Black Richard's Heart (The MacCulloughs #1) - Suzan Tisdale Page 0,77
out of the room before Aeschene woke. ’Twas too lonely a sensation to wake all alone and she didn’t like it.
Peevishly, she slid from the bed to tend to her morning ablutions. As she made her way around the bed, her toes caught on something hard, sending it twirling across the floor. From the sound of it, ’twas the chamber pot.
Using the bed for balance, she grabbed her foot and rubbed it. She cursed aloud at her absent husband for leaving the bloody thing out where she could injure herself. ’Twas lucky for him he was not in the room right now. Elst she would find the chamber pot and bash him over the head with it.
Three of her toes throbbed to the point of distraction. She doubted they were broken but that thought did not help her mood.
Once the pain subsided, she carefully made her way to the little table that sat near the hearth. She poured what little water was left into the basin and grabbed a washing cloth. The water was painfully cold, one more thing to find bothersome this morn.
When she realized she was in a foul mood, she stopped and prayed. “Lord, please take the anger from me heart. Let me do yer good work this day.”
For years she had prayed to be out of the tiny room back home. For years, she had prayed for a purpose, for meaning to her life. It seemed an ungrateful way to react to something as simple as a misplaced chamber pot or cold water.
Feeling better with the matter settled in her mind, she finished dressing and stepped across the hall to Marisse’s chamber.
Richard had spent another night in his private study, sleeping on a thin pallet. As he’d done the night before, he loved his wife until they were both exhausted. And like a skulking thief, he slipped away the moment she had fallen asleep.
He woke before dawn, having slept very little, with an aching back and cold seeping into his bones. His first thoughts were of Aeschene and how much he wished he was still in his own bed, his arms wrapped around her. But that image bespoke of a risk too great to take. For both their sakes.
“I be far too old for this,” he whispered into the dark room. His knees creaked and his bones cracked loudly when he pushed himself to his feet. Stretching his arms with a wide yawn, he worked the kinks out of his neck and back. For a moment he thought mayhap ‘twould be a good idea to have a bed brought to his study, but quickly dismissed it. Rumors flew as fast and as free as birds in these parts. The last thing he wanted was to subject his wife to what could potentially be very ugly rumors. Even if there were a bit of truth to them.
With a sigh of resignation, he rolled up his pallet, folded the blanket, and tucked them into the corner of the room. Cold, hungry, tired, and sore, he sighed once again and set off for the gathering room.
’Twas as enjoyable a morning meal as Aeschene could remember having since her childhood. They all sat discussing their plans for the day, she and her husband, Marisse and the lads. Lachlan and Rory came in late, offered their apologies, and sat to partake.
A sense of warmth spread through her blood, bringing forth a beaming smile. She simply couldn’t tamp down the joy she felt in this small moment of time. For years, she had dreamt of a family of her own, all sitting together, supping, talking, and enjoying one another’s company. No more so than when she was locked away in the attics of her father’s home.
This, she mused as she closed her eyes and listened to the chatter taking place around her. This is what ye have always wanted.
Something Raibeart said broke through her quiet reverie.
“Ye have younger lads than me who have begun their training,” he groused.
“Those lads have proven themselves to me,” Richard said.
To Aeschene’s ear, her husband sounded frustrated, as if he and his brother had had this same discussion before.
“Is it nae enough that I am yer brother?” Raibeart asked.
Aeschene felt the tension between them rising.
“Nay, and ye well know it,” Richard replied gruffly. “Every man, no matter their bloodline, must prove themselves ready. Ye know the rules.”
Raibeart shot up from the table. “I am naught but a nursemaid to Colyne and now them.”