Black Richard's Heart (The MacCulloughs #1) - Suzan Tisdale Page 0,99
I am not ready to leave,” Aeschene told him.
“Neither am I,” Marisse added.
Ignoring him, they turned back to Keevah. “What is it ye do here, Keevah,” Aeschene asked.
“I weave,” she replied in a low voice.
Rory watched as the woman kept looking over her shoulder, undeniably just as nervous as he was.
“Oh, I would verra much like to see yer work,” Marisse said. “’Tis the truth I envy anyone who can weave.”
“Ye do?” Keevah asked, her brow furrowed.
“Aye, I do. Me mum, God rest her soul, tried many times to teach me. I simply could not get the hang of it.”
Before long, the three woman had forgotten Rory was standing off to the side, patiently waiting for his lady and her maid to come to their senses. Lost they were in their conversations about the finer points of weaving.
Soon, he found himself leaning against a tree, his eyes closed, as he listened to the sound of Marisse’s voice. Her laughter, he decided, was sweeter than any honey. Her voice, as warm as a ray of sunshine.
The conversation turned to more mundane things, such as the making of jams - something Marisse admitted to having a talent for. The image of Marisse standing in a kitchen, making jam, was soon replaced with the image of her lying naked in his bed. Lord, she was a stunning woman, but there was far more to her than just her extraordinary beauty. She possessed a fiery spirit he found rather delightful.
His quiet reverie was broken by the sound of Marisse speaking his name. “Have we bored ye to sleep?” she asked playfully.
Slightly embarrassed, he righted himself. “I was just day dreamin’,” he told her with a grin. “About the walk ye will be taken with me later.”
Marisse’s face burned red, but not with embarrassment. She was furious.
“Did ye forget?” He asked her with a raised brow, feigning hurt. Tonight would be their last walk, per their previous arrangement. While the thought saddened him, he knew he would find other ways of spending time with her. Eventually, he’d wear her down and she would agree to marry him.
“Of course nae,” she told him. “And I will thank ye to stop remindin’ me.”
Aeschene giggled at the distress in her friend’s voice. “When will ye be goin’ to Mallaig?”
“Late next week,” he said
Keevah interrupted the conversation by announcing she had work to get back to.
“But we haven’t gotten to know ye yet,” Aeschene replied.
Keevah ignored the protest. “Some other time, mayhap.” And with that, she returned to her cottage.
Confused, Marisse and Aeschene turned to Rory for an explanation.
“Why on earth do they call her the auld whore?” Marisse asked as she got to her feet.
Rory smiled most deviously. “Agree to extend our previous walking arrangement and I will tell ye.”
Aeschene rolled her eyes as she pushed to her feet. “Really, Rory! If ye want to walk with Marisse, just ask her. Ye need nae be such a criminal about it.”
Rory laughed heartily as he tucked Aeschene’s hand into the crook of his arm. “Ye think my tactics are criminal?”
Marisse answered that particular question as she fell in beside them. “I most certainly do!”
Rory gave her a sideways glance and grinned.
Ignoring Marisse’s comment, he suggested his lady ask her husband the why of things as they pertained to Keevah.
Aeschene didn’t believe her husband for a moment when he said he had no idea why Keevah was called the auld whore. He had stammered before he answered and she could hear his embarrassment.
Richard had entered their bed chamber moments ago. Normally, she gave him peace and solitude to change out of his dirty clothes. Normally, she would save conversing with him for when they supped. But these questions weren’t the kind she felt were proper to ask in front of his younger brothers.
She sighed as she wrapped her arms around her chest. “Ye ken that I will eventually find out.”
She couldn’t be certain, but she was nearly positive he was rolling his eyes in exasperation. “Lass, I dunnae ken the why of it. Keevah arrived here at least a year before I returned from the MacDougalls. I have heard only whispers and rumors. Out of respect for the woman I refuse to repeat them.”
Oh, she didn’t like it when he used honor and respect like that. The heat crept up her neck making her face grow warm. Sighing, she said, “I appreciate the respect ye are showing her.”