Within moments they had reached their bedchamber, the door wide open, which told her that they wouldn’t be alone…no, not yet.
As soon as Gabriel carried her inside, she saw Euna stoking the fire and Donella plumping pillows, both women spinning around to stare at them as wide-eyed as Rhona and Keira.
“If you’ve not heard yet, my countess is no lunatic,” Gabriel announced solemnly though Magdalene glimpsed humor in his gaze as he set her down. “Feel free tae spread the news—go on, the two of you, and when you see the other servants on their way, tell them tae make haste. I’ll not wait much longer tae be alone with my bride.”
“Aye, Laird—och, Earl Gabriel,” blurted Euna, who grabbed her sister by the arm and hissed as they flew from the room, “I told you she couldna be a madwoman after I saw those bloodstains on the sheet!”
That comment made Gabriel laugh, a robust sound that made Magdalene smile and yet feel sad, all at the same time. She’d heard his laughter so rarely—dear God, surely that must change!
As if sensing her warring emotions, he sobered, the two of them facing each other in the room as the commotion of servants approaching carried to them from the hall. If there was ever a moment to share her thoughts with him, she seized upon it.
“Gabriel, Cora told me about your family curse…though I knew something of it before from Donella and Euna.”
“Magdalene…”
“No, no, please hear me out! I dinna believe in curses and I’ll not have it ruin our life together. Mayhap that’s what has been on your mind today—”
“Aye, from the moment I agreed tae take you for my wife. God help me, Maggie, if any harm should come tae you—”
“It willna, I’m certain of it! We’re going to live long together and have bairns aplenty and be happy! Those tragedies—a terrible coincidence, but that doesna mean it will happen tae me or any other MacLachlan bride in generations tae come—”
“I want tae believe that, wife, more than I can say,” Gabriel broke in, pulling her into his arms as servants appeared at the door. “We’ll not speak of it anymore…at least not today. Would that please you?”
She nodded, tears springing to her eyes at how tenderly he looked at her, and smoothed a tendril from her cheek. The touch of his fingers made her press closer, the two of them holding each other as the room became a whirlwind of activity.
The large copper tub set before the warming fire and filled with steaming water.
An embroidered cloth spread upon a table that was soon laden with food infusing the air with savory aromas, while another servant poured scarlet wine into two fine glass goblets.
Then it was done, the servants retreating as quickly as they had come and shutting the door behind them, leaving Magdalene and Gabriel finally….blessedly, alone.
He stared into her eyes and she stared into his, the wonder of their wedding ceremony settling over her even as the ruby ring on her finger glittered in the firelight.
“My wife,” he murmured, cupping her cheek.
“My husband,” she whispered, nestling her face against his hand even as she saw the fatigue around his eyes from the frenetic pace of the last few days.
Was it just over two weeks since he had come to fetch her from the convent? So much had happened and even more lay ahead of them…sharing their lives, and a beloved family already with little Rhona and Keira. Yet battles for freedom loomed ahead, too, that might separate them for months—och, she wouldn’t think of that tonight, either!
All she wanted to think about was Gabriel and this precious time with him—aye, in her mind their true wedding night. She turned her head to tenderly kiss his hand and then slipped out of his embrace, though he groaned in protest, and drew him with her toward the fireplace.
“A bath, Gabriel, let me help you.”
His eyes burned into hers as she stood on tiptoe to pull the breacan from his shoulder, though when she fumbled with the same garment tied around his waist, he chuckled and set her away from him. Right before her eyes, he stripped so quickly…his breacan followed by his sword belt and then his tunic. Magdalene drew in her breath at the muscular magnificence of his body when he stood naked in front of her except for his boots.
“Mayhap those, too?” she said in a whisper as heat flared her cheeks, Gabriel smiling as he bent down to pull the boots off his feet. Yet she gasped at the sight of purple bruises on his back where someone must have lunged into him violently—thank God, not with the sharp edge of a sword!
“Oh, Gabriel…” Fresh tears stung her eyes as she found herself pulled into his embrace, his face close to hers, his fingers tunneling into her hair.
“I’m well, wife, those bruises will heal soon enough. Kiss me now…my love, my life.”
She did, parting her lips to him as his mouth covered hers with such sweet possession that she felt her knees grow weak.
His tongue delving deep while he gathered her gown and the linen shift underneath at her thighs and pulled the garment upward, Magdalene divested of her clothing before she could even blink. Then he was kissing her again, and lifted her as she gasped against his mouth, to deposit her into the tub, soothing warm water up to her knees.
She didn’t sit, though, for Gabriel had grabbed a sponge floating amidst fragrant herbs cast upon the surface and began to squeeze water down over her body…her nipples at once puckering into hard nubs. She sucked in her breath when he bent his head and captured one in his mouth, the sensation so unlike anything she’d ever known, that she could not help but sigh…while he only laughed.
A low husky sound that thrilled her as much as him suckling at her breast while he squeezed more water down her trembling abdomen and along her thighs.
