She burst out laughing. “All right then, ye can come in. But dinnae steal all me comfits.” She nibbled on her chicken delicately before something occurred to her. “Och, by the way, I forgot to ask ye. Did young Bobby come and see ye about a job?”
“Aye, he did. He’s a good lad. It turns out he likes dogs, so I fixed him up with the kennel master. He’s goin’ to be helpin’ to raise the pups and look after the hounds.”
“He must be thrilled,” Olivia said, impressed afresh by Edan’s generosity.
“Well, I realized ye were right. If he has a job he loves, he’ll stay on the straight and narrow and nae go thievin’ again. He was thrilled to get a regular wage so he could look after his ma and his siblings. He has four sisters and two wee braithers, apparently.”
“That’s a lot of mouths to feed. So, there’s nay man of the house then?”
“He skedaddled years ago, it seems. Bobby is the man of the house.”
“The poor, wee soul. I’ll go and see him at the kennels and find out how he’s gettin’ on,” she said. “Maybe I can do more for the girls.”
“Good idea. I’m sure they’d appreciate it. By the way, did ye write to yer sister about the St. Patrick’s celebrations?”
“I was just writin’ the letter when ye came and asked me to come out with ye. I’ll finish it later. I wanted to ask ye somethin’ as well. Since ye’re home now, what do ye think about us hostin’ a special celebration for The Turnin’ of the Light?”
He swallowed and nodded enthusiastically. “Aye, that would be grand. Me maither and faither always used to hold a cèilidh for it. We should definitely do that. I think I’ll enjoy playin’ the jovial host, swannin’ about with me beautiful wife on me arm.”
Olivia laughed. “And I shall enjoy paradin’ me braw husband about, makin’ all the ladies jealous.”
To her delight, his cheeks flushed scarlet.
“Shut up,” he chided her. “They dinnae think me so braw as ye claim, I can tell ye. They only pretend to put up with me scarsbecause they cannae stand to miss a party and like the free drinks.”
“Well, I dinnae care what they think,” she said, picking up a large slice of the pork pie. “I’m proud to be Lady Aberfeld, and I shall make sure everyone kens it.”
“Ye’re a grand lassie, Olivia Byrne. I dinnae ken what I’ve done to deserve ye.”
“Och, ye say the nicest things, husband!” Olivia replied, unable to remember ever feeling quite so happy in her life.
They chattered on, gradually demolishing the food and washing it down with whisky until there were only scraps left and they both groaned and complained they were stuffed.
Finally, Edan brushed the crumbs from his waistcoat and announced, “Well, the light’s fadin’. We’d better get back. I have work to do.”
“Aye, all right,” Olivia agreed reluctantly, starting to pack the leftovers into the saddlebags. “I hope poor Hamish can carry both of us after eatin’ all that food. Do ye think we could come back here again, Edan? This could be our special place.”
“Aye, definitely. Ye’ll love it in the summer,” he assured her, getting up to stretch his legs before helping her tidy away.
Once they were all packed up, he slung the saddlebags over his shoulder and took her hand.
“Have ye had a nice time today, then?” he asked as he led her back through the trees to where the horses were patiently waiting for them.
“I’ve had the most wonderful time,” Olivia replied, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him, which inevitably led to them sharing another tender kiss. When they broke apart, she said. “Thank ye for bringin’ me here, Edan, and for plannin’ such a lovely outing for us. I admit, I’m nae sure how ye’re goin’ to top this the next time.”
“Wait and see,” he told her. “I’m full of surprises.”
“Aye, so ye are,” she replied laughingly, waiting while he tied the rolled-up blanket and the saddlebags to Hamish’s saddle and then lifted her easily into place before swinging himself up behind her.
As he settled into the saddle, Olivia snuggled against him, feeling the sea change between them. It felt as though they were well on the way to becoming a true married couple at last.
She tilted her head back and watched him. It truly warmed her heart to see him looking so relaxed, his eyes crinkling as he smiled down at her fondly, revealing the man behind the stern, cold mask. No doubt he would slip back into his role as the tough, brutal Laird when they got back to the castle. But in private, from now on, she hoped he would beherEdan.
True, they still had two dates before they fully celebrated their wedding night. But after what they had shared in the glen, she wondered if she could wait that long to be truly his. She found she was no longer looking forward to it with fear and trepidation, but with an eagerness that made her blush at her wantonness.
It was not very late in the afternoon when they set out across the moor to return to the castle. Yet, with the short winter days, dusk was already falling, and there was an icy chill in the wind. Olivia was more than grateful to have Edan shield her from the worst of the cold. Somehow, he managed to radiate heat like a furnace, keeping her warm.
The castle’s looming outline had just appeared on the horizon when Olivia thought she smelled smoke. She sniffed the sir. Yes, it was definitely there, the smell of something burning.
