Page 13 of The Laird's Unwanted Wife
His finger pressed delicately against her lips, sending a wave of heat throughout her body. Aileen was about to lose all feeling in her legs, forcing Gerald’s arm to once more find its way around her hip.
She still wanted to lurch away, fight free as she had when Carswell had practically ripped her away from his sister. Blinking furiously, Aileen found Gerald’s gaze once more, the soft flecks of gold bringing some calm to her rising panic.
“It’s Gerald,” he reminded her, easing her into a nearby chair. “Ye havin’ great trouble rememberin’ that. But it has been a long journey to get here. When ye’ve regained the sense in yer legs, go and take yerself to yer room. We have to discuss wedding details for tomorrow’s ceremony, and I daenae need ye groggy.”
As Gerald made his way back to his desk, Aileen did her best to process everything—the touch of his finger against her lips, the protective grasp around her waist. Even now, her skin tingled at the absence of his touch, and she found herself unable to raise her gaze to meet him.
The glances she managed revealed he’d sat back down at his desk and dug around the drawers, producing a roll of linen that he began to wrap around his arm. The sharp scent of poultice still lingered in the air, and Aileen couldn’t help but squirm slightly in her seat.
It was only a few minutes later, when she’d found her legs and managed to close the study’s door behind her, that the rest of Gerald’s sentence finally hit her.
“Wait! Did he just say we’re to be wed tomorrow?”
7
Aileen hardly slept a wink that night. There were so many circumstances that led to this. Though Gerald had been kind enough to give the sisters a room and bed to share, and though her hand remained around Mollie for the entire time—to ensure the previous day hadn’t been a dream and that her sister, in fact, lay softly snoring beside her still—Aileen found her mind far too noisy to sleep.
The bed was incredible, and the sight of gentle snowfall dancing across the window was soothing indeed. But regardless, Aileen found herself staring wide-eyed around the room, Gerald’s declaration playing on repeat in her mind.
‘We have to discuss wedding details for tomorrow’s ceremony.’
Tomorrow. Did he really want to get married tomorrow? Aileen let out a gentle sigh through her nose, rolling onto her side as her gaze lingered on Mollie’s form. The little girl had been deadasleep for hours, buried beneath cozy layers of blankets while Bannock lightly dozed on her opposite side.
Aileen’s hand gently brushed her sister’s hair away from her face, the slight pink in her cheeks still present well after her bath. “Suppose if he does wish to be wed tomorrow,” she said. “I hardly have the right to say otherwise.”
And yet, as the sun finally rose above the snow-covered hills and the Hughes sisters joined the Laird of MacLiddel for breakfast, Aileen found herself doing just that. “Gerald, is there any particular reason ye wish us to be married so quickly?”
Gerald nodded curtly, digging a fork into a slice of white pudding. “Daenae see any reason we should delay it. The sooner it happens, the sooner I gain control over Marcus’ territory. And the sooner all the fightin’ and riots can come to an end.”
Aileen grimaced slightly, glancing Mollie’s way in hopes the little girl hadn’t been paying attention to their conversation. She had nothing to worry about, as her sister was still completely enamored with the large array of dishes spread out across the table. Her hands had long grown sticky after sampling several fruits, with the occasional slice of meat being dropped down for Bannock to immediately inhale.
“Leelee, Leelee!” Mollie held up a butter-smeared scone, her eyes wide and her smile infectious! “Look! It’s tattie scones! They have tattie scones here!”
Aileen offered a sweet nod, glancing up to catch the bemused look on Gerald’s face. “The Laird of Carswell didnae like the flavor of them. Something about being too rich for his gut.”
Mollie made a sour face, immediately shoving the entire scone into her mouth. She chewed noisily, turning to Gerald as well and swallowing loudly. “Did ye say ye’re marryin’ me sister today?”
Shoot. Then shewaspaying attention.
Gerald nodded once more, though it was far more relaxed. “Aye. Ye daenae mind it, do ye, Mollie?”
“Oh, nay!” Mollie squealed. “Ye’re a lot nicer than that other laird. But, is Sarah goin’ to be able to come?”
Another curious look was tossed Aileen’s way by the Laird. “She was one of the maids who worked for our family,” Aileen explained. “She was moved to a different keep when Mollie and I went to Carswell’s.”
“Could ye point to it on a map?” Gerald asked.
This took Aileen genuinely by surprise. “Ye … ye mean ye’ll bring her?”
“I cannae make any promises,” Gerald warned. “But I daenae see the harm in trying. After breakfast, I’ll have Rory send a fewscouts to check the keep. It may nae be as bad as Marcus’ main castle, but …”
Aileen swallowed, staring down at her own plate. She could only hope that the main castle had been the only one overrun by such terrible chaos.
“Suppose that means we shouldnae be married today,” Gerald added, looking somewhat annoyed. “Still, an extra two days willnae make a difference. And it’ll give me time to send letters to the other major lairds of the newest developments.”
“Och! That means I can make ye a pretty dress, Leelee!” Mollie squealed. Before Aileen could reply, her sister immediately hopped down from her chair and started toward the doors, Bannock hot on her tail.
“Not just yet, wee one!” A younger maid managed to grab Mollie under the arms as Ms. Blair stepped out from the corner of the dining room. “Ye willnae run about this keep with such jammy hands. Into the bath with ye, and we’ll be going to town to buy ye a wardrobe before ye think of making anything for anyone else.”
