Chapter Ten
She didn’t react to the story, but it was good to hear about Robert from someone else’s experience. He was always protective of her, but she had seen it as a way to control her without giving her the softer attention that a woman craved.
Gregory had certainly given her something to think about. He placed her on her feet and stood. “I think ’tis time to continue. There is another village we should reach by the late afternoon. We can get a meal there, also and even get room to sleep in.”
“That sounds wonderful!” She grasped his hand and attempted to pull him up. “Let us leave.”
The village was smaller than the one they had stopped at before. The alehouse was not as large either, but Megan was still grateful to be out of the woods, off the mountain pass, and with any luck have a hot meal. And maybe even a bed!
She noticed that Gregory took his time entering the village area, looking around carefully. Most likely he was concerned that whoever had been asking for them in the other village was here waiting for them.
“We will have a meal and see if we can get a room for the night,” he said as he handed the horse over to the stable lad.
“Stay close to me,” he continued. “I’m no’ sure how safe it is for us.” He reached out and took her hand in his. His large, warm hand. Again she felt the tingling from their contact. She had never noticed that with her husband. It was both frightening and exciting.
She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. Yes, he was definitely handsome, and possessed a strong warrior’s body. There was no doubt he presented himself to anyone interested that he was someone who could protect her.
Her thoughts wandered as they made their way to the alehouse. Thoughts about the words that Gregory had said before. Did she think, as he’d mentioned, that they could have more if they gave it a chance?
No. If she allowed him into her heart she would be disappointed when he grew tired of her and began to look elsewhere for a “real” woman to warm his bed, not some barren woman who held no appeal.
She was almost certain Robert had been dissatisfied enough with her to do the same.
She didn’t need to put herself through that again.
Although she would always be grateful for Gregory rescuing her from Anthony’s plans, it would still be better for her to remember she was his “duty” and not look for more than what she had with Robert.
The alehouse was smaller, but not as smoky as the last one. Again, Gregory led them to the table at the back of the room, right next to a door most likely leading to the outside of the building.
A young lass approached them, swinging her hips and smiling at Gregory, ignoring her. “Good evening. What can I get for ye?” She pursed her lips, most likely thinking she looked available. Which she did.
And probably was.
“An ale for me.” He looked over at Megan. “What do ye want, wife?”
Annoyed, Megan snapped. “I will have an ale, also.”
The lass wandered off, after giving Gregory a smile and more swinging of her hips.
Megan frowned. “Why did ye call me ‘wife’?”
He shrugged. “Because I doona trust anyone here and dinna want to give the lass any encouragement.”
Although she was pleased with his comments, she couldn’t help but think like Robert, Gregory would most likely look elsewhere when he grew tired of her being barren. Megan huffed. “As if having a wife would stop most men from accepting her obvious invitation.”
Gregory’s brows rose and he stared at her. “No’ me. I would ne’er do that. Marriage is no’ something to have when ye want it but ignore when ye doona want it.”
Megan studied him as they waited for the lass to return. Was this truly a man who honored his marriage vows? Could she feel comfortable with him, confident that he was not searching for other women so he could warm their beds?
The lass returned to their table with the two mugs of ale. If she bent over Gregory any farther her lady parts would fall out of her dress, right into his face.
He merely nodded at her and once the lass had left, he turned to Megan. “I also called ye ‘wife’ because I intend for us to stay in the same room.”
“Why?”
“Protection. I cannot keep ye safe if ye’er in another room. And no’ just from those who might be looking for us. These small alehouses are often filled with less than savory men belonging to no clan and causing trouble wherever they go.”
Megan grinned. “Ye do ken that saying I was yer wife in front of a witness automatically married us? And sharing a room just makes it a consummated marriage?”
Gregory offered her a smile that she was sure got many a young lass into his bed. It warmed up her insides, especially in certain places. “Then we don’t need to worry about Gunn coming after ye if we’re already married.”
Before she could think on that, the lass returned and leaned up against Gregory, laying her hand on his arm. “Will ye be eating tonight?” She licked her lips.
He shifted a bit to separate them, moving so her hand slid from him. “Aye. What is yer special today?”
She threw her long hair over her shoulder and grinned, placing one hand on her hip. “Me.”
God’s bones, if the lass was any more forward she would be pulling Gregory up by his hair and dragging him off.
No longer willing to put up with her, Megan said, “My husband and I will have whatever the special from the kitchen is.” She paused and waved her hand in a dismissal. “Not ye.”
Megan turned back to Gregory and smiled, taking a sip of her ale.
The lass huffed off.
*
Gregory almost choked on his drink. Megan Sinclair was no one to fool with. She might be a sweet-looking lass, but apparently underneath all that sweetness was a woman of steel.
His opinion of her was certainly changing. She might shake and weep with fear crossing the mountain pass, but his sweet-looking wife surprised him, again.
More than once he wondered what her marriage had been like. Things she told him sounded like she was not very happy. It appeared Robert was not faithful to his marriage vows and other things she said made him believe theirs was not a strong relationship.
Hopefully, the story he’d told her about Robert would show the lass a different sort of man than the one she knew. Given what seemed to have been her experience so far, it was no wonder the lass was not too eager to marry again.
If she agreed to really wed him once they arrived at Castle Leod, since he knew Beth Mackenzie would insist on a proper wedding, he might not wish to give his heart away. He would certainly protect her, provide for her and never embarrass her by seeking other women to warm his bed.
Once they finished their meal and he made certain the lass who continued to drape herself all over him finally realized he was not interested in a tumble with her, he secured a room from the innkeeper, then he and Megan made their way upstairs.
“Oh, my,” Megan said as she looked around the sparse area.
Oh my, indeed. The only good thing to be said about the room was it provided a roof over their heads in case of a rainstorm, and a bed big enough for maybe one person. A very small person, he thought, as he dropped his sack and placed his hands on his hips and looked around the scant quarters.
Megan looked up at him, chewing her lip. “Where will we sleep?”
Gregory held in his grin as he waved toward the bed. “Right there.”
She sucked in a breath. “On top of each other?”
“Aye. I’m afraid so, lass. With no fire, ’tis too cold to sleep anywhere else.”
She studied the bed and looked back and forth between the two of them, then shrugged. “’Tis afraid I am that ye are right.”
His body reacted immediately to her instant consent.
The thought of her soft body and gentle curves resting on top of him all night had him thinking that sleeping on the floor might not be a bad idea.
Accidental marriage or not, he doubted Megan would consider it just fine to enjoy the consummation of words spoken in front of a witness.
She sat on the bed and smirked at him. “Mayhap yer friend downstairs has a larger bed she would be willing to share with ye.”
Gregory pulled her into his arms and placed his knuckle under her chin, raising her eyes up to meet his. “I hope ye are joking, lass. I was no’ just spewing words when I said I would ne’er share another woman’s bed, especially one who I am certain has probably worn out more than one mattress.”
Megan laughed. “I believe ye are right.”
“’Tis cold in here, so we will need to keep our clothes on, and I’ll wrap my plaid around us.”
He hoped she would not bring up the idea of less clothing being warmer than no clothes as he’d told her before when their clothes were soaked. He didn’t think he could do that again and get through the night without convincing Megan to consummate this accidental marriage.
Although he didn’t think of himself as any great seducer of women, based on what he’d seen from Megan so far, he knew it wouldn’t take much effort on his part.
Since it was late and he wanted an early start in the morning, he removed his boots and climbed onto the bed, his plaid in his hand ready to toss over them.
Once he was comfortable—or as comfortable as he would be for the rest of the night, he held out his hand. “Come here, Megan. ’Tis growing late.”
She took a deep breath and nodded. She untied her boots and stood alongside the bed. “Mayhap side by side would work better?”
“We can certainly try it.” He moved over and she climbed in alongside him, and promptly fell to the floor.
“Nay. I’ll sleep on the outside,” Gregory said and hopped off the bed. Megan made her way over to the edge of the bed and banged her head against the wall. There still wasn’t enough room for half his body.
“Lass, ye’re going to injury yerself. I’ll end up squashing ye like a bug during the night. One on top of the other is the best way.”
She was off the bed again and he laid down, then held in the groan once she climbed onto him. He started counting numbers as she wiggled around before she settled.
“Are ye finished, lass?” He knew his voice came out sharp, but he was struggling.
“Aye.” She rested her head on his chest and he wrapped the plaid around them.
He had counted up into the tens of thousands before he finally drifted off.