AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Aye, and the fool must now suffer his wedding night, poor wretch,’ shuddered Callum.
‘You are unfair. Fenella is comely enough, and Orla says there were many men after her hand.’
‘Her hand, or her money? If Hew is behind all the trouble, then perhaps hearing Fenella screech in his ear for the rest of his life may be punishment enough, for she is enough to soften any man’s cock. Not like you, for you looked exceedingly well today. Is it that dress, or is there a bloom to your cheeks and a brightness to your eyes these days, Tara? You are certainly filling out in all the right places.’ He grabbed a handful of her buttocks and squeezed. ‘Plenty for me to delight in, you buxom wench.’
She tore his hand free. ‘Are you saying I am getting fat?’
‘No, it is just that I like to grab onto handfuls of your luscious flesh, is all. And I don’t care if you do get fat. That just means there is more of you to love.’
He leaned in to kiss her, but Tara pushed him off. ‘If I am growing, Callum Ross, it is on your account.’
‘How? Am I spoiling you too much with sweetmeats and cakes?’
‘No, it is your own appetites that have led to my filling out.’
Callum frowned, his grey eyes earnest and puzzled, catching the sunlight. Goodness, but he was beautiful sometimes. ‘Callum, have you not noticed my belly getting round? Can you not see that I am with child?’
He frowned and looked down at her stomach, and shook his head. To Tara’s dismay, he suddenly turned and looked out into the distance, running his hand through his hair. She had not expected that reaction and her heart sank.
‘I waited to tell you until I was sure, for I do not know much about such things. But the physician confirmed it. Callum, are you not pleased?’ she said, forcing the words out.
His shoulders slumped, and when Callum turned around, there were tears in his eyes. ‘Of course, I am pleased. Oh, God, Tara, I am so happy. I do not deserve such good fortune. A bairn to come - the first of many. We will fill Raigmoor with them, and it will no longer be an echoing, lonely place.’
Tara laughed. ‘All in good time, my love.’
‘Aye, in good time. And we have lots of it, you and I. We must hasten back and toast the good news with a dram or two.’ He kissed her hurriedly. ‘I will send word to Aunt Mortimer, who will be overjoyed. She may not even mind that the bairn will be half-English.’
‘Now, on that score, I wouldn’t be too sure, Callum. She hates the English with a vengeance.’
‘No, she won’t mind. She accepted you well enough, and all her barking and complaining was just her way.’ He kissed Tara’s hand over and over.
‘You mean I worried about gaining her good opinion for nothing?’ said Tara, jerking it from his grasp.
‘Aye, for she wants to see me happy. Upon my word, she would probably accept Greaves if I presented him as a bride, for she is inordinately fond of me, as are most women.’ He grinned at Tara. ‘Why do you think she gave us the chamber in the east wing where bairns come nine months later?’
‘You are insufferable and arrogant, Callum Ross.’
‘I am now that I have everything in this life to make me happy - a beautiful English bride, a son on the way and an heir for Clan Ross.’
‘And what if it is a daughter?’
‘I will love her just as much, for she will be beautiful, kind and courageous, just like her mother.’
Callum’s face became serious, and he frowned out at the soaring hills and sky. ‘You once told me this was not what your life should be, that you hated Scotland. Do you feel differently now?’
‘Do you have to ask, Callum? I have fallen in love with Scotland just as I have fallen in love with you. And this is what my life should be. I would not trade it for another because I love you, Callum, truly I do. I have not been generous with my affections, and for that, I am heartily sorry.’
‘All forgotten,’ he said, kissing the tips of her fingers and smiling into her eyes as the sun sank in a blaze of crimson and gold.
