Page 20 of Scottish Rose: Coira

“Ye were the one who said it was probably nothin’,” she replied, pruning the rose bush. “My, there are so many rosebuds, but even more thorns.” She continued to work, only being interrupted when someone’s hands slipped around her waist from behind. She gasped, but instantly relaxed when she heard her husband’s voice and felt him kissing her cheek.

“You are a breath of fresh air, Coira.”

“Do ye mean that?” She smiled, still fussing with the roses.

“I do.”

She moved her hand too quickly, and one of the thorns pricked her. She cried out and brought her hand to her mouth.

“Let me,” said Lance, turning her and bringing her finger to his mouth in a kiss. “You are but a beautiful flower among the thorns, my Scottish Rose,” he told her. “Coira, I am happy that we married. You are such a kind soul. I don’t know how anyone could have ever thought to hurt you.”

“Shhh,” she said, putting her finger to his mouth to silence him. “I dinna ever want to talk about my past again.” Standing on her tiptoes, she reached up and pressed her lips against his.

“Mmmmm. I like that.” He pulled her closer, letting his hands wander to her rump. He squeezed her and she jumped.

“Lance,” she said, feeling embarrassed. “Dinna forget we are in the middle of the garden.”

“And with me sitting right here, watching,” added Zara, getting to her feet. “Come on, Sweetcakes, let’s go for a stroll and leave these lovers alone.” The dog followed Zara out of the garden, yipping and jumping, trying to get the basket she carried.

“Coira, I know now that you’ve been through a lot of hard times in the past. I thought we could spend some time away from the castle and, mayhap, that would help.”

“Aye. I would like that. Where will we go?”

“I thought we could go for a ride and, mayhap, bring some food along. I have a special place I’d like to show you.”

“All right,” she said, putting down her work gloves. “Oh, Lance. Did ye see the rose bush? It has a lot of buds that will bloom soon.”

“That’s nice,” he said, not seeming to care about flowers.

They made their way to the stables where Lance had his stable boy saddle two horses.

“My lord,” said Jack, walking into the stable with a travel bag that looked full. “I have the food you requested for your outing.”

“Fasten it to the horse, Squire. And do hurry because it looks like it might rain.”

“Aye, my lord.”

Within a few minutes, they were mounted and ready to ride. When they made their way to the drawbridge, Sweetcakes ran after them, wanting to follow.

“Nay, go back,” said Lance. “Jack, get the dog.”

“Aye, my lord,” called out his squire from behind him.

“Are ye sure she canna come with us?” Coira looked over her shoulder to see Jack chasing the dog around the courtyard.

“I want to be alone with you, Coira. No other people and no dogs!”

“Oh. All right.”

They rode to the river and stopped on the bank to eat. Coira sat down on a blanket as Lance laid out the food in front of them.

“Tell me about yerself,” said Coira, picking up a sweetmeat and popping it in her mouth.

“What do you want to know?” Lance pulled a chicken leg out of the bag and took a bite.

“How can someone as nice as ye be related to someone as evil as the late Lord Ralston?”

“My late mother was a half-sister to my twin uncles. I grew up only having met them a few times since my mother never liked them. She passed away from fever when I was very young.”