He shook his head. “Ye didna. But why did ye leave?”
She poked her head out of the room, looking from side to side down the hall. He assumed to see if anyone was about. There wasn’t and she spoke.
“I didn’t want to put you in an awkward position. It wouldn’t be proper for me to be found in the bed of the laird.”
“Joss, honey. Naught of what we did was proper.”
She flushed, guilt darkening her features.
He lifted her chin with his finger, drawing her eyes up to him. “That is no’ a bad thing. Nor something to regret. I have none.” Dark thoughts entered his mind. “Do ye? Do ye regret what happened betwixt us last night?”
He held his breath as he waited for her answer. He wanted her to say nay. Needed her to say nay.
“No,” she admitted. Shaking her head. “Not at all.”
Relief flooded through him.
“I just didn’t want you to lose respect with your staff. Your friends. I know they mean a lot to you.”
“Joss.” He pulled her into his arms for a hug. Kissed the top of her head, the scent of lavender in her hair tickling his nose. “My staff ken to mind their business, but they would ne’er say aught or treat ye or me with disrespect. And as for my friends, have ye seen them? Listened to them? They are cheering for our union. Hell, we’ll probably go down to break our fast and they’ll be able to tell what we’ve done by looking at us.”
She pulled back, a horrified look on her face.
“’Tis no’ a bad thing. ’Tis just something that happens. I’m certain we kenned each time they’d done the same. It changes us. Our demeanor.” He pulled her closer, close enough that she could feel the effect she had on him, as his hardness prodded her belly. “I really dinna care if they ken. ’Tis what we wanted, aye? Hey.” He brought his hands up to caress her cheek. “There’s no going back. We’re moving full steam ahead. Agreed?”
Worrying her lip, she searched his face. He hoped she could see the truth in his eyes.
Finally, she nodded. “Agreed.”
Holding out his hand, he smiled when she accepted it as they made their way downstairs.
*
When Jocelyn andGunn entered the dining room, all eyes turned to them. She couldn’t stop the blush that flushed her cheeks. It was as if she’d had what they’d done last night written on her forehead, announcing it to everyone.
The women smiled, and the men smirked.
She sat down quickly. She was so embarrassed she didn’t want to look anyone in the eye. Couldn’t look anyone in the eye.
If she did, she feared they’d be able to see everything she’d done.
“Ye two are late coming down,” Gwen said, pressing her lips together as she tried to hold back her laugh.
Jocelyn threw her hands up and rolled her eyes. “Fine. You all are too intuitive for anything to slip your notice. Jest all you want.”
She waited, the quiet lingering for long moments, until everyone broke into laughter at the same time. Loud, raucous laughter.
“We kenned ’twould be just a matter of time,” Lizzie confirmed. I mean, we werena going to say aught, but ye told on yourself anyway.” She smiled and took a bite of toast that had been slathered with butter and piled high with jam.
Gunn looked around. “Well, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way.” He grasped her hand and squeezed. “Let’s enjoy our meal. After we finish, the men and I have an appointment we must attend.”
Willamina shot Finlay a narrowed eye look. “Ye didna speak about plans for this afternoon.”
He cleared his throat, dabbing the corner of his mouth with a napkin. “’Tis a recent event. We’ll be back this eve.”
“What shall we do whilst they are away?” Clarissa asked.
“We can walk the grounds. Mayhap stroll the shore,” Gwen offered.
