em">Eager to leave her chamber, she went about pulling her gown on, her gestures awkward as she tried to arrange the dress with as little movement on her left side as possible.
As best she could, she brushed out her hair and left it down, since braiding it was going to be an impossibility one-handed. When she was satisfied that she didn’t look quite so haggard, she left the chamber, hoping she wasn’t too late for the morning meal.
And it was high time she saw to her duties as mistress of the keep. Surely that would keep her out of trouble with Ewan.
The days since her wedding had passed in a blur, and other than making the acquaintance of other women in the clan, Mairin hadn’t done much of anything besides trying to avoid her faithful watchdogs.
Well, enough of all that. It was time to take things in hand. After taking an arrow in the side, she wasn’t enthused about venturing out of the keep anyway.
When she entered the hall, she was greeted with looks of horror from her clansmen. Gannon and Cormac were involved in a heated debate, but when they saw her, they broke off and stared as if she’d grown two heads. Maddie, who was passing through as Mairin made her entrance, immediately threw up her hands and rushed over to where Mairin stood.
“My lady, you should still be abed,” Gannon exclaimed as he and Cormac also hurried over.
“Aye,” Maddie agreed. “You shouldn’t be up. I was about to bring up a tray for you to eat in bed.”
Mairin raised her hands to silence them. “I appreciate your concern. Truly, I do. But I’m perfectly fine. Staying abed serves no purpose except to drive me daft.”
“The laird won’t like this,” Cormac muttered.
“What has the laird to do with it?” Mairin demanded. “He should be relieved to know I’m back on my feet and ready to take on my duties as mistress of this keep.”
“You should rest, lass,” Maddie said soothingly, as she turned Mairin back in the direction of the stairs. “You wouldn’t want to aggravate your injury.”
Mairin shook off Maddie’s hand and turned back to the hall, only to run into Gannon.
“Now, my lady, you should be abed,” he said firmly.
“I’m fine,” she insisted. “Why, I don’t feel a bit of pain. Well, maybe a twinge or two,” she added when Cormac shot her a disbelieving look. “But ’tis no reason to stay in bed on such a fine day. I’ll even allow you to accompany me,” she said to both Gannon and Cormac.
“You’ll allow?” Gannon asked with a scowl.
She nodded and smiled serenely. “Aye, I will. I’ll be no trouble. You’ll see.”
“I’ll believe that when I see it,” Cormac muttered.
“Maddie, I’ve need of your assistance if you’re willing to give it.”
Maddie looked confused. “Of course I’ll help you, my lady, but I still think you should go above stairs and lie down. Perhaps you can tell me what it is you need assistance with, while you eat your meal in bed.”
Mairin faced them all down and let her displeasure show. “There is absolutely no reason for me to go to bed.”
“There is every reason, wife.”
Cormac’s and Gannon’s shoulders sagged in relief while Maddie let out a sigh. Mairin turned to see her husband standing behind her, a look of mild annoyance on his face.
“Why is it I can’t expect even the least bit of cooperation from you?”
Mairin’s mouth fell open. “That’s … That’s … well, that’s quite a rude thing to say, Laird. You’re implying I’m difficult. I’m not difficult.” She whirled back around to face the others. “Am I?”
Cormac looked like he’d swallowed a bug while Gannon found something on the wall to study. Maddie didn’t bother trying to be circumspect. She laughed outright.
“Why aren’t you in bed, Mairin?” Ewan asked.
She turned back around to face him. “I’m quite well. I’m feeling much more myself today. Well, except for the headache. What was it you made me drink?”
“Something to make you more amenable. I’m tempted to have Gertie prepare you another flask.”
She had no response to that.
“Come above stairs with me so I can redress your wound,” Ewan said, as he directed her toward the stairs. “But … but I was about to—”
Ewan propelled her up the steps. “Whatever it was you were about to do can wait until I’ve seen to your injury. If I’m satisfied that you’re truly well enough to be up and around, I’ll reconsider your confinement.”
“My confinement? That’s the most ridiculous—”
Ewan stopped and before she could finish her tirade, he planted his mouth over hers in a scorching, toe-curling kiss. It wasn’t a tender gesture. It was demanding … and passionate, and Lord, she didn’t want him to stop.
When he pulled away she had a hard time regaining her senses. They were … outside their chamber? She blinked as she tried to remember what brought them here.
“What was that you were saying, lass?”
Her brow furrowed. She opened her mouth then shut it again. “I don’t remember.”
He grinned and opened the door, pulling her inside the room. He started tugging at her dress and she batted his hands away.
“I won’t have you tearing another dress,” she muttered.
Ewan sighed. “I had Maddie repair your gown. It was an accident.”
Her eyes widened. “You had my dress sewn?”