Page 76 of Bride takes a Scot

Declan leaned up. “Brother? Ye never mentioned you had a brother.”

“He volunteered to go on the crusade with the English. Unfortunately, he was killed. I didn’t think he’d return and awaited such news. Also, my father was exiled for raiding. He and my mother escaped to England. I suppose some lord gained the king’s accord and forced him to bring charges against my father for stealing his horses.”

Declan chuckled. “I do like your father. We shall find out where they are and perhaps we can visit them.”

“You would go to England for me?”

He shifted his face within an inch of hers. “I would go through the fires of Purgatory for ye, Wife, even to England which is far worse.”

“I don’t wish to go to England. I warned my father what would happen if he continued to steal from our neighbors. He wouldn’t listen. My place is here with you, with the MacKendricks. That’s where I wish to be and belong.”

“Ah…so that is why ye learned healing methods. Ye had to patch up your father and his men when he returned from thieving?”

Isabella nodded. “Yes, and believe me, my father could be quite emotional when he was injured. When the king bade our attendance, I thought he would weep for a sennight.”

That was interesting, Declan thought, for his wife adapted to the situations around her and had many interests. He realized it would take a lifetime to figure her out. Thank God he had the rest of their lives to do so. “Have ye seen the trunk? I meant to present it to ye this morn when we awakened, but ye were gone when I awoke.” Declan motioned to the ornate, large trunk that sat next to his.

She pressed her hand over his chest. “I did see it. The trunk is for me? It is beautiful, quite ornate.”

“Ye should have a place for your belongings. Ye can keep your things in there until the carpenter makes the wardrobes I commissioned.”

Isabella smiled. “That was kind of you.”

He stretched and had no intention of leaving their bedchamber until the fires were lit at the festival. That’s when the real revelry began.

“I wonder how the other couples are getting on, those that the king bade to marry. Do you think the other brides and grooms are as happy as we are? I hope so because meeting you has changed my life considerably.”

“My life was misery before I met ye. Alexander was right. The king said that I wouldn’t be disappointed with the ladies he chose as the brides. He also told me that I would have a hard decision to make about which bride to choose. He was wrong about that. That decision was easy because ye were the only bride I wanted.” Declan placed a light kiss on her lips. He slunk his hand over her thigh to her bare backside and shifted her against him. “Before we go, Wife…”

She didn’t let him continue. Isabella pressed him onto his back and straddled his hips. “Before we leave, we will make slow, sweet love, just how you like it, Husband.”

The End