Page 31 of Bride Takes a Charmer (Highland Vows & Vengeance #3)

S haw’s sister had been in residence for less than a fortnight and she constantly irritated her.

Now, exasperated, Sorsha fled the hall in the hope of calming her ire.

She’d allowed the woman to infuriate her to the point that she couldn’t remain in the same room with her.

Corliss repeatedly mocked the children, ridiculed her choices in caring for them, or corrected her on whatever it was that she thought could be done better.

Yet Corliss offered no help in the care of the keep.

And her endless requests for her needs had poor Edra running in circles.

Trying to simmer her temper would probably take longer than a walk about the fief. Still, Sorsha tried to remain calm and unaffected by Corliss’s chastisement and derision. With some deep breaths and prayers for patience, her anger dissipated and she found herself enjoying the walk.

“Sorsha, there ye are.” Shaw approached from behind.

She stopped and waited for him to catch up to her. “I was but getting some air.”

“Edra said ye were outside. I thought we could spend a wee bit of time together. We have not had much privacy of late.” He took her hand and led her farther away from the keep.

“It has been a trying day and ’tis not even midday. I detest saying this, Shaw, but your sister is unpleasant. She undermines me at every turn and is unkind to the children. I wish she would return to the Chattans. Will she? Can we ask her to?”

Shaw stopped walking and turned to face her. “Corliss means well. She’s always been a wee bit overzealous. Maybe she feels threatened by ye, Sorsha. Ye are a hard woman to live up to. I say ye try to be patient with her. Given time, she will befriend ye.”

Her shoulders slumped. Sorsha had been more than patient and she doubted with all her heart that Shaw’s sister could befriend anyone.

Obviously, Shaw cared greatly for her, so she had to bear whatever problems Corliss dealt out.

She reasoned that Shaw likely did not see what others saw in his sister—a rude, selfish harridan.

He was blinded by his love for her, his only sibling, and besides Mamo, his only direct family.

She blew a breath of frustration but didn’t continue to berate him about Corliss.

Instead, she took his hand and wanted to enjoy being with him even if it was only for a moment.

“The only thing that troubles me is the lack of privacy we have had of late. Come, I know the perfect spot where we can be alone for a time.”

On the way toward the gate, Sorsha noticed one of the soldiers lurking by a tree. He seemed to skulk toward them. She remembered the man had attacked Shaw when they first arrived. Henny, she recalled, was fond of ambushing his laird.

“We are being followed,” she said, and kept her view ahead.

“I know we are.” Shaw turned her and leaned close. His mouth was a scant distance from hers and he smiled. He gave her a quick peck on the lips and then yelled, “I see ye, Henny. Ye should get back to your duties.”

His soldier bellowed a laugh and shouted, “Bollocks. Ye are getting better, Laird, at detecting me, aye.” Henny marched off and left them.

Sorsha folded her arms around Shaw and pressed her cheek to his tunic. He held her there on the lane and tilted back her head with a gentle hand. She waited for him to kiss her, but his eyes shone with mirth.

“Come, we will seek some privacy where I can snog ye properly. Many eyes are watching.” He clasped her hand and led her to the gate.

Clovis called out. “Milady received a missive, Laird.” He scurried forth and presented a sealed parchment to her.

Sorsha thanked him and peered at the message, suspecting that it was from the king’s chamberlain. It had been some time since she’d written to Edmund for information about Luthor’s parents. She prayed that his news was of a good variety.

But Shaw gently pulled her forward and they ambled over the bridge.

Through the woods, they walked and continued for a good distance until they came to a densely wooded area.

Shaw held back some of the bushes for her to get through without being caught or scraped by the prickly branches.

A clearing appeared and beyond, a loch of pristine beauty shimmered in the afternoon sun.

“Oho, what a beautiful place,” she said in awe.

“Aye, my da used to bring me here and we would swim all day.”

“’Tis a shame it is not warm enough to swim this day. Will you bring me back when it is? I would love to swim in the loch. Perhaps we can bring the children too?”

“Ye have my promise to and we will invite others too.” Shaw neared a thick pine whose lower branches had long since fallen away. Beneath the needled branches, he removed his upper tartan and placed it on the ground. “Come, love, and let us rest here.”

Sorsha knelt and then sat facing the water. Shaw took up the space next to her. The solitude of the place relaxed her and all the aggression she’d felt that morning dissipated. How could anyone be ireful or tense at such a beautiful place?

She raised the missive that she still held in her hand and began opening it. Shaw stopped her and he pressed his hand upon hers.

“Do not read it now, Sorsha. Whatever it is can wait. I would rather kiss ye and have ye naked in my arms.” Shaw took the missive from her and shoved it beneath the edge of the tartan they sat upon. He gripped his tunic and pulled it over his body until he was free of it.

Sorsha marveled at the sight of his skin, muscles, and the sparse hair on his chest. She leaned close and placed her hand on the hard musculature that covered his heart.

His heart raced as much as hers did and she smiled to herself knowing he was just as excited.

She scooted closer to him and pressed her body to his side.

“I want nothing more than to be naked in your arms.”

He chuckled low and set his mouth on her neck.

His lips pressed there and he continued kissing her while he shifted her garments from her shoulders.

Sorsha pulled away and hastily removed the layers of her overdress and chemise.

The cool breeze brought a shiver over her but she ignored it and lay back.

Shaw discarded his lower tartan and sat next to her. His hooded eyes stayed on hers as he caressed his hand along the length of her bared leg and upward. Excitement surged through her at the thought of being with him.

“I cannot wait to be inside ye,” he said with a hoarse voice.

Sorsha pulled him forward and he kissed her, twirling his cool tongue around hers. Shaw withdrew from her and sat back against the tree trunk. He patted his thigh and gave her a wily look as if he was up to mischief. His eyes shone and he nodded.

She sat on his lap with her legs flanking his thighs and set her hands on his shoulders, taking the strands of his hair between her fingers.

He was so handsome, strong, and utterly affecting.

His hands settled on her waist and he smoothed them around her until they stopped at the base of her back.

Sorsha felt his need beneath her bottom and gasped when he yanked her forward.

“Ye have me maddened,” he said and pressed another kiss on her lips. Shaw lifted her and she helped him find the way to enter her.

The exquisite sensation of him gliding within her almost sent her reeling.

She huffed at the pleasure. With each of his movements, desire surged through her and twinged her womb with the promise of the euphoria she’d now learned to expect from joining with her husband.

Sorsha focused on his face and the intensity of his frown.

He closed his eyes and gripped her tightly, moving vigorously to pleasure her.

She fell against him and moaned as the first twinges of her culmination caused her to tighten her legs.

Shaw held the back of her head with his large hand and pulled her forward.

He kissed her fervently and kept up the passionate torment.

She fell apart in his arms, rasping, moaning, and calling his name.

He joined her a moment later and mimicked her reaction with a groan and by saying her name with a whisper on his lips.

Sorsha clung to him and didn’t want the sensations to subside, but as they diminished, she sighed with the delight of it.

Shaw kept his arms around her and he leaned his head on her shoulder.

His warm breath played over her skin and he seemed content to stay that way. They didn’t move for a long moment.

“Ye do me in, lass.” Shaw kissed her cheek and he brushed his knuckles along her jaw.

“As you do me. I wish we did not have to return to the keep yet.”

“Who says we do? Let us enjoy more time here before we go.”

When she moved off Shaw’s lap, she reached for her garments. The breeze had picked up slightly and she had grown cold. Quickly, she donned her clothing and waited for him to dress. When he finished, he sat back and didn’t seem to be in a rush to hurry back to the fief.

Sorsha reached for the missive beneath the tartan and held it.

Whatever news was contained within, she needed to find out.

Hopefully, Edmund had found Luthor’s parents and they would be freed soon.

Better, perhaps they would be reunited with their son.

She cracked the seal on the outside of the parchment and unfolded it.

Her eyes scanned the words and as she did so, tears sprang unbidden to her eyes.

“What is it, sweetheart?” Shaw moved next to her and tried to take the missive but she pulled it back from him.

“Edmund writes that accounts are being reported that my father’s ship left the harbor and struck an embankment.

It capsized and no one saw anyone reach the shore.

Edmund says the captain is being blamed for his negligence in leaving the harbor when there were apparent rough waters.

It is presumed all lives were lost but Edmund says he shall look into it further. ”

Shaw set his arm around her back. “I am sorry, love. Your father knew the risk of being a merchant and sailing on the waters around the island. Crossing the channel is dangerous even in calm waters. Many ships are lost to its depths.”

“I never got to forgive him, my father, for forcing me to marry Rodick. I had hoped to see him again but now that is impossible. I should have told him that I understood why he had accepted the treaty with the Chattans. I just hoped to see my mother again.” Sorsha wiped the tears on the rim of her lashes away.

“Ye are so merciful, Sorsha, and I am sure he knew that ye forgave him. Do not despair. I do not like seeing ye weep.” He cuddled her cheek with the palm of his hand.

“I shall pray for my family. That wasn’t all that Edmund wrote…”

“What is it?” Shaw reached out and took the missive. His eyes scanned the lines Edmund had written. “Luthor’s parents have also perished. Oh, this is distressing news, but alas, we will take care of Luthor. He will always have a home with the Mackintoshes.”

“It is sad to think that his parents died in prison without knowing what happened to their son. We must honor them and make certain Luthor has a good life.”

“We shall.” Shaw folded the missive and handed it back to her.

“I was thinking… perhaps we can keep Luthor with us and raise him as our son. He is too wee to be put to training with the other lads. I fear for him and want to keep him with us.” Sorsha cared greatly for the lad and it mattered not to her if he was their true son.

She would care and love him as if he were.

“If ye wish it then I shall make it so,” Shaw said and embraced her. “The only thing that troubles me is how we will break the news to him.”

“He will be upset. I wish Gillian spoke. Having another child near his age would be a comfort for him. Still, she won’t speak to anyone. I am greatly troubled by it.”

Shaw glided his hand over the locks of her hair and nodded. “Aye, as am I. Och, the lass will speak when she is ready. We must have faith that she will and that Luthor will accept us.”

He helped her to rise and she grabbed the tartan from the ground.

As perfect as the afternoon was with Shaw, it was also disheartening with the news she received from Chamberlain Edmund.

Somehow, she had to find a way to protect both her daughter and Luthor.

Not only would she see to their safety, but she would love them with all her heart.