Page 35 of The Laird's Unwanted Wife
“They’re going to be such a handful when they get older,” Katie mused as the double doors closed behind them.
“Older? I’d say they’re quite the handful now,” Hector grumbled, though his smile was plain as day.
“Imagine, our own keep will soon be just as noisy,” Alison chuckled.
“Nothin’ we cannae handle, love,” Duncan replied, taking his wife’s hand and placing a gentle kiss between the knuckles.
Aileen dared a glance at Gerald’s way, feeling quite left out herself. She hated to put a name to it, but ‘jealously’ was certainly present in her mind after watching happy couple after happy couple pass through her home. She cleared her throat loudly, Sarah’s encouraging words fueling her to do something at last. “I do hope Mollie takes heed of me warning. Ms. Blair will hardly allow those wee pixies to ransack her kitchen once breakfast is over.”
Gerald only offered a nod, spooning a portion of porridge into his bowl.
Aileen repressed the urge to grimace, injecting more warmth into her growing, bubbly tone. “It’s a shame I didnae get to meet all of Lady MacKimmon’s family. Perhaps, once we settle the matters of my brither, and the late Laird MacGunn’s territory, we could plan to visit the MacKimmons at their castle?”
“Oh, I would love that!” Katie interjected, her own smile somewhat forced at the obvious, growing tension in the air. “Dear, do ye think we could arrange that? It would be nice to have the Lady of MacLiddel visit our home, especially after she so graciously hosted us at such short notice.”
“I daenae see why nae,” Hector replied. “So long as Gerald can pull himself out of his work.” He flashed a knowing smirk at Gerald, who only offered a shrug in reply and continued to eat his breakfast.
The knots in Aileen’s stomach tightened; why couldn’t she and Gerald be as witty and flirtatious? She allowed herself a drinkfrom her ale, gulping at least half of it before blurting out, “I suppose I could travel meself! With the Laird so obviously busy, I’m certain he wouldnae mind his lady travelingalonethroughout the Highlands?”
The dining room went deathly quiet, everyone staring Gerald’s way with bated breath. Aileen knew very well she had just poked the beast, but frustration had begun to override her personal anxieties.
At this point, she would accept him scolding her before the other lairds and ladies than this unbearable silence. She needed some form of reaction from him. She needed to know she meantsomethingto him.
Gerald carefully set his spoon against his bowl, wiping his beard of porridge before grasping his own cup of ale. “If that’s what ye wish, wife. I’ll be certain to keep Mollie safe while ye’re gone.”
It was like he’d stabbed her in the chest with a knife. Trembling, Aileen slowly stood from her seat, determined not to show her disappointment in her voice, or to allow tears to form in her eyes. Instead, she mumbled something about feeling unwell and started for her room, fighting the urge to break into a sprint.
Gerald hid his face behind his cup as Aileen left the breakfast room. The ale ran bitter across his tongue, and as he finally lowered the goblet back to the table, he found the other ladies quickly moving from their chairs to go and follow after his wife.
“Apologies, Hector,” Katie began.
“We really should see if she’s all right,” Alison added.
Both their respective husbands offered their own version of assurance, and as their wives hurried after the Lady of MacLiddel, their attentions immediately turned to Gerald, both equally shooting an assortment of daggers his way. Gerald grimaced but stared down at his plate, trying to find interest in eating what remained.
“What inGod'sname was that, Gerald?” Hector snapped, his irritation more than obvious in his voice. “Ye treat yer man-at-arms with such disrespect?”
“Man-at-arms?” Duncan asked, visibly taken aback. “I thought she was his wife.”
“She is! I mean, sheshouldbe.” Hector pointed an accusatory finger at Gerald’s way, growling between each sentence he managed to spit out. “This fool’s convinced himself that he doesnae need to get personal with her, and look how that turned out!”
Duncan frowned, pushing his plate aside. “Obviously, I shouldnae trust the two of ye alone. What sort of dribble did ye fill his head with last night, Hector?”
“I didnae do any?—”
“Enough.” Gerald’s command was emphasized by the stab of his breakfast knife into the table. Both lairds quieted, though their expressions still clearly depicted their disappointment and their frustration. “Me personal life is nae any of yer businesses. How I handle me wife is me decision, and if I daenae wish to be as personal as the pair of ye, that is me choice.”
“Daenae wish to be!” Duncan blinked, looking completely aghast. “Gods, is that how we sounded before?”
“Daenae ask me,” Hector grumbled. “I never kept Katie at such a distance.”
Gerald raised a brow to that.
“Gerald, we’re nae tryin’ to tell ye how to handle yer marriage,” Duncan began. “I ken Aileen’s bloodline may be causing a few personal problems?—”
“It doesnae—” Gerald interrupted curtly.
“But regardless if I’m right or nae,” Duncan cut off as well, irritation clear in his tone. “This new alliance of ours willnae work if we arenae a united front. Not just between us lairds, but with our ladies as well.” His tone softened as he leaned back in his chair, his arms crossing loosely over his chest. “Aileen seems willin’ to put her past aside and work toward the future we want. If ye two cannae be together on that, what was the point of marrying her?”
