Chapter Seventeen

Bryce was fortunate to have Dorie. Not just because she warmed his bed and gave him such pleasure he thought he might lose his mind, but for her steady patience that supported him when he thought he might crumble under the weight of his sorrow.

She stood by him when even he would rather walk away from his stupidity. And she encouraged him to be better than he’d been for years.

For all those reasons, he picked up his pace as he headed toward the castle to find her. When he didn’t see her in the hall or the kitchen, he went to the solar. She was sitting with Kenna and Mari, her hound at her feet. The children sat scattered on the floor. Except wee Aiden, who was in the cradle by his mother.

It was a pleasant scene. One that had been repeated for generations before and would be again in those to come.

“Dorie, do you have a moment?” he asked.

She nodded and slipped out of the room after patting Douglas on the head.

He took her hand and led her to their chamber. When she stopped still a few feet from the door, he thought perhaps she was still worried about being trapped in a room.

But it was a different concern that bothered her today. “I told you, we canna keep running off to bed in the middle of the day. People talk.”

He smiled at her rosy cheeks. It was so easy to bring a pretty blush to her lovely skin.

“Are ye saying you don’t want me? Even if I do that thing you like with my tongue on your—”

“Shhh. Someone will hear your naughty talk.” With that she grabbed his arm and dragged him into their room. With the door shut, she stretched up to kiss him, at the same time reaching for his belt.

This truly wasn’t the reason he’d brought her here, but when she moaned as he covered her breasts with his hands, he decided to let it play out. He’d share the real reason for his visit after they were both satisfied.

He stripped her down, kissing her in strategic places to make gooseflesh rise on her creamy skin. For someone who was adamant they weren’t to be sneaking off to bed, she was the first to be naked and in their bed.

He’d certainly never complain. In fact, he might keep coming up with reasons to take her to their room.

…

Dorie had yet to catch her breath when Bryce rolled out of their bed. She groaned in disappointment and let her head fall back. She didn’t think she’d be able to stand, let alone dress yet. She needed a few more moments before moving.

Fortunately he came back, sitting on the edge of the bed, still naked. He leaned down to kiss her again and held out a bundle of cloth.

“As I said before you seduced me into your bed, I had another reason for bringing you to our room.” His wink told her he was pleased with her misunderstanding, so she didn’t bother to apologize. “This is for you. I’m sorry I’m so late.”

She frowned at the bundle and looked at him in confusion. He’d gotten her a gift? She couldn’t imagine why. She’d already gotten so much. She didn’t need another thing.

“Go on. Open it,” he encouraged.

She unfolded the linen to find the most beautiful brush and comb set she’d ever seen. Her mouth fell open and her throat went tight with emotion. She’d never had anything so beautiful to call her own.

“There’s even a mirror.” He pointed to a small metal mirror that reflected a wavy vision of them, heads bent to explore her treasure.

“They’re so beautiful. But you didna need to go to the expense since the dowager already gave me a set.”

“You deserve your own things. Pretty things. I’m sorry I’ve not been a better husband.”

Was he jesting? He was the best husband she’d never even thought to have. Tears stung her eyes as she reached up to kiss him. She knew well enough what he wasn’t saying. He was sorry he couldn’t love her.

He’d told her many times his heart was too broken to love again, and yet he treated her better than anyone ever had. She wouldn’t ask him for more, because what they had was enough. She’d never expected anyone to love her anyway.

They shared a life together, and a bed. He was happy to make her laugh, and he’d been thoughtful to get her such a wonderful gift. But she’d never have his heart.

And in truth, it was safer this way for both of them. Love had made her mother so sad in those days before her death. She’d wanted a man she couldn’t have. If Dorie wasn’t careful, she could end up the same way.

She smiled up at him as he took the brush and sat behind her to stroke it through her hair. She would be content with what he was able to give. Hoping for more would only cause pain and resentment. In the days when she’d been locked away, she’d wished for a prince to come save her and love her forever.

She should be so happy that half her wish had come true.

…

Lach had put off Bryce’s trip to the Campbells until the spring. The logic being that the longer they waited, the less money the McCurdys would have for weapons and supplies. They’d already heard that some of the clan were leaving to join neighboring clans.

Bryce was happy to stay at Dunardry. Not only to avoid his father, but to spend more time with Dorie. His favorite thing to do in winter was to keep his wife warm in their bed.

His second favorite thing was to go hunting with his cousins.

They went out one crisp March morning at dawn as they used to do when they were younger men. Unlike those times, his friends were chatting loudly as they walked through the woods toward the meadow.

It wasn’t just because they would scare off all the game that Bryce wished they’d shut their gobs.

“Mari told me how excited Dorie was with the gift you gave her,” Cam said with a smirk.

Bryce had enjoyed Dorie’s reaction to the brush and comb set so much he’d made a habit of getting her a trinket whenever the tinker visited. The last time it had been a locket. She’d not taken it off since he gave it to her. He rather liked the way the pendant dangled between her naked breasts. The thought brought a smile to his face.

“It’s not a large manor house like I’m building for my wife, mind you, but it’s a step in the right direction,” Cam said. They all knew the funds for the manor house had come from Mari, and they chuckled at Cam’s joke.

“Have you finally decided to give the marriage a chance?” Lach asked, hope clear in his voice.

The smile on Bryce’s face faded as it normally did when Lach or someone else made more of the relationship than they should. He needed to be honest so Lach wouldn’t expect too much from him.

“I’ve decided to be pleasant to my wife. She didna do anything to deserve my boorish treatment of her, and I’ve made amends. As for the marriage, it’s still not something I wanted, but I’m making the best of it, as you bid me to do.”

Lach didn’t seem appeased by Bryce’s answer. Bryce knew Lach felt guilty for having married him off for no good reason, since they hadn’t gotten the alliance they’d planned.

The laird opened his mouth to say something when Cam interrupted. “What the bloody hell?”

Rascal growled, and Bryce silenced him and bid him to stay so he wouldn’t give away their position as a dozen warriors wearing McCurdy plaid rode leisurely across the meadow.

Cam and Bryce stepped in front of Lach, protecting their laird despite being hidden in the shadows of the trees.

“Should we run them off?” Cam asked, pulling his sword.

“Nay. They outnumber us,” Lach reasoned. “And we’re not armed for battle.”

Bryce looked down at the simple hunting bow in his hand and agreed they were not up for a fight with the McCurdys.

“They look to be scouting,” Bryce said with a frown.

“Do you think they intend to take us over?” Cam’s brow creased.

“We should already have moved on them and taken them down. Now they pose a danger.” Both Bryce and Cameron had wanted to take a more aggressive approach, but Lach wouldn’t put his men in harm’s way. Not unless he could ensure a victory.

“They’ll not act yet,” Lach said. “I’ve word from Kenna’s brother that clan Fletcher raided them recently. The McCurdys are hurting for supplies. Their already dwindling coin is now in even shorter supply. My guess is they are on the search for men and just passing through.”

“I need to go to the Campbells to secure allies so we can take over their clan and gain the access we were promised.”

Lach let out a breath.

Bryce knew he didn’t want a war. As laird, Lach didn’t want to risk losing any of his clan. Their safety was his responsibility. But it was time. They couldn’t continue to hide in the bushes while these blighters rode across their lands.

Lach nodded in agreement. “Go to the Campbells and see to an alliance. I’ll write to the Fletchers, and we’ll send for the Stewarts. I think they will aid us since Cam and Mari helped the laird’s daughter last year. I want as many men as we can find on our side so it’s a quick victory with the least amount of bloodshed.”

“Should we watch this group or eliminate them?” Bryce asked.

Lach looked out over the field and nodded once. “See it done.”

Bryce and Cam exchanged a glance, showing their surprise. This was sure to cause the McCurdys to launch a counterattack and start a war.

“Let’s gather the men.”