Page 75 of His Forgotten Highland Bride

Chapter Twenty-Seven

While Ronan had not enjoyed Hannah’s visit or her cruelty, he had to admit the effects had been beneficial for his wife. Over the next few weeks, as she healed from the injuries caused by the arrow and planned a wedding for her dear friend, Ronan saw her heart and spirit mending from years of injuries inflicted by her sister’s manipulations as well.

He still hated the role he played in Brenna’s pain. He often found himself wishing he could return to the day they’d married so he could do things differently. He wished he could tell that fickle young man he’d been what was truly important in life. “I will always regret that you heard me ask my grandsire to marry your sister instead. I want you to know how pleased I am that my request was denied.”

“I know,” she said, and he heard the strength in her words. She believed him. Even better, she believed in herself. She was no longer a girl living in the shadows of her older sister but a woman who knew her worth.

He’d not realized how alluring such a thing could be. His heart quickened, and his body responded. He wished they could be alone in the forest, but they stayed within the castle walls these days to ensure Ewan couldn’t cause more problems if he remained nearby.

Sitting in the hall for the noon meal was not the best time for his cock to grow hard for his wife. However, being a laird must have some benefits to offset all the responsibility, and he was about to take advantage of one such benefit when a messenger arrived.

Ronan smiled as he opened the missive from his brother, Shane, but he frowned while reading the words. The other laird was looking for Ronan’s mother, who had fled the MacPherson clan with the contents of their coffers.

It made sense that Deirdre would have come to the Grants, but Ronan knew she wouldn’t seek safety from Shane here. She knew where Ronan’s loyalties lay. He would have seized the funds and returned them to Shane immediately.

“I’m afraid my mother is not here at Strathspey. I’ll have a message ready to return to your laird shortly. Please have a meal.”

The messenger bowed and hurried off to an open seat. He wished he could do something to help his brother and the MacPherson clan. While his coffers were full, they were not overflowing.

“What has brought such unhappiness to your face, husband?” Brenna asked.

“It seems my mother has emptied my brother’s coffers and left the MacPherson clan in need only these few months before the weather turns.”

“And you wish to help?”

“Aye. He’s my brother. And the MacPhersons are as much my family as the Grants. I cannot allow them to starve. But I need to make sure I have enough for our people.”

Brenna nodded. “We may not have extra, but we can adjust so there is enough to share.”

Ronan looked at Brenna and wondered how he had ever believed Ewan’s lies. She was nothing like his mother. Deirdre MacPherson would not have spared a single bauble to help another clan, yet Brenna wished to help, having never even met Shane and the rest of the MacPhersons.

“I will extend an offer of help if Shane needs it. He’s stubborn. I know he won’t accept unless there is no other way. But he won’t allow his pride to cause his people harm. Let’s see what we might do to help if it comes to that.”

With the message to his brother written and handed over to the messenger, Ronan sat beside his wife once more.

“Don’t worry, husband. Your family will be cared for,” she said, seeming to know his thoughts and how to ease his worries. No one could be more perfect for him.

“I am grateful, wife, but I need to show you something in our chambers right now.”

“But we are eating.” Her cheeks grew pink, betraying her knowledge of what he had planned.

“Bring it with you.” He stood, picking up their trenchers and strategically carrying them in front of himself as she followed him from the hall.

He heard a few snickers from the men but couldn’t care what they thought. Yes, he was mad about his wife and didn’t worry much about who knew it. He’d waited for her to heal, and now that it was clear she was back to her usual self, he couldn’t wait another minute to take her in his arms and show her how much he wanted her. In the room, he practically tossed their food to the small table near the window before turning to his wife and lifting her in his arms.

She laughed as he carried her to the bed and practically leaped on top of her, kissing the exposed skin of her breasts and tugging down her gown to reveal even more of that warm, creamy skin.

“I have missed you, husband.”

He had missed her as well, but he’d needed to see her fully healed before seeing to their pleasure. Even when she’d assured him time and time again she was well enough for such things, he’d refrained so as not to cause her pain. But the stitches had been removed, and he’d seen for himself that the wound was no more than a pink scar. He kissed the mark, grateful that it had not been lower and took her from him.

“I will make it up to you, wife, and repay you for your patience.”

“I’m not sure I will survive such a feat,” she said with a laugh. “But I am willing to give it my best effort.”

Ronan stroked a brown curl back from her face and kissed her slowly, silently promising all the ways he planned to pleasure her. It had not been five years, but as he removed each garment, he faced the same raging desire he’d felt the first time. “I can’t ever seem to get enough of you,” he told her.

She stared up into his eyes. “It is good then that we have all our lives to feast on each other.”