There it is.
“The Laird was very tired, and I thought it best to let him sleep undisturbed,” Olivia replied, which was not a lie. But it was not exactly the truth either.
She briefly toyed with the idea of confessing her apprehension about Edan’s sudden return. But she quickly decided it was more important to find Edan and tell him about Nurkirk’s visit.
After that, hopefully, we’ll be able to talk and get on a better footing than we did last night.I just need to get to ken him a bit, that’s all.
“Oh?” Megan eyed her, her curiosity clearly not satisfied. “But after him bein’ away for so long and ye never havin’ yer weddin’ night and all, I would have thought?—”
Olivia cut her off. “Well, ye thought wrong. The Laird was exhausted from his long journey. As I explained, he just wanted some peace and to sleep in his own bed undisturbed.”
But what about tonight? Surely, I’ll have to stay with him tonight?
“Is that so?” Megan murmured, sounding skeptical as she went to open the drapes.
“Is the Laird still in his chambers? I need to talk to him,” Olivia asked, her excitement at seeing Edan warring with her worries about his expectations of her as his wife, now that he was home.
“Well, he was there a few minutes ago when I ran out of the room,” Megan informed her.
Olivia got out of bed and put on her robe, tying the belt tightly around her waist. “All right. Wait for me here. I’ll nae be very long.”
She headed for the door. She had barely put her hand on the handle when Megan said, “Och, Me Lady, I’d better come with ye. All yer clothes are there. I need to fetch somethin’ back here for ye to wear today.”
“Nay. If the Laird is there, I dinnae think he’ll take too kindly to both of us bargin’ in on him, since ye’ve disturbed him once already. Besides, I need to talk to him alone,” Olivia replied firmly, before exiting the room.
She hurried down to the lower floor, to the chambers she knew she should be sharing with her husband.
Oh, worry about that later, she chided herself inwardly as she came to the chamber door.I just need to tell him about Nurkirk’s proposal for now.
3
But when she knocked on the door, there was no answer. Nervously, she opened the door a crack and peered inside. The bed was in disarray, but Edan was nowhere to be seen.
“Blast,” she muttered under her breath, guessing he was already up and about. “I had better get dressed quickly and go find him.”
She went to the wardrobe and fetched some clean linen, a gown, a shawl, shoes, and stockings. Then, she bundled up a few things from the vanity—her hairbrush, a hanky, her rose perfume, and some jewelry—in her clean shift. Loaded with her things, she hurried back upstairs to her new chambers, relieved not to bump into anyone on the way.
“Will ye have some breakfast, Me Lady?” Megan asked when she got back and dumped everything on the bed.
“Nay, nae now, thank ye. I’ll have some later. For now, I must get dressed and go and find the Laird,” Olivia explained. “Will ye help me get ready?”
Once she was presentable, she went downstairs to look for Edan. With the help of a servant, she quickly found him in the Great Hall, seated at the Laird’s table, sharing breakfast with Greta.
She made a beeline for them. Despite her anxiety, it warmed her heart to see Greta happy.
Greta waved merrily at Olivia, but Edan, who had his broad back to her, did not even turn his head to greet her.
How rude!
As Olivia came up to the table, she heard Greta saying to him, “And ye have some new scars as well, I see, lad. Ye should be more careful. I cannae say it doesnae worry me, but I suppose I should just be grateful that ye’re back in one piece, eh?”
Edan rumbled something Olivia could not make out. Whatever it was, to her surprise, it made Greta chuckle.
So, the man is capable of good humor, is he? I would never have guessed!
Greta smiled at Olivia, who greeted her warmly with a kiss on her soft, wrinkled cheek. Edan, however, did not acknowledge her presence in any way. He seemed to be deliberately ignoringher, which irked her, since it made her hesitant to talk to him about Laird Nurkirk.
“Good mornin’, dear,” Greta said, patting Olivia’s arm affectionately. She nodded towards Edan, her eyes sparkling. “He’s back. I told ye he would be, did I nae?” she said triumphantly. “Och, ’tis so good to have ye home, Edan,” she murmured, looking at her grandson fondly.
