He brought his hand up to touch a strand of her hair, examining it absently as he ran it through his fingers.
“For who? Ye? The servants? We need to convince me aunt, nae them and nae ye.” She crossed her arms over her chest, stepping back up a stair to be at eye level with him.
The two of them stared at each other wordlessly, each holding their ground.
“Ye need to be more comfortable in me presence, lass.”
“I dinnae ken what ye mean, Me Laird.” Her voice shook slightly, her stomach fluttering at his proximity.
“Aye, lass, I think ye do.” Wrapping an arm around her waist, he pulled her against him. “And that is something we must begin to rectify before yer aunt arrives, if she is as troublesome as ye say she is.”
Helena didn’t struggle against his hold, but a hint of fear flashed in her soft doe eyes. More than that, there was curiosity and hot desire in them.
“Ye have nay choice now, lass, but to let me touch ye.” He leaned closer to her, his lips nearly touching hers, not breaking eye contact. “To let me kiss ye.”
Alexander closed the gap between them and melded his lips to her soft ones. He ran his tongue along her bottom lip, seeking entrance, and she opened her mouth on instinct. Her breathing grew heavy as he deepened the kiss and pulled her more tightly against his body.
“Oh, excuse me.”
The shocked feminine voice interrupted their moment of passion, forcing them to pull away from one another. Both turned to look at the newcomer in surprise.
Astrid was one of the kitchen maids. She was quiet as a mouse, and neither had heard her approach, too caught up in their war of wills. Helena blushed feverishly at being caught in such a position, even with her husband. She felt utterly embarrassed.
The maid averted her gaze, her cheeks flushed, and brushed past them up the stairs, disappearing as quickly as she had appeared. Michael appeared a few minutes after her, fiddling with his kilt.
“Oi, Braither. I hear congratulations are in order.” He clapped Alexander on the shoulder as he passed him and looked back over his shoulder at Helena. “She hasnae even been here a fortnight and I hear ye’re already expectin’ bairns.”
“What?!” Alexander and Helena exclaimed in unison.
They had the same shocked looks on their faces, and Helena noticed Michael barely holding back his laughter.
“We havenae e-even—” she stammered.
“What she means to say is that she isnae with child,” Alexander cut in quickly.
Helena looked at him curiously, wondering why he didn’t want even his closest confidant to know that their marriage remained unconsummated.
“Got it, Braither. It’s still a secret, huh? I’ll keep it to meself, then.” Michael threw his hands up, turning to face them both and slowly descending the next stair. “I’m just surprised and excited, is all.”
“She’s nae pregnant, ye numpty!” Alexander hollered, pushing his brother lightly to emphasize his point.
Michael flailed his arms to keep his balance on the step.
“De ye ever think before ye speak? Now, tell me, where did ye hear such a rumor?”
“A man shouldnae kiss and tell, ye ken?” Michael teased. “It’s nae good manners. Didnae Maither teach ye that?”
Perturbed, Alexander grimaced, his eyes darkening with frustration. With a low, throaty growl, he reached out and smacked his brother upside the back of his head.
“Ouch! Apparently, it’s all the buzz around the castle. Astrid just informed me when she met me in the servants’ quarters, that’s all,” Michael said innocently, rubbing the back of his head, having the decency to look abashed.
“Ye will find out from that bonnie lass of yers who she heard such rumors from and who they heard it from. Right back to the source. I willnae have someone spreadin’ rumors in this castle,” Alexander grunted.
“Aye, aye. I’ll look into it, though I dinnae think it would be so bad if the lass were expectin’. Ye are married, after all,” Michael said somewhat resignedly. “I, for one, wouldnae mind bein’ an uncle.”
“The servants’ quarters? Why would ye be in the servants’ quarters?” Helena asked innocently, confused.
Both men looked at her as if she were daft. Staring at her, waiting for her to put two and two together.
