A Perfect Wife [Highland Menage 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (10 page)

“And mayhaps he kens his family too well. He might wish for a wife who sees him for who he is now and not the lad he used to be.”

“Aye, there is that.” Bessie perked up, humming as she worked.

Kiera decided to talk to Duff to see if Ramsay was interested in a wife. And if so, if he’d even seen Bessie. She’d let on how Bessie was shy. That would no doubt surprise Duff as Bessie had no problem telling the men off to protect her chick. And that got her thinking on something she’d wanted to ask.

“My father said he trained my mother, making her a perfect wife. I wish to be that to Malcolm and Duff.”

Bessie cocked her head to the side. All traces of the shy virgin were gone. “A perfect wife? And what is that?”

“A woman who puts the needs of her husband and her clan first. She is always ready to do what he wishes.” She stopped to think. “No, she does what he wishes afore he thinks of it. And a perfect wife is always pleasant and sweet, eager for the bedchamber.”

Bessie snorted like a horse. “From the sounds I hear coming out of yon chamber ye have no problem with that.”

Kiera’s face heated. “
’
Tis the main reason of wanting a husband, aye?”

“Or two,” added Bessie.

“My father said my mother was perfect. He loved her very much and didn’t hide it. I would like my husbands to love me, so I have to be perfect, too.”

Bessie set down her mending. “Have ye asked the laird and his brother how they wish their wife to be?”

She shook her head. “Their mother died when they were young. They had a stepmother for a few years, one who was kind to them, but she died as well.” She grimaced. “But they rode with my father for ten days and he told them all about my mother, and Silean. I overheard Duff saying my father believed Elizabeth was the perfect wife for a young laird, and Silean for an older one.”

“
’
Tis impossible to be perfect,” said Bessie. “I watched ye grow, lass. Ye are nay the type to hold back yer voice or yer temper.”

“My mother did.”

“She was loud when she wished. And yer father liked it.”

“But he said he tamed her to suit himself!”

Bessie choked. Kiera was concerned until she realized the older woman was holding back chuckles.

“What?”

“Aye, yer father said he tamed Elizabeth. And she let him think it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Men need their pride more than women do. And because they control our lives, women must do what they can to train their husbands.
’
Tisn’t wrong to guide a man with love and caring so it benefits the family, and the clan.” Bessie’s eyes twinkled. “My own mam told me what yer father was like when he married Lady Elizabeth.
’
Twas a lot like how Laird Malcolm is outside yer chamber. And maybe inside as well.”

“My father spent a fortnight teaching my husband how to be like him,” she said, grumbling. “I think Malcolm wants to control me, and that far more than my father ever did.”

“The laird let ye be far freer than any, so any husband would want a stronger hand on ye. But Lady Elizabeth and yer father oft butted heads. Lady Elizabeth had much schooling and so helped the laird. Yer father canna sign his name but with an X.
’
Tis one reason why he let ye learn from that tutor.”

Kiera shrank from the memory of the man. She’d learned a lot, but there was a price. Her back bore the memory if not the marks.

“How can I learn to train my husbands?”

“Ye can ask me to guide ye, as my mam did yers.” The older woman dimpled. “Lady Elizabeth was not a match yer father wished, ye ken.”

That caught Kiera by surprise. “He didna ask for yer?”

“Afore he married her, he said she was a shrew what needed taming. Lady Elizabeth said she wouldna be tamed. My man told her the taming of a shrew, or the training of a husband, can be the same thing. It wouldna matter who thinks they won as long as my lady got what she wished, and that was a caring husband.”

“How?”

“As the man learns to behave in a way that suits his wife, she rewards him. Yer mother would smile sweetly and mayhaps reward him in their chamber. He thought
’
twas his doing, and Lady Elizabeth let him.”

Kiera thought it over. She’d been quite the shrew after her disastrous wedding to Bertie and quick widowhood. She’d had nothing to do, and her plans to move to Kinrowan had been destroyed. When her mother died of a fever she’d had to take over. The duties kept her mind and body active. She’d been happy until her father remarried Silean. The thought of years and years of being no one but the unmarried daughter, and doing nothing but spinning and weaving, had driven her to bitterness. That was gone.

“A woman content with her life has no need to be shrill and bitter.”

“Aye.” Bessie shook her finger in warning. “Each of ye must learn how to work with the others. What do yer men need to learn?”

Kiera thought for a while as they sewed.

“Malcolm thinks he must prove himself as laird. Part of that is having an obedient wife. Duff needs to take responsibility for his actions. He must be ready to step into his brother’s place should something happen to Malcolm. It bothers both of them that they’ve not been trained, nor even exposed to something as grand as Kinrowan.”

“Aye, and like yer mother, ye’ve got far more schooling. Bein’ men they must prove they’re even better than ye. The hardest for them is believin’ in themselves.”

“So must I pretend I know little and let them make mistakes?”

“Mayhaps. As Malcolm is Laird Kinrowan he must be seen to win all his battles.”

Kiera curled her lip. “With me, you mean.”

“Aye.”

“They said I can speak freely in our chamber and if we are alone.”

“There is speakin’ freely, and there is speakin’ wise, lass. If ye are fashed ye willna be thinkin’. First, ye must learn to think afore ye speak.”

She’d been told that all her life. So far she’d been unable to do so. Or perhaps she just didn’t have a good enough reason.

“
’
Tis not something that comes naturally.” She stabbed her needle through a thick, well-patched section.

“All being well, ye’ll be married to them
’
til ye die. If ye are lucky
’
twill be a long, fruitful life. Ye didna have a good reason to change afore. Now ye have two.” She patted Kiera’s still-flat belly. “And more each year.”

“I dinna wish to fight.”

Bessie raised her eyebrows.

“I wish to fight with words, but show respect.”

“To get respect ye must give it. Ye didna see yer laird when he got back to Castle Leod with yer father. He looked around, eager for ye. He was hurt, perhaps even felt ashamed, when ye weren’t there to greet him.”

Kiera’s lungs collapsed. She crumpled, fighting tears. Bessie held up her hand.

“Yer father sent word the day afore. That dragon aunt of Silean’s made sure ye dinna ken it.”

“I told them what happened.”

“Aye, but he may still feel shamed.”

Kiera rubbed her forehead. “
’
Twas wonderful with just Duff.”

“Aye, ye had none else to fight with and no duties other than those ye wished to do. Ye need to find that same feeling while living yer true life.”

“So what do I do?”

“First ye admit ye willna be the pouting, whining lassie wishing attention.”

It was true she’d once acted that way, but it still hurt to hear it.

“Yer husbands need a strong wife of courage, but they dinna ken it. They’ve not had a wife, nor a mam, nor much else. So ye must train them while they think they are doin’ the trainin’.”

“It just seems…wrong.”

“Do ye wish to work well together for yer clan?”

“Aye.”

“Then pretend to be meek so yer men can be strong.”

“I have to do all the giving?”

Bessie sighed as if Kiera had missed the whole point.

“Malcolm and Duff are learnin’ to be laird and steward of all Kinrowan, and to be a husband of a wilful woman, all without seeing it done afore. Do ye nay think they have enough to do?” demanded Bessie. “Do ye nay think enough of yerself and yer future to try? What else are ye doing that means more?”

Bessie, again, was right.

“I am creating a home here and growing a babe.”

“Aye, ye are doin’ a woman’s life work. Ye need a calm place where yer men can forget all outside yer chamber door and just be men. A place where a family, and a clan, can grow with love and caring.
’
Tis yer job as a wife, and their lady, to do all ye can to ease their way.”

Her chin quivered. A fat drop fell on Malcolm’s shirt. Bessie patted her hand. Her voice dropped, soothing rather than lecturing.

“Yer men will protect and provide for ye, yer family, and yer clan. They willna ask as they dinna ken it, but they need ye to make them a home, give them bairns, and love them. In spite of their faults, and yer own.”

“I havena been good at obeying.”

“Ye obey Laird MacKenzie as ye respect him. Ye ken many others are weak and canna be trusted. Yer men are nay like that. Obeyin’ a man ye can trust to keep ye and yer bairns safe, who’ll do what he says? That’s easier done, aye?”

Kiera thought back. She’d tried to be like her brothers. She’d done the same daredevil stunts only they got praised, and she got punished. She’d snuck in the schoolroom each morning and hidden. When her older brother was asked to read, and stumbled, she corrected him, having memorized the passage as well as being able to read it. Again, she’d been punished, this time for making him look bad. When her father had allowed her to study openly with the tutor the man had whipped her, then threatened with worse if she spoke up about it. She was still terrified of whips. She’d done her best to be Lady MacKenzie for her father but when he’d married it was as if he’d forgotten she existed. He even refused to play chess with her, which he knew she loved. As for her suitors, they only wanted her carcass and possessions.

“No wonder I felt so alone.”

“If ye can show yer husbands that ye love them, they will treat ye well..Dinna tell them of yer love as
’
twill frighten them. And never expect them to say it back to ye. Never show them up in front of others, and never ridicule in private. Ye must give yer men all of yerself. If they hear wrong and give ye a blast and then find out the truth they will feel bad. Even though they made the mistake ye must be gracious and not throw it in their face.

Kiera groaned. “All of that?”

“Because of them ye have Kinrowan. Ye have two men who please ye in bed. Men who see ye as more than a vessel for their lusts and to keep food on the table. Men who care for ye, even if they canna say it. And,” Bessie added, “men who will give ye bairns and treat them well. Can ye nay give them yer heart and hands in return?”

“Laird, yer lady’s here.”

Malcolm looked up from repairing his targ. He now had two, something else he’d never thought on having. The shield needed repair, having stopped the keeper’s waster from clouting his head. The rain kept them indoors, repairing equipment and resting their bodies.

The lad serving him today, Uilliam, was a quiet one, thank God, as his head was sore. He’d had too much ale last night and not enough sleep, but he couldn’t let it show. The laird had to be better than any man, at almost everything. At least, this one did.

Kiera took her time, stopping to talk, asking questions and giving praise. He didn’t think she realized one hand rested on her belly as she walked. There was no bump, not even when she was naked. Yet there was a difference in her. Was that glow because she was finally here on her lands? Or was it something else?

His cock twitched, swelling. They’d all been working long hours while the weather held. He could use a few hours of that
’
something else’.

Ramsay escorted her but held back, letting her speak as she chose. It was one reason why they all got along so well. The senior men didn’t dismiss all females as existing only to serve their purposes. Malcolm set his targ with the others and meandered over to his wife. He came up behind her and rested his hand on her waist. She flashed him a smile, but turned back to the young man.

“Pardon, my lady, I be Roddy. My Maggie would bite my head off if I didna thank ye for that wee brooch she got for our weddin’ in June.” Roddy blushed furiously, keeping his head down, but he got the words out. “Ye wouldna ken
’
twas Maggie would get it, but she is that pleased, my lady, as
’
tis her name.”

“She received the one with the pearl?”

Roddy nodded vigorously, finally meeting her eyes. “Aye. I didna ken it, but Maggie said her name means pearl, so
’
twas perfect. She’ll be wearing it on Michaelmas Day.”

Kiera beamed at him. “Then I will ken who your Maggie is when I see her brooch.” She nudged his shoulder with hers. “And that you’re her man. Is there a babe on the way?” He blushed even more furiously, nodding. She patted his arm. “Tell her you have my blessing for an easy birth.”