Cecily was not sure who was the first one to rip something, but it ended the problem of being ever so careful. They were both naked and on the bed in minutes. Cecily tried one more time to rein in all those unladylike desires, but Artan started to suckle on her breasts and she was lost. The next she knew she was wrestling for the right to be on top.
Sprawled out on the bed beside each other was a good way to end the night, Artan thought. He wanted to hold his church-blessed bride, however. Summoning up all the energy he could, he rolled over and embraced his wife. She seemed a little tense considering what they had just enjoyed, and he lifted his head high enough to see her face. Her cheeks were still flushed with passion and her lips swollen with his kisses, but there was a troubled look in her eyes.
“What is the matter, Sile mine?”
“I acted like an animal,” she whispered, strangely ashamed and excited at the same time.
“Nay, ye acted just like a wife should,” Artan said, feeling a little drunk on the satisfaction he had just been blessed with. He just wanted to hold her close until he got his strength back.
“I did? It seemed a little, weel, loud.”
“Aye, nice and loud. I think one of my ears is still ringing.”
“And ye find that amusing?”
“Weel, aye, nay, not amusing exactly.”
“’Tis nay the way a genteel lady would behave.”
“Who the hell wants a lady in the bedchamber? I want my wife.”
As Artan pulled her into his arms and started to make love to her again, Cecily fought all of her own inclinations. She knew she had still gasped and moaned a little, but retraining herself to practice some restraint was not going to be easy. It was worth it, however, to prove to Artan that she was a lady and a lady could also be wife. She had promised God to be a good wife and perfect lady and she would not, could not, back down.
Artan opened one eye and looked down at the woman sleeping in his arms. There was definitely some strange thoughts leaping about in her clever little mind. All that talk about ladies and calling her passionate lovemaking acting like an animal. He had said something stupid then and he knew it, but he could not seem to remember what it was.
She had, however. There had been a difference when they had made love the second time. There was still a fine passion in her, but he could feel her trying to control it, control herself. He needed to sleep, but first thing tomorrow he was going to sort this out. He would find out what stupid thing he had said and what odd idea she had in her head. Then he would apologize profusely for the former and do his best to talk to her of the latter.
Chapter 21
“Angus, I am going to strangle your niece.”
Angus looked up from the carving he was working on and scowled at Artan. “She isnae justmyniece now. She is also yourwife.Howbeit, I will hold her still for ye is ye wish it.”
“Nay, I believe I can manage it on my own. She isnae verra big.” Artan sat down on the chest set beneath the window. “Just why are ye willing to help?”
“Might make her get her senses back. Seems to have lost them.”
“Aha! So ye are finding her an irritant, too.”
“Like a splinter under one’s fingernail. If I hear any more sweetness, any moreMay I help ye, Uncle? Shall I fetch ye some wine, Uncle? Are ye certain ye are warm enough, Uncle?and the like, I willnae wait for ye to see to the problem, I will do it myself. What did ye do to the lass?”
“Me? I didnae do anything to her.” Artan got to his feet and began to pace the room, ignoring Angus’s grumbled command to have a care for his rug. “I thought all of this sweetness, humility, and care was because I was recovering from those scratches I took freeing her from that fool’s grasp, but when she kept right on being so sweet it makes a mon’s teeth ache e’en after I was healed, I began to wonder what was wrong. I e’en purposely said and did a few things to annoy her.”
“Only a few?” Angus muttered, feigning astonishment.
Artan ignored him. “She did naught. Nary a flush upon her cheeks or a spark in her eyes. She didnae e’en toss out one those insults she likes to plan out. She acted as if I was right and told me she would try e’en harder to make sure I had no complaint in the future. The daft lass is wearying herself to the verra bone now. All that spirit she had is long gone. All her spark has disappeared. E’en in the bedchamber,” he grumbled.
“Ach! I dinnae want to hear aboutthat.”
“Ye didnae think those bairns ye are hoping for will be found under the heather blooms, did ye? Best ye help me find out what is ailing my wife, or all those wee playthings ye are carving willnae be used. My fiery wee wife now has all the spark of a dead fish in the bedchamber. ’Tis near enough to wither a mon. If I had more experience I might be able to rekindle that fire, but…” Artan caught Angus gaping at him and he blushed, even though he was not sure why he should feel embarrassed. “I wasnae a virgin if that is what ye are thinking.”
“Nay! But, weel, ye are a braw, handsome lad.”
“And what does that have to do with it? Think a wee moment, Angus. I dinnae play the game with any of the lasses who work at the keeps I live in or where my kinsmen live, or lasses who are betrothed, or who are still maids, and I have only bedded another mon’s wife once and that was in a good cause. Lucas bedded her, too, and we did a penance together. That leaves me with widows and whores. Ye may get a wee bit of skill shaking the linen with a widow, but a whore is just a lass ye pay to give ye some ease. Truth tell, so are a lot of widows.” He shrugged. “Lessons taught me by my mother and they have held fast.”
Even though he was frowning, Angus slowly nodded in agreement. “Good, wise lessons. Ne’er gave it all much thought, but such rules can help a lad stay out of a lot of trouble. I wish someone had advised me thus. Had to learn that hard truth all on my own.”
“Weel, we can discuss your past amours some other day,” drawled Artan. “I need to get my wife back.”
