The Enchantress (32 page)

Pushing aside the "laird," Peter then rushed out into the audience of clan folk and dragged Symon out by the ear into the square. Bringing the man to the center of the action, "Laura" began pointing with his spoon at the people, at the floor, at the roof, and even at the "laird." Symon nodded with every thrust of the spoon.

"Laura" then moved again to his "laird," earning whistles and shouts when he again batted his lashes suggestively before going back to the perimeter of onlookers. This time, Chonny was ushered roughly out into the stage. The same gestures as before were repeated as this time Chonny, too, nodded dramatically with every thrust of the spoon.

“Guests arrive at Blackfearn Castle.”

Sir Wyntoun, playing himself, walked into the center. Peter, spotting the giant Highlander, moved over and batted his lashes. Peter’s Wife, pulling the wooden sword out of her kilt, faced the new visitor with a fierce scowl. The two mismatched "foes" started to fight. As the "furious" blows fell, with Wyntoun pretending to take the worst of the action from the little woman, the entire hall burst into renewed laughter. Suddenly, the "laird" tripped on her sword and fell to the ground as exaggerated cries of concern rang out from the onlookers.

Edward’s voice boomed out again over the crowd. “Mistress Laura saves the Ross.”

None of the earlier noise even came close to the cheers that shook the hall at the sight of Peter thrusting a giant spoon against Sir Wyntoun’s buttocks.

William turned to Laura and found her face bright red. She tried to cover it with her hands. He reached over and took a hold of her chin, lifting it until her violet blue eyes met his.

“I believe, m’lady, we should watch the ending.”

Loud cheers resonated off the rafters as Peter’s Wife rose swiftly to her feet and, taking Peter by the hand, rushed his "lady" to stand before the provost. Gilbert made the sign of the cross in the air, blessing their union.

The happy couple turned around as the spectators all pushed forward, calling, applauding, and cheering...not the actors but the new husband and wife sitting at the dais.

William held Laura's hand and pulled her to her feet.

“Thank you, m’lady,” Edward called out over the din of the crowd. “Thank you for saving our laird from himself.”

The good-natured mumming of the play and the warm acceptance of Clan Ross as all approached the dais to congratulate the newlyweds moved Laura considerably. But soon after, little Miriam began rubbing her eyes and put her head down on the table.

Making a quiet apology all around as pipers and dancers moved into the center of the Hall, Laura rose to take Miriam to bed. To her surprise, William got to his feet as well, and picked up the sleepy child, laying her head on his shoulder.

Going up the winding set of stairs leading to east wing, occasionally Laura felt the brush of her husband’s arm against her shoulder. Each time she felt a thrill race through her of what the night would bring. Though this would not be their first night in each other’s arms, though they’d both felt the power of each other’s passion, anticipation still dominated Laura's being, filling her with wave after wave of molten, pulsing heat.

At the top of the stairs, Laura smiled into the blue eyes peering over William’s shoulder. The little girl was much more awake now than she’d been in the Great Hall. Suddenly, Miriam straightened herself in the laird’s arms.

“Wait.”

“What is it?” Laura asked.

“Do you think Uncle Gilbert’s dog might be ready for bed as well?”

“I did not think to ask him,” William answered gently. “Though, considering all the attention that beast got tonight, taking center stage in the play, I’d say he might already be sound asleep.”

“Then would it not be better for him to come to my room to sleep? I mean, ‘tis so loud in the Hall and--and--”

The child’s worried tone concerned Laura. She knew Miriam liked the giant dog. She’d seen the two together in the Great Hall. But right now she seemed genuinely distressed. They reached Miriam’s door.

“Perhaps I should go down and see if I can manage to bring Willie up,” Laura offered, turning to go.

William shook his head, detaining her. “Nay, lass, ‘twill be far too crowded.”

Miriam’s head snapped around and her blue eyes stared into his. “Too crowded?”

There was a small scratch on the inside of the door. William winked at Laura and pushed open the door.

Laura and Miriam both gasped with delighted surprise. Inside the bedchamber, two canine fur balls fought each other to climb up the kilted leg of the Ross. William lowered the child to the floor, and Miriam immediately sat, allowing the dogs to climb all over her. The child’s squeals of happiness echoed throughout the wing.

“Are they mine? Mine to keep?”

“Aye, lassie. Yours to keep.”

Laura stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. The absolute contentment reflected in Miriam’s face, the loving eyes that moved up and looked into William’s face, were a sight to behold. Laura bit her lip to fight back the happy tears that were welling in her own eyes.

Miriam jumped to her feet and ran to William, throwing her arms around him as the puppies swarmed around the two of them. “I love you, Uncle.”

Laura watched with surprise as a look of sadness crept into her husband’s eyes. Something in her ached as she watched a memory cast its shadow over this joyous moment. As much as it was a torment to her, as much as she hated the reason for it, she could understand his pain. The sense of loss that he must be feeling was clearly visible.

The love he still carried in his heart for the dead Mildred was still too great. The anguished memory of this child’s mother was still too fresh. This child was Thomas’s, but she was not his own.

Visibly forcing the sadness from his face, he dropped down to his knees and returned Miriam’s embrace. “Do you think you can handle the two of them?”

The little girl’s head bobbed up and down.

“I’ve already talked to the lad Robbie. He’ll help you with them.”

The child nodded again in agreement and, sitting again on the floor, opened her arms to the pups, who immediately leaped into her lap, nipping and licking at her chin.

Miriam giggled. “They’re so beautiful. So perfect. This one looks like a wee bear.”

“And they’re brave, too,” William added, exchanging a meaningful look with Miriam. “They will be sure to protect you against both man and beast.”

“And bad dreams?”

“Aye.” William nodded reassuringly. “They’ll do an even better job of it than Willie.”

Miriam stared at the dogs adoringly as Laura watched her husband. To think, so many days ago she had tried to tell him about Miriam’s needs--about how to welcome this child to Blackfearn Castle. But he had been a master of the art all along. The child was home.

Laura gazed at him, knowing that
he
was the one who had cast the spell over
her
. She was helpless. Her heart belonged to him. Totally, entirely.

His to keep.

A soft knock at Laura’s back drew the puppies' attention, and the two fell over each other to get to the door first. Opening it, Laura found Maire holding a bowl of water in her hand and waiting to come in.

The old woman smiled at the dogs before looking up and facing her. “I brought some water for the lassie’s beasts, and I thought, this being yer wedding night and all, I could be putting the wee one to bed.”

Before Laura could find her voice, Miriam was at the door, pulling Maire's sleeve to bring her into the room. “Please, Aunt Laura? Maire and I have a secret--I mean, a task we need to be finishing.”

Aunt Laura. She repeated the name in her head. How could she ever refuse anything asked by the affectionate blue-eyed imp looking up so imploringly into her face?

Before giving her agreement, though, she looked at her husband and found him standing and ready to leave.

“Well, I suppose since Maire is here and willing--”

Laura wasn’t able to finish her words as Miriam’s arms wrapped around her waist. The child’s open display of love was a gift that Laura planned to treasure forever and ever. She placed a kiss on her hair and straightened, letting William guide her out of the room.

In the hallway and with Miriam’s door closing behind them, Laura was pleasantly surprised when her husband pulled her into his arms and just held her. Her head was tucked under his chin, his hand splayed on her back, holding her to him. His warm breath caressed her hair, and they just stayed there for a few moments, silent and content.

Laura understood his need. He needed a moment of quiet to think over everything that had happened in Miriam’s chamber. He needed a moment to come to grips with what had happened in his past and what he was facing in the future. But in spite of all this--in spite of all the emotions that Laura was certain excluded her--she was happy to be in his arms.

He belonged to her now, as much as he could belong to anyone other than Miriam’s dead mother. Laura was married to him now, and though she could never be Mildred, still she, Laura Percy, was the one he had chosen to be his wife. As she had chosen him.

His head lifted. His hand cupped her chin. Their eyes met in the darkness of the corridor. His voice was a husky whisper.

“I want to make love to you.” Laura’s breath caught in her chest as his hand moved between their bodies, resting on her stomach--gently stroking the wool against her sensitive skin. “I want to see you swell with our child. I want to have a dozen Miriams running up and down these passages.”

His words, his touch, held magic in them, and that molten heat again pooled in her belly. “Only a dozen?” she murmured.

His laugh was more of a growl as he grazed his lips over the sensitive skin of her neck. “What’s wrong? You think you cannot bear a dozen lasses for me?”

She lifted herself on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Of course. But there is planning that needs to go along with having so many children.”

“Planning?” he repeated, sweeping her up into his arms and starting for the stairs. “Why don’t you start telling me what this planning entails?”

She tightened her hold around his neck and looked into his eyes. “To start with, contrary to wishful thinking, I’ll likely not be having two bairns at a time as you managed with Miriam’s puppies.”

“I’m certain there must be some old wives’ tale or incantation that should increase the chances.”

“We shan’t say anything to Gilbert about that. But how will you feel when I am the size of a barrel, carrying all these children?”

“My affection will only grow. Right now you only become more beautiful to me with each passing day.”

He knew how to melt her. She rested her forehead against his chin, taking comfort in the gentle way he carried her.

“And about all these daughters you demand. What happens if we have sons?”

“Then we will just have to try harder at our love-making. I tell you, I will not be satisfied until we have a dozen daughters.”

She looked up and found a broad smile creasing the corners of his incredibly blue eyes.

“And, though it has never happened in my family, what happens if I turn out to be barren?” she had to ask.

“Then we’ll be perfectly happy with Miriam, and I’ll simply have to spoil her as I would have if we’d had our dozen lasses.” He pressed his lips into her hair. “But none of that will change my...my
plan
of making love to my wife over and over again as long as she wants me.”

“I want you now, and I promise to want you always. For you, my roguish husband, are the only man able to unleash my reckless nature.”

His soft laugh warmed her heart. “Bad influence that I am.”

“Aye,” she replied tenderly. “Bad influence that you are.”

No sooner had she spoken but she realized they were at the bottom of stairs, with William ready to step into the Great Hall. She stiffened in his arms and tried to get down. But he held her tightly against his chest.

“Where are we going?”

“To the laird’s chambers.” He stepped into the Hall, and she hid her face against his shoulder, hoping no one would notice them as he carried her toward the rooms. But her hope, of course, was for naught, as whistles and boisterous cheers rang out above the bagpipes.

William continued on, apparently oblivious to all the noise.

She mumbled her words against the wool of his tartan. “We could have spent another night in my bedchamber, you know.”

“You wouldn’t expect us to repeat all that happened last night in that wee cot again. We were extremely fortunate, lass, that neither of us was seriously hurt.”

He shouldered his way inside his bedchamber and kicked the door shut against all the noise. She continued to hide her face against his chest. “I am ruined. William Ross. I will never be able to look into the faces of any of these people again.”

“Then we’ll just have to stay here, I should think.”

He carried her to the huge bed and placed her gently on it. With a sigh she tried to slide to the middle to make some room for him, but he pulled her back to the edge.

Her eyes glanced about the chamber. It glowed from the soft light of dozens of candles. A large fire was burning in the hearth at one end. Trenchers of cheeses and fruit and pitchers of cider and ale were set on a nearby table.

Her attention turned quickly to her husband, though, as he dropped to one knee beside the bed.

“Turn around, lass.”

Sitting obediently before him, she forced herself to hide her excitement, staring at the shuttered window as he unlaced the back of her dress.

“First of all, about last night.” Her treacherous voice was quaivering. “Everyone in the keep surely must know what we were up to in my chamber.”

“Aye, you were incredibly noisy.”

Heat rushed into her face from his words and hands as he turned her to face him and pulled the dress forward over her shoulders, entrapping her wrists. She saw his eyes narrow as he gazed at her breasts straining against the thin linen of the shift Maire had given her that morning.

Her voice was hoarse. “As I said, I’m totally ruined.”