Page 50 of The Laird's Unwanted Wife
“Aye, ye’re probably right, selkie.” Arthur quickly moved ahead of the ladies, with Gerald lingering a touch behind. He managed a glance Aileen’s way and, feeling embarrassed, Aileen found herself looking away just as quickly. She watched as the lairds entered the castle next, her heart still racing at her husband’s implications.
“They’re something special, aye?” Olivia giggled lightly.
Aileen nodded, uncertain where her gaze should be.
“I promise I willnae bite!” Olivia insisted. “I would love us to be friends, Aileen, instead of ye seeing me as this untouchable force of nature.”
Again, Aileen nodded, doing her best to meet Olivia’s eyes. Gods, but she positively radiated with confidence; it was no wonder the Laird of MacDonnell had taken to her so quickly. “Ye … just seem so certain of yerself, is all. Laird MacDonnell treats ye with such respect, and ye daenae seem to alter yerself around him.”
Olivia’s giggling bubbled into laughter. “Oh, nay. Ye should have seen us when we first met. I was plum terrified of him—forbade him from layin’ a single hand on me!”
Aileen’s own laughter came from a far more awkward place.
“It took a few disasters to bring us closer together,” Olivia admitted. “And I had to force meself to tear down walls I’d built up over the years. Then, he did the same, and now …” Her sentence trailed off, a dreamy look passing by her eyes.
“Did …” Aileen hesitated briefly before asking. “Did ye ever think he wouldnae see ye as his wife? Or did ye ever fear he’d grow to resent ye? Or what if ye always saw him as a stranger ye were stuck with?”
Olivia offered a sympathetic smile. “It’s nae an easy life we walk. I cannae say for certain what will and willnae come to pass between ye two.” She tightened her grasp around Aileen’s arm, her smile widening considerably. “But I ken I got through it with the help of the other ladies. And ken that ye, too, have a place among us as friends. I mean, who else can exactly understand what we’re going through?” She added with a laugh.
Aileen’s own smile felt more genuine this time around.
“I can say he certainly cares for ye, as an outside observer. And he obviously adores yer sister, which honestly, would have been an absolute deal breaker for any of us.” Olivia put a skip in her step, filling Aileen’s chest with a child-like giddiness. “Ye just have to remain open to him, Aileen. He’s certain to do the same. And, if he ever gets under yer skin …” She added with a wink. “Ye can always rely on yer fellow ladies to sympathize with ye.”
Aileen had no idea how much she truly needed to hear that. “Thank ye, Lady MacDonnell. I truly appreciate yer friendship.”
“It’s Olivia to ye,” Olivia teased, only to let out a laugh once more. “Oh, nay. Is this how the others felt when they first saw me? I’ll have to write and thank them once more for their own companionship.” She snapped her fingers, her expression brightening.
“Oh! Ye ken, when this business with Carswell is over, ye should come visit me keep! Arthur will have his hands full dealing with some unruly smaller clans, and I’d love to show me new lady friend the seaside. Ye ever been to the ocean, Aileen?”
She couldn’t say she had, but Aileen was suddenly looking forward to such a prospect. She knew Mollie would certainly enjoy such a trip, and Gerald … it was a seemingly unreachable wish, but Aileen still hoped that her husband would willingly be by her side as well.
27
Once tea was brewed and everyone joined together within one of the sitting rooms, Gerald found himself unable to focus on the idle conversation being held between his guests. Mollie had taken her tea elsewhere in the castle, still obviously embarrassed at her slip of the tongue, and Aileen had insisted that she would be all right and simply needed the space.
And, though he was determined to abide by his wife’s request, Gerald found himself desperate to track down Mollie and clarify that there was nothing to be embarrassed about. Those mistakes happened, and she shouldn’t feel shame for seeing him as a fatherly figure.
He stared down into his cup, contemplating the thought further. He trulydidn’tmind the mistake, and the realization pulled Gerald in conflicting directions. He was never meant to be anyone’s father, and yet, the moment that word had tumbled out of Mollie’s mouth, it had simply felt right for her to say it. Da … how could one, simple word send him into such a spiral?
“Gerald, did ye hear me?”
Gerald blinked, looking across the settee to his questioning wife. She offered a curious smile in return, glancing down at his cup.
“Perhaps I made a blend the Laird doesnae like?” Olivia spoke, sipping her drink and nestled against her husband.
“Why would he keep tea he doesnae like in his own keep?” Arthur asked, only to receive a furrowed brow in reply from his wife. Instead, he took a long drink from his own cup, allowing Olivia to handle whatever unspoken goal she had set out to accomplish.
“Aileen, ye should take the Laird to the kitchen and make a proper cup. I would hate for the chill to sink too deeply into his bones,” Olivia mused.
That was the most ridiculous statement Gerald had ever heard. He’d lived all his life amidst the chill; his bones were practically made of ice. But before he could open his mouth to say otherwise, Aileen offered a nod and stood, her hand out to receive her husband’s cup.
“I can carry it,” he insisted, rising as well before the pair left under the sitting room’s doorway. They stepped down the hall in lingering quiet, Gerald eyeing his wife curiously. Now that they were alone, he could finally see what Olivia must have seen. Aileen clearly had something on her mind.
“Would ye like to share yer thoughts with me?” Gerald asked.
Aileen found his gaze, those soft, brown eyes of hers swirling with golden contemplation. She hesitated for a moment longer, inhaling deeply before simply firing off the question she’d clearly been sitting on for quite some time. “Why do ye nae want me to give ye an heir?”
If Gerald had a mouthful of tea, he was certain he’d have spat it out there and then. He stopped in place, causing Aileen to do the same, allowing the bluntness of her question to settle in his head. “I … where did that come from?”
