Page 24 of The Highland Heir

His new bride would just have to wait him outwhile he got his legs under him, as it were. How bad could hebe?

He knew what was done. He would take his cuesfrom her to know better how to please her. Long ago, Teague hadtold him about pleasuring a woman.

He was instructed to never be disrespectfuland not to plant his seed anywhere he didn’t wish it to grow.Looking back at the ladies who’d waved at him, he knew he didn’twant to plant anything there.

He remembered the night before with Ellie soclose he could feel the heat of her body. The way he’d woken withher snuggled up against him and how uncomfortably hard he’dbeen.

He’d managed to roll away and go take care ofhimself quickly down by the creek before washing and getting waterfor the horses.

He noticed the women who had flirted with himdidn’t make his blood rise the way Ellie’s closeness had.

He could only hope his wife suited him in thesame way. He surely didn’t want to spend the rest of his dayslonging for Ellie Ross.

*

Ella entered the cottage, dark but for a lowfire in the hearth, the furs pulled over the windows to block outthe midafternoon light. A cough came from the bed, and Ella went tothat side.

“Aunt, it’s Ellisay. I’ve come to care foryou.”

“Ella?” Her aunt squinted. “He didn’t tell meyou were coming. I would have told him it wasn’t necessary. I’mnearly over the illness. Only a bit of a cough left. I was justtaking a rest. It’s best for gaining strength, ye know.”

“Aye.” Her aunt had always said as much asthe reason she needed a rest.

“Has your father brought ye?” The woman rose,and Ella hurried to the fire to light a rush so she could light thecandles.

“Nay. The laird required him to stay atGirnigoe.”

“Of course. The Sinclair laird canna wipe hisown arse without my brother’s opinion on it.”

Ella smiled at her aunt’s blunt speaking.Jenny, the youngest daughter of the Ross laird, had never marrieddespite her beauty. She chose to live alone in a cottage on theedge of the village rather than stay at Balnagown, which had oncebeen her home.

Ella wondered if this would be her fate aswell. Once Kieran married, would Ella wish to hide away from lifeon her own? She wasn’t ready to give up on finding her own bit ofhappiness.

“Speaking of lairds, how is Uncle William?”Ella asked. Her father’s oldest brother was laird of the Ross clan.Being one of many nieces and nephews, Ella didn’t know if her unclewould even recognize her if she bothered to visit him.

Aunt Jenny waved a hand.

“He’s very important. That’s all we need toknow about him.” Jenny rolled her eyes while pulling a brushthrough her brown hair. Her wavy locks were similar in shade toElla’s, with a few threads of silver where the red had oncebeen.

Her aunt moved to stir up the fire, but Ellatook the poker from her.

“I’ve come to help you, so sit and let me doit. I’ll not report back to my da that I lazed about and let youserve me. I would be a disgrace.”

Jenny chuckled.

“Very well, then. Fetch me my robe.”

After stirring the fire back to life andadding a few logs for cooking and boiling water, Ella helped heraunt into the worn robe and pulled back the furs from the windowsto let in the light and fresh air. The cottage seemed to come alivewith happy memories as soon as the sun touched it.

Ella remembered the worn rugs on the floorand the sturdy chairs by the hearth where she’d spent many eveningslistening to her aunt tell her tales of knights and princesses.

In her mind, the knights had always taken onthe appearance of Kieran, and, of course, she thought of herself asthe princess in the story.

She was straightening up and taking stock ofher aunt’s stores when someone rapped heavily on the door.

“That will be Kieran,” Ellie said as she wentto open the door. He ducked to enter because of his height andstood straighter once inside. She knew he was large, but he lookedall the more so for standing in the tiny room.

“This is the mighty Kieran I’ve heard so muchabout over the years?” Aunt Jenny said.