Page 60 of His Forgotten Highland Bride

“I can put them out if they tease you if that be your wish, my lady.”

She laughed. “That is not my wish, laird. When they are not laughing at our expense, they are quite valuable as warriors to defend us against other clans. Besides, you know I will not be the kind of mistress who punishes their people simply because she is displeased.”

“Can I be the kind of laird that punishes his warriors because his wife is displeased?”

“Nay.” She laughed at his eagerness.

“Can I be the kind of laird that punishes his warriors for being the reason his wife chooses to venture out instead of spending another day with him abed?”

“Hmm… It seems it falls to me to save your men from their fates by giving into your whims and staying in your bed. What sacrifices I make for my people.”

“You are a benevolent mistress. It shall be noted in the history books.”

They fell in a laughing heap back to the bed. And soon, giggles turned to moans and gasps.

“We shall go out tomorrow, I promise,” he said as he slid into her.

“We shall see,” she whispered. “We do not need quite so many warriors. We could surely spare a few.”

***

Brenna straightened her shoulders and took a deep breath to steady herself before opening the door and entering the kitchen.

Rather than walk with her husband into the hall directly from their chamber, she’d decided to help with the late meal and join Ronan at the high table before it was served. It was a poor ploy to draw attention away from the fact they’d spent most of the day closed up in their bedroom again that day.

“Look who it is, ladies. Our mistress is walking a bit bow-legged this evening,” Corinne said loudly as the other women stifled chuckles.

“Go on. I knew I could not sneak in without a few jests,” Brenna said.

In truth, it was much easier to face her friends than the warriors in the hall. Many days they’d spent in this very room talking about the things they shared with their husbands in the privacy of their bedrooms. Brenna had not had much of anything to bring to their bawdy discussions. Even now, she didn’t plan to share the intimate details of what went on with her and her husband. But she understood better why they teased each other.

It was a way of letting the others know they were happy for each other.

“Does he treat you well?” Ada asked quietly.

“Yes. I worry I may never stop smiling for how happy I am. I never expected it to be this way between us,” Brenna blurted out, her eyes filled with happy tears.

She didn’t mean to be such a mess, but she couldn’t help herself. Soon enough, the other women dropped what they were doing to hug her.

“You deserve nothing less for all the sadness you’ve endured all these years,” Jane said. The other women nodded in fierce agreement.

“I am quite happy. Happier than I ever expected.”

Each woman reached out in some way, either with a hug or by squeezing her hand, to show how much they cared.

“Now,” Corinne said, clearing her throat. “How large is the laird?”

After avoiding Corinne’s naughty inquisition as best as possible, Brenna helped them finish the meal and headed to the hall.

She glanced up at her husband seated at the high table with his men around him. She smiled at seeing him, like some silly girl with her first crush. Only this was so much more. At least, it was in her heart. She knew her husband cared for her and enjoyed lying with her, but did he love her as she had come to love him? She was aware these things were different for men.

Ada had told about how her husband hadn’t realized he was in love with her until she’d had difficulty with the birth of their child, and then he’d become overwhelmed with fear of losing her.

Did Ronan love her? She thought perhaps he did. Just then, his gaze landed on her, and he stopped speaking to Will so that he could jump up and walk across the hall to meet her. In front of everyone, he bent to press a kiss to the back of her hand.

“I’ve missed ye, wife.”

She might have mentioned she’d only been away from him for less than an hour, but she’d missed him as well.