Page 36 of Never Marry a Highlander

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.It had been more than an hour since she heard some sort of praise about the woman.“I haven’t spoken to her about it yet.”

Craig studied her for a moment then tugged her so she lay alongside him.“I feel as though ye doona feel comfortable with Helena.”

Since they were having a calm, friendly moment, she decided to let her guard down, which would probably turn out to be a problem.“Ye must realize that there would be a tad of awkwardness between us.I was supposed to marry the laird and he convinced ye to take his place so he could marry Helena.”

He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it.“I’ve told ye before, ‘twas no sacrifice on my part.Robin would no’ have allowed me, or Finn, to stay single forever.If I had to marry, it was nice to marry a beautiful woman.”

She tried to avoid the blush, but to no avail.“A woman who fights with ye all the time.”

“No’ all the time,” he said softly.He shifted so he lay on his side, facing her.“We had some moments that were more pleasure than fighting.”

“Ye are sick, Craig!”

“Whoosh.I’m ne’er too sick to make love to my wife.”

She felt the immediate reaction in her body from his words.Before she could respond, there was a slight knock on the door.Lenora quickly sat up and straightened her skirt.“Aye.”

The door opened and Helena stepped in.She took one look at the two of them and stepped back.“I apologize, I dinna mean to interrupt anything.”

Lenora stood pushing back the strands of hair that had fallen from her braid.“My husband forgets he is sick.”

Helena laughed, then said.“I thought it might be a good time for me and ye to talk.I doona think I welcomed ye properly and then Craig got sick.Can ye join me in my solar?”

“Where is Helena’s solar?”Lorena asked as the woman left the room.

“When you leave this room turn to the left and it is at the end of the hall.”

“You look tired,” Lorena said.

“Aye, I am going to sleep for a while.Enjoy yer visit with Helena.”

With a deep breath, Lorena bent and kissed Craig on the forehead for absolutely no reason she could understand.Then with nervous flutters in her stomach, she left the room as if she was going to her execution.

Helena’s solar was beautifully decorated.Perfect.Just like the woman.Lorena stood just inside the door.Helena smiled at her.“Will you have a seat?Did ye want some tea?”

“Nay.I just had tea and wonderful bannocks in the kitchen.”

“Did ye meet Maude?She’s a fine cook.”

“I did.I enjoyed speaking with her and telling her about recipes that I have tried myself.In fact, I was hoping that I could work in the kitchen.”

Helena frowned.“Oh goodness.”

Lorena held her breath until the woman spoke.

“I had hopes of training ye to be my assistant.”

St.Stephen’s bollocks, not only was she to be denied the work she would enjoy, but she also now had to receive training from the perfect Helena?The woman who stole her husband?

Mayhap she could go with Craig on his assignment for Robin.