Page 16 of Married to her Kilted Enemy

“Never, ever, touch me like that again!”

“I’m sorry. I dinnae ken what happened then. It’ll nae happen again,” Odhrán promised in a low voice, rubbing the spot on his cheek where Maddison had just slapped him.

“It had better nae!” she told him sternly, her cheeks still bright pink, along with her lips, which he could not quite believe he had just been kissing. He was deeply confused, not to say aroused by what had just happened. In truth, the kiss had been the most amazing thing he had ever experienced in his life. He was rocked to his very core by the desire he felt for her. But even more amazing and puzzling to him was the unmistakable passion with which Maddison had returned the kiss. How can she kiss me back like that when she says she hates me and that she’s gonnae make me life a misery?

On the other hand, he was not so stupid as to point out that small inconsistency to her just then. Instead, he felt an urgent need to get away and take some time to think about what the kiss might mean.

“I’ll take me leave of ye then,” he told her and hurriedly left the room, deciding to head for the guardroom to find Liam. After what had happened, he realized he needed good counsel. He needed to talk to his closest friend about the situation he found himself in with Maddison. He could have done with Tadgh’s viewpoint too, but he was scouting the countryside for intelligence of their unknown attackers, so Liam would have to do.

Ten minutes later, the two friends were alone in the guardroom, which served as Liam’s makeshift office. Odhrán sat on the edge of the desk, his arms folded, while Liam occupied the only good chair. He poured them both a dram and handed one to Odhrán.

“Slainté mhath,” they chorused, wishing each other good health as they clinked glasses and downed the whisky in one swallow. “Now, man, what brings ye here? Dinnae tell me… I’m guessin’ it has somethin’ tae dae with yer wife.” He raised his dark eyebrows.

“Aye, I’m sorry about earlier,” Odhrán said with a sigh. “She was only comin’ after ye like that tae show me up.”

“Aye, I could tell,” Liam said with a small laugh. “I was awful glad when ye came tae me rescue!”

“Well, now ye ken what she’s like, and ye havenae seen the worst of it,” Odhrán told him bleakly. “She’ll nae speak tae me unless she has to, and she blows hot and cold all the time. She tells me every day how much she hates me and likes making me miserable. Well, she’s certainly succeedin’. We were wed five days ago, and we’ve nae consummated it yet. I’ve slept on the floor since our weddin’ night. She’ll nae let me anywhere near her.”

“Good Lord, Odhrán! That’s terrible!” Liam sympathized, rubbing his stubbly chin as if seeking and answer. “Nae wonder ye’re a wee bit tetchy.”

“And I’ll nae stoop so low as tae force her,” Odhrán added, “even though she’s slowly drivin’ me mad.” The reality of the kiss had not yet fully sunk in, and so he hesitated to mention it. It was too confusing and seemed likely only to add to the complications. “I’ve thought about persuadin’ her though. A lot,” he admitted, “fer ’tis true I can hardly keep me hands off her. But I ken it would just make her hate me more. She’d truly never forgive me then, and I couldnae live with it. It’s got tae the point now where I think I’ve made a big mistake. I just dinnae ken what tae dae tae make things tolerable between us, Liam.”

“I think ye’ve done the right thing in nae forcin’ yersel’ on her. Think of her like a nervous filly. Ye have tae get her tae trust ye over a period of time. It may take a while, but if ye can be patient, ye’ll be in the saddle before ye ken it.”

“So, how dae I dae that then? If she was a filly I’d give her an extra bag of oats and a good rub down with a pint of whisky,” Odhrán said with grim amusement. “I dinnae think Maddison will go fer that.”

“In me view, yer only chance of succeedin’ is nae tae force her tae dae anythin’ she disnae want tae dae. Stop tryin’ tae get her tae speak tae ye and give her plenty of time tae find her feet and sort out her feelins.”

“And what am I supposed tae dae in the meantime?” Odhrán asked, turning the advice over in his mind.

“In the meantime, old son, ye have tae act like the best man she can imagine, be considerate and caring, give her flowers and gifts and suchlike. And ye must be there tae support her when she needs ye tae be, whether she kens it or nae.”

“Are ye serious, man? I’ve just about lost me patience with her.”

“But she’s only been her for what? A seven-day? ’Tis nae long, specially nae after what yer faither put her through. And now she’s yer wife. Dinnae throw it all away just because there are a few problems startin’ out. Better tae try yer hardest tae make things work between ye.”

“All right. That sound’s fair. Will ye help me out?”

“Aye, of course. I suggest we make a plan of what sort of things ye could try tae win her heart,” Liam told him, snatching up a quill and a piece of paper from the desk and preparing to write. “Now, let’s put our thinkin’ caps on.”

“Does this mean I’m gonnae have tae keep sleepin’ on the floor fer a while longer?” Odhrán asked a bit forlornly, leaning over Liam’s shoulder to look at the paper before him.

“I’m afraid so, but in time, man, in time she’ll be draggin’ ye intae that bed with her, ye’ll see I’m right. All ye need tae dae is dae what I say.”

“I hope ye’re right. But ye dinnae ken how stubborn that vixen can be,” Odhrán said, harboring grave doubts that anything would work, whilst at the same time praying his friend was right.

He sighed and then got up. “Let us go to the council room now, the men must have all arrived,” he added, trying to focus on the more urgent matter at that moment.

CHAPTER NINE

One fair afternoon a few days later, almost a fortnight after the wedding, Maddison was walking back from the nearby village of Lennox with Alana. The pair were loaded down with bags and baskets of herbs and other ingredients Alana required for her healing work. Maddison had also brought herself a new pair of gloves, a pretty silver necklace with a tear-shaped pendant, and a quarter pound of the hard toffee she liked. She was in quite a good mood.

They were discussing news of the attack, and Maddison was taken off guard when Alana casually asked, “D’ye ken where Tadhg is?”

Maddison shook her head. “Nay, all I ken is that he’s been sent out scoutin’ for information about the raiders. Odhrán says he’s the best scout there is.”

“Aye, that he is,” Alana said with a small nod. “I hope he’s all right.”