She watched as one hand stroked at her breasts as the other held her waist and she sank back on her knees with the pleasure as he caressed her too with words.
‘I do love you Bridie.’ He never thought he would say those words and truly mean them. ‘ I’m not going to rush you, not till you’re ready…’
‘I’m ready now.’ Her eyes met his and he could deny himself no longer.
‘We have to be careful…’ He told her, for it would be cruel to his new wife if there was already a bairn on their way, but Bridie thought he meant different.
‘Everyone’s asleep and I’m not going to tell…’
‘I meant that you don’t get pregnant.’
‘Oh.’ She had no idea what careful meant, but she didn’t want to show him how little she knew, didn’t want him changing his mind, so she agreed to be careful, whatever that was. ‘We will be.’
He held her wet and shivering in his arms and then he stood and carried her to the vessel. Bridie was used to cold baths but this was warm and he went and stoked the fire and then came back over, knelt beside her and kissed her again.
‘Would you like some more whisky…’ he said, for he could taste it in her kiss.
‘No.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘I want to remember every moment, Laird.’
He was the most beautiful man, tall, muscled, his thighs solid but she averted her eyes as he removed his plaid and climbed in, for though wanting she was scared, nervous and petrified too. As he started to soap her it wasn’t just nerves though that fluttered her pulses, for who knew such strong hands could be so gentle and who knew all the wonderful things they could do.
His mouth was tender too, and sometimes not, for he kissed her breast till the flesh was bruised but it was such a delicious hurt. His shoulders soon bore her teeth marks too as she knelt and leant on him as he soaped her buttocks with one hand and moved to the front with the other, but nerves caught up as his fingers explored her entrance. She was petrified, so tight and resistant as one finger slipped in.
‘Laird…’
‘It’s all right Bridie…’ He was so patient, for he kissed her again, till he felt her relax and slipped his finger in just a little further…
‘Better?’
‘I think so…’ He was stroking her too, till she forgot to be scared and then he put another finger in and stretched her a little, till her breath came shallow and fast on his neck and she could surely no longer kneel. She could feel him hard against her stomach and as she held him for the first time, stroked him she heard his low moan reverberate on her neck and he wanted to lift her onto him, but better that he be gentle for her first time.
And this was her first time, the laird told himself, for she had never been made love to and he would make love to her now, in a tender way that he never had before. He lifted her from the tub to the fire he had stoked and he lay her on the rug and kissed her till she was hot and red and not from the bathwater. Kissed her all over till and was wet and warm and ready.
‘So ready,’ she told him for he was over her, his weight on his elbows she could see his strong muscles and knew the laird would take care.
‘I’ll take it out before….’
‘Before what, Laird?’
She knew nothing.
‘Bridie…’ He should stop and explain things perhaps, except her hands were pressing onto his shoulders and slowly he was stealing in and the sensation of Bridie gripping him had him groan with relief as he filled her.
‘Oh. . .’ She had never felt something could be so nice and she clung onto his shoulders as moved back and then deep within again, felt the heat of intimate friction flare and her hands slid down his broad back to taut buttocks and her fingers started to dig in.
He moved in and out, her tight muscles dragging him in and Bridie was moving with him too now, pushing against him, flaring beneath him.
‘Laird…’
‘Alasdair.’ He said, for here they could be themselves. ‘He was thrusting harder within and, he could not believe what he had unleashed, for beneath him she moved, grinding her heat into him, her mouth sucking on his chest. He had never known a lover like it, there was a deep thrill that he had shown her this pleasure but her unbridled passion had him breathless with restraint.
‘I have to take it out Bridie…’
‘Please don’t,’ she moaned, because it felt incredible, her fingers moved to knot in his hair, her legs wrapped around him her ankles tethering him and she locked him back into their rhythm. ‘Why would you stop, Laird!’ She was sobbing and frenzied. ‘Why would you ever want to stop?’
He felt her pulse around him, tight squeezes that dragged him in deeper and the scream that shot from her lips he hushed with his mouth, and then his palm slid beneath her as her back arched and he closed his eyes to the bliss of her and bucked hard and deep within and then he stilled, felt her intimate flickers but with a groan, with remorse his hand moved and unbuckled her ankles. He lifted out and Bridie watched shocked as he pulsed over her, as he spilled onto her heat and thigh and then his fingers spread his come slowly over her as she shivered and moaned and writhed.
‘That’s why Bridie.’
She had never seen anything more beautiful.
‘I want to feel that within.’
‘You will.’ He told her and he took her to his bed and for the first time they were together under the fur and he told her how it would be, stroked her warm body and spoke with her between kisses.
‘My father had a leman, Bridie.’
‘Miriam?’
‘Aye,’ he had never really understood it but he did now, for he could marry only for McClelland, but he had never once considered he might love. ‘I will look after you and Gracie, I will give our children land…’
‘What about your lady?’ Bridie asked, for it was the ball in just over a week.
‘She’ll understand…’ he thought of Lady Helena. ‘Her father has a leman too.’
Bridie fell asleep in his arms, it was the best sleep but he woke her before sunrise and saw her back to the turret and to her own bed.
‘Carry on as normal for now.’ The Laird told her. ‘You get back to work and you don’t mention this to anyone – it would not be fair on my bride to hear this from anyone but me, but soon it will all be sorted.’
Chapter Twelve
She held her secret to her.
She dressed and smiled at Mrs Moffat, who was so relieved to see Bridie back to her old self again.
‘No, I’ll take the laird his breakfast, Mrs Moffat said. ‘You get on and make some bread.’
And the laird looked up as the door opened and he closed his eyes as she grumbled about her knees and he swore Mrs Moffat knew.
He dressed and surveyed his land and the traps were full and plenty and he could hear the bellow of a stag in the hillside and they would go hunting this afternoon.
But first he headed back to the castle where he was to meet with Lady Catherine’s father. Tomorrow it would be Lady Helena’s father with whom he would talk, for it was a decision that must be carefully made.
‘There’s a woman here asking to speak with you.’ One of his guardsmen approached. ‘Her name is May Douglas, she’s from the Glenbarach castle.’
‘From Glenbarach?’ The Laird frowned, but he nodded and told the Guardsman she could be let through, though he would not be considering Lady Donalda.
‘I am May Douglas.’ She was a stern looking woman with pale blue eyes. ‘Sister to the late Lady Jean.’
And what can I do for you?’ Angus asked, curious as to why Laird Peter had sent a woman to do his work.
‘I am here to discuss my niece.’ He saw her swallow before raising her chin to meet his eye. ‘Lady Glenbarach…’
The Laird took in a breath, thinking of the rotund Donalda who, by custom, must be presented for his consideration.
‘If there is anything to discuss then I will do so with Laird Peter.’ Alasdair clipped, for
he spoke business only with men.
‘I don’t think you understand, my niece is here.’
‘There are no Glenbarachs here,’ Alasdair said, ‘nor will there ever be…’
‘That’s not what one of our men says.’ May stood firm. ‘He saw her with his own eyes, when you brought him here. He swore that he had seen her, that he kissed her hand…’ her voice trailed of, the colour paling from her face as Gracie toddled through, shrieking as Bridie tried to catch her.
‘I’m sorry to disturb you Laird…’ Bridie grinned, hoisting Gracie onto her hip and leaving them. ‘She can run…’
‘Away.’ The Laird dismissed her, wishing now he had not let May in, for all too well he remembered the look of shock on the Glenbarach warrior’s face as Bridie had gone to offer him a drink.
‘He was speaking the truth.’ May’s hands were shaking as she took a small leather pouch out and offered it and after a moment the Laird opened the pouch and looked for a long time at the miniature portrait.
It could just as well be Bridie.
‘The auld Laird Glenbarach had a Frenchman come and do this portrait of his wife, the Lady Jean. She lost her baby daughter sixteen years ago, thought she was stolen by the fairies. But she’s here.’ She gestured toward Bridie. ‘There’s no mistake.’
‘Oh there have been plenty of mistakes!’ The Laird growled. ‘You leave your men behind in battle and your babies to perish by a burn….’
‘What happened is our business, not yours,’ May said, refusing to offer any further explanation.
‘Well it’s my business now.’ Alasdair said. ‘For Bridie lives here.’
‘Which she won’t be for even a moment longer. I am taking her to her home.’
‘We take care of Bridie…’ Alasdair said but he knew it was hopeless. He thought of their plans, of the hope that had shone in Bridie’s eyes and he could not stand the thought of her soul again being broken, but if it had to be, it must come from him. ‘I’ll speak with her.’
‘You will not.’ May said. ‘From the look on your face it’s as if you’re about to tell her she’s heading to her death, when it’s good news. Just wait till she finds out she’s a lady born. Wait till she finds out that she no longer has to sweep your floors and tend your fires.’
And so Bridie was sent for and then taken aside by May and Alasdair stood, listening to the sobs as the news was broken, as she told May all that had happened and how the laird would take care of her. He waited for her to break free and dash to his arms, but it was not Bridie who came over, it was an even more indignant May.
‘You took good care did you? Such good care she was to be married to the simpleton that attacked her, such good care that she tried to take her own life this very morn….’
‘We sorted that.’
‘Aye,’ May said. ‘So my niece told me. You’d take her as your leman!’ She shot Alasdair such a look of such distaste that, for the first time, the strapping Laird felt somewhat small. ‘Shall I pass that on to the Laird of Glenbarach?’
‘Laird…’ Bridie did rush to him then. ‘Please Laird, dinnae send me to Glenbarach.’
‘You’re being taken to your rightful home.’ May was not moved in the least by Bridie’s tears. ‘Och, you’re just like your mother always making a song and dance when there was no need for one. Get your bairn and we’ll go to the carriage.’
‘She needs time to say goodbye,’ Alasdair said, for it was all too soon and too fast. ‘Give her a moment to collect her things.’
‘Things.’ May sniffed and looked at Bridie who stood in her flimsy kirtle, bare foot and with wild untamed hair. ‘I can assure you – there is nothing my niece needs from the McClellands.’ She called for Bridie.’ Come on now child. I’m taking you home.’
Except Bridie put up a fight, and clung to the stone wall till her fingers were bleeding.
‘You’re carrying on like a savage,’ May said, but Bridie wanted to be a savage, wanted to be so awfy that this horrible May would just give in and go home. Go back to Glenbarach and leave her and Gracie alone.
‘Let me speak with her,’ the laird said and in the end May relented a touch and left Bridie and the laird alone.
‘But just for one moment,’ May warned.
He held Bridie by her heaving shoulders, lifted her chin so she must look at him and he did what was right. ‘You will go.’
‘But Laird…’ She begged, ‘you said I could be your leman. You said we’d be together.’
‘It’s not possible now - you’re a lady born, Bridie. You can’t be some laird’s leman.’
‘Well, if I’m a lady….’
‘I need to marry a proper …’ He stopped himself, but it was too late, the words were out and she looked to him and as she did the last ray of hope died in her eyes, for it was hopeless. It wasn’t just a titled lady that the laird needed, it was elegance and beauty and the joining of lands and more than that there was centuries of history that dictated the decision he must so carefully make.
‘I want to stay here with my family.’ She pleaded and it tore right through to his soul, but he had to stay firm.
‘We’re not your family, Bridie.’ His hands let her go. ‘You’re a Glenbarach.’
She felt as if she were being ripped away from all she loved.
Bridie looked back to the castle and the loch as the carriage pulled her away and then, when it was gone from sight, she stared to the mountains but May would have none of it.
‘I’ll not accept your silence for long, lassie.’
Bridie was shown into the Glenbarach Castle and there waiting to greet her was Laird Peter, who she had just found out was her brother.
He seemed so much older and Bridie tried to guess at his age as he introduced himself.
‘And you’ve a sister, Donalda.’ Peter said and then looked over Bridie’s shoulder. ‘Ah, here she is now.’
There was a very angry looking woman walking towards them. ‘Donalda, this is…’ But he didn’t get to finish, for Donalda turned and stalked off. ‘She’s upset.’ Peter explained. ‘’She’ll come around. It’s all been a bit of shock to everyone and no more than to you…’ He was actually very kind, but he was a man who did not fight alongside his men, Bridie reminded herself and stood bristling, except his eyes were green, the same green as hers, the same as the auld Laird’s too, Peter said and she looked at the portraits on the walls, saw for the first time her parents’ images.
‘That’s my mother?’
Peter nodded. ‘She died when you would have been one, she never got over what happened to you and our father died a few years later.’ Peter coughed and wheezed it was all to clear that this was upsetting him and so Bridie did not ask any more for a moment. As slowly Peter got his breath back it was clear now why he didn’t ride alongside his men, for he’d slow then down in battle. She looked to the man who she’d been raised, but not born, to loathe and she knew in her heart that he was her brother. ‘You’re in your rightful place…’ Peter said. ‘You’ve endured enough.’
Except she hadn’t endured, but May would have none of it and all too soon Bridie was sitting in a bath, a warm one and the water was scented and Gracie was being bathed too.
‘Look at your hands!’ May tutted as she turned them over. They were grazed from her protests at leaving McClelland, but May seemed more concerned with the roughness of them and the state of her nails. ‘And your freckles.’ May shuddered and her lips nearly disappeared as Bridie climbed out of the bath, for she saw the hand marks on Bridie’s bottom.
Aye, she was just like her mother!
May looked at her wild niece that must be tamed but her eyes did soften when they landed on Gracie.
‘She looks like your mother did as a bairn.’
‘Mrs Moffat said she looked like I did.’ Bridie held Gracie close. ‘She was born too small, the Laird saved her….’
‘The Laird did not save her,’ May corrected. ‘He asked for help from the Glenbarachs - you can
thank your family that your bairn lived.’
‘What was my mother like?’ Her whole life she had wondered and now she would know. ‘Tell me,’ Bridie begged, for she ached now to hear.
‘I was nine when she was born and there was never a more bonny lassie. She charmed whoever she met, even the laird – he caused such a scandal marrying beneath himself, but he was smitten.’
Bridie just sat; May was combing the knots out of her hair as she told her what had happened.
‘There was another side to her though,’ and Bridie swallowed as she felt the comb still in her hair. ‘For all the times she was happy followed the dark days when she was sad, for all the laughs, and there were many, then came tears. After she had Peter she took to her bed for a very long time, it was the same with Donalda. I was supposed to come when you were born, I knew what she could be like.’ She let out a sigh of frustration. ‘Och, I’m not explaining myself well.’
‘No,’ Bridie said. ‘I understand.’ She did, for she had taken to her bed too.
‘You were a wee bit early and I lived in Edinburgh then. It’s a long journey, so while they were waiting for me to get here, the laird had Rosemary, a wise women, come to sit with her. Except she didnae.’
Bridie turned her head around at the sudden venom in May’s voice. ‘One of the staff was having a baby and was in trouble. Your mother was smiling and laughing and seemed happy enough, so Rosemary left your mother and went to her. She was told!’ May said. ‘She was told not to leave your mother, but she didnae listen.’ Even all these years on May still shook with rage. ‘And your mother looked out and saw the beautiful day that it was, saw that the sun was shining and so she decided to take you for a walk. She should never have been left alone. I arrived in Glenbarach to the news that your mother was missing and so too were you. We were all frantic, searching for the two of you and then your mother returned, but alone…’ And Bridie clung hard to Gracie. ‘She didn’t know what she’d done, she didn’t even know what she was saying. Your father was shaking her, asking where you were but she just kept smiling and, when pushed, she said maybe the fairies had taken you. We searched for you lassie, we were out for days searching, but you were gone and slowly your mother realised what she had done…’ May wiped tears from the back of her cheeks. ‘I had to stay with her all the time, she was always wandering off, trying to get out of the castle, trying to find you…’ It was Bridie cuddling May, now instead of the other way around. ‘I dinnae expect you to understand or forgive her…’
Bedded by the Laird (Highland Warriors) Page 7