Chapter Twenty-Two

Katie snuggled closer to the warmth at her back. As she slowly came out of her slumber, she felt sore between her legs and realized she was naked. Her eyes snapped open. Except for the night in the cottage, she’d never slept without a nightgown before. Confused for a moment, she frowned and turned toward the source of the warmth.

Evan.

Her husband.

He slowly opened his eyes and smiled. She smiled back and felt happy and content for the first time in years. She now had someone to help her, someone to take part in the burdens that she’d carried since her mum’s death.

“Good morning, lass.” Evan’s morning voice was raspy and low and did strange things to her insides.

“Good morning.” Her voice didn’t sound much better.

He reached out and took a strand of her hair and rubbed it between his fingers. “I’d like more than anything to have another romp with ye, but we have much to do in order to leave in a few days.”

Katie shifted to prop her head up on her hand. “That soon?”

“Aye. I’ve already hired a land steward, Ian MacDuff and his wife. Before we leave, I’ll oversee the moving of many of yer clansmen from the castle to the cottages we found.”

Katie stiffened. “I thought I would take care of that since they are my people?” For truth, she was a bit put out that Evan would even make these decisions without consulting her first. They were her people. She’d brought them here, and she should be the one to oversee their move.

“Nay.” Evan waved her off. “Ye will be busy packing and speaking with Ian’s wife—if I remember, her name is Fiona. Introduce her to the servants and give her a tour so she kens what’s what.” Evan moved to rise from the bed, but Katie clamped her hand around his arm.

“Wait.”

“What?” He turned toward her, but ’twas obvious his mind was not focused on her. He looked in her direction, but his expression was blank and his thoughts were miles away.

Katie sat up and leaned against the headboard, dragging the blanket with her to cover herself. Even though they’d made love twice the night before, and once in the cottage, she was not comfortable with her nakedness. Seeing as how Evan was ready to jump up, minus his clothes, he apparently did not have that problem.

“I’m not too happy with ye making all these plans and decisions without asking me.” She hoped her words came out forcefully and not whiny, like some insipid lass.

His only response was raised eyebrows.

She straightened her shoulders, her annoyance growing. “Aye. ’Tis something I wanted to discuss with ye before we wed. But ye were in such a great hurry that we never had time.”

Now he looked as though she had grown another head while she sat there. “’Tis nothing to discuss. I am yer laird.”

She counted to ten, attempting to quell her growing irritation. She did not want to start off a marriage with bickering. She calmly said, in a verra soft voice, “That’s it? That is yer response?”

He studied her for a minute, looking as though he was considering her question and a suitable response. He gave her a curt nod. “Aye.”

With that one word, he stood and padded across the room to wash his face. He dipped the linen square into the bowl of water from the night before. “Ye need to make sure we have hot water in the morning.” He dropped the wet cloth and rubbed his face with a dry one. “Although, since we’ll be gone in a few days, it doesnae really matter.”

Katie couldn’t tell if her heart was pounding from looking at his fine male form or from the desire to whack him over the head with her work boot. Again, she counted. This time to twenty. “I dinnae ask for hot water this morning because I wasn’t sure if we would sleep here or in my bedchamber.”

Evan pulled on his trews. “We will always sleep in my bedchamber.” He then continued with his orders. Katie listened, appalled at his arrogance and heavy-handed manner. After a few minutes of him rattling off commands and her just staring at him with her arms crossed, he said, “Will ye remember all this?”

She jumped from the bed, dragging the blanket with her. “What I will be remembering, my laird, is that I married a mon who has no intentions of treating me with respect.”

Evan stopped tucking his shirt into his trews, a genuinely surprised look on his face. “What are ye talking about?”

She huffed. “Ye dinnae even ken, do ye?”

“Ken what?” He placed his hands on his hips and glowered at her. “Woman, if ’tis yer intention to confuse me first thing in the morning, ye have succeeded. Now, I am going downstairs to break my fast and do what needs to be done to make us ready to leave in two days time.” He walked over to her and gave her a perfunctory kiss and a pat on her arse before he left. She stood there, her mouth agape, staring at the closed door.

Perhaps ’twas too late to throw her work boot at the man’s thick head, but she gained some satisfaction in flinging it against the door. Some satisfaction, but not much as it slid to the floor. Instead, she shouted at the closed door, “Ye are an arrogant halfwit.”

Evan had already finished his breakfast and gone from the Great Hall when Katie arrived. Gavin and Alasdair sat side by side, discussing something that held her brother’s interest. She smiled at the lad, who had seemed to come out of his shyness since they’d arrived at MacDuff. In all fairness, a lot of that credit went to Evan and Alasdair.

Aye, the man she married did have a lot of good qualities, but his arrogance and heavy-handedness didn’t sit well with her. While she liked the idea of having another person to take part of her burden, she didn’t like that Evan just excluded her and expected her to blindly obey his orders like she was a servant. If she could just get him to stop for a few minutes and listen to her, she could explain how she wanted this marriage to go on. She would never be the “yes, my laird,” type of wife. And if that was what he thought he’d gotten when he married her, he was in for an awakening.

“Gavin, I would have a word with ye when yer finished with yer breakfast.” Katie took an apple and cut it into slices and added cheese to her plate. Then she slathered honey on warm bread and realized she was hungrier than normal this morn. She grinned. ’Twas most likely all the activity in Evan’s bed the night before.

“Aye, Katie. What do ye want?” Gavin slid into the spot next to her on the bench. “I need to hurry. Evan is going to give me another lesson in hunting.”

So her husband had time to give Gavin hunting lessons but no time to listen to her? “This willnae take much time. I just wanted ye to ken that we are all leaving for the laird’s keep in Argyll in two days.” She hoped the lad would not have a problem with that, since they’d just arrived in Fife a few weeks ago.

“Aye. Evan told me to be ready. He even said I can bring one of the puppies with me.”

At a loss for words, since her husband had apparently also taken over responsibility for her brother, all she could think to say was, “Is that so?”

Gavin hopped up. “Aye. Can I go now?” Before even waiting for her answer, he raced out the door, Alasdair right behind him.

Once more, Katie was left staring at a closed door, her mouth agape. Botheration. Men were annoying no matter the age. She popped a piece of apple into her mouth and chomped down as she continued to glare at the closed door.

…

Evan spent the day organizing, moving families, going through papers and other ledger books, and gathering together items to take with him and those that needed to stay at the castle. He then held a lengthy meeting with Ian MacDuff to go over the books and help him set up a method to handle rents, expenses, and a report to Evan once a month. The man was very bright, and Evan was happy in his choice of land steward.

As Evan went over items in his mind he still needed to do, he stood at the library window, watching Gavin running with a group of other lads, apparently playing some sort of game that Gavin led. They all waved wooden swords and called to Gavin for advice. The change in the lad since his arrival was remarkable, and Evan was certain the lad would turn into a fine mon one day.

“Evan, while ye were giving Gavin his lessons, I checked the village like ye asked me to do, and there is no sign of Lord Armstrong about.” Alasdair’s comments helped ease Evan’s worries a bit. Although he didn’t think Armstrong would give up so easily, he might have decided to ride to Cupar to seek the assistance of the general magistrate.

“Good to hear that, brother. Be sure to continue keeping an eye on Gavin. I dinnae think for one minute the mon has given up on the lad.” He glanced out the window and noticed the group of lads had disappeared. “Where is he now?”

“In the kitchen with a few of the lads, most likely snatching a meat pie. The lad really has an appetite. Mrs. MacDuff kens enough to keep an eye out for him.” Alasdair settled into the chair in front of Evan’s desk. “How are things going with yer new wife?”

“Fine.” Evan gathered unnecessary papers and tossed them into the fireplace behind him. The small fire that burned there grew higher as the documents caught the flames, sending a burst of warmth to his back and sparks flying up the chimney. He continued to shuffle papers, close books, and place them into drawers. He had too much on his mind and too much to do to be playing games with his brother.

“Are ye sure?”

Something about Alasdair’s tone made Evan stop and study the mon. “Are ye trying to say something to me, or are ye just here to waste my time?”

His brother leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed. “Nay. I’m just curious as to why yer new wife, who should be smiling brightly after her wedding night, has been stomping around the place all morning, growling at everyone.” He shook his head. “Not well done, brother. If yer having a problem keeping the lass satisfied, I will be happy to step in and—”

Within seconds, Evan was on top of his brother, the chair flying to the floor, his hands around his neck. “Dinnae even suggest such a thing if ye value yer sorry arse.”

Instead of fear, the fool burst into laughter, making Evan want to knock him senseless. “Maybe ye should take some of that fury and put it to good use,” Alasdair said between gulps of air.

Evan shoved his brother away and stood, pulling on his shirt cuffs. “I have no problem pleasing my wife, and there isnae anything wrong with her. She’s busy, as I am, and probably dinnae have time for yer silly jokes. If my wife has a problem, she kens to come to me with it.”

Alasdair climbed to his feet and continued to grin. “While yer making all yer plans, ye might check on Katie.”

When did his playful younger brother grow so tall and become such a man? Evan didn’t ken when Alasdair had gone from being a troublesome lad to someone Evan relied heavily on. Suddenly, he felt verra old.

Alasdair grew serious and placed his hand on Evan’s shoulder. “It might do you well to go see the lass. Women need a bit more care than yer horse, ye ken.” With those words and a wink, he left the library.

Evan frowned. Katie was growling at people and stomping about? She had been fine when he left her earlier that morning. He shrugged. Either Alasdair was taunting him or whatever was the problem, he would most likely only make it worse if he sought her out. Instead, he would begin packing for the trip home.

Evan didn’t see Katie until supper that evening. As he entered the Great Hall, she was speaking with Meggie, waving her arms about, seeming to give the maid instructions. He approached the table where they sat and joined them. “Good evening, lasses.”

Katie turned toward him and gave him a bright smile. “Good evening, husband.”

Evan huffed. So much for Alasdair’s concern earlier. There was nothing wrong with Katie, and she even looked verra happy to see him. “Did ye get the things done I told ye to do?”

Katie’s bright smile disappeared, replaced by a scowl. “I did what I needed to do to prepare for our departure.”

Satisfied that she’d done as she was told, he nodded and poured himself a glass of ale. “Today being Thursday, I’m planning on leaving Saturday. So be sure to get everything finished so there’s no delay.”

Before Katie could respond, Alasdair sat alongside him and began to speak. The serving girls arrived in the Great Hall with platters of vegetables, roasted game, haggis, baked apples, and oatcakes. Evan piled his plate, ravenous from the day’s work. He rarely ate anything between breaking his fast and supper, so it was always a big meal for him.

The Stirlings and MacDuffs who ate in the Great Hall with the family had begun to mingle quite well together. Evan was satisfied that all would be well when they departed. Ian MacDuff would take care of things, Evan would receive his monthly reports, and he could concentrate on his own clan.

“Ye better make some inquiries to find another healer. Poor old Mrs. MacCabe was counting on ye to help her out.” Evan poured another glass of ale from the pitcher and studied Katie.

She stared for a few moments, her eyes snapping. “I have taken care of that already, my laird.” She turned to Meggie, giving him her back.

Her tone and expression gave him pause. Had Alasdair been correct and there was something troubling her? He smiled, thinking that since this appetite had eased, ’twas time to turn his attention to another appetite. Whatever the problem troubling his wife, a hardy tup would calm her. He tapped Katie on the shoulder. “Once yer finished here, lass, I would have ye meet me up in my bedchamber.”

She gave him a curt nod and returned to her conversation with Meggie. Gavin wandered over and squeezed between Evan and Katie. “Can we go riding after supper?”

Evan ruffled the lad’s hair. “Nay. Yer sister and I have business we need to take care of upstairs. But I will take ye for another ride in the morn.” Seeing his annoyed little face, Evan added, “A mon dinnae fuss if he cannot have his way. Ye would be better served with making sure whatever you want to take to Argyll is packed and ready to go.”

“Aye,” the lad said, dragging the word out.

About twenty minutes passed before Katie joined Evan in his bedchamber. She arrived looking flustered and annoyed.

“What’s the problem, lass?”

“The paper I brought with me. I can’t find it.”

“Paper?” He walked toward her and drew her into the circle of his arms. “Let’s forget about papers and packing and enjoy a bit of time in the bed.” He nuzzled her neck, kissing the soft skin under her ear. “Whatever is missing ye can find tomorrow.”

She drew back. “Nay. I’ve already looked everywhere and can’t find the paper I brought with me from Stirling.”

Evan’s heart thumped, a sense of disaster on the horizon filling him. “What paper is that, lass?”

“The one that proves my family owns this land.”

He stepped back and scrubbed his face. “Ye dinnae need to keep looking for it.”

“Why not?”

“Because I burned it.”