“How was your morn, ladies?” Finn asked.
“Excellent!” This from Moira. “Mydaughter-within-the-law has been tutoring Catriona and I in thewarring arts.”
Finn and Ramsay practically choked on theirdrinks. Veronica grinned.
“Come again?” Ramsay asked oncerecovered.
“Aye,” Moira stated. “Catriona and I havebecome ever the proficient students. I daresay we shall be leapingthrough the air with weapons in hand the soonest.”
Lachlan frowned. “Just be certain to useyour weapons on the enemy and not on one of us!”
“Then behave yourself,” Moira harrumphed,patting her hair into place. “’Tis a fact I can gut a mon like achicken now.”
“Sweet saints,” Lachlan muttered.
Finn and Ramsay looked equally scandalizedand intrigued. Their mouths both hung open.
“You can gut a mon like a chicken?” Thisfrom Finn.
“Aye,” Catriona chimed in. “’Tis the truthmy beloved sister-within-the-law has taught us thusly. I canna waituntil our next lesson on the morrow!”
Lachlan put his head in his hands. Veronicastifled a chuckle. Life in the Middle Ages was proving to beamusing.
Her Kalari lessons with Moira and Catrionanotwithstanding, the next two weeks passed in relative quiet andcalm. Her students were progressing quite admirably—a fact she tookgreat pride in. Veronica was certain that, if ever the castle cameunder siege, her mother-in-law and sister-in-law would take outquite a few eyes and penises. Lord knows their determination alonewould frighten the hell out of any would-be assailants.
The seamstresses and cobbler had beenworking day and night and were expected to present their handiworkto Veronica before lunch. She woke up extra early that day, bemusedby the fact she was actually looking forward to it. She toldherself it was so she could give Catriona her shoes and gowns back,but conceded a part of her was intrigued regardless. A wardrobefitting was not a luxury she’d ever thought anyone from 2075 A.D.would experience ever again.
Then there was Lachlan. His nearness wasgetting to her, especially at night when they laid side by side. Orwhen the nightmares came, flashbacks to near death experiencesshe’d endured during her years long journey to find Victor.Mentally, they were overwhelming to her. It was in those momentsthat Lachlan scooped her up and clasped her in his massive arms. Hestroked her hair and rocked her back and forth, whispering promisesto her that she’d never have to fear for her safety again. Hecradled her like a baby, soothing her until she fell back tosleep.
His strength and goodness were getting pasther self-erected emotional wall. More to the point,hewasgetting past it.
The daylight hours, on the occasions she wasalone with him, were equally beckoning. Lachlan’s heavy-liddedstares and ever aroused body were getting more and more difficultto ignore. Not to mention his killer physique, handsome features,and unrelenting will to make Veronica feel happy and secure. Yes,she realized, blowing out a breath as she slid off their bed andtook to her feet still wearing her short chemise, he was getting toher. Everything about him, down to his very scent, was powerful,masculine, and alluring.
She practiced the rigorous form of Kalarishe was accustomed to there in the bedroom. It was easier toexercise with her shorter chemise on rather than in the knee-lengthchemise she reserved for wearing around Moira and Catriona. She wasconcentrating so intently on her moves that she failed to noticewhen Lachlan entered the bedroom. It was difficult to guess howlong he’d stood there watching her before he cleared his throat tomake his presence known.
“You scared me,” Veronica yelped, still in awarrior pose. She broke the stance and turned to him, her breathingheavy from exertion. “Is everything okay? Aren’t you supposed to betraining your men?”
His dark gaze raked over her body, settlingover long on her intimate areas. Finally, he looked into her eyes.“I decided to spend time with you this morn, wife,” Lachlanannounced. “Afore the seamstresses and cobbler arrive.”
“But my bath will be brought up…” Her voicetrailed off when she realized he was well aware of that fact andlikely depending on it. “…Soon,” she quietly finished.
“’Tis a boon, that,” he said thickly. “Ishall aid you in your bathing.”
She didn’t know what to say to that. Hertongue darted out to wet her suddenly parched lips. Arousal knottedin her belly. Good grief, but he was getting to her. She didn’teven know why she continued to resist him. Stubbornness? Fear he’dfind her somehow lacking? She didn’t know anymore.
A knock at the bedroom doors drew both oftheir attentions away from the other. “Your bath, milady!” Maisie’svoice called out on the other side of the barrier. “Shall we bringit in?”
Veronica was torn. On one hand, she wassweaty from Kalari and needed a bath. On the other hand, Lachlan’smere presence was filling her body with nervous adrenaline. “Yes!”she shouted back, “Come in.” She couldn’t meet Lachlan’s gaze. “Putit in front of the hearth,” she ordered.
Four soldiers carried in the tub, careful tokeep their gazes averted. They placed the basin and stepping stairswhere they knew she preferred them. That accomplished, Maisieshooed the men out. “Do you require aid, milady?” Maisie inquired.“Should I send in Isla or mayhap Ailsa?”
“No thank you,” Veronica said with allkindness. “Just please leave me the soap.”
Maisie nodded. “’Tis atop the table,” shepointed out. “I’ll leave you to it then. I best begin preparing thenooning meal. Milord,” she said to her laird, bowing before exitingthe room.
After the doors were closed, Veronica stoodthere in silence next to her husband. Her husband… that bit ofknowledge still felt surreal. She knew Lachlan wanted her to callhim by that name, but she’d only done it three times so far. Thelast time had been two weeks ago when Lachlan had declared Victorand Catriona affianced. Even then, she’d gritted outhusbandas more of a damning epithet than an endearment.
“You best take your bath whilst ‘tis hot,”Lachlan drawled. “I would not have you catch cold.”
