Her Highland Devil (Scottish Highlander Romance), page 16
“Dae ye want me tae stop?” he asked.
Gabby was getting aroused again, that happened very often lately. She didn’t know what to say. Suddenly, Callum’s arms snaked around her waist, pulling her closer to his chest.
She found it difficult to contain herself. She felt she needed to say this, but she was afraid of spoiling the moment.
He kissed her neck softly, he could feel as she resisted but slowly, she began to give in. Suddenly she stopped, breathing fast and looking at him.
“What is it?” he asked in a low growl, confused as to why she had stopped. “Tell me.”
“I...I love you, Callum,” she stated, her heart was beating fast as she waited for his reaction.
When he heard this, he almost jumped as he pulled her closer to him. “I love ye so much, my jewel.”
This was a happy moment for both of them and they kissed even more passionately than before.
They were like wild rabbits, always together. He was getting to know more about her, and she was beginning to understand her husband even more. She thought maybe her mother was right, fairy tales didn’t do justice to the origin of love.
Chapter 18
Callum opened his eyes. It was not morning yet. He looked over to where Gabby slept without clothes and without worries beside him. He took a minute to proudly admire the love of his life. He leaned over to kiss her on the neck before standing up to grab his robe.
Some minutes later, he was back in his study and had hardly sat when a knock sounded on the door.
“It is I, my Laird,” said Efgerald.
“Come in.”
“I was hoping you’d leave yer wife early enough today. I need tae speak with ye,” Efgerald said, pouring himself a drink before settling in a chair.
Callum chuckled. “Why are ye awake and here, friend? When ye could be home with the lovely Carotia.”
Efgerald smiled and lifted his cup to his lips. “Many weeks back, ye asked me why I spent most of my time at home instead of helping ye here. I have had tae spent time with our men. We all know the only thing you can’t get enough of is Lady Gabby.”
Both men laughed.
“But what is the problem?” Callum asked.
“Because ye hardly spend time with the men these days, Malcolm is beginning to stir doubts amongst them.”
Callum sighed. “That is nothing new.”
“Well, as accurate as that may be, yer absence has made it worse, we need tae dae something, and quick. Ye are the only thing standing between Malcolm and what he considers his birthright. If he has enough support from our men, he might attack ye without warning in an unfair fight where he won’t spare yer life.”
Callum listened attentively, he began to realize he was in danger.
Efgerald continued “The whispers I have been hearing lately don’t bode well for ye. Our men see him with yer beloved. If they believe she is on his side, they will rally behind him faster. Ye need tae end their relationship, Malcolm will use anything or anyone he can get his hands on.”
Callum drank from Efgerald’s cup. “What dae ye suggest?”
“Is it possible tae tell her who he really is and why he warms up tae her?”
Callum thought for a while. “Nay. She will only think that I do nae want them tae be friends. With the time that I have spent with my wife, I know she is nothing more than innocent. She believes that Malcolm is a genuine friend and that I am too hard on him. She needs tae see him for what he is by herself.”
Efgerald waited. “What if we organize a sword fight? It will give yer men chance to see that ye are still in shape and…”
“Aye but I think we can kill two birds with one stone there.” Callum interjected.
“What do ye mean?” Asked Efgerald.
“I will challenge Malcolm tae a friendly duel. More often than not, he sees our duels as an opportunity tae eliminate me. He will take it too far and all I have tae dae is let my wife see his true colors as he tries to kill me.”
“Ye plan tae lose?”
“Aye my friend,”
Efgerald frowned. “But that will bring ye shame in front of yer men…”
“One step at a time, my friend.”
***
Gabby opened her eyes and realized it was the middle of the day again. The sun was up as the winter had passed and the spring has finally arrived. They really needed to take a break from the consistent love making, she thought while smiling to herself. Her husband was no longer with her. She frowned, she didn’t like it when she woke up too late and she couldn’t see him. He had responsibilities as the Laird that required him to be up and about early in the morning.
She quickly took her bath and changed into a piece of clothing that Erinda had laid out for her. She looked at herself in the mirror and realized that she was glowing. She blushed. She was certain that everyone in the castle could hear them making love every day but she didn’t care.
While at it, she heard a grumbling sound in her stomach, she was suddenly hungry but then she saw two covered plates on the table. She inhaled with a huge relief and walked over.
While eating her food, she heard voices downstairs, and she stood up to see what was going on.
Directly below her, she could see the courtyard. Swords flashed in the sun, shields collided, their metallic clang echoed in the vicinity as the two men fought as if they were fighting their last battle.
There were other Ridell men standing in the corners, cheering with encouragement. Gabby frowned, squinting to identify the men that were fighting. She gasped when she noticed her husband’s tall and lean frame, his blonde, shoulder-length hair and rugged hard features.
The other man was Malcolm, his brother. Even though these two were of the same height, now, from where she stood, she could see how Malcolm’s body bulged with muscle like no other.
Callum fought splendidly, using his cousin’s body mass against him. All of a sudden, Malcolm tackled Callum to the ground. He laughed satisfactorily as his hands enclosed around Callum’s throat.
“My brother is busy with his wife day and night, and now, he is too weak!” Malcolm said, laughing evilly.
“Callum!” she shrieked. Her heart flustered with panic and quickly, she ran out of the door and then rushed downstairs.
By the time she got to the courtyard, cold hands grabbed her arm.
“My lady, the sparring field is no place for ye,” Barclay said.
“Unhand me,” she said fiercely, looking at Callum who seemed to be struggling with his cousin.
“Yer Laird is about tae be throttled by his brother and ye dae nothing! He is going tae kill him”
Her words caused everyone to be quiet. Malcolm released his cousin. Barely wincing, Callum rose to his feet.
“Are ye alright?” she asked.
Callum appeared surprised for some reason.
“Aye,” he replied.
“Why would he not be?” Malcolm demanded. “Are ye saying that yer husband lacks strength?”
“I suggested no such thing!” she shouted, raising her chin. Callum walked up to her, she could see the amusement in his eyes and she couldn’t understand why he could be amused at that time.
“I will wait for you by the old courtyard,” she said coldly to him.
He raised a brow. “Why not the bedchamber?”
She didn’t know either. “I do not feel like it,” she replied.
“Well, I shall meet you there in an hour,” he said.
She gasped, looking surprised. “An hour!”
“I am not done here yet, woman!” he said, half-smiling.
Gabby was now boiling with rage. She had been so stupid to even come here at all, clearly he wasn’t as terrified as she was.
“Fine, you want to kill yourself, go Ahead and do it,” she grumbled and was about to turn when he swung her around so quickly and kissed her roughly but passionately, causing the heat to rise in her cheeks and worse, in front of his men!
When he finally released her, she gasped for breath, too embarrassed to look at the men.
“Carotia, take her away,” he said to someone behind her.
She looked behind her and was surprised to see a woman who seemed few years older than her, but with strangely blue hair. She smiled at her, beckoning her to come with her. Her hair was in several braids and rolled into a bun. She was indeed pretty. If her husband said she should follow her, then she must be trusted.
Gabby had never seen her before but she left with her, since her husband had…she stopped and looked behind her. The men were getting ready to fight again. Callum was having some cloths tied around his arms while Malcolm was looking at her, warmly and smiling.
If it was before, she could have smiled back but for what he had just done, trying to hurt her husband while mocking him for making love to her, making his men laugh at him, that was too much. She didn’t return his smile. Right that moment, she didn’t actually see why they were friends in the first place. She had always wondered why he and her husband never got along, and now she felt she could see.
She followed Carotia out of the courtyard without looking back.
***
Callum watched as his wife left with Efgerald’s wife. This has been part of the plan. He had seen the look Gabby gave Malcolm when he had smiled at her. The plan had worked. He had also purposely kissed her in front of his men to send him a message to steer clear of his wife, he was certain that his cousin would get the message.
He turned around, flashing his sword. It was time to show his men that their Laird could land a woman and still win a fight!
***
Gabby followed Carotia to the part of the castle that she had never seen before. She had to admit that the Highlands were beautiful, although as rugged as they may look. They were lush in their own unique way. Aodh, the castle was starkly austere, showing the general lifestyle and nature of the Ridells.
“This is beautiful,” she said, unable to keep it to herself any longer.
Carotia smiled and turned to face her. “Yes, it is,” she replied. “I am Efgerald’s wife, in case ye hae been wondering who I am.”
Gabby gasped. “Oh! I am so happy to meet you. Efgerald is a good man. I wonder how Callum’s life will turn out if he doesn’t have his friend.”
Carotia laughed.
Finally, both women made themselves comfortable on the rocks they found around.
“How long have you two been married?” Gabby asked.
“Five years,” Carotia replied.
“Oh! That is such a long way. Have you any children?”
Carotia nodded. “Aye. A boy and a girl, the boy is six and the girl is just four.”
“Beautiful,” Gabby said excitedly. “I love children, you must bring them sometime. I would love to meet them.”
Carotia laughed. “I will,” she replied. “So, tell me, how many children would ye like tae have with the Laird?”
The question came as a shock to Gabby. Of course, she was married. They were making love every day, she could become pregnant and have children!
She couldn’t reply. She was really so surprised and many things were going in her head at the same time.
“My Lady, ye look…surprised. Have you never thought about this?” Carotia asked.
“Well, I know this may sound stupid but I have never imagine myself becoming a mother.”
Carotia laughed even more. “Well, you need not be embarrassed. It happens tae all of us but ye should be prepared. It can happen at any time.”
Gabby inhaled. It was too much to think about all at once.
“Well, now that you brought it up, I will start thinking about it.”
Carotia smiled. “When I was told that my Laird had married an Englishwoman, I decided tae talk tae ye.”
“I see. Is there anything you would like to talk about in particular?” asked Gabby, grateful that Carotia changed the topic. Still, she was apprehensive, thinking that the woman had something to say about her country.
“Well, while growing up, I was rebellious and really open-minded. I have always had this strange interest in England. Sometimes, when I asked my parents, they would always scold me never to ask about the devil’s land.”
Gabby burst into laughter. “The devil’s land? I grew up knowing that Scotland is the devil’s land.”
“Well, when I heard ye are from England, I thought of asking ye some questions but taking care of Samantha and Crane, I never did have the time until today.”
Gabby smiled. Those were the name of her two children.
“But today, Efgerald is back at home and I have the chance tae talk tae ye.”
Gabby smiled. “Well, I am going to answer you all your questions.”
“How is England different from here?” she asked.
The question was simple and open-minded. It required Gabby to explain a lot about her, her homeland, her people, and her culture.
After spending a long time with Carotia who found satisfaction in all the answers she received, she was pleased and left later that evening. Gabby was glad that she had made a friend amongst the Ridell women.
***
Throughout that day, Gabby was lost in thought. If she got pregnant then that would mean she was never going back home again. But how could she be thinking of going home when everything was going on very well with her husband. She had never been happier than the last couple of months. But once children arrived, then everything would change.
This was the kind of time she wished she could actually talk to her mother.
“Is everything okay, my love?” asked her husband who was lying next to her that night.
She thought of bringing it up but then she fought against it. She didn’t want to make things awkward between them.
“Nothing,” she replied, leaning in to him while he put his arms around her.
***
Malcolm recalled on everything that had happened that day. He was angry that his plan was not working as intended. The Laird and his wife were spending too much time together these days and he couldn’t even get a chance to get her attention.
He was pacing to and fro in his chamber.
He had wondered why it was easy to beat his cousin at the first duel. He had actually thought that perhaps, he was getting weaker like he had hoped. But then, one of his spies had made him realize that it was a plan, one that Callum had made with Efgerald, to severe whatever likeness his wife may bear for him.
He had been so stupid. He should have known that his cousin would never back down like that. He had done it purposely to make him look bad in front of his bride. And he, Malcolm had enjoyed it because he thought it was revealing his true nature to his men, the men Malcolm was trying to convince that Callum was not good for them as the Laird.
Even though they had dueled the second time, Callum had fought like he would normally fight and could have defeated him if not because he chose not to.
He hated it whenever Callum made him feel weak, trying to show him some kindness. It was just condescending.
He sighed, just when a knock sounded on his door.
“Yes, do come in,” he replied.
“My Lord, the Lady Banalt waits outside in her carriage, she asks me to give you this letter.”
Malcolm collected the letter, read it and then faced the servant. “Where is the Laird?” he asked.
“In his chamber, with his wife.”
“Good, take me to Lady Banalt.”
Chapter 19
Erlyn waited in the carriage. She was really disturbed. Nothing was working, no matter how much she tried to see the Laird, it just wasn’t working. She was tired of having to wait for Malcolm to do something. She decided to come see him before taking matters into her hands.
The carriage door opened, and Malcolm stepped in., He sat opposite her.
“Evening, my lady,” he said coldly.
Erlyn said nothing. “This is not the time for pleasantries, Malcolm. What is going on?”
Malcolm’s face hardened. “I should ask you that. As far as I can see, you have not been doing anything as regards what we discussed.”
Erlyn looked at him sharply. “I hae been doing what I think is necessary, but nothing is working. I canna get him alone.”
