Page 123 of The Laird’s Wrong Wife

“I am carin’ for me wife and bairn.”

Muriel picked up the abandoned mutton plate. “Those restrictions are yer choice, Braither. Ye willnae claim that me judgment supports them.”

By the final evening of the week, the servants looked toward Oscar before answering even the simplest request.

Family hour had also been moved into Ceana’s workroom. Tommy had arranged wooden soldiers in a wide circle around her chair, and Ness stood beyond the boundary with a strip of cloth tied loosely around her neck.

“What is this?” Ceana asked.

“Nay one can run inside the soldiers,” Tommy said. “Faither ordered everyone to be careful with ye.”

Oscar stood beside the fireplace and did not correct him. Paisley sat on a stool beyond the wooden line.

Ceana removed several soldiers and opened the circle. “Come closer, both of ye.”

Paisley rose first. Tommy glanced at Oscar before stepping across.

Ceana drew them beside her chair. “We have neglected our question game. Tommy, if Ness became Laird for one day, what would be her first command?”

Tommy thought about it for a while before answering. “Probably that every cabbage must be banished from the castle.”

Ness chose that moment to seize one of the wooden soldiers and trot away with it between her teeth. Ceana laughed so hard that she started coughing.

Oscar crossed the room at once. “Are ye dizzy? Are ye in pain?”

“I am laughin’.”

“That is enough for tonight. Ceana must rest.”

Tommy’s face fell. “I kept everyone outside the line. I am sorry I made ye laugh too hard.”

Ceana took his hand. “Laughter hasnae harmed me.”

Paisley watched Oscar from beside the chair. “If ye are well, why must we stay away from ye?”

“Ye need only remember that there are risks when a woman carries a bairn—” Oscar began.

“Enough,” Ceana cut in, gathering both children close. “Ye can sit beside me. Ye can embrace me and laugh with me.”

Tommy’s arms remained cautious around her.

After kissing each child, Ceana sent them to help Mairi rescue the wooden soldier from Ness. Oscar left for his study before the door had closed behind them.

Ceana followed.

The same straight-backed chair in which she had bargained over their marriage stood before his desk. Oscar moved behind it as she closed the door.

“Why are ye nae restin’?” he asked.

“That question is why I followed ye.” She advanced to the desk. “Ye have made me return feel like imprisonment.”

“I arranged a safe journey. Ye were tired when we arrived. I make certain ye eat, and I have allowed ye to continue workin’. The children must learn caution.”

“Or ye can just ask what I need before makin’ any decision.”

“I am keepin’ ye and the bairn safe.”

Ceana stepped around the desk until less than an arm’s length separated them. His gaze followed the rise and fall of her chest before dropping to the faint swell of her belly. Both hands remained braced against the wood.