Page 56 of Beyond Dreams

She turned and smiled at her husband. “That sounds perfect.”

Chapter Sixteen

Of course he was angrywith himself for not being able to stay away from her for even a few hours. He blamed that partly on Graeme, having sought out Duncan a short while ago, advising, “Your bride has nae had an easy time of it, Dunc. Beginning to wear on her.”

A few succinct queries of his captain had led Duncan here, to her. He’d come upon her in the turret, marveling at the way the sun shone brightly upon her long dark hair, raking his eyes over her trim figure. He’d passed the monstrous bed with its elaborate bedding upon which William Wallace had most recently laid his head and debated briefly laying his wife down in that plush bed and luxuriating over her body once more.

Partly, he blamed his coming here and now to find her on the newness, the novelty of theirus, how fresh and well-remembered was their joining. He would amuse himself with her now, that was all. He would tire quickly of the play and get back to work. He would not allow himself to become enamored of his wife and led around as easily as Doirin had managed his father for the first year.

Still, he thought nothing of taking her hand, leading her away from the turret, down the stairs, and out of doors. The gate had since been opened, the portcullis raised. Hand in hand, he walked with his wife around the massive curtain wall to the edge of Thallane, which was also the edge of the land on this western shore. The wind was not so bothersome today that descending the cliffside should pose any challenges. The steps to the beach, such as they were, had not been laid in stone but carved into the bedrock of the sea cliffs several generations ago. The trek was not vertical but slanted to the south, the drop from top to bottom no more than two score feet.

Halfway down, Duncan paused and pointed out the spring squill and primrose growing upon an exposed ledge. Holly exclaimed over this, showing him one of her bonny smiles. Mayhap at another time, he would take her further south along the grassy clifftop and show her the expertly burrowed nesting site of the puffins, who will soon head out to sea for the winter.

Where the bedrock met the nearly white sand, Duncan released her hand, watching as she picked her way around the uncovered rocks before she sat and removed her short boots. Duncan used this time to scan the beach more critically, including overhead, making sure the guard had eyes on the beach as well. Yesterday’s nearly dangerous mishap had reminded him how crucial was a constant vigilance. Safety was simply assumed whenever he was home at Thallane, but he’d chided himself up and down and sideways for his carelessness yesterday.

When he gave his regard once more to Holly, she was digging her bare toes in the sand, her face tipped toward the sun. Her unbound hair was tossed all around her shoulders and face by the sea breeze. Though she seemed not to mind and did nothing to prevent it, he wondered if that were annoying, the locks constantly slapping and slithering across her face.

“Might better plait your hair next time,” he commented, having to raise his voice only minimally to be heard.

“Doirin said the same thing, that I need to cover my hair.” She scrunched her nose, notifying him of her thoughts on the matter. “DoI have to cover my hair now? She said that since I was your wife, I must.” She stood and absently wiped sand from her bottom while she waited his answer.

Duncan shook his head but left off instructing that she would be best served ignoring Doirin altogether. He lifted his hand and removed the hair from one side of Holly’s face. He rather liked her hair, the sensual length of it, the golden highlights gifted by the sun, and particularly the wild look of her right now.

“Leave your hair down,” he suggested, though more because that seemed to be her want.

“How is your arm, by the way?” she asked. “And your leg? I hope last night’s...activities didn’t cause you any trouble.” She rolled her lips inward while her cheeks turned pink.

Duncan grinned at this. “Activities, is it?” At her shy shrug and infectious grin, which animated her eyes to perfection, he reported, “Nae adverse effects.” Truth be known, however, his leg had begun to bleed again, but the healer had looked at it this morn, pronouncing the stitches sound. She’d applied more salve over the sewn slice, and had re-wrapped his thigh, cautioning that he should refrain from, “whatever you’ve been at that made this happen,” which he most certainly would not.

Holly showed him another wince and grin, using both hands now to push the streaming locks behind her ear. “Sorry, I probably should have asked thatbeforewe trekked down the side of the cliff. But we’re here now. Come walk with me along the water’s edge.”

He did, following her lead to where the low waves rolled in. But Holly did not walk, not immediately. She danced around a bit, dropping to her haunches here and there to investigate shells and other debris laid out in the wrack line before bouncing back up and moving on to whatever next captured her spirited attention.

At one point, only several feet ahead of him as he strolled along, she turned and walked backward, her shining hair once more obscuring so much of her face.

“Do you come down here very often?” She asked.

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