Page 22 of Kilted Seduction
Aedan scowled back. “Ye cannae be serious.”
“And why would I nae be?”
“We’re supposed tae be married. Married couples share a bed.”
Thora folded her arms and gazed back at him with what he was coming to recognize as her ‘I’m not giving in, and nothing you say will change my mind’ expression. “Nae always. Nae even among villagers. Me parents didnae share when there was an argument between them, or me maither was on her moon times.”
“Ye cannae expect me tae sleep on the ground every night we’re here.”
“Even so… what sort o’ laird or lover would ye be, tae begrudge yer new spouse the comfort o’ the bed when she’s ailing?”
“If ye’re ailing, then I’m a pup, rather than a man.”
“And who said I would tell ye if I were? Ye saw fer yerself how I was faring with the cold. I could be after tryin’ tae hide some other ailment, and only just informed ye. Or… I havememoon cycle.”
“Och, ye’re prickly enough tae be in the midst o’ one, sure enough.” Aedan fought back the urge to snarl. He wanted to refuse, but he was tired of arguing. Right at the moment, he wanted to rest. If he had to rest on the ground, then so be it.
With a low growl of annoyance, he gave in. “Have it yer way then. But I want at least two o’ the blankets.” He might have to sleep on the hard ground, but he wasn’t going to freeze to death as well.
“O’ course.”
Aedan muttered some words. The narrow look Thora gave him made it quite clear she’d heard him. He grabbed two of the blankets and some of the pillows, pulled them off the bed, then rolled himself into an improvised bedroll on the rug. It wasn’tperfect, but it was better than the rocks he’d slept on at times when he was on patrol. “Are ye sleeping?”
“I dinnae ken.”
“If ye dinnae, see I’m awake in two candle-marks. I want tae go down and make sure Mac is settled in well afore the feast taenight.”
“I’ll make sure ye’re awake.” With that soft assurance, Aedan was content.
He made himself as comfortable as possible, then closed his eyes.
He was asleep before he’d counted to twenty in his head.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Acandle-mark and a half of rest in a warm room did much to revive Thora’s spirits. So did the fact that Aedan had been as good as his word. She’d been half-afraid he would press the matter of their sleeping arrangements further than he had.
She was being… difficult. Perhaps even a little unreasonable. She knew that. After all, she was the one who had insisted on the ‘married couple’ ruse. She shouldn’t be so hesitant about some of the things it would require, such as sharing a bed.
The problem was, she simply hadn’t thought about it. And she hadn’t shared a bed with anyone save her twin sister - and not even that, for many years. Not since they’d both passed into the first blush of womanhood. The idea of sharing a bed with a man made her stomach churn with nerves.
The idea of sharing her bed with Aedan Cameron, the handsome laird she was coming to admire, perhaps even desire, was even more terrifying. She didn’t dare let him be so close to her, noteven to ensure their ruse was believable. She was terrified that if she did so, eventually her control over herself would slip. She would do or say something she shouldn’t.
At best, if that happened, she would cross a line that could never be erased - a line where she surrendered her virtue, or possibly her heart. At worst, she would do or say something that would reveal the lie of her identity to him. Any of those scenarios was unacceptable.
“I’m going tae speak tae Mac. Ye should use the time tae prepare fer the feast. We’ll be expected tae join the rest o’ the guests in a candle-mark or so.” Aedan’s low voice startled her out of her thoughts.
He was already dressed in the clothing he would wear to the feast - clean shirt, kilt, sash, high stockings and boots, with his hair tied neatly back. His sword belt was slung around his waist, knotted with the blue peace cords and the green and red supplementary cords that showed all that he intended no harm. It was customary, but it made Thora feel slightly uneasy.
Then again, she was sure that, like any other laird, he would have more knives than just his eating knife and his ceremonial boot dirk on his person. If worse came to worst, he was unlikely to be completely helpless.
He was also still waiting for her reply. “Aye. I’ll dae that.”
“I’ll return shortly.” He offered her a quick dip of the head as a courtesy, then slipped out the door. Thora waited until he was gone, then went to look through the dresses she’d brought.
Rhiannon had done a superb job of providing a number of dresses, from casual day wear to feasting gowns, all in Yule appropriate colors that suited Thora’s complexion. Even though she’d helped with a good part of the preparations, Thora was still moderately surprised at how much the seamstress had accomplished.
She chose a gown of pale green, embroidered with darker green leaves of holly and red berries around the cuffs and the hem. It wasn’t the fanciest gown in the chest, but it would do for the evening. She selected a clean chemise to go with it, then an underdress of a soft off-white, which would serve to highlight her pale skin and make the colors look more vivid.
