Page 31 of A Highlander's Vow

Chapter Fourteen

“Nay, ye willno’ share a bedchamber until ye had a proper wedding!” Lady Beth Mackenzie stood glaring at Gregory, her hands fisted on her hips. They had just arrived and Megan looked like she was about to faint. He’d just asked Lady Mackenzie to assign a bed chamber to them and when she inquired when they had married, they looked at each other and Beth frowned. “I’ll have the story, please.”

Gregory told them how they had announced themselves as married for most of the journey, so they were considered married by the laws of Scotland.

“No’ by my laws,” she said. “I will be sending for a priest to marry ye officially.” The look on her face did not bode well for them to consummate their marriage anytime soon.

He sighed. “Just make sure ye do it right away. We have men coming after us to drag Megan off to marry someone she doesna wish to marry.”

“I will send for Father Matthew who should be here in a day or two.” She glared at Gregory. “Until then we will have a comfortable room prepared for Megan and ye can use yer usual room.”

Unhappy, but bending to the rules that the Lady of the Manor insisted on, he put his arm around Megan. “My wife is no’ well, she’s recovering from a wound in her arm. She needs to rest. Can she no’use my bedchamber until the other one is ready?”

Beth nodded. “I can see she is no’ well.” She moved toward her and placed her arm around Megan’s shoulder. “I will send for Emma who will care for her, and aye, she can use yer bedchamber until the other one is ready.” She pointed at him, with no nonsense on her face. “Ye, stay away from there.”

“I must first get clean clothes so I might take a wash in the loch.”

Beth nodded.

“I see ye’re laying down rules again, Wife.” Daniel had joined them and grinned at Beth.

Gregory put his hand on Megan’s arm. “My Laird, may I present to yemy wife”—he glared in Beth’s direction—“Megan Mackenzie.”

“’Tis a pleasure, lass.”

Megan looked as though she was ready to collapse. “I will have a bath sent up for ye and send for Emma to look at yer injury,” Beth said.

Daniel slapped Gregory on his back. “As soon as ye get back from the loch, stop in my solar for a short meeting. There are things I want to speak with ye about.”

Gregory nodded and headed for the stairs to his bed chamber to retrieve much-needed clean clothes. He made sure Megan was comfortable with Beth, but knowing the laird’s wife, she would take very good care of the lass and make sure she felt welcomed.

It was definitely welcome to arrive at his bedchamber. His plans for bedding his new wife shattered, he could only hope that the priest would arrive soon. He congratulated himself on how well he’d refrained from seducing the lass thus far. But it was important he not introduce his wife to bed sport—which he had reason to believe was not something she’d had received a great deal of pleasure from—until the time was right. Perhaps Lady Beth had the right idea of it.

He rummaged around in the trunk at the foot of the bed and retrieved new clothes.

Once he arrived at the loch behind the castle, he stripped down and dove into the cold water.

*

Megan awoke fromher nap and looked around. So this was Gregory’s bedchamber. She almost laughed at the expression on his face when Beth denied their marriage and insisted they sleep apart until their priest arrived.

She wasn’t sure if she was happy or sad. She had mixed feelings about Gregory. She still didn’t know if she was here only for duty or if his feelings for her had changed.

Her feelings? She was not sure. Based on his kisses, she was sure him bedding her would be different than it had been with Robert. He was caring where Robert just let her be. That was one point in his favor since she’d seen in Gregory so far that he enjoyed directing her life. So far she’d allowed it because she was too tired and unsettled to dispute what he’d said.

She yawned just as one of the maids entered. “I am sorry to disturb ye, but Lady Mackenzie wanted to be sure ye’re settled in and didn’t need help undressing.”

Megan smiled. “That was verra sweet of her, and please thank Lady Mackenzie for me, but my dress is easily removed.”

“If ye need anything else, please have one of the men in the corridor send for Sarah. I am usually in the kitchen.”

“Thank ye so much, Sarah.”

Not long after Sarah left, a few strapping lads carried in a bath tub, along with several buckets of water. She sighed at the thought of being clean again.

Before she climbed into the tub, there was a hard knock on the door.

Startled, Megan called, “Who is there?”