Page 56 of A Wife for the Highland Wolf
He turned to Emma. “What example did ye set yer younger sister that I’ll have to be wary of crossing?”
The second eldest of the Knox sisters offered him a serene smile. “I simply taught her to choose her words wisely, and that tis easier to win a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent, as so many men are.”
More laughter. Even Hunter only shook his head in commiseration as he leaned over to refill Murdoch’s cup. “Best ye leave it be. I’ve learned nae to argue with her.”
“Och, I’ve wondered where she learned to wield that sharp tongue of hers. Now I ken.” Murdoch shared in the laughter as he met his wife’s eyes.
He nearly choked when Lydia leaned over to whisper in his ear a moment later. “And who should I be thanking for the things ye’ve learned to do with yer tongue?”
Lydia watched Murdoch’s expression change as she sat back in her chair with a sense of satisfaction. She hadn’t minded being teased, but she had no compunction about teasing her husband in turn.
“Saucy wench.” He muttered back to her a moment later, too low for her sisters to hear.
They’d both temporarily forgotten the child between them, until Finn spoke up in his high, cheerful voice. “Saucy wech!”
Silence fell. Time stopped. Then Lydia and Murdoch flushed in unison as laughter exploded from their guests, in counterpoint to Finn’s delighted giggles.
“Murdoch! What have ye been teaching him!” Wilma scolded her cousin around Lydia’s shoulder. “I leave ye alone with the bairn for a month, and he starts talking like that.”
“Twas nae me fault. I was simply answering something Lydia said.” Murdoch pulled a woebegone expression. “She was teasin’ me.”
“Tongue!” Finn piped up, and Lydia felt her blush deepen, turning her cheeks a crimson to rival the roses outside.
Murdoch rose from his seat and lifted his son into his arms. “I think tis time for ye to take yer nap, me braw lad.”
Lydia didn’t miss the heated look, full of promise, that he offered her before he walked away to find the maid who had charge of his son.
Not his son, their son. The thought made Lydia smile, despite her embarrassment.
“Ye look happy.” Isobel reached out to awkwardly touch her hand. “Like ye love the man and the bairn both.”
“I do.” Lydia clasped her sister’s hand. “Though I’ll warn ye now, ye’ll have to be wary of little ears once yer bairn is born.” She smirked. “Ye never ken what they hear, or when they’ll speak of it.”
“So I see.” Isobel smiled back. “So what was it ye said that Finn found so entertaining? I ken the ‘saucy wench’ was Murdoch’s fault, but I dinnae think for a moment ye were blameless, sister, nae with the smile on yer face afore the bairn spoke.”
Lydia felt her face flush yet again. She was still trying to find a response when a warm arm draped around her shoulders, and a familiar voice answered her sister. “Twas naythin'. A request for me to fulfill later in the evening.”
“Murdoch!” Lydia shot a look at her husband as he retook his seat and smiled at her.
“Been demonstrating ye can be a good husband in every way then?” Alex raised a knowing eyebrow. “Ye ken a Knox woman needs to be satisfied in every way for a happy marriage.”
Isobel hissed in outrage at her husband. Murdoch simply sipped from his tankard. “O’ course. Tis why I built Lydia a library. We’ve spent many a night in there, satisfyin’ her desire to learn.”
Lydia choked on the wine she’d been drinking. “Murdoch!”
He leaned over and took her hand. “Relax me dear. Tis all said in laughter and love.”
The warmth in his eyes melted her embarrassment, and Lydia relaxed. “Aye. That it is.”
“A toast.” Alex held up his tankard. “To life and laughter and love, for all the days of our lives.”
The words echoed up and down the table, and Lydia smiled as she raised her cup to chime against her husband’s.
To life and laughter and love, for all the days of our lives.
The End?
