"Will you help me with my corset?" she asked as she shuffled over to her clothes. She glanced back at him, fondness coming off of her in waves. "Or should we call Emelia to help?"
A growl tore from Hugh's throat, unbidden. He closed the space she'd put between them in two long steps. As he gazed down at her, he said, "Nay. I daenae want anyone touchin' ye but me."
As they left the great hall, Anna's belly full at Hugh's behest, he rested his palm against her lower back. She'd known he would become even more protective when she revealed the pregnancy. She didn't mind, though; in fact, she quite enjoyed being so fiercely guarded by the Highlander.
After the matter with the missing money and image-ruining rumors was sorted out, she'd enjoyed the freedom it had afforded her. She pressed more flowers, and was now waiting forthe first of her spring pressings to be finished. Her father seemed quite keen on seeing the flora. He was due for a visit soon, and she could barely contain her excitement.
"Emelia said they were in the library," Hugh muttered under his breath, more to himself than to her.
Anna was happy to be led to share the happy news with her family. Though, she did admit to herself that it was a bit surprising how eager her husband was to tell everyone. When they were first wed, she couldn't imagine the man being capable of such care and… domesticity.
He came to a stop just before they turned toward the library. "I will break the news to them."
"I didn't expect anything different," she replied with a grin.
Her sass earned her a deep chuckle from her husband. Then, he marched forward. When he opened the door, he stepped back so she could enter first, following closely behind.
"Ach, I was wonderin' when I'd get to see me sister-in-law again," Arianna said, standing from the table she'd been sitting at with Eilidh and Marcus. She wrapped her arms around Anna, her hair concealing Anna's view. "It seems as if ye've been too busy with the clan for me."
"Perhaps the two of us can go for a walk in a bit," Anna suggested as she pulled away from the other woman. "I will be better about making time for you."
"Ye better," Arianna said without any real heat. She rejoined her mother and her brother. "Surely there's a reason ye've found time in yer busy schedule to come and see us."
"She's right, ye ken," Marcus said with a smile meant to infuriate his older brother. "The only way we can see either of ye is if we masquerade as villagers with concerns."
"Ye're exaggeratin', Marcus," Eilidh said, shaking her head. She turned her knowing eyes back to Hugh and Anna. "But it does look as if ye have somethin' important to say."
"Aye, we do," Hugh confirmed, grabbing onto Anna's hip and tucking her against his side. "This mornin', Anna told me she is with child. We're expectin' a bairn."
The room seemed to erupt into chaos. Arianna gasped as Marcus rose from his chair, closing the distance between himself and Hugh quickly. As he pulled his brother into a hug, Eilidh stood as well. She moved at a much more measured pace. She smiled at Anna as though she had a secret.
"What is it, Maither?" Hugh asked when he caught sight of Eilidh's grin. "Ye look as if ye have somethin' to share as well."
"Nay, nay," she muttered, waving her hand at her son as if to dismiss him. "I just already kent that ye were pregnant."
"But how?" Anna asked, wondering when she could have let the information slip.
"I've had three bairns of me own," Eilidh said simply as she rested her hands on Anna's shoulders. "Ye cannae seem to stand strong smells, and ye've been dealin' with bouts of nausea that ye daenae hide well."
"Oh," Anna said, blushing slightly. "I hadn't realized."
"Ye didnae tell me, Maither?" Arianna interjected, clearly incensed by what she perceived as an injustice.
"Nay," Eilidh said, taking a step toward Hugh to give him a congratulatory hug. "It was nay me business to share. But I hope ye ken that I'm happy for ye."
"As am I," Marcus said, knocking Hugh's bicep with his fist. "I'm goin' to be the best damn uncle in the country. In fact, perhaps ye should name the wee one after me."
"Ye're insane," Hugh said with a self-satisfied smirk.
The tension between the brothers had faded with time. As Marcus healed, he began reaching out to his brother once again. It warmed Anna's heart to see them interacting. Despite being two capable men, they could really behave as though they werechildren when they spent time with one another. She was proud to say that she'd played a small part in that, even if it had caused Marcus pain in the beginning.
"Ach, but what if the child is a girl?" Arianna added, not to be outdone in a competition with her siblings. "Ye could name her Arianna. That's a much better name than Marcus."
"That's nae happenin'," Hugh insisted, though it was obvious that he was getting sucked into the game that his siblings were playing. "Ye're lucky that ye're even goin' to get to interact with the bairn."
"Now, children," Eilidh laughed, unable to pull off the stern, maternal tone she was attempting to muster. "Ye shouldnae be fightin' in front of someone in Anna's condition. Ye'll only add to her stress, and it's nae good for the bairn's well-bein'."
"I find their antics entertaining," Anna admitted, grinning so hard her cheeks hurt. "They're not bothering me or the baby." Then, she looked at Hugh, raising an eyebrow in a challenge. "At least, notyet."
