Page 72 of The Eagle

Cait shook her head. “I am not used to any of this. I wonder what other things are planned that I do not know about yet.”

“Cait,” Lady Mariel said coming from the direction of the sitting room. “Isobel wants to see ye. Also, ye will not go down for last meal nor will ye see Stuart at all until the wedding. Ye will take yer meals in the sitting room.”

She eyed the items both she and Cora carried. “Come along, bring it all with ye.”

They followed Lady Mariel to a small room adjoining hers. “Now this is perfect. Stuart will not find ye here.”

Once she put all her items down, Cait then went back out to see Isobel. She was anxious to see the wee bairn.

The laird’s bedchamber was warm. There was a cheery fire in the hearth and the curtains were drawn to hold the warmth in.

Isobel sat up in the bed and was drinking from a cup when Cait walked in. Her face brightened at seeing her.

“I am so happy about yer wedding. I wish I could be there.”

Lady Macdonald, who sat in a chair in the corner with the sleeping child in her arms, gave Isobel a pointed look. “The bairn was quite big and ye have to heal properly before traipsing about.”

“It is just downstairs and Darach offered to carry me,” Isobel protested and then looked at Cait with a warm smile. “I have a gift for ye.”

Cait smiled and walked nearer. “Ye are much too kind.”

“It is something I think ye will like to have.” Isobel motioned to a bundle on a table beside the bed.

Feeling giddy, Cait lifted it and looked at it for a long time. “This is my first gift.”

“Ye will get more tomorrow. But I am happy to give ye yer first wedding gift.” Isobel grinned.

“What I mean is that this is my first gift ever. I have never received a gift before.”

“Not even from yer father or mother?” Lady Macdonald exclaimed. “How sad.”

Isobel gave her mother a patient look. “Not everyone has the means for frivolity. All money has to be saved for necessities.”

“Oh dear, that was thoughtless of me,” Lady Macdonald exclaimed, but then brightened. “Open it.”

Rolled neatly inside the parchment was a beautiful shawl. The weave of the fabric was fine, and it was embroidered with two large peacocks.

“I embroidered one and Beatrice the other,” Isobel explained. “I hope ye like it.”

Cait hugged the item close to her chest and sniffed. “I cannot express how much I adore it.”

At her happiness Isobel blinked, her eyes shiny with unshed tears. “Oh, Cait. I will miss ye.”

“Do not make her cry,” Lady Macdonald said nearing the bed.

Cait wasn’t sure who she meant, but she nodded. “I will not make her cry.”

“Not ye,” the woman said. “I am speaking to Isobel. Do not make Cait cry, we cannot have a bride with red, swollen eyes tomorrow.”

The next day, Stuart paced the length of the great room; he was growing tired of waiting for one thing or another. After first meal, he and Ewan had gone out to practice sword fighting to pass the time until the wedding, which was to take place in the late afternoon.

His squire, Anton, had run out and stopped him, stating his mother did not want him to be bruised or injured prior to the wedding. She’d then promptly had him bathe and dress, banishing him to the parlor to wait for whatever it was that he was to do next.

He spent the time thinking of that night and how he looked forward to having Cait beneath him again.

This time he wished to see all of her. When they’d made love the first time, she’d been reluctant to remove all her clothing. He was going to make sure that night both of them were free of every single piece of clothing. He would delight in her body, tasting every inch.

“Ye are aroused. It may not be a good idea to walk into the chapel like that,” Caelan said, stating the obvious.