Page 11 of Her Reluctant Highlander Husband

She grumbled while getting up once again to let the dog inside. When he jumped up on the bed she told him to get down. Giving up with a whine, he curled up on the rug next to her bed and she tried again to settle for the night.

She was nearly asleep when she felt the bed shift as the dog returned to his spot by her feet. Enjoying his warmth and company, she didn’t protest.

What a different life this was from the one she’d had before this morning. She now had a home of her own and could come and go as she pleased. Her husband said he would provide her new dresses and even a brush.

She hadn’t expected to be pampered, but she looked forward to it.

She also looked forward to spending more time with Bryce. Perhaps this could be a real marriage someday. She hadn’t ever bothered to hope for such things as the love of a husband and children of her own.

But it was still too soon to wish for more. For now she’d just enjoy the freedom and peace.

Her freedom and peace were interrupted the next day when she received visitors from the castle. Rascal barked twice before Dorie heard a knock. She hurried for the door, assuming it wouldn’t be Bryce. This was his house; he had no need to knock or wait outside. Still, she hoped.

She hated the twinge of disappointment she felt as she opened the door and didn’t see her husband. Why would she give a thought to a man who had left her here without another word? Her little cottage felt oddly similar to her room at Baehaven despite being able to walk outside whenever she wished.

However, she was excited to have guests and smiled in greeting as Kenna and Mari came inside. They looked around and she pulled out chairs for them to sit.

“This is lovely,” Mari said. “It looks like you’ve already settled in.”

Dorie nodded, though the cottage was mostly the same as it had been when Bryce had left her the day before. She’d not had anything to add to the furnishings, though a young boy had brought her wood that morning and she piled it in the corner by the hearth.

She looked over her shoulder at the table where she was attempting to make something edible from the stores Bryce had left for her. So far, it hadn’t turned out well.

Mari and Kenna kept the conversation going with little input from Dorie, which was a relief. The sisters were easy to be with. She liked them both and hoped her smiles spoke of her appreciation.

“We’ll leave you now, but we’ll be back to check on you tomorrow,” Kenna promised. That promise turned into fear the next day after Dorie had burned her third attempt at making bannocks.

The smoke caused her eyes to water. She dumped the hardened lumps out in the grass and opened all the windows to air out her home. She couldn’t have the laird’s wife and a former duchess see her failure. They would think her unworthy. Instead she watched, and when the women were approaching, she met them at the bottom of the hill with a basket as if she was going down into the village to make a purchase.

They joined her without coming to the cottage, and Dorie was spared the humiliation. This became her habit each day for the next few weeks.

…

Bryce’s life was back to normal. He woke in his bed alone. He ate the morning meal, trained with his men, rode the borders, and came back in time for the evening meal before going to bed. Alone.

His life was just the way he liked it. He spent his meals conversing with his cousins and their wives just as he always had. When they went off with their families, he was alone once again.

It had been three weeks since he’d left Dorie in her new home and he hadn’t seen her since. He’d hired a woman in the village to make her a few dresses and paid for shoes. According to wee Gordon, she had plenty of wood with which to cook. Bryce had done his duty.

Oftentimes he was able to forget he was even married. That would have been fine with him, except everyone kept asking him how his wife fared.

“She’s fine,” Bryce answered Abagail, the latest person to ask while stitching a gash he’d earned during drills.

“Are you sure?” the healer pushed.

“I haven’t heard that she wasn’t.” If the woman knew something, she should get on with it.

Instead of pushing further, she simply nodded and jabbed him deeper than she had on the last stitch. Surely it was a coincidence.

Later at supper, Lach asked after Dorie as well.

Bryce shrugged and focused on his food. “She’s fine.”

“I haven’t seen her up at the castle since ye wed her.”

If Lachlan wanted some form of answer, he would need to ask a question. Bryce kept eating until the laird tried again.

“I know you weren’t pleased to wed, but it’s not like you to be cruel to a woman.”