Page 105 of The Dragon Laird’s Obsession

Harriet chuckled and wove her fabric around Ailis’s waist again. “Ye are an unusual bride, Ma’am.”

“Ye have nay idea,” Sorcha murmured.

When the final measurement was taken, Harriet began speaking quietly with Sorcha about the wedding preparations while Ailis walked around the shop, taking in the latest clothing styles.

Ailis watched them suspiciously when she heard them whisper her name. “What are ye whisperin’ about?”

“Nothin’ ye need concern yerself with,” Sorcha replied.

“That is precisely what people say before nae tellin’ me somethin’ I ought to ken.”

Sorcha sighed. “We were merely discussin’ the marital night.”

“What?” Allies questioned, staring at Sorcha.

Her brows drew together as her lips parted slightly.

“Ye do ken what happens after the bindin’, right? When ye retire to yer new chambers with yer husband?”

Heat flooded Ailis’ cheeks until her skin tinged. She knew they saw her flush. Her throat dried up because of it, too. For several heartbeats, she said nothing. Her eyes moved across Sorcha’s face as though the answer might somehow be written there. Confusion clouded her features, leaving her looking utterly lost

“I… I daenae ken what ye mean.”

“Oh dearest,” Sorcha murmured and crossed over to take her hand. “After the ceremony, ye and Gordon will retire together.”

“I ken that. We will share a chamber, will we nae? I ken I shall be miserable in his chamber… It is all dark and musty, and he absolutely hates me sheep beddin’.”

Sorcha smiled gently. “I do nae speak of sleepin’, sister. When a man and woman are married, there are certain…” Sorcha paused.

“Duties,” Harriet supplied to her.

“Aye, duties that must be performed,” Sorcha continued with an eager smile then lowered her tone. “Ye will be expected to consummate the marriage.”

Ailis blinked, a furious heat spreading on her cheeks. “Consummate? Do ye mean when a man touches a woman?”

“Aye,” Sorcha answered. “And when he makes her feel… bliss.”

“Bliss? What does that mean?” Her eyes searched Sorcha’s for answers as that heat swept through her again.

Does she mean makin’ bairns?

“It means the pleasures a man brings his wife.”

Ailis waited for Sorcha to say more. “That is all?”

Sorcha opened her eyes. “Aye”

Harriet cleared her throat, and Ailis looked across the room at her next.

“When the time is right, ye will ken what it is like,” Sorcha told her with another reassuring smile that made Ailis frown.

“That is not helpful, Sorcha.”

Harriet finally intervened. “Ye neednae fear it, Ma’am. A husband should be gentle. He should give his wife time. And he should listen if she is afraid.”

Ailis’ thoughts immediately betrayed her as she recalled Gordon’s hands on her waist and the hard feel of his body underneath her touch when he told her he did not wish to ruin her.

She swallowed hard now, the meaning of their words sinking in.