“For both of us, husband.”
He set the letter on top of his book, certain that Mary would rather tell him the rest than have him read the details. “Does she say why they dinna plan to come sooner? We are only a day’s hard ride away.”
“They’re having an early Yule celebration at Brodie first. Since Annie and Iain are bringing their wee son, they canna make the trip in one day. Kenneth and Cat will travel with them, along with an escort.”
“Aye, of course.” Though Rose and Brodie shared a border, travel in the Highlands was never safe, especially with the approach of midwinter.
“Ach, what if it snows again? They’ll be delayed even more.”
“Dinna fash, wife. They’ll get here, no matter the weather. And they’ll make our first Yule even more joyful than we planned.” Cam knew his bride. Preparing for her sisters’ visit would keep her floating on clouds for the next fortnight. Her mind was surely spinning with ideas and chores enough to keep the entire clan busy until their guests—nay, their family—arrived. He took her hand in his larger ones. “What do we need to do first?”
Mary’s lips formed an “O” and she gestured toward the parchment. “I must set down every idea,” she said, her gaze drifting aside in thought. “What needs to be done, and when, in the keep and without. Cleaning. Making sure things are put out of wee Ewan’s reach so he doesn’t get into mischief. Decorating the hall for Yule.”
Cam nodded, caught up in the spirit of Mary’s musing. “If Rose does as Sutherland does every year, we’ll need boughs of fir, sprigs of holly…”
“Aye, of course. Those will make the great hall smell heavenly!”
“But gathering them could wait until everyone arrives. Yer sisters might enjoy finishing the decorations in their childhoodhome. Iain and Kenneth can help me bring in a suitable Yule log for the great hall’s hearth. And we’ll need to plan hunts to keep them entertained.”
“And everyone fed, aye. I must speak with Cook right away. Ach, we’ve so many things to do!”
Cameron pulled his wife into his arms while a vision of apple cakes sweetened with honey danced in his head. They’d been a favorite of his growing up, but did the Rose cook know how to make them? He’d ask her later. Right now, Mary was in his arms, needing him. “Wheesht, Mary my love. Ye dinna have to arrange it all right this minute.”
“Nay, but ye ken how my mind works.”
“That I do. And I ken ye will put all in perfect order. The entire clan will help. We will do what ye wish, when ye wish it.” With one finger, he lifted her chin, then gazed deep into her eyes. “But there’s something I want ye to include as ye note each need,” he said, pulling himself from the blue depths he loved.
“There is?” Her brow furrowed and she stiffened in his arms.
“Aye.” Cam fought to hide a grin. He never intruded on Mary’s running of the keep, so he knew this demand surprised her. He hoped she’d like his request. “I wish for ye to put time for us in yer plans, wife. I willna have ye disappear from me for the next fortnight while ye set all to rights.”
She softened in his arms, a smile lighting her face as she nodded. “I could never disappear from ye, my laird. Nor ye from me. We will have our time, never fear.”
“’Tis a promise, and I want a kiss to seal it.” He tightened his hold on her, then lifted her and swung her around.
She shrieked with laughter, then gasped, “Cam, put me down! Ye are making me dizzy.”
He set her on her feet but kept her secure in his embrace. “I willna release ye until ye kiss me,” he threatened.
She placed two fingers over his lips before he could swoop in and claim her mouth. “But we have nay mistletoe,” she teased.
“’Tis no’ the Yuletide, yet, Mary my love. We dinna need it now. But ye will gather mistletoe. Lots of mistletoe. And hang it throughout the keep. I intend to kiss ye soundly wherever I find ye.”
“And I, to kiss ye back.” She proceeded to do just that.
When Cam finally came up for air, he had more than kissing on his mind. “Do we have time for us now, my lady wife?”
“Hmmm.” She tilted her head and tapped her temple. “I dinna believe that is on any tally I’ve yet begun, my laird. But with the right encouragement, I could be convinced to add it.”
“Then let me encourage ye,” Cam said and took her lips again. When Mary melted even deeper into his embrace, he scooped her up, then set her on the library table.
“Cam! Nay, no’ here. The servants…”
“Will no’ come near, but I will lock the door for milady’s peace of mind.” He left her long enough to make certain they would not be disturbed, then returned to his wife.
Mary reached for him, her expression full of love and longing. “How will we find moments like this with half of clan Brodie underfoot?”
“’Tis our home, Mary. We ken all the best places to hide…”
