“Ye are one, too, ye ken.”
“Why, so I am. How wonderful.”
He yawned. “Weel, it appears I am going to have to take a wee rest ere I love ye again. Ye have worn your mon out, wife.”
“Ye do ken how to flatter a lass, husband. But I dinnae wish ye to exhaust yourself. We have our whole lives.” She sighed, liking the sound of that.
“Aye that we do, but Angus is eager for a grandchild, ’weel, a grandnephew although he doesnae call it that. Ye have noticed that all his carvings are toys, havenae ye?”
He frowned when she tensed and slowly sat up. Not allowing himself to become distracted by the sight of her lovely breasts peeping out through the long waves of her hair, he studied her expression. She did not look angry or upset or even afraid, all things the mention of begetting a child might stir in a woman if she was not ready for one. She looked stunned and he felt his heart skip with a sudden hope. He waited tensely as she counted on her fingers, but his patience ran out very quickly.
“Sile?”
Blinking, she stared at Artan. “I think we may have already made one. I am, weel, I havenae,” she grimaced, cursed softly, and tried again. “I am late.”
“How late?”
“A fortnight.”
“Is that unusual?”
“Verra unusual, and I cannae understand why I didnae notice.”
Artan whooped and pulled her back into his arms, kissing her with all the joy he felt. “My sweet wee Sile, ye have made me verra happy. Nay, I was verra happy. Now I am exhultant.”
“Who would have thought that we would have all this when ye first stepped into Dunburn with a Donaldson guard hanging from each hand?”
“I believe I felt the touch of fate’s hand the minute I looked into your eyes, my heart.”
“Oh, Artan, ye are becoming verra good with sweet words.” She lifted her head and brushed her lips over his. “Verra good, indeed.”
“For a barbarian, ye mean.”
“Aye, for a handsome, strong, kind barbarian. My barbarian.”
“Always yours.” He touched his lips to hers and whispered, “But let us keep thekindto ourselves, shall we?”
She was still laughing when he kissed her.
Epilogue
Dunburn
Three years later
“What are ye doing?” demanded Cecily as Artan finished binding her wrists together and then reached for a strip of linen.
“Kidnapping ye,” he said just before he gagged her.
Artan grinned as he tossed her over his shoulder, walked out of their bedchamber, and started down the stairs. His loving wife was obviously vilifying his character very creatively behind that gag. He paused to share a grin with Angus, who stood with a grandnephew on either side of him. Even at the tender age of two the twins looked a lot like him, so they looked a lot like Angus as well. Right down to the scowls they wore.
“Where Maman?” demanded Aiden.
“I am just going to take her for a wee walk,” replied Artan.
“Fine,” said Eric; then he turned and walked back into the great hall.
Meg peered at him from around Angus and scowled at him, although her eyes were alight with laughter. “She doesnae sound like she wants to go.”
