Page 101 of The Rogue’s Redemption

“Had you any doubt I would be?”

Reid reached up and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “None.”

Incorrigible.

“Aye, I’m pleased,” she admitted. “Are you?”

Why she should feel shy now, Allie wasn’t sure. But she couldn’t deny that lying beside Reid, completely unclothed, after . . . that . . . well, it simply wasn’t a feeling to which she was accustomed.

Reid mimicked her position, but when he turned to look at her, his eyes did not rest on hers but traveled down the length of her body.

“Everything you do pleases me.” He cupped her cheek and rubbed his thumb in circles on her neck. “It has since the very moment we met.”

Allie thought back and challenged him. “The very moment?”

“The very one.” His hand dipped lower and lay, for a moment, on her shoulder. “You talked as if Highgate belonged to you, despite the very humble clothing that had me curious from the start.”

“And did it shock you to learn why I donned such attire?”

When his ministrations with his thumb moved to the sensitive spot between her neck and shoulder, Allie wondered how long their conversation would last.

“Perhaps a bit.” His hand stopped moving, and the sudden seriousness of his expression startled her. “I am proud of you, lass. Your skill with the longsword has improved greatly, and I do not doubt it will continue to do so.”

Allie hesitated to ruin an otherwise perfect moment, but she saw an opportunity and took it. “As I am proud of you for what you did at the Day of Truce.”

“I did nothing but anger Toren and the entire clan.”

“Nay.” She shook her head. “That is not true. Juliette says there are others who believe as you do. That open rebellion will lead only to conflict. Especially after what my father learned.”

“I should have convinced Toren and not gone against him.”

Allie knew enough about chiefs and clans now to realize his words were likely true. The chief was obeyed in all things.

“Perhaps,” she agreed. “But that does not make me any less proud to call you my husband.” She reached up and returned his hand to her shoulder, and he immediately began to move his thumb in circles once more. She did not doubt that he loved her, and this night was proof of their commitment to each other. But the discord between Reid and his brother bothered him more than he would admit, even if news of their wedding had softened their discord.

When Reid’s caresses became more insistent, she put aside all thoughts of border politics.

At least until tomorrow.

35

A week had passed since they’d said the secret vows. A week as Reid’s wife. For Allie, it had been a wonderful, glorious week filled with time in the training yard and lessons on how to love, and be loved, by the man she’d chosen to spend the rest of her days with.

But for Reid, though he claimed otherwise, it had not been quite as idyllic. She knew he was troubled by his discord with Toren.

Now that Reid and Gillian were speaking, Allie’s relationship with her sister had gone back to normal. She wanted nothing more than for her husband to have that same contentment with his own sibling. With the clan she knew he loved and honored.

Then, shortly before the wedding, visitors rode to Brockburg. Graeme had already returned, and was occupying most of Gillian’s time, so it wasn’t him. Allie and Juliette, who had been walking around the grounds, made haste to the courtyard to find who’d arrived. It was clearly becoming uncomfortable for her friend to walk, but Juliette insisted that she would not be forced to her bed before “’twas necessary.” If Allie hadn’t been so worried about whether or not it was safe for her, she would be amused by Juliette’s attempt to drive the poor midwife mad. The two women had very different opinions on what was best for Juliette and the babe.

As the riding party got closer, Allie counted seven men, though she could not see their faces, nor even their colors, from this distance.

“They are not English,” Juliette said.

Their lack of banners had already told her as much. “You do not recognize them?”

“Not yet.” Juliette stood on her toes to get a better look.

“There you are.”