“Two ships have been sighted due west—and they’re not Laird MacLachlan’s, the guards atop the ramparts could tell that much. We’re mounting up tae ride along the coastline tae see if we can get a better look and I want you with us. Come!”
“Two ships?” echoed Tira, her face grown pale, though she reached for Errol’s hand as if to reassure him. “I will be fine, you must go.”
He didn’t want to leave her alone, Errol torn as Lorne cursed impatiently behind him, which made him squeeze Tira’s fingers and then release her to stride across the garden, the head captain already well ahead of him.
Errol’s last glimpse of Tira saw her sinking into her chair to rest her head in her hands, and he knew then exactly what she must be thinking.
Had Thorgren Sigurdson guessed where she might be?
If so, that accursed Orkney raider was shrewder than Errol would have thought, his curse ripping the air as he lunged through the garden gate after Lorne.
“Errol?”
Tira had heard heavy footfalls coming down the hallway before the door swung open, and she sat up in bed, her heart pounding.
His tall, formidable shape so familiar to her, his presence swamping her at once with relief, though she couldn’t discern his face in the flickering light from the dying fire.
She should have gotten up an hour past to stoke the flames, but instead she had lain in bed and stared at the ceiling, stricken with apprehension and waiting…waiting?—
“All’s well, lass, I’m here.”
All was well? Errol’s low-spoken words did little to soothe her after hours spent fearing the worst…that somehow Thorgren had come looking for her—ah, God, mayhap those two ships sighted earlier weren’t from the Orkneys after all!
As if guessing her anxious thoughts, Errol came around the bed to sink down and gather her into his arms…and Tira didn’t stiffen at all. Instead she clung to him, her head pressed against his shoulder.
He smelled of wind and the sea and a masculine scent of his own that she remembered so well from last year when he had held her close, aye, and from more recently, too, whenever he had swept her up to carry her?—
“Och, Tira, there’s nothing tae fear. We rode south along the shore and then northward as it grew dark and saw no sails. Merchants on their way tae the outer Scottish isles, most likely, they disappeared as if never sighted.”
Tira gave a relieved sigh at this news, but still she shivered in her nightgown as Errol pressed a kiss to her temple and then rose from the bed, sighing himself.
Why did she feel he wasn’t quite convinced of what he’d just told her? She drew the covers up to her breasts and watched as he went to stoke the fire, and then began to divest himself of his cloak and breacan, followed by his heavy sword belt dropping to the floor with a thud.
Errol was clearly exhausted from such a long ride and the hard training he had done earlier that day, which made her wonder if he was hungry or thirsty.
They never had a chance to eat in the garden, and she hadn’t touched the food, either, her appetite fled as she had wondered with a sick feeling that still plagued her if Thorgren?—
“Any raider would be a fool tae try and attack Castle MacLachlan,” came Errol’s voice with a harshness that made Tira shiver anew. “You’re safe here with our bairns—och, do you mind if I call them so?”
Tira met his gaze across the distance from the bed to the fireplace, though she couldn’t read his expression with the flames burning brighter behind him.
“I dinna mind, Errol, you’re my wedded husband and father now tae Monroe and Isobel. We dinna have tae ever tell them the truth of their birth if you dinna wish it.”
He didn’t respond, as if taking in her answer, though he sighed again and turned away from her to finish undressing, which made her lie back down and close her eyes…just listening.
Her fingers clutching the covers, she heard two thuds as he kicked off his boots and the swish of his tunic when he pulled the garment over his head…and then a scraping upon the floor as he moved the chair closer to the fire.
“It’s been a long day, Tira. Cora provided us some food and drink when we returned, so you needna worry for me…though I would have enjoyed sharing that fine luncheon with you. Go tae sleep, lass.”
Amazed that once again Errol had discerned her thoughts, she drew the covers up to her chin and nodded…her heart beginning to race when she heard him sit heavily even as Cora’s advice flew back to her.
Tonight invite Errol tae share your bed—but dinna fear, he’ll keep well tae his side until that day you tell him otherwise. Your husband needs good rest for what lies ahead, aye?
“Aye, he does—he does!” she whispered emphatically to herself, though she heard the chair creak as Errol must have glanced over his shoulder.
“Did you say something, Tira?”
Her heart pounding all the harder, she felt a blush race from her scalp to her breasts and she rolled over to face away from Errol’s side of the bed.
