Page 29 of The Lyon and the Lass

He laughed and kissed her forehead. “I will be down to join ye in a few minutes.”

She smiled, a warm feeling coming over her that Kerrigan was home. She had been so taken up with the jobs she’d been doing that she hadn’t realized how much she’d missed him. They’d gotten close on their trek from London to the castle and had spent a great deal of time just talking and enjoying each other’s company.

Even though it had been quite a chance to take on an unknown husband, she’d been blessed with a wonderful, kind, caring one. She thanked the lord every night for Mrs. Dove-Lyon.

As he started up the stairs, she said, “You will see a change in our bedchamber.” This time she winked.

Chapter Fourteen

Although he wasweary from his trip, especially since he pushed Neil to finish the trip home, all Kerrigan could think about was taking his beautiful wife to bed. Especially since the food had smelled good and tasted wonderful; there even had been crusty loaves of fresh bread. He’d been able to enjoy a few mugs of ale and a shot of whisky. Now he was ready for Christine.

They had chatted throughout supper, some of the people of the keep stopping by to tell them of issues they needed him to deal with, but he brushed them all off by telling them to see him in the morning. Tonight was for him and his wife.

He glanced at her berry tart. “Are you finished yet, lass?”

Christine sighed. “Kerrigan, that’s about the tenth time you asked me if I was finished with my food.”

“Aye, ’tis true. I’m anxious for ye to show me how our bedchamber has been cleaned.”

She laughed. “Do not try me on that, husband. I know you’ve been up there already and have seen our hard work.”

He leaned in closer and whispered in her ear. “Ach, lass I have more hard work for ye upstairs, but I guarantee ye will be falling asleep with a smile on yer face.”

His sweet wife glanced around to see if anyone overheard him. He loved the deep blush on her face. He was beginning to believe there was a lot about Christine to love.

She pushed her half-eaten tart away and stood. “I am finished.”

Feeling slightly guilty because the lass had seemed to be enjoying her treat, he said, “Nay,mo chridhe, finish yer tart.”

Placing her hands on her hips, she smiled in a way that had him standing so abruptly, anyone watching them would assume he’d been pushed from the chair.

“If ye are sure?”

Taking his hand, she led him from the table. He wrapped his arm around her waist, and they made their way upstairs.

“Ye did a wonderful job on the room, Christine,” he said as they entered. Clean and sweet-smelling rushes on the floor, clean window coverings and bed linens made the room look very comfortable.

“Why doona ye take off those clothes and climb into bed?”

Christine’s jaw dropped. “Husband, you have no idea how to woo a woman.”

He dragged his hand down his face. Spending time away from his wife and now seeing her with a bed so close was turning him into an arse. “Aye, ye’re right. Would you care for some wine? I can have one of the maids bring up a jug.”

She shook her head. “No. What I want is a nice, hot bath.”

His brows rose. “The loch is cold, Christine.”

“Not the loch. While rummaging around the keep I found an old wooden bathtub. I had asked Edward and Joshua to bring it upstairs after I cleaned it up, but they never had the time to do it.” She walked close to him and placed her hands on his shoulders, looking him in the eye. “I noticed that the tub was big enough for two people.”

He stepped back and headed to the door. “Where is this bathtub?”

After getting instructions from Christine, he hurried down the stairs. A bathtub big enough for both of them? Since he’d always cleaned up in the loch this was something he never thought of. He had no idea from where the idea came to his innocent little wife, but ’twas certainly a good one.

He grabbed Edward as he headed from the kitchen. “Help me with this bathtub yer lady wants brought upstairs. Then I want ye and Joshua to bring up buckets of hot water.”

“It might take time to heat up enough water to fill that tub, Laird.”

He would have to find a way to keep them occupied until the job was done. “Ask one of the kitchen maids to start heating water.” He headed to where the bathtub sat. Once Edward joined him, they hefted it up onto their shoulders and carried it up the backstairs rather than taking it through the great hall.