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No words passed between them as they climbed the stairs and when he went to his bedchamber instead of hers, she turned a raised brow on him.
“You sleep with me tonight.”
“I thought you said—”
“Aye, I did say I will not touch you until after your monthly bleed, but others must think differently. Marta will find us naked in bed tomorrow and she will spread the news that our marriage bed was put to good use.”
Naked.
That was all she heard. She had slept naked with him already but that had been different. He had not known they slept naked together until morning. Not so now. He would get in bed naked of his own volition.
He set her on her feet as soon as they entered his bedchamber and began disrobing once he closed the door. Not so Tavia, she hesitated, then realizing he would be naked well before her and have nothing to do but watch her disrobe, she hurried out of her garments. Once she was naked, she took hasty steps to the bed and slipped beneath the blankets with relief.
Needing to keep her eyes on anything but her husband stripping off his garments, she glanced around the room. It was a good size as was the sizeable, sturdy wood bed taking up a good portion of the room. A multitude of chests, some piled three high, sat braced against two walls. A small table sat against another wall with two benches beneath. Two chests hugged either side of the bed. A sizeable, flickering candle sat atop the chest on the opposite side from where she lay and beside it lay a dagger.
Her eyes accidentally landed on him as her glance took her around the room. He was a fine built man, all muscle and strength that could do her damage if he so wished. And while he warned and threatened her often enough since meeting him, he had not once shown a propensity for raising his hand to her or causing her any harm—except.
He did mention pounding her when they coupled since he believed her no longer a virgin.
She wanted to blurt out that she had never been with any man. That his lips had been the first she’d ever felt. But that would be admitting the lie she had perpetrated to seal their marriage agreement. She could not chance admitting the truth until after their vows were sealed.
He extinguished the various candles before walking to his side of the bed, stretching back his shoulders with a wince, then extinguishing the candle on the chest before getting beneath the blankets and settling himself beside her, his body so close that she could feel his heat drifting off him.
Tavia lay stiff beside him, not moving the slightest, and gripping the blanket high on her chest. Her heart hammered wildly, and she did not dare close her eyes. She hoped he would fall asleep fast only then would she feel safe.
She almost jumped when he turned on his side to face her.
“Your actions forced this marriage and now we are stuck tolerating each other, something I hoped to have avoided in a wife.”
“What did you want from your wife?” she asked.
“A good, strong woman who knew the wisdom of being obedient when necessary and one I could talk with and could offer me good counsel when needed, and one who would bear me strong sons and daughters. A wife I could share the perils and the pleasures of life with, a wife I could trust, I could count on without question.”
It was much of what Tavia wanted in a husband, though she would add love to it, for she believed love was what helped bind a relationship. Love would not have her husband look at her limp as weakness or her small size an obstacle. He would love and respect her for who she was and not who he wanted her to be. Could there be the slightest chance they could share a good marriage together. She had to ask.
Bhric pressed a finger to her lips when she went to speak. “Do not offer what you cannot give, for I will hear no more lies spill from your lips. Now sleep and let the morning bring news and rejoicing that all is well with the lord and his lady.”
CHAPTER 9
Bhric walked through the village as he did every so often making himself available to anyone who wished to speak with him and to keep an eye on everything that went on. The Clan MacShane people were beginning to blend well with his people, though some still held animosity toward him. A few felt he had no right to rule the clan, but he was the rightful heir to the clan, and it was now his to rule over.
All had settled well over the last three days since his arrival home with his new bride. At least he made it seem that way to everyone. He treated his wife well when in her presence while avoiding her most other times. He was annoyed with the whole situation especially waking the morning after the celebration to find her snuggled against him and his arm snug around her. He had lingered, keeping her there tucked close and enjoying the feel of her soft, warm skin. It was as if she had always been there beside him, as if she belonged there.
He had left the bed with haste when the gentle stirring he had felt turned to a hard arousal and far too rapidly. He would not chance coupling with her until he knew for sure she carried no other man’s bairn. And that was the problem. He could not trust her to keep a truthful tongue. She had not told him upon meeting him that she was his wife and she had allowed him to believe that she had suffered an injury rather than confess the truth about her limp. And that she tricked him into their marriage bed so he would have no choice but to honor the agreement made him wonder what more she hid from him.
“She’s a small one and that limp limits her.”
Bhric turned to Greta. Her slow and soft gait often had her sneaking up on people. He looked to where her head was turned and saw his wife talking with Hume.
“Too small?” he asked, knowing she would understand his question.
“That will not be known until her delivery time comes,” Greta said and turned to him. “What happened to her leg?”
“I have yet to find out,” Bhric said, having wondered the same.
“You should know if it is an affliction that can be passed on to bairns or if your wife is prone to foolishness that can bring her harm or if someone failed to protect her, something I fear her small size will warrant much attention.”
“An accident I believe,” Bhric said but wondered if that was a lie. He had not considered her limp could be hereditary, though she had tried to hide it from him. The possibility troubled him. “Is there talk of her limp already?”
