Page 20 of Bride Takes a Laird

“He’s been staying more oft in the garrison of late,” his da said.

It was time for explanations. His parents implored him with their gazes to explain what happened in Edinburgh and there was no time like the present. “Alexander married off several Highlanders to border lasses. I got to choose my bride,” he said and kept his gaze fixed on Kendra. “I was fortunate to win her hand.”

Magnus motioned her to the table. He sat next to her, and they ate and made small talk. He gave the details of his meeting with Alexander and what the king had asked of him and the clan. His father of course was inquisitive and asked Kendra questions about her family, where she lived, and how she was raised. Satisfied with her answers, he finally quieted. His mother spoke little which was so unlike her, but he suspected mourning kept her silent. Usually, she was the talkative one, and his father was the quiet one.

After the meal, Magnus stood and waited for Kendra. “I will show ye where we shall sleep.”

She followed him to their bedchamber on the second level of the fief. Magnus had a spacious solar and was given it when he was named the laird. He often held meetings within the antechamber and attended to many of his duties there. To the one side, the vastness afforded a large bed, trunks, a good-sized hearth, and a table with a chair. An arched opened wall led to the area that had an extensive table where he handled correspondence or met with Wyren, orpreviously, with Ned, to go over clan matters. He opened the door for her and motioned her inside.

Kendra was quiet and he suspected that she was apprehensive. He crossed the chamber and when they reached the bed, he pulled her to sit next to him. “No one ever comes in here. Ye will have some privacy. If ye want to put your things in a trunk, there is an empty one there,” he said and pointed to the one next to the hearth.

“What is all that?” she asked and rose. She motioned to the numerous manuscripts that sat on the table in the antechamber. The manuscripts were piled high and overtook the surface of the table and among them were varied-sized coffers in which their coin was kept.

“The keep’s accounting.” He said no more, but seeing the manuscripts reminded him that he needed to go through them. Now that his clan was without a steward, he needed to replace Ned at the soonest because he had no time to devote to such a tiresome task. Until he could do so, he would keep the records in his solar for safekeeping. The weight of such a momentous task caused his concern. He should see to it soon because it was important to know where his clan stood on their wealth.

Kendra crossed the chamber and turned back to him. “It is a pleasant room.”

“Would you like a bath? I can have the servants bring a large tub for ye to…” Magnus didn’t continue his words when she nodded. “I will see to it. Why do ye not get settled and take your rest? I must go and meet with the clan.”

Her voice came low, “I shall see you…then.”

He didn’t understand why she suddenly became coy, but then she was in his private room, in an unknown place. He supposed it would make a woman anxious. He crossed the floor and reached her. Magnus pulled her against him. His mouth found hers and he gave her a sensuous kiss. He didn’t want to cease kissing her soft lips, but he’d never finish his duty if he stayed. There were too many things heneeded to do before he sought his pleasure or rest.

Magnus pulled away from her and smiled. “I shall see ye soon, sweetheart.” As he walked to the door, he chuckled to himself and shook his head. His wife’s kisses would definitely be a distraction. Whenever he touched her, his body came alive. Desire almost overrode his good sense because he was willing to forgo his duty just to spend time with her. Even now, he didn’t plan to be long at his tasks.

On the way to his brother’s cottage, he stopped at the kitchen, an overly large stoned building that was divided into various rooms. The large, main room held two hearths for cooking, tables, stools, and all the tools needed to prepare meals for the fief and their soldiers. The scents of meat and stews wafted through the chamber. He stopped before Ellen and directed a bath be sent to his chamber. Kendra’s servant stood with Ellen and said she would see to her lady. He thanked them and didn’t waste time in his effort to get his duties completed.

Outside, Magnus headed for Wyren’s cottage. He rapped at the door and waited. He could hear his infant nephew’s wails from within. His brother opened the door and waved him inside, but Magnus shook his head. “’Tis probably better if we speak out here where we can hear each other.” He had jested but his brother frowned.

Wyren stepped through the doorway, with his bairn in his arms, and closed the door behind him. He turned to him and yawned widely, covering it with a quick hand. “Take him for a wee bit.” He thrust Hale at him.

Magnus grunted at being forced to hold his nephew. Hale squirmed in his hold until Magnus told him to cease. At once, the bairn’s wails ended and he peered at him as if he knew who he was. “Aye, he already obeys his laird.” He chuckled at his jest and still, the bairn remained quiet.

“Can we make this hasty? I need some shut-eye.”

“Is Hale still keeping ye awake at night? What is wrong with him? Is he sickly?” He held Hale in the air and eyed him. “He appears healthy.”

Wyren scowled and pressed his hands over his face. “There is nothing wrong with him. He is a bairn and just a wee bit fussy. All bairns are fussy. He shall settle down soon. I just want him to sleep through the forsaken night.” He yawned again. “God willing.”

“I sure hope he does for your sake,” Magnus said as he leaned against the large stone that abutted his brother’s cottage and settled Hale in the crook of his arm.

“Aye, so ye have returned, eh? Ye were gone longer than I expected. What did Alexander want?” His brother pressed his eyes and then rubbed his palms over his face.

Magnus grunted. “More than I was willing to give. He forced me to take a bride.”

Wyren chortled loud enough to be heard by the clansmen and women in the nearest cottages. “A bride? Ye jest? And what did ye say to that? Did ye outright laugh in his face?”

“What the hell do ye think I did? I married the woman and I am…” Magnus took a breath to settle himself and glared hard at his brother who continued to laugh. He shushed his brother and inclined his head to Hale who had closed his eyes.

“Och, laddie, ye be blushing. I take it ye find this woman that Alexander married ye to, to your liking?” Wyren grinned as if he thought their conversation was comical.

“Aye, liking is putting it a wee bit mildly. There was also the benefit of no tax for a year though we must supply the king with soldiers when he deems to take Haakon’s lands. I do not suppose that will be for a while though since the king will be traveling to England for a long visit.”

“Your travel to Edinburgh was of importance then. Are ye happy ye are married? Ye did not answer me.” Wyren shoved his shoulder.

“Aye, Kendra is a bonny lass, reserved, graceful.”

Wyren raised a brow. “That is not what I meant. Are ye attracted to her?”