Dwyn glanced up from the chest she was packing and watched the maid strip the bed she and Geordie had left in such a rumpled state this morning. It was a month since he’d woken after his wound. His stitches were out, and he’d worked hard at rebuilding his strength, even before they’d been removed. The man had definitely succeeded there, Dwyn thought with a slow smile as she recalled some of the positions he’d shown her last night and this morning. He claimed it was all to aid in rebuilding his strength to make love to her with him standing up, and her in his arms, her legs wrapped around him as he clasped her under the bottom and raised and lowered her slowly onto his staff. Dwyn was most pleased to help him regain his strength in such ways. After all, it was her duty as wife to aid him in any endeavor.
The thought nearly made her snort to herself with amusement. Help him, or not, she definitely enjoyed the bedding part of marriage. But she enjoyed other aspects too. Just talking and laughing with him was wonderful. Walking in the gardens and orchard. Playing games of Nine Men’s Morris and chess. Dwyn had come to the realization that she not only loved the man, she loved being with him and couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have him.
“M’lady?”
“Hmm?” Dwyn glanced to the girl, and then recalled her comments and said, “Oh, aye. Well, ’tis no’ really necessary, but the people o’ Innes should be able to celebrate our union. And Geordie’s family wanted to attend it as well.”
The maid’s eyebrows rose at that. “Ye do no’ think marrying in the eyes o’ the church is necessary?”
“Oh.” Dwyn blinked as she realized the maid had no idea they were already married in the eyes of the church. There had only been her father, Una, Aileen, Rory, Alick, Aulay and Jetta there to witness the ceremony Father Archibald had performed the night Geordie was injured, and she supposed it hadn’t probably been discussed afterward. It hadn’t exactly been a grand affair, although it had been special to her. Besides, everyone had been so worried about Geordie, especially when the fevers started . . .
“’Tis no’ that I do not think ’tis necessary,” she began, and then paused and glanced toward the door when it opened.
“There ye are!” Geordie crossed the room quickly when he stepped in and spotted her. Clasping her by the waist, he lifted her into the air, lowered her to press a quick kiss to her lips and then raised and lowered her again for another quick kiss.
“Building yer strength again, m’laird?” Dwyn asked with amusement as he raised her for a third time.
“Aye, but with a purpose. I’m takin’ ye to the waterfall,” he announced, and set her on the floor, then snatched her hand in his and turned to tug her toward the door.
“The waterfall?” she asked anxiously, dragging her feet.
When he realized she was not following enthusiastically, he turned to peer at her. “What is it, love?”
Dwyn hesitated, but then asked uncertainly, “Is it safe?”
Geordie faced her solemnly. “The men have been scouring Buchanan land ever since the attack fer any sign o’ the bandits’ return, and have seen nothing. Also,” he added. “’Tis daylight. ’Tis always safe there in daylight. And I want to show ye why I love the waterfall so much ere we leave.” Brushing his fingers lightly down her cheek, he continued. “Besides, it has been six weeks since the attack, Dwyn. Bandits do no’ hang about in one area fer long. They’ll have moved on.”
Dwyn bit her lip briefly, and then glanced back to her chest and said, “But what about packing? We leave for Innes tomorrow and I still have—”
“We can do that tonight,” he pointed out, and then added, “But we canno’ go to the waterfall at night.” Bending, he pressed a kiss to her lips and then whispered, “Come with me, lass.”
It was the almost pleading tone to his voice as he said it that made up Dwyn’s mind. Pushing her worries and concerns aside, she nodded.
“That’s me girl.” Geordie beamed at her, and then turned and hurried out of the room, pulling her with him.
“’Tis so empty now that everyone is gone,” Dwyn murmured in a hushed voice as she followed Geordie down the stairs to the great hall. Which wasn’t really empty. There were servants and soldiers coming and going, or sitting to enjoy a repast or drink. But they were all going quietly about their business, when she was used to laughter and loud voices.
“Dwyn, love, ye’ve said that at least ten times a day since me sister, brothers and their mates all returned to their homes, and that was nearly four weeks ago,” Geordie pointed out with a chuckle as they crossed the great hall, headed for the doors to the bailey.
“I ken, but it just feels strange still. While yer brothers and sister and their mates were here, ’twas always loud and boisterous in the great hall. Then they left, and—” She shrugged.
“Aye, I miss them too,” he murmured with a faint smile. “But we’ll see them soon. They’re coming to Innes for the wedding,” Geordie reminded her, and then paused in front of the doors to the bailey to face her as he asked, “Will there be room for everyone at Innes?”
“Innes does no’ have as many rooms as Buchanan, but the keep itself is a good size. We’ll find room for everyone,” Dwyn assured him.
“Aye, we will,” he agreed. Smiling, he kissed the tip of her nose and admitted, “I’m curious to see our home, and eager to leave.”
“By this time tomorrow we’ll be on our way, and in three days ye’ll see it,” she murmured, because that’s how long he’d said it would take to get to Innes. It had taken Dwyn and her family much longer to travel to Buchanan from Innes, but they’d had a wagon and a large party of soldiers with them. She and Geordie were planning to ride straight there at speed, with just a sack of clothes each and Alick and Rory for company. Their chests would follow with her father, sisters and the escort of Innes warriors they’d brought with them and would take twice or perhaps even three times as long to make the journey. She knew her sisters were above stairs seeing to packing their own clothes away in the chests they’d come in.
“Should no’ we tell Aulay or Jetta where we’re going?” Dwyn asked as he pushed open one of the doors and led her down the keep stairs.
“Aulay was taking Jetta above stairs for a nap when I came to find ye,” Geordie said, glancing around to waggle his eyebrows suggestively to let her know what kind of nap he was speaking of. Heading for the stables now, he told her, “Which is what made me think I should take the opportunity to take ye to the waterfall.”
“Ah,” she said with amusement.
Geordie must have stopped at the stables before coming to fetch her. His horse was ready and just being led out as they arrived. When he caught her about the waist and lifted her into the saddle, Dwyn supposed that meant she was riding with him rather than on her own mount, but didn’t mind. Any excuse to have his arms around her always gained Dwyn’s approval, and she leaned back into him with a pleased little sigh once he was mounted behind her. Geordie’s arms slid around her and he hugged her briefly, and then he took the reins and they were off.
They’d barely put the outer wall at their back before Geordie was shifting his reins to one hand so that he could reach up and caress her breasts with the other. Moaning, Dwyn pressed back into him with her shoulders, her back arching upward into the caress.