Chapter 14
Slowly, Edan withdrew his fingers, and they lay lip to lip, their bodies pressed together, looking deeply into each other’s eyes. Olivia panted, feeling wonderfully dazed and fulfilled. She ran her fingertips gently over Edan’s face, admiring his fine, masculine beauty.
He’s so devilishly handsome, me husband.
She kissed him gently once more.
“Thank ye, Edan. I never kenned it could be like this,” she whispered, stroking his face, her heart full of affection for him.
“I told ye I was goin’ to be a better husband to ye. Well, that was just the start,” he said, his voice thick and husky as he brushed some stray strands of hair from her forehead.
“Ye mean there’s more?” she asked, smiling with glee.
“Much, much more,” he promised, peppering her face with tiny kisses.
“I can hardly wait to find out.”
“Now, now, Me Lady, hold yer horses. We have two more dates,” he warned her jokingly, wrapping his arms around her and cradling her against him.
Olivia peered at him. He was smiling, his face calm and almost boyish in repose, his dark eyelashes fanned out below his closed eyes.
She had never really thought a man could be beautiful, but now she realized it was perfectly possible because she found Edan to be so. With such thoughts and the memory of his touch still making her body tingle, she settled comfortably in his arms, feeling safer than she had in her entire life.
They lay like that for some time, but the cold soon overtook them. Edan gently released her from his arms and sat up. “I think it would be a good time to warm ourselves with a wee dram.”
Olivia sat up too, surprised. “Ye have whisky?”
The prospect of a nip of the arming spirit was very appealing.
“Aye, and nae just whisky,” he told her. “I have a whole picnic.”
He reached out and pulled the saddlebags over to them and opened them.
Olivia clapped with childish glee as he began pulling out small, carefully wrapped packages as well as the flask of whisky.
Edan opened it and offered it to her. She took a long gulp, immediately feeling tendrils of heat curling through her.
“Och, that’s warmin’ me,” she said appreciatively, handing the flask back to him. “How thoughtful of ye to bring a picnic. I’m very impressed,” she told him as he drank.
“Anythin’ for Me Lady’s pleasure,” he said, winking at her.
Olivia giggled, remembering what just had occurred between them. She was delighted, feeling she was at last seeing the real Edan, and he was proving there was a lot more to him than she had suspected.
He stopped the flask and set it aside before unwrapping the packages and laying out a delicious array of food that was more than enough for both of them.
“Now, what have we here? Och, some roast chicken and a nice, big pork pie. That’s one of me favorites. Some fresh bread rolls, some bannocks with sugar on top.”
“I love bannocks!” Olivia exclaimed, eyeing them greedily.
“Ye must have some chicken first,” he insisted playfully, passing her some to eat with her fingers. She tucked into it enthusiastically while he cut the pork pie. “Hmm, we also have some cheese and some… What are these?”
He held up a small pot of round, purplish globes.
“I think those are sugar plums,” Olivia replied, forgetting her manners and talking with her mouth full. “Mmm, this chicken is delicious. Ye are so clever to have thought of all this, Edan.”
“That’s me, a right clever clogs,” he replied, grinning at her before unwrapping the last package. “Och. Now look at this, a treacle tart. Ye cannae get better than that.”
“I agree, but I have a very sweet tooth,” Olivia admitted, taking another leg of chicken and biting into it with relish.
“Aye, I noticed that,” he said, helping himself to a slice of pork pie.
“How?” she inquired, curious. “Ye’ve never seen me eatin’ sweets.”
“Nay, but I’ve seen the way yer eyes light up when the puddings are brought in at supper.
The other night, I thought ye were about to swoon with pleasure when ye saw that rhubarb tart, but the way ye drowned it in a sea of custard clinched it,” he teased, before biting into the pork pie with a look of deep appreciation.
Olivia giggled. “I cannae deny it. And I have to confess, I have a big bag of comfits hidden in me chest of drawers.”
He shook his head at her with mock disapproval. “Shocking. Ye’re a woman sunk in vice, I can tell. By the way, I love comfits.”
“Well, I’ll have to see if I can spare some for ye.”
“Does that mean I’m allowed in yer chambers?” he asked cheekily.
“That depends. De ye promise to behave yerself?”
“Nay.”
She burst out laughing. “All right then, ye can come in. But dinnae steal all me comfits.” She nibbled on her chicken delicately before something occurred to her. “Och, by the way, I forgot to ask ye. Did young Bobby come and see ye about a job?”
“Aye, he did. He’s a good lad. It turns out he likes dogs, so I fixed him up with the kennel master. He’s goin’ to be helpin’ to raise the pups and look after the hounds.”
“He must be thrilled,” Olivia said, impressed afresh by Edan’s generosity.
“Well, I realized ye were right. If he has a job he loves, he’ll stay on the straight and narrow and nae go thievin’ again. He was thrilled to get a regular wage so he could look after his ma and his siblings. He has four sisters and two wee braithers, apparently.”
“That’s a lot of mouths to feed. So, there’s nay man of the house then?”
“He skedaddled years ago, it seems. Bobby is the man of the house.”
“The poor, wee soul. I’ll go and see him at the kennels and find out how he’s gettin’ on,” she said. “Maybe I can do more for the girls.”
“Good idea. I’m sure they’d appreciate it. By the way, did ye write to yer sister about the St. Patrick’s celebrations?”
“I was just writin’ the letter when ye came and asked me to come out with ye. I’ll finish it later. I wanted to ask ye somethin’ as well. Since ye’re home now, what do ye think about us hostin’ a special celebration for The Turnin’ of the Light?”
He swallowed and nodded enthusiastically. “Aye, that would be grand. Me maither and faither always used to hold a cèilidh for it. We should definitely do that. I think I’ll enjoy playin’ the jovial host, swannin’ about with me beautiful wife on me arm.”
Olivia laughed. “And I shall enjoy paradin’ me braw husband about, makin’ all the ladies jealous.”
To her delight, his cheeks flushed scarlet.
“Shut up,” he chided her. “They dinnae think me so braw as ye claim, I can tell ye. They only pretend to put up with me scars because they cannae stand to miss a party and like the free drinks.”
“Well, I dinnae care what they think,” she said, picking up a large slice of the pork pie. “I’m proud to be Lady Aberfeld, and I shall make sure everyone kens it.”
“Ye’re a grand lassie, Olivia Byrne. I dinnae ken what I’ve done to deserve ye.”
“Och, ye say the nicest things, husband!” Olivia replied, unable to remember ever feeling quite so happy in her life.
They chattered on, gradually demolishing the food and washing it down with whisky until there were only scraps left and they both groaned and complained they were stuffed.
Finally, Edan brushed the crumbs from his waistcoat and announced, “Well, the light’s fadin’. We’d better get back. I have work to do.”
“Aye, all right,” Olivia agreed reluctantly, starting to pack the leftovers into the saddlebags. “I hope poor Hamish can carry both of us after eatin’ all that food. Do ye think we could come back here again, Edan? This could be our special place.”
“Aye, definitely. Ye’ll love it in the summer,” he assured her, getting up to stretch his legs before helping her tidy away.
Once they were all packed up, he slung the saddlebags over his shoulder and took her hand.
“Have ye had a nice time today, then?” he asked as he led her back through the trees to where the horses were patiently waiting for them.
“I’ve had the most wonderful time,” Olivia replied, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him, which inevitably led to them sharing another tender kiss.
When they broke apart, she said. “Thank ye for bringin’ me here, Edan, and for plannin’ such a lovely outing for us.
I admit, I’m nae sure how ye’re goin’ to top this the next time. ”
“Wait and see,” he told her. “I’m full of surprises.”
“Aye, so ye are,” she replied laughingly, waiting while he tied the rolled-up blanket and the saddlebags to Hamish’s saddle and then lifted her easily into place before swinging himself up behind her.
As he settled into the saddle, Olivia snuggled against him, feeling the sea change between them. It felt as though they were well on the way to becoming a true married couple at last.
She tilted her head back and watched him.
It truly warmed her heart to see him looking so relaxed, his eyes crinkling as he smiled down at her fondly, revealing the man behind the stern, cold mask.
No doubt he would slip back into his role as the tough, brutal Laird when they got back to the castle.
But in private, from now on, she hoped he would be her Edan.
True, they still had two dates before they fully celebrated their wedding night.
But after what they had shared in the glen, she wondered if she could wait that long to be truly his.
She found she was no longer looking forward to it with fear and trepidation, but with an eagerness that made her blush at her wantonness.
It was not very late in the afternoon when they set out across the moor to return to the castle.
Yet, with the short winter days, dusk was already falling, and there was an icy chill in the wind.
Olivia was more than grateful to have Edan shield her from the worst of the cold.
Somehow, he managed to radiate heat like a furnace, keeping her warm.
The castle’s looming outline had just appeared on the horizon when Olivia thought she smelled smoke. She sniffed the sir. Yes, it was definitely there, the smell of something burning.
“Do ye smell that, Edan? Something’s on fire,” she said, looking around to see what it could be.
“Aye. ’Tis probably a bonfire. The farmers and foresters sometimes start them to burn waste at this time of year,” he replied, unconcerned.
But the nearer they drew to the castle’s environs, the stronger and more acrid the smell grew. Then, Olivia suddenly spotted something in the sky to their right that was too large to be merely a bonfire.
“Look!” she cried, pointing to a cloud of billowing smoke rising into the air. “That’s nae a bonfire.”
Edan looked where she was pointing. “Aye, ye’re right,” he said, sounding worried this time. “That’s comin’ from the village. Somethin’ must have caught fire. I need to go and find out what’s happenin’,” he told her urgently. “Take Bessie and walk her back to the castle while I go and see.”
“I willnae!” she exclaimed. “I’m comin’ with ye.”
“Olivia, dinnae argue with me. Do as I say!”
“I’m comin’ with ye,” she insisted. “If there is a fire, then they’ll need all the hands they can get in puttin’ it out.”
“For God’s sake, woman, can ye just do what ye’re told for once?” he growled in frustration.
“Because what ye’re tellin’ me doesnae make sense.”
“It makes sense to me. It could be dangerous, and I willnae let ye get hurt.”
“Well, the same goes for me. If ’tis dangerous, then I dinnae want ye to get hurt either! That’s why we should go together.”
The acrid smell was getting much stronger, and they both looked over to see that the cloud of smoke was growing and spreading across the dusky sky.
Edan made an impatient noise and said, “Look, while we’re sittin’ here arguin’, the fire’s gettin’ worse. Now, will ye go?”
“Aye, I’ll go with ye!”
“Ach, we’re wastin’ time. Olivia, I’ll nae tell ye again. I’m yer husband, and ye’re bound to obey me. Now, take the horse and get away!”
“Obey? I’ll obey ye when ye say somethin’ sensible! Ye’re the one who’s wastin’ time by arguin’,” she replied stubbornly. “I’m yer wife, and I’m nae leavin’ ye to go alone. We should show a united front.”
Under less serious circumstances, Olivia might have found the exasperated expression on his face amusing. As it was, she was determined he should see things her way, for she had no intention of letting him go without her.
After a few moments of hesitation, he cursed under his breath and said with obvious reluctance, “Ach, all right, ye can come with me. But ye must swear to do everythin’ I tell ye when we get there. I cannae have ye gettin’ hurt.”
Triumphant, she beamed at him. “I swear. As long as what ye tell me to do makes sense.”
“Christ! Ye wee minx, ye make it impossible to say nay to ye,” he muttered in exasperation, turning the horses in the direction of the smoke and spurring Hamish into a canter, then a gallop.