Part 15 (1/2)
”Kiera, the first time we saw love between a husband and wife was with the Camerons at Inverlochy Castle, then with Laird and Lady Fraser. A light shone when their eyes met, and they shared sweet smiles.”
”My father was like that with my mother,” she murmured. She remembered them sitting by the fire of an evening, each working on some task, comfortable in each other's presence.
”Both Cameron and Fraser are hard warriors, experienced men who rule well.” Duff scratched the back of his head. ”They've also been with their lady wives for longer than we've been alive. It made me think 'twould take until the babe ye carry was grown afore I'd know the same.”
She looked up when he fell silent.
”Kiera, we dinna have that kind of love with ye,” he murmured.
An arrow of pain pierced her heart. She flinched.
”Nay, but we will!”
Duff strode forward and knelt before her. She stared at the wet drops falling in her lap. He took her hands in his, first tossing her stocking aside.
”I love ye, Kiera MacKenzie. I even love that look ye had in yer eye as ye judged the weight of yer boot afore heaving it at my twin.”
Her lip curled up, thinking of his look of shock.
”And I ken that ye would have hit him if ye wished.”
”My mother said a wife is allowed to throw things at her laird husband, but not hit him.” She sniffed back her tears and straightened her spine. ”I have good aim.”
”Aye, ye do.” Malcolm cleared his throat from the frog that had caught in it. ”Laird MacKenzie told me of yer mother doing the same. 'Twas after something hit the closed door of yer chamber right where my head would have been, the first time we met.”
She pinned his rough chuckle with her glare.
”And what of you, Laird Kinrowan? Does Duff speak only for himself? For I kenned I loved him afore he left my sheiling. Afore I was forced to accept his twin as my husband!”
Malcolm flinched.
”We kenned naught of yer father's plan,” replied Malcolm. ”I was watching in the hall the night ye returned from yer sheiling. I looked for the woman I was told ye were. Bitter, scowling, angry at the world, and wearing ugly clothes that suited yer mood.” His face eased. ”I saw a smiling beauty in a green dress walk with Colin and cursed his luck in finding such a stunning, tall, bride. But I put it aside and decided I would treat my own wife as if she were beautiful, inside and out. That mayhaps in time she would believe it herself.”
He was right in that she'd not believed herself beautiful. Not in her heart, nor in her skin. She was a different person here at Kinrowan. It had started when she first met Duff. He'd not known who she was, or her past.
”When I heard ye'd been taken I felt like I'd died,” continued Malcolm, his voice hoa.r.s.e. ”The world stopped, and my eyes went dark. I put my fear aside and acted the laird, doing what was needed for the clan.”
He shut his eyes, hands in tight fists at his sides.
”All night as I paced, or lost at chess with Fergus, I cursed myself for not seein' what ye mean to me. I was giving all to Kinrowan, accepting yer gift of yerself as if it was my right. All that changed when ye were stolen from us. We were so busy getting Kinrowan ready for the winter. I thought we'd find time in the long nights of cold and dark to ken each other. Being laird of such a place was everything to me. I thought ye'd be there, waiting until I'd have time for ye.”
She could see the pain he'd been in. She'd lain awake that night as well, not only thinking of how she and Camden would escape, but how upset Duff and Malcolm would be. Not just at the insult Ross gave them by stealing her, but for her as their wife. Surely he would not be so upset unless he cared deeply?
Malcolm's brilliant blue eyes caught her. ”By the morn I knew I lied to myself, Kiera. I'd kenned, in here”-he tapped his heart-”that love is dangerous, so pushed it away, using Kinrowan as an excuse.”
He finally moved, coming to one knee at her side.
”I would have gone on that s.h.i.+p with Ross. To save ye, and our babe, I would easily give Kinrowan to Duff to rule. It is just a place filled with people. Ye are my love.”
”Brother, Kiera was stolen from all of us, not just ye,” said Duff. ”I feel the same. I wished to go in place of the laird to save ye.” He hit Malcolm in the rib with his elbow, hard. ”My fool of a brother wouldna let me, and since he's ten minutes older and the laird, I had to obey.”
”We love ye Kiera,” said Malcolm. ”Though sometimes ye are stubborn and make us crazy-”
”And wild with l.u.s.t,” interrupted Duff. ”'Dinna forget that.”
”-we wish ye to be in our lives forever. Will ye accept us?”
She had them on their knees, begging her to accept them. It was more than she'd thought possible. A lump formed in her throat.
”You love me, for true? The way I mean it, forever?”
”Aye, Kiera, I love ye with all my heart, my soul, and my body,” said Malcolm.
”Especially yer body,” leered Duff playfully.
It was what she wanted, but something felt off. It was good to see, once, how they cared for her. But these men were warriors. She wanted their strength and power, as well as their love.
”I believe you.”
Duff grinned while Malcolm exhaled, shuddering. He stood, strong and confident. Duff kissed her cheek as he got up. She struggled out of her chair and slipped to her knees.
”What are ye-”
”'Tis my turn. I love you both. The night we met in my bedchamber,” she said to Malcolm, ”you said I must prove myself worthy by kneeling at your feet.”
”Aye, but I'd barely met ye. I said it for yer father as well as for myself.”
”I wish to kneel, to prove that I will be a good wife to you.”
”Not a perfect wife?”
She sighed, making a face. ”Nay. Just the best I can be, for you, and for Duff. I repeat my vow to obey, to serve, and to submit to you, my laird husband. And this time I mean it.”
His eyes almost glowed. He nodded regally.
”And to love you with all my heart,” she added.
”All yer heart?” asked Duff, c.o.c.king his head at her.
”Aye. I can give you both all my heart, with much left for our bairns as well,” she replied. ”The nature of love is that the more you give it to others, the more you have. Camden also needs our love.”
Malcolm lifted her off her knees, carefully avoiding her sore ankle. He set her on the bed, laying her on her back.
”I am beginning to learn that,” he said. ”And I will seek Camden out and tell him so.” He stared down at her and raised a commanding eyebrow. ”But first we need to check your injuries.”
”My ankle-”