Wedded to the Twisted Highlander (Taming the Kilmartins #3)

Chapter 17

17

“ W ater,” Tavish whispered, his voice raspy and weak.

Thomas darted toward the table and was swift to carry out his father’s request. Carefully, he guided the cup to his father’s lips, ensuring that not a single drop was spilled. He watched as his father licked his lips and eased back into the comfort of his pillows.

“It’s good to see ye again, Faither,” Thomas said, trying to hold back the emotions swirling inside him.

How long had it been since he’d seen his father so coherent? Had it been a year? Thomas didn’t want to think of what little time they had left. He just wanted to revel in the moment while they still had it.

“And look, Maither is here too.”

Tavish’s gaze drifted to Alba as a smile spread across his cracked lips. Thomas watched as his father extended a weary hand and cupped his mother’s face.

“I’ve missed ye,” Tavish murmured.

His words made tears well up in Alba’s eyes.

The moment was lovely, and as Thomas took it all in, he felt something stirring inside him. He wanted the kind of love that his parents had. They had stayed true to each other through thick and thin. Even now, as his father lay on his deathbed, his mother was there, refusing to leave his side.

“This, lad,” Tavish whispered as he kept his eyes on Alba. “This is what a full life looks like. Nae the clan, nae anything but the love of the woman by yer side.”

“All these years and ye still make me blush,” Alba said, her voice heavy with emotion. Her attention shifted for but a moment as she glanced at Thomas. “Ye ken, if it wasnae for Astrid, I dinnae think we would have this time. She really is a remarkable lass. Ye made the right call by marryin’ her. She is a light in this dreary castle.”

Thomas let his mother’s words sink into his bones as he nodded.

Astrid had been a blessing to their lives in more ways than one. Yet, Thomas could feel the chasm between them. It was as if she stood on the other side of a deep, impassible gorge.

“Aye,” he managed to say as he watched his father’s eyelids flutter shut.

Letting out a heavy sigh, he couldn’t help but wonder what sort of man his father would be when he awoke again. The time Tavish was coherent seemed to be coming to an end, and Thomas was fully aware of it.

“And how was yer dinner wit’ her? And dinnae give me that look—the whole castle has been goin’ on about the fancy meal ye’ve prepared for her. Ye ken, if I didnae ken any better, I’d think ye were tryin’ to woo yer wife.”

“Well, I need the rumors to stop. I like the castle as peaceful as I can get it, and that includes squashin’ the rumors that can get a bit boisterous and grandiose, wouldnae ye say? As for dinner, we are here, are we nae?” Thomas looked at his mother with pity. The years lingered on her in the lines etched on the corners of her lips and her eyes.

“Aye,” she said, tapping a finger on her forehead and shaking her head dismissively. “I’m sorry. I dinnae ken what I was thinkin’. I’m sure ye’ll find another time to dine wit’ her. The two of ye are married now—ye have nothing but time to get to ken each other. And believe me when I say that it will take a lifetime to do so. Even now, yer faither finds ways to surprise me.”

“Well, ye two have been together for decades,” Thomas pointed out.

“Fifty-three years,” Alba emphasized. “And sometimes it feels like we’ve only met yesterday. But I suppose that is the beauty of marriage.”

“And also the darker side of it, especially when there are council members involved. I’m surprised they havenae said anything about the fact that Astrid isnae even part of our clan.”

“She is now,” Alba answered sternly.

“Aye, there’s nay doubt about that now. Astrid and Melody are me responsibility until the day I die.”

“They’re more than just a chore to mark off,” Alba said. “Just as rumors are nasty words that can get out of hand. But if ye’re worried about what people are sayin’ about yer wife, I wouldnae worry—everyone is in awe wit’ her.”

“I think more because she’s an outsider.”

“Healers arenae common or outsiders by any stretch of the imagination. If anything, they’re the thread that binds the fabric of society,” Alba said as she reached a hand to Thomas.

The warmth of his mother seeped into the darkest crevasses of his soul. He had only ever wanted to serve his clan and his family, and to hear his mother praise Astrid only filled him with pride.

Glancing out the window, he couldn’t help but notice the sliver of moonlight peeking through the low clouds. He rose from his father’s bedside and stretched the achiness from his bones.

“It is late, and I have much to do in the morning,” he sighed.

“That’s right, ye’re throwin’ a cèilidh. Ye ken, yer sisters would love to help wit’ that,” Alba suggested.

“Have them talk to Reid. I put him in charge of it,” Thomas answered, trying not to let his mother’s tone grate on his nerves.

“Why on earth would ye do that? Ye ken that yer braither will only invite the most unsavory people,” Alba grumbled. “This just willnae do, nae at all.”

“I’m sure that Reid is more than capable,” Thomas called over his shoulder as he made his way to the door. “He does, after all, have a knack and an eye for such things.”

“So does Olivia.”

“Then I’ll have her work wit’ him. It wasnae supposed to be a big affair. A nice feast, a few barrels of mead, and music. Nothing fancy. Just a get-together, really.”

“Dinnae worry about it,” Alba said, waving him away. “I’ll get it sorted in the morning. Right now, go and salvage yer evening wit’ Astrid.”

“I dinnae ken if I’ll be able to,” Thomas answered as he pulled open the door.

“Ye ken how to woo the lasses. I’ve seen ye flirt wit’ them in yer youth,” Alba scoffed.

“That was before Faither handed me the lairdship,” Thomas said. “It feels like a lifetime ago.”

“Such things will come back to ye, I promise. It’s like wieldin’ yer sword. At first, it was a bit awkward, but wit’ practice, ye learn.”

“I dinnae think I’ll be able to learn how to woo Astrid,” Thomas admitted.

“That’s why ye have yer whole life to try,” Alba teased as she gave him a wink. “Besides, I’ve never kenned ye to back down from a challenge. And believe me when I say that marriage is the biggest challenge ye’ll ever face.”

Her words hovered over Thomas like a rain cloud as the chill of the stone corridor seeped into his bones. His footsteps echoed through the empty hallway as he made his way to his chambers. With each step he took, his heart felt lighter. Just the mere thought of catching Astrid awake thrilled him.

But as he approached the door to his chamber, he stopped and stared at the golden light filtering out from beneath Astrid’s door.

He stood staring at the stark difference between the two doorways. He let out a heavy sigh and shook his head. Just beyond the door would be a blanket of cold and emptiness that he wouldn’t be able to fill. Yet, just a few steps away was the warm and welcoming door to his wife’s room.

His mother’s words rang in his ears, urging him to go to Astrid. It was the council’s expectations and rumors that hung over his head like a sword.

He rubbed the back of his neck as he steeled himself.

I’ll knock and thank her for helpin’ tonight. Or maybe I should start wit’ an apology for missin’ dinner? What if she’s nae even awake? Could be merely the light of the fire tauntin’ me.

Thomas ran his fingers through his hair as he stepped up to Astrid’s door. He’d never been in a position like this before, and he felt the sting of vulnerability. But as he approached, a gentle whisper reached his ears. He paused and leaned closer to listen. Hope that Astrid was still awake spread through him like wildfire.

He lifted his hand to knock, only to pause again when he heard Melody’s voice. The fact that she was still awake irked him far more than it should. He tried to convince himself that she had awoken from a nightmare and would soon fall back asleep. But as he leaned ever closer, pressing his ear to the cold wood to hear better, he realized that she was talking about him.

A thought occurred to him as he stepped back. Was Astrid in there with her? Or was it someone else? Olivia popped into his mind, but why would she be on this side of the castle so late?

The more Thomas mulled over it, the more he realized that there was only one person in that room with Melody, and it was Astrid.

Curiosity tickled him.

He held his breath as he tried to hear more.

“The Laird is very strong… aye, this is our home now,” he heard Astrid say.

His eyebrows crowded the bridge of his nose as he noticed how she spoke about him. Why did she refer to him as the Laird and not Thomas? Did she only see the title and not the man? The thought niggled at him.

He stepped back as if the revelation was a dagger to the gut.

With a heavy heart, Thomas retreated to his room and closed the door behind him. Just as he predicted, his chambers were cold and empty, with only the dying embers in the grate to soothe him.

He took off his jacket and let the fabric fall to the floor as he moved to the fire to kindle it. His mind was a whirl of emotions he never dared to feel before. Tossing a log into the fire, he sank into his chair and watched as the flames licked at the dry wood.

He tried to comprehend what was going on with him as his thoughts shifted to Astrid. Each time her face flashed before his eyes, his pulse raced like the wings of a hummingbird and his blood pounded violently in his ears. He had always thought of his life in terms of duty and expectation. Yet, as he glanced over at the door that connected his chamber to Astrid’s, he grew more aware of something simmering and brewing deep inside him.

What if he dared to embrace such feelings? What if he dared to let himself explore the warmth Astrid provided?

The longer the thoughts festered, the more logical they seemed. Thomas shot up as the log snapped. His gaze flicked to the door in the hope that Astrid would come rushing in again. But when the door remained closed, his heart sank like a rock.

“This is utter madness,” he huffed with irritation. But when a dark shadow shifted under the door, he froze.

Thomas shot to his feet and moved to the door. Curling his fingers around the doorknob, he debated whether to open it. Would Astrid’s eyes be wild from shock or her desire for him?

The thought stirred his loins. It took every ounce of his strength to pry his fingers off the doorknob.

I made ye a promise, lass. Ye want something ye’re goin’ to have to come and ask for it.

Thomas stepped back and waited. The air in his lungs burned as he watched the door intently, as if he could will it to click open. Holding his breath, he watched and waited until the shadow retreated.

Exhaling, he pursed his lips and stepped back. Frustration bubbled up in his chest as his body ached for Astrid.

There was only one way he was going to be able to ease the tension in his body. He moved to the double doors that led to the shared balcony.

Fresh air drifted into the room the moment he opened the doors and stepped out onto the balcony. He leaned against the door frame, allowing the cool air to soothe his burning flesh. Just thinking of Astrid got him hot and bothered. At least, with the door open and a fresh breeze coming through, he’d be able to keep his head clear.

The stars twinkled like diamonds in the vastness of night.

Thomas stared out at the world before him as the lone hoot of an owl reached his ear. Yet, despite the wonders around him, his gaze couldn’t help but flick back to Astrid’s side of the balcony. The soft glow coming from her room tormented and taunted him.

How was it that she was just right there and he couldn’t have her? What would it take to woo her?

Thomas considered every moment he shared with Astrid. There was no doubt that she was a force of nature, and Thomas found himself drawn to her strength and kindness.

A smile danced on his lips as he tried to pick up her voice. And as he stood there, he realized that wooing a woman like Astrid would require more than flowery words and grand gestures.

What she needed was a champion.