Page 56 of A Scot for Bethan
“Do you…”
Cameron paused. He sounded unusually hesitant and, forgetting her fatigue a moment, Bethan lifted herself onto one elbow to look at him. “What is it?” Had she missed something tonight? It had seemed to her he was getting on well with everyone. Was she mistaken?
“Are you sure you want to come live in Scotland,mo chridhe? You seem so happy here.”
She smiled, loving him for this question which must have cost him. What if she told him she didn’t want to leave Wales? He was laird, he could not leave his clan, even supposing he’d wanted to settle in Wales. And yet he was giving her the option of remaining in her country. But she would not take it.
“I am happy here. But it’s never really been my home. I want to build my home, with you in Nead an Diabhail, not here in Castell Esgyrn. I’m not a young girl anymore, forced to accept friends’ charity but a married woman of some means, and about to become a mother. I want my own place. Scotland is just perfect for that.” She landed a hand on her husband’s muscular chest and started to stroke it with sensual gestures. “Besides, there is something in Nead an Diabhail that I hold very dear, something I would miss too much if I came back to live in Wales, something delicious to eat.”
The growl in her ear sent shivers down her spine. “Stop talking and touching me thus, wife, or I’ll feed that delicious thing to you now, exhausted or not.”
She looked at him, careful to appear full of hope. “Oh, you mean you’ve brought oats all the way here? Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“Oats?” The look of bewilderment on her husband’s face was priceless. “What the devil are you talking about?”
“Why, porridge, of course, which is utterly delicious, and has become one of my favorite things to eat to break my fast,” she answered innocently. “What areyoutalking about?”
Cameron flopped back down onto the bed with a groan. “Minx. You’ll be the death of me.”
Bethan took pity on him. “I’m tired now, but I swear, tomorrow morning, you can feed me anything you want, as long as it’s Scottish.” Her fingers closed around his shaft, which was already half-hard.
“Aye, well, every inch of me is as Scottish as it comes.”
“Excellent. I can’t wait.”
“My laird. Welcome back.”
“I thank you. Though I am not alone,” Cameron said calmly, removing his gloves. “I have brought my wife with me. Please welcome Lady Campbell.”
“Wife?”
“You’re married?
Bethan couldn’t help a smile at the incredulity in the men’s voices. During the ride back home, she and Cameron had decided on the best way to tell the clan about their laird’s recent wedding and had concluded that surprise would be the best option. He had taught her the Gaelic she needed to understand what he would tell the men upon arrival so that she would know when to step out of the shadows.
She did as arranged, keeping the right side of her face hidden by the hood of her cloak. She had learned her lesson the hardway in Wales, and knew she needed to warn the people who knew her before revealing her face.
When they recognized her for Dougal’s former betrothed, the men stared, struck speechless. Angus took a step back, and Hamish’s eyes were in danger of bugging out of his face. Alone, Murdo didn’t appear shocked. His mouth set in a smirk, he said something to Cameron in Gaelic, unaware that after two months of intense tutelage, she now had a passing understanding of the language.Why am I not surprised?she thought he’d said. She reddened. Had he known about her and Cameron? Apparently so.
In any case, even if he had not suspected anything in the summer, he would be forced to see that this wedding had not been a whim when he saw her stomach. She was now entering her last term, which explained the leisurely pace they had traveled from Wales, and it showed. Or at least it would when she removed her heavy fur cloak.
“My lady!” Angus exclaimed. She couldn’t help a smile. Finally, he had every right to call her that. “You really married the laird?”
“I certainly did.”
“Lucky bugger,” she heard Murdo mutter between his teeth. The fact that he’d spoken loud enough for her to hear—and in English—indicated that he’d intended for her to understand what he’d said. She couldn’t help a smile. Despite an unpromising start, she had come to like the gruff man, who was loyal and honest to a fault.
“Aye. I’m a very lucky bugger,” Cameron said, drawing her to his side and placing a hand on her stomach. The evocative gesture exposed its rounded shape to all present. “And soon to be twice as lucky.”
The hall erupted in congratulations and well wishes. No one seemed to mind that this babe had obviously been conceivedbefore the wedding vows had been spoken. This homecoming was perfect, just what she had wished for.
“And Bethan now has a scar on her face,” Cameron carried on. Such a matter-of-fact declaration. He could just as well have said: she now owns a second red gown. Bethan’s insides melted in tenderness. How she loved this man, who always knew how to put her at ease. “Should anyone make her feel uncomfortable about it, they will soon find themselves sporting the same one on both cheeks, courtesy of my sword. Am I clear?”
“Aye!”
Thinking it best to get this over with, she removed the hood of her cloak and almost burst out laughing when no one so much as blinked. Cameron’s fierceness had its advantages, it seemed.
While everyone went back to their tasks, she drew Angus and Murdo to one side, oddly intimidated. There was something she needed to tell them.
