The Bruised Thistle (The Order of the Scottish Thistle) (28 page)

The man touched his head and must have realized Seumas’s dilemma. He laughed as he unwrapped his head. Mark’s smiling face relieved Seumas.

He approached his friend with an outstretched arm. “My friend, ye have certainly found us…preoccupied.” When Seumas looked back at Iseabail, she cowered still. He realized she would not recognize the man she had only heard of.

Regret flooded him. “Oh, Iseabail.” She should have been his first concern. He reached out to her, and she came to him without hesitation. “I am so sorry. This is my friend, Mark.”

Her face lit up, as she finally met the man who was like a brother to him. She lowered her head in greeting.

“Iseabail.” Mark took her hand in his own wool-wrapped one and kissed it lightly before releasing it. “Forgive my intrusion. I have ridden ahead of my retinue to ensure our trip would not be wasted.” Mark included Seumas in his explanation. “We have traveled as quickly as we deemed safe to warn you about Giles.” He looked around the house. “Is he here?”

Seumas sighed deeply. “Giles will trouble no one again.” He knew Mark understood exactly what he was saying. “I choose not to waste my breath on an explanation, if ye will allow me that?”

“I will indeed.” Mark smiled at Iseabail. “Enough said. Let me leave you two alone, and I will meet my party… Unless you would prefer we stay somewhere else? Perhaps at the castle?”

Iseabail blushed at the insinuation. “Please, m’lord, we would be happy to have you stay with us.” She turned imploring eyes to Seumas, who concurred.

“But go, Mark. Go get the rest of yer party and we will prepare a great feast in celebration of yer visit.”

Mark’s smile was knowing as he kissed Iseabail on the cheek and shook Seumas’s hand. “We will return by nightfall,” Mark said and was gone.

Iseabail’s face flamed red, and she covered her mouth. “Seumas, we are so selfish. We offered him neither food nor drink, nor even warmth by the fire.”

“I believe he understands.”

Iseabail leaned back against him, standing in the doorway, presumably to watch Mark as he rode away. Seumas, however, was already pulling up her chemise. She moaned in pleasure.

“We do not have much time, my love.” He licked her ear teasingly as he spoke. “Let me warm ye.” He turned her toward him, and shut the door. The chemise dispensed with, he led her to the fire. She straddled him, accepting his long shaft in one swift motion. She gasped, closing her eyes.

Seumas looked up at the auburn-haired beauty that was his wife. With her eyes closed in ecstasy as she rode him, she had never looked more beautiful. Her breasts swayed, begging to be touched. He grasped one firm globe, suckling. She moaned low in her throat, and he swiftly changed position. He pumped into her, and her groans filled their house to the rafters. Seumas held off until she was sated then plunged into her depths with his own release, all but touching her womb. He dropped down beside her, pulling her against his chest, their sweat mingling. He covered them with the edge of the blanket as their breathing returned to normal and held her close.

“Ye work me hard, woman.”

She groaned in answer, rubbing her leg up his thigh.

“Have I pleased ye, my love?” When her eyes opened, he felt pride at her satiated look. “I do not really need to ask, do I?”

“Oh, I am quite satisfied.” Turning into him to lean on his chest, she sighed contentedly and was quickly asleep.

Seumas’s mind was too busy to sleep. He had never experienced anything like that in his life. This woman was like no one he had ever known. Making love to her felt like reaching heaven, and her responses to him were beyond gratifying.

“I love ye. Ye are mine.” She sighed in her sleep, and he pushed her hair behind her ear. He whispered tenderly, “Sleep for now.”

Seumas, squatting naked
beside the fire, quickly stoked the dying embers. He did not want to wake Iseabail but knew they needed to start the preparations for their visitors. She moaned as she turned onto her stomach, and she stretched her arms out as if searching for his warmth.

“I am here, my love.” He stood to pull his tunic over his head. “We need to prepare for our guests, unless ye would like to have our lovemaking interrupted by strangers again.”

He watched, a smirk on his face, as her eyes quickly opened and she sat up, fully awake. “You are correct. They will be here soon.” She stood up and bent over to scoop up the blanket.

Seumas enjoyed the view. “I love yer bottom.” He moved forward to touch her, but she quickly backed away.

“Seumas.” Her jaw jutted out stubbornly, and she implored with her eyes. “We must prepare for our first visitors.” She searched for her chemise and dropped the blanket to pull it over her head. “Stay,” she commanded, her hand out in front of her, when Seumas was ready to advance yet again. “Later.”

He grabbed her to him anyway, and she did not resist overmuch. “Do ye promise me?” How could he already want her again?

She kissed him, darting her tongue against his own until she finally pulled away and smiled up at him. She pushed his hair back from his face. “I will never deny you, husband, but we do have things we need to take care of. Do you agree?”

His answer was to pull her body close to him, rubbing against her. “What would ye like me to do?”

He peered into her eyes and realized she would do anything he wanted. He knew she was torn between preparing for their guests and pleasing him. He caressed the side of her face and released her bottom so she could move away from him if she chose.

She did not move. Her eyes were on him, waiting for his answer. “My lord?”

His selfishness started to rear its ugly head, but he thought about how she would feel if her guests arrived and nothing had been prepared. He would never want to cause her shame. The lady of the house was judged by all in how well she was able to meet the needs of her guests. He would support her in this endeavor, not be the reason for her downfall.

“I will prepare the rooms upstairs if ye would like to start cooking.” He smiled at the relief in her eyes. “But grant me a boon?”

“Anything,” she said, and he knew she meant it.

“Tonight, I will take ye down to the sea and make love with the sounds of the ocean in our ears.”

“With a house full of guests?” She sounded tentative, but Seumas decided to push her.

“Yes.” His smile faded as he held his breath. In his mind’s eye, he would be her only source of warmth, and he would awaken every fiber of her body to his touch with the sound of the beating surf beside them.

“If it would please you.”

He exhaled and kissed her then bounded up the stairs.

The sounds of Iseabail preparing food and the smell as they cooked drifted up to Seumas. It suddenly felt very homey. He paused over the small bed. He had just put new covers over the straw mattress. Apparently this was the bed Giles had used, but it was also the one Seumas had slept in as a boy. Perhaps someday he would have his own child to sleep in that bed. He brushed the wrinkle out of the blanket and went back downstairs to find his lady love.

Iseabail pushed the door open but paused and looked to both sides before going out. Seumas was perplexed by her behavior. He went to the door she had left open and watched her. Twilight was not far off. He needed to get wood cut while there was still enough daylight, but he walked toward the well. She moved more hurriedly. Jerking the rope as quickly as it would go, she glanced over her shoulder as if expecting someone to come up behind her. She sloshed the water when she disconnected the bucket from the iron hook. Seumas decided she needed help.

She gasped and all but screamed when he touched her arm.

“What is wrong?” Seumas asked.

She put her hand to her heart, and her other on the wooden frame to support her. “You scared me so.”

“Is aught amiss? What has ye so frightened?”

She shook her head. “I am being silly. I do not know this place. It all frightens me.”

He took her in her arms. “Ah, love, ye let me know and I will be with ye. There is no need to go anywhere that frightens ye.”

“That is silly. I will be fine.” Seumas felt the loss of her warmth when she pulled away.

“Ye mean ye do not need me then?” He said it jokingly but felt a tug at his heart.

She went back into his arms and squeezed him tight. “I will always need you.”

He kissed the top of her head, and she stepped back, a smile now on her face.

“I have finished upstairs. Our guests should be very comfortable. I also found something I thought would please ye, if ye have time.” Iseabail tipped her head, glancing down at his manhood. “No, not that.” Seumas laughed. “Come.”

He took the full bucket into the kitchen and led Iseabail up the stairs. Going into their bedchamber, Seumas laughed again when she stopped abruptly at the entrance, hands on her hips. She glanced from the bed back to his face. Her foot tapped in irritation.

“Here.” He pointed to the open chest. It contained women’s clothing of many different colors. “They were my mother’s.” He sat on the bed as she kneeled beside the chest. Her mouth dropped open in awe as she pulled out one gown after another. “Do ye like them?”

“They are wonderful!” She stood and held a tan bliaut against her. “What say you, my lord?”

“That will do fine.” He started to retreat, but she pulled another one to her as she turned to face him.

“Or this one?”

Seumas laughed as he headed down to the kitchen. She had worked very hard with her preparation. The smell of baking bread caused his mouth to water. Dishes he had not noticed before lay stacked on the table, waiting for use. The cobwebs had been swept away and the animal nesting had all been cleared. Taking the large bucket beside the bricks, he filled it with hot water and added some from the bucket they had just brought in. When the water was warm, he carefully brought the bucket up to the room.

“I have not found the tub as of yet, so this will have to do.” He poured the water into the bowl. “Is there anything else ye need to prepare?”

“No. That is wonderful. I will be happy to be clean again.” He headed to the door but she called to him again. He turned back, and she held a muslin night rail to her body. It had thin straps and barely came down to her thighs. She wiggled her eyebrows. “Or should I wear this?”

“Yes, ye should wear that.” He licked his lips. “But only for me.” He raised an eyebrow at her.

She laughed and placed the gown on the bed as she prepared to put the warm water to good use.

Seumas went out to the shed to check on the supplies for the cold. He had checked the fireplaces that had gone unused upstairs and thought they would work fine. Taking the ax that stood in the stump, he started to cut the felled trees that had been left to dry. Sweat poured from him. He imagined how the night would go to keep his mind off the drudgery.

The smell of potato and lentil soup had his stomach growling, and he was once again just chopping wood. He looked around and saw that twilight was indeed upon them. The shadows beneath the trees on either side seemed to be getting closer. He glance quickly to his left where the body of Giles laid buried deep in the woods and offered a prayer for his soul, which he had not felt able to give earlier. Seumas gathered an armful of the smaller logs and headed inside.

The sight of Iseabail in the yellow gown that clung to every curve of her slender body brought pride to his heart. She was a beautiful woman, and she was his. He kissed her lightly, interrupting her stirring the pot at the stove, before he headed up the stairs.

*****

Iseabail caught a whiff of Seumas’s sweating body and made sure there was plenty of water for him to bathe with. She pulled the bread out of the coals, but her mind was working out who Mark might be bringing with him. They had been so preoccupied they had not even thought to ask. She hoped she had prepared enough. The largest pot hanging over the fire was filled with fresh vegetables that had been cooked to the right consistency and her bread had turned out very well, if a little black on one side. She checked her pies and hoped she had remembered all the ingredients. The numerous jugs of mead and cider seemed more than enough.

Unless he comes with more than thirty people.

She laughed at her own thought then frowned. She was heading upstairs to ask Seumas if that was possible when she heard a noise outside.

It was dark now and she lit a candle, taking it to the window. The breeze was kicking up again, and she thought she could smell leather but heard nothing else.

Seumas came up silently behind her and looked out, too. “Did ye hear something, too?” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his side.

“Mm hmm,” she answered. “You do not think he travels with thirty men, do you?”

Seumas pressed his lips together, making the dimples on both sides of his mouth more pronounced. He was trying not to laugh at her. Iseabail realized how ridiculous the idea was. “I was just worrying if I had enough food.”

He kissed the tip of her nose and gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Ye have enough food.” Iseabail wrinkled up her nose. “What is it?”

“You stink.”

He took a whiff and made a disgusted face. “Ye are right.”

She went to mix the hot water with the cold while he pulled his tunic over his head. She turned back around to find him completely naked. She let her gaze travel up the length of him, from his strong legs to his broad chest, solid as a tree trunk, to meet his gleaming eyes, crinkled at the corner in amusement. “Have I passed yer inspection?”

Her heart sped up at the thought of him touching her, and she was very glad he was so pleasing to her. “You have,” she said in a breathy whisper.

Seumas wore that smile she now recognized as pride at his own prowess. One side of his mouth tipped into a smile. “Ye desire me?”

She held his gaze. “Very much,” she stated simply and added, “Always.”

The loud cart coming down the road reached their ears.

Seumas stepped forward to take the bucket from her.

“I will hurry.” He kissed her passionately. “Beside the sea tonight!” He fled up the stairs two at a time.

Iseabail took a slow, steadying breath. The room was swept and the food was in abundance. All would be well. A call from the yard brought a smile to her face. It was Mark’s voice.

“I will go,” she announced and paused to take the cloak Seumas had hung on the hook before heading into the yard. She pulled the heavy garment close around her to ward off the cold. Relief flooded her to see at most six people, even though she could not tell how many were in the conveyance.

“Greetings,” she called to the men dismounting their horses.

Mark walked toward her. “Iseabail.” He brought her hand to his lips. “Good to see you again.”

“And you.”

Still holding her hand, he led her to the covered wagon. “I have something to show you.”

The door opened, and a woman of regal bearing with long, dark curls smiled out at her. Despite her stiff posture, her smile reached her eyes. Those eyes conveyed much warmth and sincerity. Iseabail was instantly mesmerized by the black-eyed beauty perched on the edge of the seat.

Shyly
, Iseabail pushed her hair away from her face and recognized her own envy.

When the woman sat back, Iseabail’s gaze followed a rabbit that dropped to the bowl of greens on the floor. Her heart squeezed in her chest. The blanket-covered bundle beside the woman shifted, and her curiosity grew. Perhaps they had a child. The sight of the curly red locks caused Iseabail’s breath to catch.

“What—” Iseabail started to say as she watched the child, who had been fast asleep, be helped to a sitting position by the woman.

Mark’s arm was around Iseabail so that when she started to step back in disbelief, he was able to support her failing legs.

“Iseabail?” It was Calum’s voice and tears flooded her eyes. He rubbed away his tiredness. “Is that really you?”

She covered her mouth in disbelief and started to sob. “Can it be you, Calum?”

He tried to move closer to her, and the beautiful woman scooped his little body into her arms, handing him down to Mark before securing the hungry rabbit. Calum reached for Iseabail, and she took his hand, holding it to her face as she closed her eyes.

“Can it really be my little brother come back to me?” His hand was quickly wet with her tears, and she opened her eyes when she heard his answer.

“I am here, sister. I am not dead.”

She put her hands to either side of his round face and moved in close to feel his warm breath against her skin. Kissing his cheek, she sobbed even harder. “Calum, how can this be? I saw you dead—”

The other woman wrapped her arm around Iseabail’s shoulder as she turned them to walk beside Mark, who cradled Calum in his arms. They stepped inside the warm kitchen as she explained. “He was never dead, Iseabail.” Iseabail turned to the woman. “He was badly injured, but he was a determined little boy. He fought to remain alive.”