Chapter Twenty #2
He was halfway across the room to find his brother so they could go over a few details about their departure while they ate their supper. He reached the door and opened it to find a surprised Katie on the other side, her fist still raised. “Oh.”
Her plump lips formed a perfect circle, bringing to mind what she could do with that lovely mouth of hers. He immediately considered pulling her into the library and locking the door so he could have his way with her. He grinned to himself. He would indulge one appetite before assuaging another.
He pulled her to him and was quite surprised when she placed her wee hands on his chest and pushed him away. Not that she could move him—he was much too large—but he let her go anyway. “What is it, lass?”
Katie tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smoothed the front of her skirts, and looked up at him, her eyes snapping, her wee chin raised in the air. “I would have a word with ye, my laird.”
Evan didn’t know whether to groan or laugh. Deciding it would be in his best interest to do neither, he merely smiled. “And what would those words be?”
She swept past him like the queen and walked to the large wooden desk in the center of the room. She turned and regarded him with her arms crossed under her breasts. When she noticed his grin at where his eyes had landed, she huffed and dropped her arms to her side. “I just came from the kitchen.”
Since that was not a question, Evan felt no need to respond, but he did grant her the courtesy of raising his eyes up to her face.
“Cook tells me she is preparing a wedding breakfast for tomorrow morning.” Her foot began to tap a cadence on the floor.
“Aye.” Was the lass annoyed because he had taken it upon himself to instruct Mrs. MacDuff to begin her preparations?
Perhaps he should have consulted with Katie first, allowing her to choose the menu.
He had been passing through the kitchen on his way out the back door and thought it wise to take care of that matter.
He had not seen Katie since he’d left her bedchamber that morning.
He had assumed she was speaking with her brother and doing whatever it was lasses did when they were about to be married. Weren’t there matters to tend to, like choosing a gown, rustling up some flowers, and chattering with the other women who would be verra interested in a wedding?
“I would like to ken who is being married that we require a wedding breakfast.” She stopped, and her eyes narrowed to slits. “Tomorrow.”
Evan ran his hand down his face. It appeared the lass was upset, and he didn’t have time to deal with female hysteria.
On the other hand, if he wanted all to run without problems or difficulties so he could depart from Fife as quickly as possible, ’twould be wise for him to smooth her ruffled feathers.
“Now, Katie, darlin’, ye ken ’tis ye and I getting married. I was able to get the minister to perform the ceremony tomorrow.”
“Is that so? How verra interesting. And why would ye think I want to get married tomorrow?”
Evan stifled the laughter that was trying so hard to escape.
Among his clansmen, he was known as a fair but powerful laird.
No one had ever bested him in a fight, and he was renowned for his prowess.
Grown men were known to shake in their boots in a confrontation with their laird.
Yet this wee slip of a lass stood up to him as if she were twice his size.
“Katie, we’ve been over this. We need to marry.
I have compromised ye. Ye could be carrying my bairn right now.
” He walked slowly toward her, speaking softly, as if calming a skittish horse.
“With the Armstrong mon still lurking about, ’tis best to get it over with as quickly as possible so we can be on our way. ”
She drew herself up and looked him in the eye. “I’ve been thinking it over. I dinnae want to be a ‘no other choice’ bride nor have a ‘get it over with’ wedding. I dinnae remember agreeing to a wedding so soon.”
She was hurt. It was right there in her eyes. He’d made a mess of things by being his usual take-charge self. Of course she wanted to be made to feel as though this was something he wanted and was not forced to do. She wanted soft words, romance, and other things he had no idea how to do.
On the other hand, time was of the essence. He’d had reports that Armstrong had remained in the area, bad weather would soon be upon them, and bloody hell, he wanted Katie in his bed.
Now.
But he wanted a happy bride. A contented wife. A woman who felt cared for and was pleased with the marriage she’d made. And even, perhaps, loved, although he’d already stated he wasn’t promising that.
Evan offered her a soft smile and took her hand. “Ye ken I want ye for my wife. Not because ’tis something I must do but because it’s something I want to do. Truthfully, I thought about that verra thing before we were even caught in the downpour that stranded us at the cottage.”
He took both of her hands in his. “But, lass, yer brother is in danger, the weather is going to change verra soon, and I must get back to my clan. Surely ye can understand the need for a quick wedding?”
She studied him for so long, he thought she would say nay, but finally she nodded. “Aye.”
He tugged her hand, pulling her to join him on the comfortable chair near the fireplace. She landed in his lap, and he lowered his head.
Right before he placed his lips on her warm ones, he said, “Tomorrow.”