Page 37 of Plaid Attitude
Anyhow, her mouth snapped shut and her eyes narrowed.
She didn’twantto lead the clan because she’d married a man and given birth to a son. Shewantedto lead the clan because she deserved it, by the Virgin!
But…
Doughall’s bairn.
Herbairn, created with Doughall, by the bliss they’d just shared.
She’d never, ever wanted to be a mother, but… She swallowed.A bairn.
Why did she not hate that idea?
“Coira…” He didn’t so much say her name as sigh it, pulling her back down to rest beside him. “I ken ye never considered being a wife and mother, but ye have to admit, ye share a bond with Bessetta. She came to ye when she needed advice, and ye didnae hesitate.”
Her voice was strangled when she tried to defend herself. “Because I love her.”
“Aye, and she loves ye.” He blew out a breath and squeezed her briefly. “Ye’re the leader the Oliphants deserve, the leader they need.Yeken it, and yer sisters ken it. Hellfire, half the clan kens it.”
She kept silent.
“But, love…” His hand was stroking her hip comfortingly. “This—a marriage with a legitimate bairn—is one way to make yer da understand it.”
“Yewantto be laird?” She scowled at him. “’Tis what the ultimatum means, aye? That myhusbandwould become laird!”
He stilled and stared at her for a long moment. When he spoke, his words were careful. “Do ye honestly and truly—after all the years we’ve kenned one another—think I seek glory like that?”
She blew out a breath and dropped her gaze to his mouth, since ‘twas easier than meeting his eyes. “Nay,” she muttered, “but ye are a good leader.” Hewas.
“Look at me, Coira,” he commanded, and reluctantly she dragged her gaze upwards again. “Yeare who this clan needs. Nae matter what the future brings, ye can trust that I’ll be beside ye as long as ye’ll allow, in whatever capacity, just as I always have been.”
He…was right.
For years, since she’d begun to shoulder more of her father’s responsibility, Doughall had been there. As Commander, he’d met with her almost daily, discussing everything from trade routes to troop rotations to planned castle improvements. And he’d never once made her feel less than intelligent and capable.
And how had she repaid him? “I’m sorry,” she rasped, her vision going blurry with tears. “I’ve treated ye puirly.”
“Nay, love.” He kissed her once, gently. “I saw yer anger and understood ‘twasnae for me.”
“It wasnae.” She was the one to stretch to kiss him this time. “I’m sorry.”
“I’ve always admired ye, and I was thrilled when Bess came to ye for advice, Coira. If she grew up to be half the person ye are, I’d consider myself lucky as her da.”
Person. Nothalf the woman, buthalf the person. He saw her as an equal.
Slowly, Coira’s lips curled into a smile.
“Aye, ‘tis what I wanted to see.” He kissed her again, then his lips trailed across her jaw. “Now, let us see if we can make ye smile more, eh?”
Breathless, she rolled onto her back, offering him easier access to that sensitive spot under her jaw. “What did ye have in mind?”
His grin was wicked as he cupped one of her breasts and squeezed the nipple. “I’m naked in yer bed, Lady Coira Oliphant, and under strict orders to make ye rest tonight. I’m planning on wearing ye out.”
She arched into his touch and gasped, “Do yer worst!”
“Gladly,” he hummed as he lowered his mouth to her skin.
Chapter 7
