“That was very good, Abby. Yer speech is improving,” Alice said encouragingly.
Abby held the baby close to her chest, hugging him tightly. The baby loved every moment of it and was cackling heartily. Amy looked up just then, jumped out of her chair, and squealed in delight. Abby looked up to see what had caused Amy’s outburst and her focus centered on Cameron.
“Cameron,” she breathed heavily, as if in relief.
He took all of her in. Never had he felt as welcomed as he felt now. Never had he wanted to return home with such a quickness.
He walked over to her. She still held the baby close to her, rubbing its back.
“Hello, Abby.”
Alice took Owen from her. Abby made an effort to stand up but Cameron grabbed her around her waist and brought her to her feet.
“H-hello, Cameron,” she whispered. He saw the relief in her eyes and smiled in response. He couldn’t resist; he brought her into his arms for a hug.
Cameron saw differences in her. She’d gained a little weight, which he was relieved to see. The dark circles still remained under her eyes, though. He smelled her hair and her flowery scent enveloped him. He sighed in contentment.
“Cameron! I’m so happy to see ye back. Ye hadna told me ye were leaving!” Gillyanne said, pushing Abby out of his arms and wrapping her arms around his waist.
The stricken and confused look on Abby’s face hurt him.
“Gillyanne, I am with my wife and family.” Cameron plucked her hands off him.
“But I’ve been with ye longer than she has, and I am like family.” Gillyanne cast a scalding glare at Abby.
Keith held Amy back. Cameron noticed the telling action.
“I think that it’s time ye leave here, Gillyanne. Abby is my wife, and I will respect the sanctity of this marriage.” He walked over to Abby.
Gillyanne’s face flushed red.
“Ye canna mean that, Cameron. We’ve been together for years. What will ye do when this mousy weakling leaves ye?”
“Nay another insult, Gillyanne. I willna tolerate yer insolent remarks against my wife. ‘Tis time that ye start yer own family, and yer own life. Elsewhere.”
Gillyanne noticed his eyes didn’t hold any of their usual heat. She wasn’t such a fool as to believe that he loved her, but she always knew that he wanted her. Now she knew she was losing him. Gillyanne would rectify that later, when she was alone with him.
“Verra well, I’ll pen a note to my sister, if that’s acceptable with ye, milord. This correspondence may take a while.”
“Take as long as necessary, Gillyanne, but doona dawdle.”
Aidan came in at just that moment.
“Cameron, sit here at the table. Keith and Patrick, ye also. I’ve a need to inform ye both of the last month’s affairs.”
Cameron and Patrick walked to the table. Keith kissed his son and Amy, and sat next to Cameron. Cameron listened to Aidan’s account, but he was powerless to stop his gaze from moving towards Abby. She was once again playing with the baby, enjoying the baby’s antics. His heart skipped a beat at the thought of having a child with her. If only he hadn’t been cursed. If only he could sire children, then he could have a life with her, and a life with their child.
That could never happen. It would never happen.
“Are ye listening, Cameron? What d’ye think of the suggestion I made on improving the structure?” Aidan asked.
Cameron’s thoughts were brought back to the present conversation. He replied and the men discussed other clan matters, until Abby laughed. Cameron’s gaze traveled to where she sat on the floor with Owen. He was gnawing on her finger.
“Gillyanne was never warm to Owen. She never carried him, much less allowed him to drool on her,” Keith said, looking over to the site that kept holding his brother’s attention.
“There’s nay comparing Abby to Gillyanne, Keith,” Aidan said.
Cameron agreed to that. There was no comparison when it came to the two. They were complete opposites.
“How has she been?” Cameron asked.
Aidan stayed quiet for a moment. Cameron’s gaze returned to Aidan’s face and narrowed.
“What? Did something happen?”
“When ye left, she was verra upset and uneasy. Mother stayed with her in her chamber for a few days. Nightmares plagued her, at least that’s what Mother said. After that, she grew more quiet and distant,” Aidan answered.
“Is she regressing from the small improvement she made?”
He knew that she felt comfortable with him. Even in the two days he’d spent with her before he left, she seemed more coherent than she had appeared on their wedding day.
“I doona know, Cameron. She confessed to Mother that she’s been seeing oddities in her chamber at night,” Aidan said.
Cameron thought about this for a minute, and asked, “When did this begin occurring?”
“A fortnight ago,” Aidan responded. “Mother has been helping her with her speech and so she speaks more, but she only tells Mother and Amy about these occurrences. Mother says she has difficulty sleeping. Other than that issue, however, she has been more stable of mind, and nay as aloof or detached as she was before. She doesna hum or rock herself.”
Cameron nodded his head in understanding.
“Gillyanne has been verra offensive to Abby. I’ve told her to stay away from Abby or she would be asked to leave. I had to do that, Cameron.”
“I am in full agreement with yer decision. Abby is too vulnerable, and Gillyanne must learn her place,” Cameron said, staring at her as she played with Owen.
“And her place shouldna be here,” Keith added. “Trust me on that, Brother.”
Cameron didn’t hear his brother, though.
“Well, since we’ve been briefed on affairs that occurred while we were otherwise occupied, I will bid ye all goodnight, and spend time with my wife and son,” Keith said, getting up from the table.
Keith went over to Amy and kissed her. He squatted down next to Owen and tumbled the baby’s brown feather-like hair.
“I think that it’s time to say goodnight to Auntie Abby, Owen. Say bye-bye,” Amy said, picking him up off the floor. The baby started crying at being taken away from Abby’s arms. Abby smiled and kissed the baby.
Cameron smiled in reaction. His silver eyes warmed as he looked at the way Abby reacted to the baby.
“Night, O-wen,” she said slowly.
“Ye still have eleven months, Cameron,” Aidan said as he stood next to Cameron.
Amy and Keith heard Aidan as they passed by with Owen and they chimed in with their opinion. “Aye, Cameron, only eleven months remaining. Owen loves her and he doesna take easily to just anyone,” Amy said.
Cameron took the baby from Amy and carried him.
“Ye, too, can have one of yer own, Cameron. Just try,” Alice said, also overhearing and coming forward.
Cameron looked up and said, “Enough.” The baby took that moment to put his hand in Cameron’s mouth and thought that was so funny, he squealed. Cameron smiled at him.
Abby timidly walked forward and when the baby saw her, he lunged towards her. Cameron held him tight to prevent him from falling. Abby laughed and Cameron enjoyed hearing it. She looked radiant and he vowed then that he would do anything and everything in his power to keep her doing just that always.
Eleven more months, he reminded himself. He only had eleven more months to make her laugh.
“All right, Owen, time for bed.” Keith reached for the baby.
“Good…night, O-wen,” Abby said to him, kissing him on the forehead.
Everyone departed, leaving Cameron and Abby alone downstairs.
“I’ll walk ye to the east tower, Abby.”
Her eyes showed a moment’s panic before she nodded her head in agreement. He didn’t know how to approach the topic of the oddities she’d seen, so he kept quiet about that for now. As they walked, he told her about the castle’s history.
“See this corridor? It was bui
lt by my grandfather’s great great-grandfather. Aye, ‘twas that long ago. Afterwards, two more towers were built, totaling four. They face north, south, east, and west. Living on the border has taught my clan many hard lessons.”
Abby stopped and faced him. The light from the wall sconce illuminated her face.
“My f…family,” she said sadly.
He didn’t want her looking sad. He reached out to smooth back a wayward tress that had fallen into her eyes.
“Yes, our families have been enemies for hundreds of years, Abby,” Cameron said, without inflection in his voice.
She reached out and touched his forearm. “I…am s-sor-ry.” Her eyes captured and held his.
He shook his head. “Doona apologize over that which is nay yers to apologize for.”
She pursed her lips together.
They continued to walk through the long corridor and finally reached her door. He turned to her and studied her. She looked so beautiful and innocent, that he couldn’t resist. He leaned down and kissed her, something he’d wanted to do since their wedding day.
Her lips were warm, soft, and pliable. He drank from them like a man dying of thirst. The kiss was so soft and sweet, but when she responded, it turned ravenous.
Cameron knew by her awkward response that she didn’t have experience kissing, which blatantly pleased him on a selfish and possessive level, and ignited his desire for her more. He encircled his arms around her and brought her into him. She didn’t shy away from his mouth, but rather responded with a delicious innocence he relished. He’d been in the dark too long to refuse the light that she freely offered him.
Abby was lost in a mass of confusing emotions. It was as if she only started to discover the world yesterday, after having been locked in a dark room for years. She felt herself grow freer every day she was here and her sleeping mind slowly began to awake. She was gradually emerging into a world of feeling, leaving behind numbness. Her mind slowly began working again, after years of nonuse. Feelings she had never before known unlocked within her during that kiss, and elation swept through her inexperienced body. Tears rose to her eyes and fell down her cheeks.
Cameron felt the blood drumming through his veins. Pleasure infused his whole body and he felt himself growing hard from their scorching kiss. When he felt her tears, he stopped. He slowly pulled away but was only a hair’s breadth from her. The only sound in the hallway was their harsh breathing.
“Did I hurt ye?” His voice was a whisper, as soft and tender as she was. He looked deep into her eyes. They had turned a beautiful velvety green.
Her tears kept falling as she shook her head. A smile formed on her lips and she laughed.
“What? What is it?” He felt much like a young exhilarated boy.
“Y-ye…m-make…me…f-feel, Cameron.” Her voice, like her face, was full of wonder.
“Feel what?”
Abby’s face was flushed a beautiful pink and her eyes had turned a vibrant green in the span of a moment. She looked angelic.
“I am no l-longer n-numb.” She shook her head and said, “Ye…m-make me f-feel some-thing oth-ther than fear.” She laughed even more, a laugh that sounded carefree and joyous.
He smiled down at her and wiped the tears from her cheeks. He stared at her for a long moment.
“This is yers, and I thank ye, for it kept me safe.”
He pulled out the strip of green plaid she had given to him when he left. He didn’t understand why he was telling her this. The words just came out of his mouth.
When had he become so tenderhearted?
His sword kept him alive, not this strip of fabric, but for some reason, her happiness and feelings meant more to him than that truth.
She took it from him and rubbed it gingerly on her face, smiling.
“Ye’ll be all right tonight?”
She stared into his eyes, her smile not wavering as she nodded.
“Goodnight, Abby. If ye have a need of something, I am here for ye at any time. Just turn here and walk forward. That is the north tower, where my chambers are located,” he said gently, not quite knowing what else to say. The kiss had left him moved.
She nodded and allowed him to open the door for her. Once she was inside, he gently closed the door.
Abby leaned back, smiling. She sighed. These feelings were new to her. It was exhilarating and energizing.
Where have I been for the last several years?
It was a haze, as if she hadn’t lived at all. It was almost as if overnight, when she saw Cameron a month ago at their wedding, her muddled head miraculously began to clear.
Abby felt wonderful. Her speech was getting better and her brain wasn’t jumbled and incoherent anymore. She looked over to the chest and saw the flowers. They were so beautiful that she wanted to give him one.
Abby took one vibrant yellow flower, opened her door, and stepped out. Where had he said his rooms were?
“What are ye doing here?” Cameron asked from the entrance of his chambers. He was staring at his bed where Gillyanne was posed, naked.
“Waiting for ye, Cameron. I miss ye. I know that it was just a performance earlier. Ye want me, Cameron, I know ye do.”
It was all a charade. She was unable to be anything other than superficial. How he hadn’t realized it before now was a mystery to him.
“Leave, Gillyanne. It wasna a performance. I am married and I willna upset Abigail.”
“Yes, I forgot, she’s yer wife and she’s sooo fragile. Honestly, Cameron, I never took ye as the domesticated sort. She’ll understand that we’re lovers. This was a marriage in name only. I thought ye knew that.” She sat up, putting on display all that she had to offer.
Although he had said much the same to Patrick, he despised anyone else saying it now. This marriage wasn’t supposed to be in name only and he regretted saying that it was. Now, he resented Gillyanne uttering those very same words.
“I doona want to hear ye saying again that my marriage is in name only.”
Gillyanne casually crawled out of bed and walked towards him. Her hips swayed seductively and her breasts moved gently as she prowled towards him. Her pale skin looked a deeper shade under the dim glow of the candles. She stood in front of him, naked and haughty.
“Why are ye so cold to me, Cameron? We’ve shared many loving nights. I’ve tried to get with child and we’ve been more than zealous in those pursuits. And now, because I’m deficient, ye cast me aside like stale bread,” she said pouting, wrapping her arms around him.
“Gillyanne, we’re finished. Leave once ye’ve made accommodations.” His tone was bland. While they’d shared passions before, now, the only rise she caused in him was his temper and disgust. He was utterly unaffected by her, and that perturbed her.
Although she was physically beautiful, her temperament left much to be desired. She pouted, whined, and was spoiled. She was the very antithesis of Abby, and although he once found Gillyanne attractive, now after having met Abigail, he wasn’t attracted anymore.
“That’s cold, Cameron. Think ye that she could provide what I have provided to ye these many years? She’s five bricks short of a wall, Cameron. She is daft, in the true sense of the word. She’s mousy and insignificant, and absolutely undeserving of yer attentions.” She began rubbing herself against him.
“Gillyanne…” Cameron warned threateningly, moving his body away from hers.
“Come now, Cameron. I know ye want me as much as I want ye,” she said huskily, and brought his head down for a kiss.
Gillyanne ravished his mouth. She pressed herself tightly up against him, moaning. Cameron was pushing Gillyanne away when he saw a movement to his right.
Abby.
He hastily pushed Gillyanne to the side and walked after her.
“Leave her, Cameron. She should know the truth,” Gillyanne yelled.
Cameron looked back and the look on his face stopped Gillyanne cold. He had never used that frigid glare of his on her before. It was cold rage, and
it was frightening.
Abby had dropped the flower as she ran down the corridor. Tears fell down her eyes and everything blurred around her.
She was so dim and naïve. She couldn’t compete with Gillyanne.
Cameron saw the flower on the floor and his heart felt heavy.
“Abby!”
He caught up to her and held her by one arm.
“Abby, we’re no longer involved. I asked her to leave,” Cameron said, not knowing why he explained himself to her. He hadn’t asked for permission or given explanations to anyone for years. He was the damn laird here, and he did as he pleased.
Her tears were his undoing.
She sniffed, catching her breath. Her eyes reflected her pain, and her face was red from embarrassment. “It didn’t l-look l-like it.” Her breaths were shaky.
“Abby,” he began, but stopped when she tried to break free of his grasp. He had done this to her. He had made her upset. He could only imagine what he looked like with a naked Gillyanne before him, kissing him.
“Doona, Abby. She’s leaving. I’ve asked her to leave,” he said, bringing her into his arms. “I’ve asked her to leave,” he repeated into her hair.
Cameron hadn’t been able to get this woman out of his mind since that night years ago. His dreams were filled with her image, good and bad. Just one night so many years ago, and still her vulnerability and innocence called out to him for his protection.
Cameron had never been taken like this with a woman. He had never felt this way for anyone. She was in his blood, in his mind, and in his soul. He hadn’t realized just how much she occupied his thoughts until he had seen her on their wedding day. It made him realize that she had been present in his mind every day since that night.
Cameron kissed her forehead, his hand sinking into her feather-soft hair.
“B-but y-ye must lo-love h-her.”
How wrong she was.
“Why would ye say that?” he asked delicately.
“Why else w-would you k-kiss her wh-when she was unclothed?” Her eyebrows dipped down as she looked up at him.
Cameron almost laughed. She was so innocent that the thought that people could enjoy their bodies without being in love never occurred to her.
Forget Me Not, My Scottish Love (Heart of a Highlander Collection Book 3) Page 7