Page 49 of The Beast's Bride
Una tittered, and Malcolm gave a snort that might have been a laugh.
Rhona inhaled sharply, noting that Taran’s fingers had clenched around the bone hilt of the knife he’d been using to cut himself a wedge of cheese.
“He’s not the husband I’d have chosen for her, Budge,” MacLeod growled. He looked up from his pie, his iron-grey gaze baleful as it swiveled to Taran. “But in the end, Rhona got what she deserved.”
“They’re well suited then,” Aonghus Budge replied.
Rhona raised her goblet to her lips and took a measured sip of wine. After last night’s over indulgence, she was wary of drinking too much. Across the table, she met Adaira’s eye. Her sister wore a pained expression.
Chieftain Budge helped himself to another wedge of pie, before he glanced at Adaira. Like the night before, she’d been seated next to him. “I see ye are very different to yer willful sister, Lady Adaira. Mild-mannered and biddable.”
Adaira raised her gaze and gave him a startled look. She opened her mouth to reply, but her father cut her off. “Aye, she’s a good lass … a credit to her sire. A daughter who has always known her place.”
Rhona watched her sister’s slender jaw tense. Irritation flared in her hazel eyes. “I admire my sister,” Adaira said, her voice so low it was barely above a whisper. However, it carried down the table. “I wish I had her spirit.”
Rhona cast Adaira a grateful smile.
But her sister’s comment hadn’t pleased their father. “Save yer admiration for those who warrant it,” Malcolm replied with a scowl.
Chapter Twenty-two
True Secrets
“I CAN’T BEAR it.” Rhona finished unbraiding her hair and turned away from the window. Outside the long twilight was drawing out. The sky to the west had turned dusky, promising another warm day to come. It had been the hottest summer Rhona could ever remember. “How long will he continue to insult us?”
“For as long as it suits him,” Taran replied. Like her, he was readying himself for bed. He had just unlaced his heavy mail shirt and was shrugging it off. “Best to ignore it. He’ll get bored eventually.”
Rhona met his eye. “I wish we could go away from here.”
Taran’s gaze clouded. “And I wish I had a broch we could live in … unfortunately though, my father was the youngest of five brothers.”
“But we could go to live amongst yer kin at Dunan?”
Taran huffed. “I left my birthplace for a reason. The MacKinnon clan-chief makes yer father look like a lamb.”
Rhona heaved a sigh. “So, we’re trapped here then.” She stepped behind the screen in the corner of the chamber and began to undress. Despite the intimacy they’d already shared, she felt shy around her husband. She wasn’t used to sharing her space with a man; all her life she’d only ever slept in the same chamber as her sisters. The newness of it put her on edge.
Disrobing, she donned a long linen léine. She emerged from behind the screen to find Taran had stripped down to plaid hose and a sleeveless tunic. He then climbed into bed.
Rhona hesitated. “Do ye not sleep naked?”
The look he gave her was almost pained. “Aye … usually.”
“So why don’t ye undress?”
His gaze met hers across the chamber. Excitement fluttered under Rhona’s ribcage. The day had seemed long, and although all of this was new to her, she’d found herself looking forward to seeing Taran naked again.
His throat bobbed. “I bedded ye last night because it was necessary,” he replied quietly, “to save us both a beating. But things are different now. I told ye this morning I wanted to woo ye … and so I shall.”
Rhona swallowed. “Didn’t ye enjoy it?”
His face tightened. “Aye, very much.” His voice had a rasp to it now. “I just want us to get to know each other properly, before I bed ye again.”
Rhona inclined her head, her gaze narrowing. She had never heard of the like: what husband acted this way?
Taran moved over and patted the mattress next to him. “Come to bed, Rhona. Let us talk.”
Body tense, she padded over to the bed and climbed in next to him. “What about?” She knew he was just trying to be kind, respectful. Yet a part of her was disappointed. Last night he’d given her a taste of something she now found herself hungry for.
