"Love to watch when they do that. I dinnae ken how they can see."
"Must be a woman thing."
"Aye." He looked at Sigimor and asked, "So now we can eat?" He then muttered a soft cry of pain and, seeing Annys right behind him, Gybbon decided he had just been pinched or hit for such rudeness.
Sigimor just grinned. "Aye. Now food." He mumbled a thanks to the priest, then walked over to the table, scowling a little when the priest followed and took a seat.
Gybbon smothered a laugh when he realized Sigimor had not intended to have a priest at his table, and he led Mora to a seat and then sat beside her. He nearly laughed at the priest's face when Freya jumped on the seat beside her. He did not think the priest would linger after the meal.
"Oh, dear, the priest is upset by the cat at the table," Mora whispered.
"Aye, so he will leave soon," Gybbon said quietly, and she smiled.
It was late in the afternoon before Gybbon got a chance to take Mora upstairs. Just at the bottom of the stairs, Harcourt stopped them and kissed Mora on the cheek and Annys did the same. Gybbon was pleased by this sign of welcome and shook his brother's hand.
"Starting on the manor house soon?" Harcourt asked.
"Aye, intend to draw out what I would like and then talk to some of the craftsmen in town tomorrow."
"Good. Just let me ken what ye plan as I have some craftsmen at the keep who wouldnae say nay to some extra work."
As soon as they left, Gybbon hurried Mora up the stairs so fast she was laughing by the time they went into his bedchamber. Their clothes quickly hit the floor although he noticed she was very careful about laying the blue gown over a chair. He then tumbled her into bed after locking the door.
"Locking that didnae help last night," she said as she curled her arms around his neck.
"Better lock, and no entrance to the escape tunnel in here."
"Oh. Good. I have no wish to see my brothers tonight." She smiled when he laughed. "I think they are no longer so angry."
"Nay, I married ye without complaint or force. I think they would still like to punch me in the face though."
"I dinnae understand that, as they are my brothers, nay my father."
He shrugged. "Ye have no father, so they have stepped in as your guardians."
"Weel, I am sorry they forced ye before a priest."
"I told ye. There was nary a complaint and it wasnae force. Aye, I kenned it was the only choice if I didnae wish to get in a long fight with your kinsmen, but no one forced me before the priest. In truth," he admitted reluctantly, "I was pleased I didnae have to think of a proper way to ask ye."
"What is so hard about asking a lass to marry ye?"
"I dinnae ken. Simple words, aye, but a difficult thing for men to do especially if they ken they have no skill with pretty flatteries and love words."
"I dinnae require any."
"Good, although I imagine I may come up with some now and then." He kissed her and held her close, loving the feel of her smooth skin against his.
Mora gave herself over to his slow lovemaking. He murmured things to her as he kissed and caressed her, and she decided he did not realize he had skill enough at pretty words when needed. Obviously, he needed some inspiration, she thought as she returned his caresses.
Wondering if it was because she was now legally married to the man, Mora felt daring and was soon kissing her way down his taut stomach. She made love to him with her mouth, savoring every groan of pleasure that escaped him. Then he turned her around so that he could do the same with her. As she felt her insides tauten and sensed what he had called her release rushing up on her, she pulled away and settled herself over him. He entered her a little roughly and she was proud that she had driven him to such desperation. This time she needed no direction and rode him until they both cried out softly from the strength and joy of their mutual release. She slumped down on top of him and felt him soften within her.
"Not a Saint's day," she said, not surprised by the breathless tone of her voice and smiling when he laughed.
"Nay, but we will add this day to the list."
"Aye. Probably the only respectable day." She pulled free and flopped down beside him.
For a while they lay quietly side by side, their breathing growing slower. He then turned on his side and began lazily stroking her. Mora liked it but was not sure she was ready to do anything all over again as she realized she was tired after a broken night's sleep and a long day.
"So, ye plan to get started on your grand manor house?"
"Aye. I think I will etch out what I have in mind on the morrow."
"So where do we stay while we wait?"
"Harcourt said we can stay with him and Annys, and Sigimor has offered us this place to stay in. I told him it could be a few years before what I want is built, and he just shrugged."
"That is kind of him."
"It is, aye, but ne'er forget what I told ye. Sigimor collects allies and favors. He especially likes it when they are close at hand. I build the manor house and he has an easy reach to two allies near at hand and all my family. But, 'tis a good offer and I told Harcourt I might take it. He agreed it was what he would choose if only to be alone with his wife."
"Oh. Aye, it wouldnae be so private at Harcourt's keep."
"Nay, not at all. So tomorrow we can plot out our manor house. I will even let ye decide on a few things," he said, and kissed her cheek.
"So verra kind of ye. Ye said it has some land?" She felt him nod as he kissed her shoulder. "So one might have a kitchen garden?"
"Oh, aye. It has a few acres just as your parents' had."
"That is verra generous of your brother." She frowned as she suddenly thought of something she had not considered before. "Did he think I trapped ye? That ye were forced into this?"
"Nay, not at all. Ye dinnae have to fret on that. Now, 'tis our wedding night."
"Aye, I believe I was there at the wedding."
"I ken ye are probably a bit tired, but I mean to celebrate properly."
"Oh, dear."
He just laughed and proceeded to celebrate three more times with an appropriate respite between each one. On the last round, he slumped at her side and was soon sound asleep. Mora grinned even as she felt her eyes closing. She had worn the man out. Something to be proud of, she decided, as she curled up next to him and went to sleep.
Epilogue
Four years later
Mora climbed down from the cart and Gybbon handed her their daughter, Caitlin. After only a few steps, the child demanded to be let down. Holding Caitlin's small hand, Mora made her slow way to the two stones that marked her parents' graves. She was just kneeling down before them when Gybbon came up with the boys, Logan and Reid.
Morag and Maggie had paid for the headstones and refused any attempt to pay them back. Tears stung Mora's eyes as she traced her parents' names etched neatly into the stone. It was something she did every time. She had brought her children here, quietly introducing them, as soon as it was safe to bring them outside. It hurt her heart to know her parents would never know their grandchildren.
The flowers on her mother's grave told her that her brothers had been there, and she carefully set hers between their bouquets. It was comforting to know she was not alone in stopping by on her mother's birthday. She said a little prayer, then accepted Gybbon's hand to help her stand up.
"The town picked a lovely spot to have consecrated ground," she said as she looked around, noting with approval the trees left to shade the graves.
Gybbon took her hand and walked her back to the cart. "Your brothers stopped by, aye?"
"Aye. They seem to do weel in raising Andrew. I was a wee bit concerned at first," she confessed, and was not surprised when he laughed.
"Och, aye. Just a wee bit. If ye hadnae been carrying the laddies, ye would have been o'er at the manor every single day."
She did not even attempt to argue with that statement but set Caitlin up on the cart seat, constantly telling the child to sit down as Gybbon lifted her up and sat her on the seat. As he climbed up, she turned to give the wrestling boys what Gybbon fondly called The Look, and they immediately sat down. She tugged Caitlin back down so the child again sat on the seat.
"And now we go to see what will soon be our home," said Gybbon, as he set the cart in motion.
"It has taken longer than ye thought it would, hasnae it?"
"Aye, but these things rarely go as planned. Too many things can go wrong, from the weather to supplies nay coming in when they were supposed to, and on and on."
"And we seem to have discovered every single thing that could go wrong."
"That we did, but I also had some things I wanted that caused a wee problem or twa. Still, 'tis nearly done and it will be perfect." Gybbon reached over his daughter to pat Mora on the shoulder.