Black Richard's Heart (The MacCulloughs #1) - Suzan Tisdale Page 0,46
battle again, for we will certainly be defeated!”
“Nae if ye are in the same mood then as ye be right now,” Lachlan said. “I think mayhap ye need a dip in the loch and a dram or two of yer father’s fine whisky.”
Black Richard silently fumed for a long moment. Marisse wondered if he wasn’t thinking of the different ways in which he could take Lachlan’s life. He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly through his nostrils. Without uttering another word, he spun on his heels and started to thunder away. Marisse went after him.
“M’laird!” she called out in a sing-song voice. “M’laird!”
Stopping abruptly, he turned to the sound of her voice. He took one look at her and hung his head, as if to say, not her, not now. She chose to ignore his apparent frustration and raced to catch up to him.
“M’laird,” she said again as she reached him. “I ken ye be verra busy.” She offered him one of her brightest smiles, ignoring the fact that he did not look at all pleased to see her.
“I am.”
“Aeschene has been waiting for more than an hour for ye to return,” she told him.
He made no attempt to apologize for his oversight.
“She has a few questions that only ye can answer.”
“Such as?” he replied. His tone said he’d rather be buried in an ant hill up to his neck than to speak to her. Marisse did her best to maintain an air of calm. In truth, she wanted to pick up something and hit him over his stubborn head. “Ye see, we do not ken the ways of things here. For instance, the evenin’ meal. Is she allowed to sup with ye?”
From his raised brow, she knew he thought it a most ridiculous question. “Of course she is.”
“Will ye be escortin’ her or do we just show up?”
He began to rub his temples as if a headache was forming. Marisse showed him no mercy. These might have seemed benign and unimportant subjects, but the answers meant much to Aeschene. If he couldn’t find the time to speak with his wife privately, well, he’d have to suffer the consequences and speak with her.
“I will escort her this night,” he replied and began to walk away.
“M’laird?” Marisse said, forcing him to turn around. “There be more.”
Quietly, he waited for her to press on.
“The clanspeople, how will ye introduce her to them?”
She knew at once he hadn’t given that a moment’s thought, for she caught a glimmer of shame in his eyes. Just a brief flash, then ’twas gone. “I shall discuss that with Aeschene later.”
Marisse had a few dozen questions of her own, such as, Do ye ever not scowl? Are ye as kind as me dear friend thinks ye are? Will ye ever trust either one of us? But now was probably not the right time to ask.
“Thank ye, m’laird,” she said as she bobbed a polite curtsey. “We shall see ye this evenin’.”
He gave he a brief nod before heading away, she presumed, to go sulk and scowl in the loch.
Chapter Nine
While Black Richard did find Marisse irksome, he was glad she had made the inquiries. Not once had he thought on how to introduce his clan to his new wife. Having never been married before, he hadn’t any clear idea on the protocols pertaining to such. He also found her question regarding Aeschene being allowed to sup with him quite odd. But then, he found both women odd. Hell, he found his entire situation odd.
On his way across the yard, he stopped one of the younger lads and sent him to fetch Lachlan with instructions to meet him at the loch. While Lachlan had as much experience with marriage as he, Black Richard hoped that together they could figure out a good and proper way to introduce Aeschene to their clan.
Once at the loch, he looked to make certain he was alone before stripping out of his clothes. The water was frigid but did little to douse the anger he still felt. Mayhap I should have let her plummet to her death, he groused as he splashed cold water on his face. Just the thought sent a pang of guilt strumming through his gut. Nay, he could not have done that; allow her to fall, her frail body splattering onto the stone covered ground below. No matter her bloodline, he simply couldn’t have done it.