Quest of the Highlander (Crowns & Kilts #5) - Cynthia Wright Page 0,62

to her workroom.

“Every day I was away, ye and the tapestry were in my thoughts,” he said. “Have ye had time to weave?”

She blinked. “In the midst of rescuing the crew of a ship that was dashed on the rocks, you were thinking about my tapestry?”

Lennox arched a brow, feigning surprise. “Is it not our tapestry? If memory serves, I’ve had a hand in its creation as well.”

And so, as he ate his oatcake, they went into her workroom. The bobbins and shuttle lay where she had left them a short while ago, in front of the nearly-completed image of a Highland galley on a wave-tossed sea.

Lennox stared, awestruck. “How can it be that ye have done so much?”

“I have worked many hours each day, as long as I could in this feeble light. Sometimes, when I felt especially inspired, I brought in oil lamps to allow me to weave into the evening.”

“It’s exquisite. Ye are truly gifted.”

He examined her creation with so much care, asking questions about every choice she had made, that Nora felt a warm glow spread through her body as they talked. This man saw and valued a deeply important part of her in a way no one else ever had, not even her father.

“I cannot ever express to you how much it means that you found this loom and created the pattern for”—she paused, her face warm again—“for our tapestry.” She pointed to the small figures that, just this morning, she had woven inside the galley. “Do you see us?”

Lennox took a closer look, a smile lighting his handsome face. “Aye, lass. Ye have even added a touch of russet for your hair, I see.”

“And for yours, I used the same color thread as the sun.” Their eyes met, and her heart melted.

“Let us go to our chamber, shall we?” he suggested softly. “I want to show ye how much you’ve been missed.”

Chapter 18

Lennox poured one more jug of water over his head, savoring the feeling of being clean again. He stepped out of the knee-high tub and had just reached for a drying cloth when the door opened and Nora appeared, carrying a tray.

“Oh! I didn’t mean to disturb you.” She stared in shock then quickly averted her eyes, turning a delectable shade of pink. “I’ve brought you some more food. And cold ale.”

“Disturb me? We are wed, are we not?” Lennox saw the tops of her breasts begin to flush, and her nipples puckered through the fabric of her bodice. He felt blood rush to his loins, but he didn’t want to alarm the lass, so he covered himself with the towel. “Now that I’ve washed away those layers of grime, I feel like a new man. I don’t even mind the scent of lavender from your soap.”

“I think lavender is a fine scent for men as well as women.” She set the tray on a chest. Still looking away, she asked, “Shall I get you a clean pair of hose?”

“Nay.” The cloth was just big enough to wrap around his narrow hips, and he tucked one end inside to secure it. “That bed looks very inviting. Will ye join me?”

She glanced at the tray. “But…”

If it were anyone but Nora, he might have enjoyed a bit of cat and mouse, but this was not a time for that sort of love play. “It’s not food I need now,” Lennox said softly. He stretched out on the bed and held out a sun-darkened hand to her. “I have missed ye. Come and talk to me.”

It seemed Nora’s heartbeat was audible even to him as she obeyed. When she was lying beside him, all he wanted to do was to divest her of her gown, petticoat, and kirtle, but instead he pretended not to notice all the clothing that hid her from his sight. He rose up on an elbow and gazed down at her face, which was all the lovelier because of its character and intelligence.

“While I was away, missing ye, I had a lot of time to think.” Lightly, he traced the curves of her face with one fingertip. Her eyes were huge, blue as sapphires, staring back at him.

“Think?” Nora echoed in a small croak.

By God, she was enchanting. A smile touched his mouth as he replied, “Aye. Thinking, even in my dreams, that perhaps there is a way to make this handfasting real. I know my future is filled with uncertainty. I have told myself that I should remain unencumbered