Page 33 of Bride Takes a Laird

He slid his hand to her shoulder and pressed her back. “All hearts mourn when we lose someone close to us but we all die eventually, sweetheart. When your da’s time comes, we shall send him to heaven with reverence as is his due.”

Kendra placed her hands around his neck as he leaned over her. She clasped her hands and peered at him with sadness. “When his time comes, I want to take him back to our manor where he can be laid to rest with our ancestors. It is only right to honor him in such a way.”

“Mayhap that is so, but he may not pass for years and by then your brother might return.” Magnus was dejected hearing her say such a dreadful thing. She wanted to go home. Kendra hadn’t exactly spoken those words, but he sensed a bit of homesickness in her. He wasn’t sure if he could take her there and risk her not wanting to return with him. Yet she had spoken her vows before the chancellor and the king. She wouldn’t go back on her vows now. No matter what happened, he was unwilling to lose her.

Magnus yanked her body closer to him and he set his mouth on hers. He couldn’t get enough of her kisses, touches, and love. He would spend the night showing her how much she affected him even if it took him until sunrise.

Chapter Twelve

Kendra didn’t wantto leave the bed and tried not to make any movement. She stayed still and watched her husband sleep. Magnus had his eyes closed and his dark hair covered some of his face. She longed to brush the strands of his hair aside and caress the light whiskers that formed overnight on his cheeks.

They had been married for almost a month and still, she had not figured out what kind of man he was. Magnus was kind to her, but he kept himself shielded, protecting himself. The only way she found anything out about him, was by questioning him or others. He often eluded her questions and never supplied her with or offered her information. That saddened her, that he felt the need to keep his emotions and thoughts to himself. Hopefully, one day, he would share things that bothered him or information without being asked. But she suspected that she’d be old and gray when that happened.

She stretched and pulled the bed covering over her. Magnus’s arm roamed the cover and he set it over her and pulled her closer. Kendra wrapped her arm over his waist and leaned her head against his. “Good morn, Husband.”

“Is it?”

Kendra laughed lightly. “Aye and from the view of the window, it appears to be sunny outside. Perhaps it shall be warmer this day. Does that please you?”

Magnus grunted. “If ’tis sunny now, wait an hour and it shall be raining.”

“We should rise.” She tried to dislodge his arm, but he was unmovable.

“Nay, not yet.” He pressed her chin up with his fingers and gave her a light kiss. “Ye are right though, because duties await me and I cannot linger in bed as I want.” Magnus rolled away. He stood, marched to the basin, washed, and dressed. He glared at the antechamber and sighed. “I should get to those manuscripts but have no time this day.” The accounts were important and really needed to be handled. Yet Magnus detested numbers and having to do sums. Eventually, he would undertake the massive chore, but not this day.

“Should not the keep’s steward see to the accounts? You do have a steward, don’t you?” Kendra stayed abed and watched him with interest. He moved with confidence and the muscles in his legs, arms, and torso exuded strength. He wasn’t burly, just strong-bodied.

“My brother Ned was the steward and since he died… I have yet to replace him but have no time at present to handle that or the accounts. I need to and soon.” Magnus groaned. “I detest having to go over the accounts and sums. I am more apt with my sword than with parchments and figures.”

Kendra climbed from the bed and reached him. She straightened his upper tartan and pressed the fabric of it, smoothing the wrinkles. “Magnus, you have such weight upon you. You should leave the clan’s problems at the door.”

“But I am the laird and the duty falls upon me…”

“Aye. Aye, it does, but once you are beyond our chamber door, you are no longer the laird. You are just a man, Magnus, seeking his rest with me, your wife. If you want peace, that is what you must do. Leave those problems at the door. Think of this room as a sanctuary of sorts.”

He didn’t hold back the frown that settled on his face. “There is nopeace for me, not until I fulfill my vow to seek vengeance for my brother’s murder. And there will never be peace for me, a man, who is named laird of this clan.”

She pressed a hand on his face and he almost leaned into her touch, but he kept still. Kendra needed to understand the pressure he was under. “You deserve a little freedom, Magnus, surely?”

Magnus shook his head. “Nay, my clansmen and women have more freedom than I do. I am the laird, Kendra, and ye should understand that my ruling of this clan comes first. It comes before my wants, my needs, my peace.” He stepped back from her. “I need to attend to my duties which are the sole reason for my existence.”

She pressed her lips together and considered his words. Why would he make such an outlandish comment—the sole reason for his existence? How could she ever make him understand that he was more than a laird? Kendra needed to give it considerable thought. “I had hoped you would show me around this day. I long to see your lands.”

“I must first gain reports and check on a few matters of importance. If I have time, I will find ye later, mayhap after midday.” He reached the door and gazed at her with his greenish-brown eyes deepening as if he was sorry, but said nothing more.

Magnus’s eyes seemed to implore her as if she was able to aid him before he closed the door behind him. She wished that were so. Her husband would not deny his duties and she realized that she did have the means to help him. Kendra draped a robe around herself and strode to the massive table that held the many manuscripts, opened the first volume and continued with the next and the rest until she’d sorted them by seasonal references. Later, when she had more time to devote to the task, she would go through the figures and enter the slips of parchment that had yet to be entered. Then she would take account and figure out if all was in order.

Linet hadn’t come to see her as she usually did in the morning. Quickly, Kendra dressed and hurried to the great hall. By the time shereached it, all had gone about their day. It was later than she’d thought and she had missed the morning meal. But she found Marny who had just entered the fief.

“Oh, good morn, Milady,” she said and repositioned Hale, who whimpered.

“Please, Marny, we agreed that you would call me Kendra. Come, join me, for I need company. It is too quiet in the hall.”

Marny sat across from her at the table and took the cup Kendra handed to her. With Hale settled on her lap, she patted his back though he continued to fuss. “I am gladdened ye are here because I was a bit lonely. Wyren set out early to the training field.”

“We are now sisters—well, sisters-in-law—and, I hope, friends. I never had women friends at my home unless you count the manor’s maid but she’s endeared to me and I cherish our friendship.”

“Ye speak of Linet. I met her yestereve and she is a kind lass.” Marny smiled. “I had three sisters and three brothers. I was never alone until I came here.”