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“Nay, nor would I.” His lips found hers, and as she kissed him slowly and lazily, she understood precisely what he had been hungry for, all this time. Indeed, it seemed to be catching, for she had a gnawing need for more of him, too.
CHAPTER26
The hazy,bluish light of dawn lightly caressed Edwina’s eyelids open. She stretched out like a satisfied cat, her body almost too relaxed from an entire evening of carnal passion at her beloved husband’s hands. Smiling to herself, she could not remember when they actually fell asleep, but the hour had been late, where even the sounds of the wedding celebrations had faded to nothing.
Glancing over at the window and seeing the faint light, she realized she must not have slept for long at all: a couple of hours at most. Yet, she was not remotely tired. The pleasure of Felix’s touch seemed to have rested her instead, or she was still brimming with the energy that her pleasure had given her. Truly, she felt as though she could have run for miles or swum the length of the nearby loch or ridden for hours on horseback; she was so alive with vitality.
I’m married… I’m a wife… and I think I might just be in love with my husband.Her heart soared, prompting her to steal a look at the man beside her. Felix lay fast asleep, the blankets twisted around him in a teasing manner, hiding the parts of him that her bashful eyes longed to see.
Still, she admired the muscular lines of his bare chest, watching every sleepy breath, before her gaze trailed down to his sculpted abdomen and the deep lines that carved out his hips and guided the eye downward, to where he was covered.
“My husband,” she whispered, hoping he might stir so they could indulge in one another again.
He slept on, snoring softly. The sight brought a smile to Edwina’s face, for he had exerted himself plenty already, for hours upon hours, worshiping her and lavishing her with every bliss a mortal body could conjure. She could not ask for more until he was suitably refreshed and rested, but nor could she stay in bed, doing nothing until he finallydidawaken.
An idea popped into her head, prompting her to gently ease back the blankets and slip out of bed. Felix shifted a little, but his eyes stayed closed, and he soon began to breathe deeply again. Meanwhile, Edwina tiptoed across the chamber, snatching up her shift and an old cloak that hung on the back of the door. It was not entirely appropriate attire, but she doubted anyone would mind.
Besides, I am the Lady of this Castle now. They’ll have to get accustomed to me bein’ somewhat strange, here and there.The realization made her heart soar again, for though she had never asked for marriage or expected to become Lady of anything, fate had ensured that she landed on her feet. Fate had sent her the most wonderful man, to keep her safe from the uncertain future she might otherwise have had. Not for the first time, she wanted to believe that her father was the one guiding fate’s hand.
Reaching the chamber door without waking Felix, Edwina paused for a moment. She glanced back over her shoulder and watched her beloved slumber in peace. She could not remember the last time she had been so happy, and it was all because of the man lying there, in their marital bed.
“I love ye,” she dared to whisper, before stealing out of the room.
Heading down to the kitchens, where she hoped to ask the cook for some breakfast that she could take up to Felix on a tray, Edwina immediately regretted not stopping to grab some shoes. The flagstones were cold underfoot, and there were large gaps between the runners that kept out the chill. But she was in a joyful mood, and soon made a game of leaping from the edge of one runner to another.
Och, the servants here will have plenty to gossip about,she mused, chuckling to herself.They’ll think they’ve ended up with the strangest Lady in all of Scotland, and I daenae ken if I can argue.
Passing by her old chamber, she ducked inside to slip on a pair of shoes. She did not bother to pause and look around, for the room had never really belonged to her. It had just been a stopping point on the way to untold contentment.
That done, she continued on toward the kitchens. At least, she hoped she was heading for the kitchens, but she had not yet become entirely acquainted with the maze of hallways and passages.
All in good time,she told herself.There’s nay rush, anymore.
Finding her way to the main door that led out into the courtyard, she stopped to get her bearings. She thought the kitchens were up ahead, but she could not smell anything delicious wafting down the hallway. Perhaps, the cook had imbibed too much at last night’s revels and had yet to take to her stove.
Undeterred, Edwina was about to press on, when a voice called out, “M’Lady?”
She turned to find a vaguely familiar young lady hurrying toward her. A scullery maid, if Edwina was not mistaken.
“Good mornin’ to ye,” Edwina said cheerfully.
The young woman came to an abrupt halt and bent at the waist, struggling to catch her breath. “I’m glad I found ye, M’Lady. Och, mercy, am I glad I found ye!” she gasped, looking very pale indeed. “It’s Lady Millar’s lass. Ye must come quick.”
“Do ye mean Elspeth?” Edwina’s heart jolted.
The maid nodded. “I daenae ken what happened, M’Lady. She must’ve gone there to ride one of the horses, or just to stroke them—och, I daenae ken, M’Lady, but that crosspatch of a mare spooked and kicked her. I daenae ken what to do, M’Lady. Och, please, come quickly!”
Edwina did not dare to ask if the maid meant Buttercup, for she could not imagine that sweet mare being capable of such an awful thing. Nevertheless, a stone of dread sank in her stomach, answering the question for her.
“Show me,” she urged.
The maid turned and started running in the direction of the stables, with Edwina in hot pursuit. Felix’s breakfast would have to wait. If Elspeth was terribly hurt, or worse, the celebrations would swiftly turn into tragedy. And though Edwina knew she should whirl around, run back up to the marital bedchamber, and wake her husband so he could tend to his niece, she kept running after the maid. She had to see what was wrong with her own eyes first, in case it caused the small world of Clan Millar and Clan Moore to crumble with grief.
“I dinnae ken who to ask for help,” the maid explained, as they hurried along. “Then, I saw ye, and I kenned ye would ken what to do. Ye must be the only one awake, other than me and the stable lad. He was the one who told me what had happened, and he was even more hopeless than me in kennin’ what to do.”
Edwina gulped, rounding a corner that opened onto a stretch of cobbles. At the end stood the stables. “Is she very badly hurt?”
“She cannae be woken, M’Lady,” the maid replied solemnly. “She’s breathin’ but nay amount of shakin’ or callin’ to her can open her eyes.”
