Chapter Eight The Dinner
Chapter Eight
The Dinner
Alice stood in front of the looking glass, her eyes wide.
She had never seen herself look so beautiful, even on her wedding day.
The maids had put intricate braids in her hair, adorned by small beads and golden clasps.
The dress she had chosen was a deep green one, the color making her pale skin appear much warmer in the candlelight.
She had selected a dark red shawl with yellow and blue embroidery, the whole of her outfit having the clan colors.
She examined her reflection more. The maids even rouged up her lips to make them look like a ripe apple.
“I did not know I could look this way,” she whispered. She adjusted the way the dress sat on her shoulders, before moving the shawl so the embroidery was on display. Every element needed to be perfect. She needed to look perfect for Evander. If not…
She shook her head, pushing away the thoughts.
I will not fail. Not tonight.
She took a few deep breaths and pinched her cheeks to bring them some color, looking at herself one last time in the mirror, before walking out of her chambers.
Downstairs, Evander was sitting in the Dining Hall. His mind was spinning with thoughts of the day’s events. The work that needed to be done around the estate, the horses that were getting ready to foal, the need for an heir…
He took a big drink from his tankard.
There were more important tasks than making an heir right now. Even if his clan was demanding one.
Maybe he could think about it more in a few months.
He would be certain then that Alice had settled in properly and she was ready for him.
He would not take her until she was ready.
At least, that was what he had been telling himself since her brother had left.
After all, he had very few excuses that would not expose the real issue. The one he could not face right now.
He ran a hand through his hair, the dark strands catching against his fingers.
Letting out a harsh sigh, he knew he needed to calm himself.
Alice would be there any moment and he did not wish to frighten her.
Despite how she handled herself, some part of him still felt the need to shield her from everything.
His bad moods, the accounts, the way the land around the keep ran, clan politics.
He didn’t want any of it to touch her. She was too soft for that.
He heard her walking toward him and sat up straight, tying his hair back to hide how dishevelled it was.
He opened his mouth to greet her but froze.
He nearly dropped his tankard as she stepped inside. Alice smiled warmly at him. Not the careful smile. A real one. Evander felt his throat go dry, and it took everything in him not to just run to her and push her against a wall.
Nae. Nae until she is ready.
He cleared his throat.
“It is good tae see you, Alice,” he said.
“Thank you,” she said. He nodded, expecting her to take her usual seat across from him, already mentally planning the places he would look in the room that would not be staring straight at her.
Instead, he heard the sound of the seat next to him moving.
He looked to his side. Alice was smiling up at him from the seat next to him.
“Ye…” he started. “Ye look beautiful tonight.”
It was the most honest thing he could say without letting on everything else that was in his head.
“Thank you,” she said sweetly.
“Is there a reason you have decided tae dress so?” he asked, tilting his head. He brought his tankard to his lips, drinking deeply, aware of how much trouble he was in tonight.
“I thought my husband may like something pretty to look at tonight after working so hard,” she said, touching his arm. He nearly inhaled his drink.
“Y-ye dinnae have tae do that,” he said.
“Yes, I did,” she nodded. She brought her own drink to her lips. A slight drip of crimson wine caught the edge of her mouth. He watched as she dabbed it away. He had never stared at her mouth for so long before.
She carefully put her cup down and she glanced at him.
She was slightly regretting the speed at which she had drunk the wine.
It was not the fact that she was unused to wine.
It was that she had not had any food in many hours and that in wanting to appear more confident than she felt she had taken a large gulp.
The world was already starting to fuzz at the edges of her vision.
She was ever so thankful when the maids appeared with their dinner.
The world slightly swayed around her and she accidentally leaned into his shoulder.
Evander tensed up. Alice looked at him, her heart sinking as she felt his reaction.
She sat up straighter. Evander watched her and started eating.
He was trying to focus on the food, but he could not.
She was so close, she looked so good, the smell of roses and rain was overwhelming the logical part of his brain. He reached for his tankard as she reached forward and their hands brushed. He pulled his hand back quickly.
“I—” he started.
“You dinnae need to apologize,” she whispered. He looked at her, stunned.
“When did ye start tae talk like that?” he said, blinking in surprise.
“I have been trying tae speak like a proper Scottish lass,” she said. “Are you not the one who said I needed tae start speaking like a Scottish lady?”
His throat dried up.
“I did, I suppose,” he managed to grumble out. “It sounds good…”
“I am glad,” she smiled warmly. “The maids have been helping me practice.”
He nodded in response to that, gripping his tankard hard.
“That is… Good…” he said. “How are ye findin’ Scotland? Are ye settlin’ in well?”
“Aye,” she nodded. “Everyone has been very sweet to me as I have been getting used to—ah, tae living here.”
“That is good,” he nodded. “Are the maids treatin’ ye well?”
“Very well,” she said.
“Good,” he said. “And do ye enjoy livin’ here?”
“It is pleasant enough, but…” Alice looked away from him slightly. The maids had told her, while braiding her hair, to try and look soft and innocent.
“But what?” he asked, leaning into her slightly. She shivered at the feeling of his warmth spreading into her back.
“The keep is lovely, the maids are lovely, but… I can find myself feeling lonely,” she admitted, looking up at him. Evander’s throat went dry at her innocent expression.
“Lonely?” he asked, resisting the urge to reach out and touch her.
“Yes,” she nodded. “I mean, I hardly ever see you, and we have not even consummated our marriage. I feel less like a wife and more like someone who just lives here.”
Evander’s heart thudded in his ribs. For a moment he tried to speak, but nothing came out of his throat.
“We will consummate the marriage,” he said, his voice almost a growl in his throat. “When you are ready.”
“I am ready,” Alice insisted.
“You are saying that because you wish to be a good wife,” he said, leaning back in his seat. Alice pouted, turning back toward him.
“You do not know what is in my mind,” she said. “I have been ready since our wedding night, and yet, nothing. I…” Her voice broke, the wine making her more emotional than she had intended. “Is there something wrong with me?”
“What?” Evander asked, eyes wide. “Nay, that is nae the case.”
“Prove it,” she said, her hand going to his thigh.
“Alice—” Evander started. Alice didn’t let him finish. She leaned in close, her mouth crashing into his. Evander’s eyes widened in shock. She tasted of wine and sweetness.
Alice pulled back, her cheeks flushed, her breath coming out in gentle pants. Evander’s heart skipped a beat.
“I am ready,” she promised him again, whispering. Evander swallowed hard. His mind started to spin up with the thoughts he had been having before she had come down.
No. No more thinking.
He cupped her cheek and pulled her into him again. Their mouths met. She gasped, but she didn’t push him away. Far from it. She seemed just as accepting of his lips the second time as she had been the first time.
All at once his body melted into hers. The kiss wasn’t the soft, sweet peck that they’d shared on their wedding night.
It was messier, their tongues wrapping around each other, their breathing melding together.
Alice let out a little moan that made his blood run hot.
He grabbed the wrist on her free hand, pulling her closer.
She wrapped both arms around his neck as he let go of her.
Evander’s mind went fuzzy with lust. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his lap.
She gasped, her knees locking around his hips.
He could feel her warmth radiating through her dress and pooling around his manhood.
He moaned into the kiss, his lips almost vibrating against hers.
She whimpered as his hand ran up her cheek and tangled into her hair.
The warmth of his fingers made it all feel so real.
His fingers twitched, accidentally slightly pulling on the strands, making her moan into his mouth.
Evander responded by kissing her harder.
He pulled back, looking into her blue eyes. She looked up at him, her expression affectionate and needy. Without his consent, his mind filled with the images of the last light-haired girl he had kissed like that. Happy smiles in beds of heather. His whole body went rigid.
I cannae do this.
“Wait—” he panted, pulling her off of his lap.
“Evander?” she asked, breathless.
“I have tae go,” he growled.
“Go? Go where?!” she asked as he stood up.
“Stay here!” He bellowed as he stormed out of the room. Alice’s heart sank as she heard his boots thudding down the hallway. Tears filled her eyes and she crumpled into her seat.
I knew it. He does not want me…
She felt a sob bubbling up in her throat, but she repressed it, doing her damndest to not be heard. Tears slicked down her cheeks.
Evander was racing out toward the stables, his manhood aching between his thighs. He found his horse quickly, saddling it up.
“M’Laird?” the stable hand called out.
“I am going for a ride!” Evander barked.
The stablehand nodded and stepped back, hands raised in a placating gesture.
Evander ignored him, bursting out of the stables and racing down the paths, away from the keep.
He followed the familiar trail of heather and moss-flanked roads, down past the trees, toward a place he knew from too many nights of bad decisions and numbing the pain.
“Damn it,” Evander growled as he thundered down the path.
Some part of him knew that going back down this road was a mistake. It had been in the past, and no doubt it would be this way again. Even so, whatever mistake he was going to make tonight, he refused to allow himself to fall in love.
And staying at the keep? That would mean he fell in love with his wife.
It would hurt her more if I was tae stay.
Even as he told himself that, his mind replayed the kiss again and again. Eventually, Calum landed them outside a familiar tavern. Calum halted suddenly before they were at the door. Evander looked down at the horse. The animal was not usually so stubborn.
“C’mon,” Evander hissed. “I will be fine…”
His voice lacked his usual conviction. Taking a shuddering breath, he flicked the reins, forcing the horse toward the area where he could tie him up. Taking a look at the door, he hesitated.
Nae goin’ back now…
He pushed open the heavy oak door and stepped inside.