Page 77 of A Fearless Rebel

“Oh.” She yawned and stretched. “What is it then? Are ye in pain?”

His heart hammered, making Keithen wonder if something was, indeed, wrong. “I need to tell ye something.”

Her eyes widened and she sat up. With her mussed hair and sleepy eyes, she was enticing. The tops of her breasts became exposed as the ribbon of her night rail had untied.

“Err,” he stammered. “I must inform ye that I…well, ye see, I feel that…no, that is not right.”

Ava narrowed her eyes. “Have ye taken tonic again this morn?” She slipped from the bed and came to him. “Come, I will help ye to sit.”

Pressed against his side, she pulled his left arm over her shoulders. “Come along. Ye shouldn’t be standing.”

“I do not wish to sit.” Keithen tried to push her away, but almost lost his balance and both of them swayed sideways.

“Keithen, if ye fall, yer leg could break again. Why are ye being so stubborn?” Ava snapped and took a step away. “What is the matter with ye this morning?”

He glared at her. “Last night, I woke up and ye were asleep.”

This time, she looked toward the wardrobe. “Did I talk in my sleep?”

Keithen shook his head. “Ye did not. But I thought about ye and how independent ye are because ye had to be. How ye have never had a family like most. Ye know, like mine. One that cares for one another.”

Clasping her hands against her chest, she turned away. “I did not have a caring family. What does that have to do with anything?”

“I want ye to know that I will always be yer family. I will always stand with ye.”

Ava turned back to face him. The expression on her face was heartbreaking. It looked like she wasn’t sure how to react. Something akin to sadness filled her eyes.

“That is the kindest thing anyone has ever said to me.” Ava sniffed. “Thank ye.”

Keithen motioned for her to come close, and she took hesitant steps until she arrived in his arms. His eyes fell shut as she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Ava, what I feel for ye, I have never felt before. I love ye, Wife, with all my heart.”

When she gasped and looked up at him, there were tears in her eyes. “How can ye say that? I thought ye were in love with Catriona.”

“She is very special to me. I love her like a sister. But what I feel for ye is much deeper. It fills me with the need to care for ye and ensure ye will always be safe. I wish to protect ye and to give ye anything ye desire.”

He took her mouth, enjoying the familiarity of the beautiful woman’s body against his.

Clinging to him, she let out a long sigh and placed her head on his chest. “I have felt the same way about ye for a long time.”

There was a knock on the door and Keithen called for whoever it was to enter.

A maid stepped in and blushed at seeing them in an embrace. “I was told to inform ye that visitors arrive.”

“Visitors?” Keithen went to the window and looked out. Outside, the morning haze made it hard to see clearly, but he made out the Ross banner.

“My sister and her husband are here.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

There were still several hours until last meal and Ava wasn’t sure what to do with her time. Just a few days after Esme arrived, Lady Fraser returned from her travels. That left Ava with nothing to do. Her garden was gone until spring and she could not spend time with the other women in the sitting room without it becoming awkward.

A couple times, she’d sought out Catriona, but Esme had been with her. She’d given up trying to seek out companionship, other than Keithen.

When her head bobbed from sleep, Ava put her embroidery to the side and went to peer out the window. Upon opening it, frigid air instantly brought relief from any sleepiness.

There were only a few people in the courtyard. Guardsmen gathered around a bonfire and several maids hurried to the well.

The men watched the women until one said something. They all laughed at whatever words were exchanged. Probably some sort of flirting.