Page 27 of Her Reluctant Highlander Husband

“I appreciate you helping her with a dress. I’ll see to her shoes and the rest today,” he offered, feeling bad for snapping at them when they were only trying to help.

“You’ve done a poor job of it so far,” Cam said with a brow raised. He didn’t even have the grace to lower it when Bryce glared at him. The big oaf wasn’t threatened by his smaller cousins.

Leaving the hall, Bryce went out to find his wife something decent to wear.

He would take care of her, and he would damn well keep her safe, too.

…

It was clear to Dorie by the way Bryce ran out of the chamber that morning he hadn’t liked sharing a bed with her. And now he had also raced out of the hall the minute she arrived to break her fast.

Perhaps he didn’t want to have to see her, ever.

She couldn’t blame him. She was certain she looked a fright. She’d used her fingers to smooth her hair, but she could feel it sticking out. Some of the singed parts were impossible to tame. She didn’t even have a hair ribbon to secure it as she normally did.

Kenna waved for her to join them, so Dorie made her way to the front table. Rascal loped along beside her. At least he didn’t mind the way she looked. She couldn’t be sure if the stares from the other people in the hall were due to her state of disorder or because she’d run her husband from the room. It didn’t matter. She was getting used to the looks and whispers. She sat and smiled at the serving girl who brought her food.

“As soon as we’ve eaten, we’ll get to work straight away on some new dresses for you,” Kenna said.

“I’m quite good with hair,” Mari suggested. “I can trim off the scorched bits if you like.”

Dorie gave them a grateful smile and touched each of them. As a girl, she’d often hoped a prince would come rescue her from her prison, like in the ballads the bards sang. But she now realized that a few good friends would do just as well.

“I believe Bryce has gone to the village to get you shoes and a gift.”

“Kenna! Why must you spoil the surprise?” Mari gave Kenna a sisterly shove.

“I’m sorry.” Kenna looked embarrassed but her excitement returned. “I canna help it. When I know something that will make someone happy, it just spills out.”

A gift? For her? Why would Bryce get her a gift after she’d burned down his cottage? Although for the life of her, she couldn’t remember leaving anything out that might have caused the blaze.

As they spent the day making new dresses, Dorie was often distracted with thoughts of Bryce showing up with some trinket of affection.

She touched her lips, remembering the sizzle she’d felt when he’d kissed her. She also recalled the warmth of his body against hers this morning. The hard muscles in his arms as they wrapped around her. His hand so close to her breast she’d shifted, hoping he’d touch her there.

She would gladly give up any possession for another touch.

It was ridiculous she should want him so much. Especially after he’d made it clear he couldn’t care for her in that way. But something caused her to yearn for her husband.

Something she didn’t quite understand.

Chapter Ten

Having failed in his mission to secure a brush for his wife, Bryce returned to the castle and handed off the shoes to a maid to be taken to Dorie straight away. Then he returned to the bailey to run drills with his men. The troops had a visitor—their previous war chief, his cousin Cameron.

Cam slapped his shoulder as he came closer. The man had been busy working on a new house for his family. It was coming along nicely, but there was still work to be done.

“You’re joining us today, you sluggard?” Bryce asked.

Cam looked insulted. “To prepare for the battle to take Baehaven Castle and put an end to the McCurdys? Of course I’m here. I may not be war chief any longer, but I’m a MacKinlay.”

“And I’m not,” Bryce reminded him, earning a sound of dismissal from his cousin.

“That isna true, Bryce Thomas MacKinlay Campbell.”

Bryce laughed it off and drew his sword to start their practice. The men were energized, and the sound of clashing steel filled the crisp morning air. Everyone was excited to end the McCurdys.

“I need to go speak with the Campbells about getting more men to aid our cause,” Bryce said with a frown.