Page 8 of Never Marry a Highlander

Chapter Four

Lorenasleptmostofthe day.He left the bedchamber in time for the evening meal.The crowd of wedding guests had mostly left for their homes.The only ones still in the great hall were those who had traveled from other clans and were spending the night.

Giles waved him over where he sat speaking with Knox.Craig asked one of the serving girls to bring him an ale.She hurried off, swaying her hips, glancing over her shoulder.

“It looks like ye have an offer there since ye willna be having a wedding night,” Knox said as he watched the lass leave the room.

“I am a married mon now, or dinna ye remember the wedding this morning?”Craig asked.

“Aye.But yer wife is sick and ye won’t be doing what I’m sure ye had planned.”Knox smirked at him as he took a sip of his drink.

Craig shook his head.“I doona take my vows lightly.”

Knox leaned back in his chair and studied him.“Ye dinna plan on marrying Lorena.”

“Nay, but that doesna give me the right to break those vows I just took.”

Knox laid his drink down and studied Craig.“Ye are serious, aye?”

Tired of the conversation, Craig looked over at Giles.“Since we will be stuck here for a while, I plan to make use of the lists.Do ye want to join me?”

Giles nodded.“Aye.Mayhap ye should send a messenger to yer brother so he doesna wonder what happened to ye.”

The young maid placed a cup of ale in front of him, leaning over so far her breasts rested on his shoulders.Knox smiled at the lass.“Felina, ye are wasting yer time with this one.”

She backed up and when Craig looked behind him to thank her for the ale, she winked.“I hear ye new wife isna feeling so well.So, if ye change ye mind…”

He shook his head and turned to his cousin.“Aye Giles, the list tomorrow first thing.”He downed his ale.After some time of speaking with the two men, and ignoring Felina, Craig stood.“I’m off to bed.I might as well save my strength to best ye both in the lists tomorrow.”

He strode from the great hall and made his way to Lorena’s bedchamber.She was still asleep.He might not have a wedding night as planned, but he sure as hell was not going to sleep on the floor.

After removing his clothing, he made use of the bowl of warm water on the table near the door and washed himself.After using the linen hanging next to the bowl to dry himself, he walked to the bed and looked at his new wife.

A very bonnie lass, he knew naught about her.She was not the most pleasant person when she’d visited his clan when The Gunn was trying to force Robin into the match with her.But from what Robin told him, she’d taken abuse from both her brother and her deceased husband.That would make a lass a tad grouchy, for sure.

He climbed into the bed next to her.The heat coming from her body concerned him.With a sigh, he climbed from the bed and put his clothes back on and headed down to the kitchen.

All was quiet in the room, but there was a man sweeping the floor.“Can ye get me a bowl of cold water?”Craig asked.“And a few linen cloths.”

The man handed him a jug.“The creek is no’ far from here.Just head north for six or seven furlongs.Ye can’t miss it.That’s the best cold water yer going to find.”He nodded at a stack of linen cloths on a shelf behind Craig.“Yer cloths are there.”

After thanking the man, Craig walked to the creek, filled the jug with very cold water.He took a few cloths from the shelf and headed back to the bedchamber.

Lorena was lying very still.He removed the bedcovers and raised her shift, then began to wipe her down with the cool water.Her skin was smooth as silk and soft as a bairn’s bottom.His heart began to speed up when he turned her so he could wipe down the back of her legs.

Her bottom was plump and enticing.He needed to get this over with as quickly as possible.

She opened her eyes and frowned.“Who are ye?”

He continued to wipe her down.“I am yer husband.”

She shook her head and licked her lips.“Nay, he is dead.”

He smiled.“No’ this one.”

“Avery is dead?”

“Aye.”