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A Perfect Wife(28)



“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?”





Chapter Ten




“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.”

Roddy ducked and escaped. Malcolm steered Kiera toward a bench. She dropped into it, sniffling.

“’Twas just a trinket,” she whispered, her voice wavering. “One sent with a letter asking for my hand.” She choked a bitter laugh. “He didna care to speak with me afore asking of my dowry. And he didna spell my name right!”

Malcolm took her chilled fingers in his. He raised them to his mouth and kissed her knuckles gently.

“His loss is our gain. Sommat that meant not a thing to him, is now the prize of a family.”

He hid her tears with his body, amazed that such a woman wished to be his. She had few jewels of her own, not because her father didn’t wish to gift her any, but because she’d rather have sheep and cattle and tradesmen and building materials sent to Kinrowan. She’d done it for years, not even knowing if she’d ever see the place.

He had a sudden need to hold her, to be with her.

“Shall I walk with ye to our chamber so ye can have a wee rest?”

She sniffled twice, then tilted her head and gave him the expression he loved. It said she wanted to do more than sleep. It was impish, teasing, and oh, so arousing.

“Methinks my laird husband is the one who needs a wee nap after falling into bed late and drunken.”

“I could use a sleep, aye. But what I wish is to hold ye next to me in our bed.”

“Just hold me?”

Her teasing question made his cock throb. “Aye, to start. And then I’ll kiss ye, every inch, and put my tongue and fingers in ye, and then—”

“Oh husband,” she said, loud enough for others to hear, “I’m feeling a wee bit faint.”