Black Richard's Heart (The MacCulloughs #1) - Suzan Tisdale Page 0,130
swear, Richard, the man is as smart as a rock.”
Smiling devilishly, he kissed the palms of her hands. “And why did ye send for the midwife? Is aught amiss?”
“Of course not,” she told him, her tone sharp. She was still quite angry with Rory. “All is well.”
It wasn’t until he chuckled and kissed her cheek that she realized her plan to tell him had been foiled. Tears welled in her eyes. “Oh, Richard! This is not going as I had planned! We were going to sup, here in our room, and I would tell ye then.”
“Tell me now,” he said, his voice soft and low.
“Ye already know,” she said sadly, her gaze turning to the floor.
“But I want to hear ye tell me,” he said as he gently lifted her chin and pressed a sweet kiss to her lips.
She swallowed hard. “I am with child.”
He lifted her up and spun her around until she was dizzy. “Lass! Ye have made me the happiest of men!”
Her smile could light the darkest of nights. Unable to resist, he kissed her again.
“When? When will the babe be here?”
Mrs. MacCallen stepped forward looking quite pleased. “I would say nae long after the new year, laird. She is about four months along now.”
Turning back to his wife, he said, “I cannae think of a better way to start the new year.”
As soon as they discovered Aeschene was with child, Richard sent missives to their king, David II. He could imagine the wry smile of victory on David’s face when he read the news. While their marriage was successful, there was still the matter of the border troubles with the Farquars. He let David know that if he couldn’t get the Farquars under control, a war would start.
With Marisse’s help, a letter was also sent to Aeschene’s family, although he seriously doubted anyone but her mother would celebrate in the joyous news.
The following day, Richard received a missive from Caelen McDunnah, chief of clan McDunnah. He sat in his study, reading the letter aloud to Lachlan and Rory.
“I fear there is a storm brewing and we must gather together against it.”
“There is always a storm brewing,” Lachlan quipped. He sat with his long legs outstretched, his palms on his stomach.
“Another call for the clans to unite,” Rory added.
“I had thought the same until I read further,” Richard told them, turning back to the missive. “I fear if we do not act soon, Scotia as we now know it will cease to exist.” While vague, the underlying current was one he couldn’t ignore. “He has invited us to meet next month at his keep. The MacDougalls, Mackintoshes, Grahams, and Mactavishes will be there as well.” He slid the missive across his desk to Lachlan for his own perusal.
“What do ye suppose he means?” Rory asked.
Richard shook his head and held his palms out. “I am uncertain. But Caelen McDunnah is nae one to listen to gossip or rumors, that much I can tell ye.”
“I have never met him,” Rory said.
“I have,” Lachlan said as he placed the parchment on the desk. “Richard is right. The McDunnah tends to keep himself to himself, even if he is a bloody bastard.”
Rory chuckled. “I have heard the stories,” he said. “Are they true?”
“That the McDunnah is more than a wee bit tetched?” Lachlan said, tapping his temple with his index finger.
Richard laughed. “Aye, the stories be true. He is a ruthless man when necessary. There was a time in his life when he would start a fight just for the sake of fighting.”
“And now?” Rory asked with a raised brow.
Richard and Lachlan exchanged a knowing glance. “Marriage has changed him,” Lachlan said, sounding disappointed. “He no longer fights or drinks or whores like he used to.”
“Ye say that like it is a bad thing,” Richard said.
Lachlan rolled his eyes in disgust. “’Tis a bad thing. And ye are just as bad as Caelen McDunnah. Ye’ve both gone soft.”
Richard threw his head back and laughed. “I dunnae feel soft,” he said. “I feel stronger than I ever have. And I will wager ye I can still best ye in any competition or battle.”
“Be that as it may,” Rory interjected, trying to bring the conversation back to the missive. “Do we believe the McDunnah? Do we take him seriously?”
Richard and Lachlan chuckled at that question. “Dead is the man who does nae take Caelen McDunnah seriously,” Richard said.
“Do we go?” Rory asked as he leaned forward in his chair.