The Scotsman Who Saved Me
Page 27
Emily was ready to sleep by the time all of Iain’s brothers marched in and stared at the girl as if she was a mirage. “Did you never have a girl child born?”
“Sure, a lot of them in the broader clan but nay in our wee family. We had eight uncles and each of them got wed and had sons. The uncles claimed all they had had was uncles, too, and their father before them and on back. What is her name?”
“Nuala,” Iain said. “Nuala Isbeal MacEnroy.” All the brothers nodded solemnly as if giving him the last permission he needed to name his child after their mother.
Matthew reached out and lightly stroked the surprising mop of pale blond hair the child had. “Do ye think she will have your eyes, Iain, or yours, Emily?”
“She should have the Stanton steel eyes.” The duke winked at Emily. “Emily softened them a bit but I forgive her. She is beautiful.” He lightly touched the child’s hair. “You did good.”
Emily laughed but knew she would be falling asleep soon. By the time Iain cleared out the room she was barely able to keep her eyes open. Iain lay down beside her and kissed her cheek, then kissed little Nuala’s.
“Thank ye, love. Thank ye for this precious gift.”
“It is a gift to myself, too. I just hope I do not have to work so hard for any other gifts. It pleased your brothers that you named her after your mother.”
“Aye. It has been a long time since a MacEnroy son could honor his mither in such a way. Shall I put her in her cradle?”
Emily stared at her child for a moment, kissed the top of her head, and handed her over to her father. She watched as Iain put the child in the cradle. Nuala Isbeal MacEnroy was going to need a dragon for a mother because every male in the family would be putty in her tiny hands. When Iain got back in bed, Emily curled up in his arms.
“I love ye, Emily Stanton,” Iain whispered against her ear.
“A whole lot?”
“Ye cannae measure it.”
“Enough to change her nappies all the time?”
He lifted his head to stare at her and, even though her eyes were closed, she was smiling. “Wretched woman. Nay. Some of the time, as when ye have a raging fever or a broken leg.”
Emily tucked her face up against his neck, muttered something about it being worth a tr y, and fell asleep. Iain looked down at her and smiled. She was not very big but she could do mighty things. His brothers loved her like the sister they had never been blessed with and he was not sure she even realized that.
He looked toward the cradle to see his daughter sleeping and glanced up at the ceiling with a grin. If any woman had deserved the honor of having her name carried on it had been his mother. She had been both fierce when necessary and gentle when needed. He planned to see their daughter learned the same.
He called a duke by his Christian name and had a nephew who might become a duke.
He had conquered the enemy, insane fool that he was. Married a woman he loved. And still had his brothers at his side, annoying though they could be. All in all, he thought as he let sleep creep over him, he had had a great couple of years and, with Emily at his side, he planned on having many more.