Page 17 of Her Forbidden Highlander Husband

They’d be sleeping there together. What if he would expect his rights as a husband? She didn’t know how she might bear it.

At the doorway, Kenna paused. “I’ll leave you to get settled and rest a bit before the celebration begins. Please let me know if you need anything. I want you to be happy here.”

“Thank you, my lady.” Evelyn managed to hide her growing panic enough to smile at the laird’s wife.

“And I want you to call me Kenna. We will be good friends.” The woman left, closing the door behind her.

Gwennie was already playing with her bunnies on the floor. It calmed Evelyn to watch her. To see her daughter happy and safe and know that they’d be together was worth any difficulties that might come next.

She’d find a way to get through them. Even lying with her husband. She’d do it if it meant staying here.

A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door. A lad delivered their bags from the horses. Not even a quarter hour later there was another knock and a different lad came in with a stout bed made to hold two children Gwennie’s size.

Evelyn remembered from her time here that Kenna had twin boys a little older than Gwennie.

“Look, love. You have your own bed,” she said and was rewarded by a large smile. It seemed Liam wasn’t the only one excited with the room.

“For me?” The little girl wasted no time removing her shoes and climbing into her bed.

“Do you want to take a nap?” Her question was met with a quick shake of the head. “Of course not.” Evelyn wouldn’t push the issue. “Why don’t you lie down with your bunnies for a bit while I unpack our things in our new home?”

Gwennie nodded in agreement, collecting her bundle of bunnies from the floor and lining them up on her mattress.

“We can stay here?” she asked.

Evelyn bit her lip. Tears burned in her throat at the innocent question. How many times had Gwennie asked her to stay when she’d had to leave to return to the castle? Each time a piece of Evelyn’s heart was torn away.

She was careful with her answer so it wasn’t a lie. She kissed her daughter’s head and smiled. “We get to stay together now.”

She didn’t expect Gwennie to understand the weight of that promise, but she nodded and continued to move her bunnies around. Evelyn had made sure not to say where they’d be staying. For tonight, they’d be here. But tomorrow…

Evelyn had unpacked only a clean gown for dinner before looking over to see Gwennie had fallen asleep.

Evelyn opened Liam’s trunk to put her bags out of the way. There was nothing in the trunk but a shirt and a few pair of stockings. She glanced around the room, seeing the pegs on the wall, and thought maybe Liam hung his things there. Still, it meant he didn’t have much clothing.

A good wife would see that he had a few extra shirts. She thought of it as she dressed. Perhaps once she had the chance to get fabric and thread. It was the least she could do to show her gratitude. She’d wanted to be his wife in name only, but tonight they’d sleep in the same room. She looked at the bed and hoped a few shirts to show her gratitude would be enough.

…

Liam stepped into his room and smiled when he saw Ev bent over the trunk. It wasn’t just the fine view she offered in that position but the fact she was here in his chamber that made his heart race.

She placed her index finger over her lips and pointed to the corner. With his height he needed only to stretch slightly to look over Evelyn’s head to see Gwennie sleeping soundly in a small bed with a bunch of bunnies surrounding her.

He recognized the bed as being the one he’d helped Cam build for the twins when they’d gotten too large for their cradle. He’d be sure to thank everyone for it.

“Did you have enough space for your things?” he whispered, though he knew the lass could sleep through almost anything. She’d slept in his arms while they rode.

“Aye. But I don’t think there’s room in the trunk for your things now.”

“I don’t need much. I’m set with a spare shirt and extra stockings. I wash down at the loch and see to my clothes then.”

She nodded and stood to the side so he could pass by her. He frowned and looked about the room. The day he’d been given his own chamber had been one of the happiest, save the last weeks. But it seemed small and dreary now.

“I wish I had more to offer you than this one room. I know you’re accustomed to having a place of honor.” Her room at Scalloway was probably exquisite. She probably had a suite of rooms with a fancy bed and carved furniture.

She was quick to shake her head. “No apologies are necessary. It’s a fine room. The window looks out over the loch. I imagine it’s a beautiful sight in the mornings when the sun comes up.”

“Aye, it is.” He nodded.