Jamie joined them as she added a splash of whisky to her father’s cup. The log was burning merrily, throwing off enough heat to make the area near the hearth comfortable.
Cook’s lasses filed out of the kitchen again, this time to set the evening meal on the tables.
Jamie took Caitrin’s arm. “Shall we?” He escorted her to her place, but kept an eye on Fletcher’s progress.
After they finished the meal, they again settled by the hearth, whisky to hand. The storm Fletcher predicted had arrived and was gaining strength. Rain and sleet lashed the windows.
Suddenly, the keep’s door blew open with a blast of cold, damp air. Jamie hurried to close it but stopped as Lady Madeleine appeared in the doorway out of the darkness of the bailey, shaking raindrops from her cloak.
“Thank the saints, ye have returned.” Jamie wrapped her in a hug, careless of her damp condition, then released her and closed the door. “We’ve missed ye,” he told her, “more than ye ken.”
“I’ve missed all of ye. How has he been?”
A quick glance aside showed him Fletcher dozing in his chair, no doubt succumbing to the warmth, food, and the whisky. “He’ll be glad to see ye.” Jamie paused and frowned. “He’s had more of his lapses during yer absence.”
Lady Madeleine returned his frown. “I feared that. Well, now I’m home, he’ll improve. I’ll see to it. We canna have him causing Caitrin tofash. ’Tis a happy time of year.”
“Thank ye,” Jamie told her softly and bent to kiss her cheek. “Ye are good for all of us, no’ just the Fletcher.”
“Ye are a charming man, Jamie Lathan,” She patted his cheek, then stepped away and moved toward her husband.
Jamie walked with her. “Is yer escort in the stable?”
“Nay,” she answered. “My MacGregor escort delivered me through the gate into the care of the stable master, and then turned for home.”
Jamie frowned. “In this storm? They were welcome to stay?—”
“Aye, they kenned it, but didna mind the rain. They have their own Yuletide celebrations to enjoy. Without me to care for, they’ll ride fast, even if the rain turns to snow. ’Tis certainly cold enough.” She shivered, then smiled. “The Yule log! How wonderful! At the door, the tables hid it from view.”
Her pleasure was contagious, and her presence lifted Jamie’s spirits. “Wonderful and heavy,” he quipped. He beckoned the men who’d helped him carry it.
Lady Madeleine’s gaze lingered on each as she thanked them. “’Twould no’ be Yuletide without a great log burning in the hearth.”
The men responded with smiles and nods, then scattered away.
She glanced around and nodded toward her husband. Fletcher’s chin rested on his chest. “I hate to wake him.” He snored, and she chuckled, then she headed for her husband. “Fletcher, I’m home! What sort of greeting is this, ye dozing before the fire?”
Fletcher spluttered awake, blinked and smiled up at his wife. “Am I dreaming?”
“Nay, husband. I’ve come back to ye.”
Fletcher reached out and pulled her onto his lap. “’Tis about time, woman. Where have ye been?” He kissed her, then kissed her again until she melted against him.
“Gone too long, I see,” she replied with a smile.
“Ye can make it up to me in our chamber,” he suggested with more vigor than he’d shown in weeks.
Madeleine stood and held out her hand. “Come along, then,” she said and gave him a grin.
Jamie chuckled at their antics. Despite their ages and Fletcher’s infirmity, even after three years of marriage, they could still be mistaken for much younger lovers.
“Ah, praise the saints,” Caitrin said, coming up behind Jamie. She wrapped a hand around his arm and leaned into him. “She’s back. Da will enjoy the Yule much more with her by his side.”
“Now that she’s here to take some of that burden from yer shoulders, so will ye.”
“He is lucky to have her affection,” Caitrin added, her gaze still on the older couple as they climbed the stairs. “’Tis hard to credit her son was such a madman.”
“Dinna dwell on those days. As the Lady just told me, ’tis a happy time of year. Soon enough, scents will fill the hall, from yer garlands and from the treats Cook is baking in the kitchen. We will celebrate the year past and our hopes for the future.” He smiled as Caitrin’s free hand settled low on her belly.
