“Every day I get to wake up to a man who excites and fulfills my every want and need. I had no idea this could be possible, or I would not have delayed my coming out.”
“You delayed your coming out?”
“I did and I was convinced I would be forced to marry some old, bald, fat man.”
“Stop your teasing, lass, or I will have to punish you.”
“Oh! And what do you have in mind?” she asked.
His body reacted immediately to her teasing. All she had to do was lower her tone just a little, sounding husky, and his body was practically ready to take her again.
“You’ll see if you keep that up, and we have hours yet before we can retire.”
“Oh, there must be a quiet, dark corner around this old castle somewhere.”
“Do you want to find out?’
“Aye, my husband. I believe you have a study, do you not? Maybe we need to review some of the accounts that cannot wait.”
“I believe you might be right,” he said and took her hand, practically dragging her to the study. If anyone noticed, they said nothing, and in truth, they were not gone long enough for anyone to raise any alarm, but what was raised was swiftly satisfied and the sentiment returned. Alexander thought about all the nooks and crannies a large castle like this one would have. And he would explore each and every one of them with her for the rest of their lives.
Epilogue
Marion rolled overonto her back and rubbed her swelling belly. She’d finally gotten her bump within the last fortnight, and she couldn’t keep her hands from touching it. And if she wasn’t touching it, Alexander was. He’d even placed his ear to it and talked to the growing bairn within her, for he was convinced ’twas a wee lad and was already choosing names.
She lay there for a few more moments enjoying the quiet of the early morn and the fact that the sickness that had plagued her for the first few weeks had fully passed now. She smiled as she got out of bed and donned her robe to sit by the fire. Today Jean and Alain would wed, and the excitement throughout the castle and the village was enormous.
Thick garlands with strings of bright red berries were strung all over the great hall and their small chapel. The aroma coming from the kitchens for the past few days was enough to make a person drool in ecstasy with each delectable dish. Marion had seen to every detail. Her transition to head of the household was not as daunting as she’d thought, and the staff were considerably kind and patient with her when she ordered the wrong things together for dinner or not enough supplies for a particular meal.
But she’d weathered it, and Jean and she had become as close as sisters could be. Unlike her preparation, or lack thereof, she hadoffered much advice and detail about what would happen on the wedding night. While the conversations were sometimes uncomfortable, Marion made sure Jean knew what to expect.
Marion opened her chest for her new gowns. Alexander had ten new ones made so that they could expand with her and while she was only just showing, she was excited to wear one of them today. She selected a deep forest-green brocade gown with her favorite gold stitching on the sleeves and neckline and laid it on the bed. Alexander had risen early to spend the morning with Alain and to help him be ready for the day.
It was so exciting having a wedding to look forward to before the long cold days of winter set in. She was thankful that she would at least have the bairn growing in her belly to distract her through those awful months. Jean and Alain would remain at Inverary as well until the spring when they could move formally to the manor house, though Alexander and Alain had made regular trips to set it up properly with furnishings and determine sufficient staff.
When she was fully dressed, she left her chamber to see to Jean. The sight that met her upon entering Jean’s chamber was breathtaking. Jean wore a deep-crimson brocade gown with a yellow gold wreath on her head, accentuating her beautiful features.
“My dear, you are stunning,” Marion said to her.
Jean turned to her with watery eyes. “I never thought this day would ever arrive.”
From behind them, Alexander cleared his throat. “Are you ready?” His voice was quiet and gentle. He’d grown closer to his siblings in the past months if that was even possible. And Marion loved him more with each passing day.
“Aye, I am as ready as I can be.”
Alexander walked with Jean, and Marion followed to the chapel which was lit with hundreds of candles that were reflected in the berries on the garland. It was warm and welcoming as they took theirplaces. Marion reflected on her own as the priest spoke of the blessing of marriage at this holy special time. Though Jean had specifically wanted the wedding to take place on Yule, the priest was not about to let them forget the Christian significance as well.
Once the ceremony was over and they’d returned to the great hall, the feasting began. Hundreds of people moved in and out of the hall throughout the day and evening as clansmen and villagers flocked to see the common man who’d married into such an important family. For Marion, the thing that pleased her the most was that the family in question did not put on any airs that they were any different than anyone else and she supposed that was why they were so beloved in the region.
At the end of the evening and upon retiring, she sat by the fire in her robe with her husband combing her hair. He’d gotten into the habit of it during her early pregnancy as it became soothing to her. Now he did it because he told her it relaxed him as well.
It had been many weeks since they’d last been together in that way, and many evenings he complied with her wishes to sleep elsewhere as she did not want him listening to her losing her guts all night long. It was certainly not the image she wanted him to have of her in their bed.
“How do you feel?” he asked like he did every evening.
“I feel wonderful,” she said. “But maybe a little hungry.”
He stopped brushing. “Did you not have enough to eat at the feast?”
