Page 59 of The Highlander’s Kilted Affair

CHAPTER TWENTY

Evelyn was moved into a room of her own, and after hugging Yvaine goodnight, she retired to her bedchamber. But while she was readying herself for bed, she heard a light knock on the door. Wrapping herself in her shawl, Evelyn opened it to find her father standing there.

“Hello, me dear. May I come in?”

“O’ course, Faither.”

Once they were both sitting beside the crackling fire, Evelyn looked at her father expectantly. She had no idea why he was there, and yet, he was clearly there for a reason.

“Are ye nervous?” Donald asked, cradling the whiskey she had given him.

“About marrying Benedict?” Evelyn asked with surprise.

“Well, ye ken, that, and…” he fumbled, “… the duties o’ a wife.”

“Well, Benedict isnae a laird, faither. I hardly think me duties will come tae much.”

Donald shook his head. “Nay, nay, child. I dinnae mean those duties. When I say duties, I mean…” He hesitated again, his face going redder and redder.

It was only as she saw his embarrassment that Evelyn suddenly knew what her father meant. “Och, ye mean…” It was she who hesitated then, feeling the heat in her own cheeks.

“Aye.” Her father nodded eagerly, clearly relieved that Evelyn had managed to understand what he meant.

For a moment, he didn’t speak again, and then he muttered, “God, I wish yer maither were here. She would be so much better at all this than I.” He heaved a sigh, and keeping his eyes on his glass, he said, “There are some things ye need tae ken, Evelyn. Ye are an innocent lass, and thus, there are things ye dinnae ken.”

Och, me God! Is he going tae try and tell me about coupling?

“When a man lays down with a woman,” he began, still not able to look her in the eye, “it can be strange. The first time, ye… ye,” he flipped his right hand over and over again while he tried to find his words, “when ye, well, when ye lay together fer the first time.”

This is torturous! And I cannae even tell him I ken what it’s like. He still thinks I’m innocent. I cannae take that away from him.

“Faither, I’m sure I’ll be fine,” Evelyn said hurriedly, praying for this humiliation to end.

“Ye’re a strong and determined lass, Evelyn, and I’m proud o’ ye for all ye’ve achieved. I just want ye tae be ready.”

“Ready?”

“Fer yer wedding night,” he pressed. “The first time can be, well, it can be a little painful, and⁠—”

I cannae take anymore!

“Faither,” Evelyn jumped up from her chair, “I’m sure all will be well. I need tae get plenty o’ sleep, and I must insist that ye retire yersel’,” she said, pulling him to his feet and ushering him to the door.

“Aye, aye, o’ course,” he replied, sounding more than a little relieved.

Upon reaching the door, Evelyn opened it, and continued guiding her father through it. “I love ye,” she said, quickly pecking him on his cheek, “and I will see ye tomorrow.”

Just as Evelyn was about to close the door, Donald turned to her. “I have just one more thing I would like tae say.”

While Evelyn nearly dreaded the words that might fall from his lips, she pinned on a sweet smile and let him continue.

“I’m sorry for being so… so distant over the past year, Evelyn. Truly, I am. Benedict seems tae adore ye, and ye dinnae ken how glad that makes my heart. I only want ye tae discover the same love yer maither and I shared.”

Evelyn’s heart melted at his words, and noticing her father’s eyes glistening, she stepped forward and flung her arms around his neck.

“I love ye, Faither,” she whispered into the soft skin of his neck. “I’ve always loved ye. I ken ye miss Maither terribly. I miss her too.”

She took a step back and gazed up at him. “And ye havenae been a bad faither. Ye’ve been a grieving faither. If I am honest, before I met Benedict, I didnae really understand how ye felt. Now, I ken how crushed I would be, how utterly devastated I would feel, if I lost him.”