinnae mind but I made cocoa instead,” he said as he pulled out a chair for her to sit in.
“Oh, no, I don’t mind at all. I never say no to a cup of cocoa. Best you have it now, you may not be able to lift the cup after you have tried your hand at rowing.”
“That bad? I cannae believe ye do it regularly come the warm weather.”
“I am not sure I would sayregularly, but a lot, I suppose. I also like to eat fish,” she added with a smile.
