Page 14 of Bride Takes a Laird
“Ye were a worthy opponent, Shaw. Sorry about that last punch, but I wanted to get this over with,” Magnus explained.
Shaw bellowed a laugh. “Aye, and I am gladdened ye did because we could have gone on for a time. Let us go forth so the king can make his damnable announcement and I can get a bloody drink.”
They stood before the dais and when asked who he selected for his bride, Magnus stated in a clear unwavering voice who he wished to wed. “I choose Mistress Kendra of Clan Graham, Sire.”
Kendra didn’t know whether to shout with glee or faint dead away. She was pleased to hear her name, and yet, she was apprehensive about marrying such a strong, warrior-like man. Hadn’t she professed to want a man the complete opposite of Heatherington? Well, Magnus was indeed that very likeness.
“Well done, Cameron. This eve we will hold your wedding. Remember, there will be no annulment pleas. You will consummate your marriage and you will uphold the promises you made.” Alexander motioned to Margaret and they left the dais.
“Next time I meet ye in combat, ye can be sure ye will not fare as fortunate as ye did this day,” Shaw said with terseness, shoved Magnus’s chest, and marched away.
Magnus made his way toward the castle and looked confounded by the entire ordeal.
Kendra rushed after him. He looked like he could use a drink and a cool wrap for his hand. He turned to her and his mouth widened in aswollen-lipped grin.
“Oh, how awful, Laird Cameron.” Kendra sidled next to him and gave him a pitying look.
“Magnus,” he said. “Call me ‘Magnus,’ lass.”
She smiled at him and nodded. “Come then, Magnus, let us get you cleaned up and I am sure you could use a drink too.” Kendra grabbed his good hand and led him into the castle.
Magnus allowed her to lead him through the hallway to an antechamber of the great hall where some washed in a basin before meals. The basin appeared to be filled with fresh water and had clean cloths folded neatly beside it. Kendra forced him to sit on a chair next to a screen by pushing on his muscular chest. Hardness met her fingertips and she smoothed her hand over his tunic for a moment. He sat back and watched her with his light eyes.
She ambled to the basin and said over her shoulder, “I heard what you proclaimed when the king asked who you chose.”
“Aye,” he said gruffly.
“Are you going to ask me for my hand? Or are you assuming that I will agree to be your wife when we are at the altar?” She stood by the basin and dunked a cloth in the water. She’d teased him and hoped to hear him laugh again but she knew sure enough that she had no choice in who the king gave her to. Kendra had meant her remarks as banter, but his manner was far more serious.
Magnus scowled deeply and stared at her. To appease her, she supposed, he decided to give her what she wanted. “Mistress Kendra…”
She wrung out the cloth and waited with bated breath for his proposal.
“Um…Mistress Kendra, I would be pleased if ye would accept my offer of marriage.”
“I shall gladly accept your offer, Magnus.” She held the cloth and approached him. With a gentle hand, she dabbed at his bloody lip. Thecare she took in tending to him caused him to close his eyes. Being close to him again sent a tingle through her body. Excitement meshed with longing. Both rarely felt emotions swarmed her.
His words came in almost a whisper as he sat back and seemed to enjoy her ministrations. “I haven’t been cared for in such a way since I was a lad but then, my mother’s servant, Ellen, always nursed my wounds. I never coveted a woman to look after me, but I’m coveting it now.”
Kendra sighed softly, disheartened to hear that he’d been tended to by servants. How sad that his mother didn’t care for him. Or perhaps she had died and he’d been left motherless like her. She’d have to ask for more details, but later, when she knew him a bit better.
With her hand pressed on his cheek, she dabbed the now-dried blood from his face. She set the cool cloth on the other side of his cheek that swelled and pressed gently.
“That feels good, lass.”
As tenderly as she could, she had him cleaned up and soothed in no time. “Before we settle this contract, you should know that I am not a wilted flower to be stomped on by her husband. I am an intelligent, caring, trustworthy woman, and I expect to be treated as such. What I am not is a simple-minded, tenderhearted lass who is easily squashed. I shall not weep and carry on over insignificant matters. I will not demand that you love me. I understand the contractual joining betwixt us.”
Her tirade brought forth a light chuckle from him. “Aye? That is good to know. Ye needn’t sing your praises to me, lass. I do not mistreat women, wives, or otherwise, and I abhor a weeping woman so that appeases me. Tears will not sway me to give in when a command is necessary.”
“I have never used tears to get my way, Magnus, and I do not plan to start using them now. But I suggest that you ask, not command, when it is necessary to direct me.” She nodded and returned to thebasin. After soaking the cloth and wringing it out again, she moved back to him and continued to soothe his injuries. Magnus held up his hand which now showed a bruise from striking Shaw’s face.
“Oh, I dare say you might have broken a bone or two in your hand.” She left him again and retrieved a different, thicker cloth, soaked it with water again, and wrung it out. Kendra took his hand and with the lightest touch, wrapped it in the cloth. She held his hand and peered at him with concern. “You might want to have a healer look at your hand.”
Magnus appeared taken aback and his grip on her hand tightened. Kendra was extremely gentle and as his hand sat in hers, she reveled at the touch of his skin. The contact was warm, hard, and strong. Perhaps she was exactly what he needed: a woman to care for him, one who wouldn’t weep, one who was trustworthy, and one who didn’t require love. He might get used to such care…eventually, she hoped. As for love, she found herself thinking she could easily love him and she doubted it would take years to do so.
Kendra leaned toward him and pressed back the dark locks of hair by his forehead. “I am gladdened that you won the brawl, Magnus, and I thank you for choosing me.” Her soft voice seemed to allay him and he closed his eyes briefly again.
Magnus then gazed hard at her and with a shiver, a rush of warmth swarmed her. He pulled her to sit on his lap and he kept his hands firmly on her waist. “Aye, ye are welcome, lass. I believe I fell for ye as ye predicted last eve. I want to kiss ye.”