A Hellion at the Highland Court (The Highland Ladies #9) - Celeste Barclay Page 0,128

She tried to sit up further to look, but she hadn’t the strength. She didn’t touch the wound, but she ran her fingers next to each side. “Did Nora do this?”

“Aye.”

“She’s vera good. She’s likely a better seamstress than me,” Laurel grinned. Seeing the clean sutures and recognizing the scent of the ointment relieved her initial fear. The wound was long, but she could tell it wasn’t deep. She didn’t forget that it could get infected, but she didn’t hold any immediate fears for Brodie’s life like she did when her fingers touched the stitches. With a nod, she motioned for Brodie to come closer. He leaned across her, bringing his mouth back to hers. When his kisses didn’t meet her demands, she cupped his jaw and deepened them. Brodie groaned as he gave in to her. He’d been cautious not to overwhelm her, fearing she was still too weak. When they were both breathless, they rested their foreheads together.

“I still feel weak as a day-old foal, but yer kisses certainly have restorative powers,” Laurel grinned.

“I can think of one thing yer kisses have brought back to life,” Brodie chuckled. When Laurel glanced down at his groin with interest, Brodie tsked. “Mayhap in the morn. I need to get ye back into bed and some food in ye.”

“That isnae what I want in me,” Laurel grumbled, but she knew he was right. She didn’t have the strength for anything. Her mind was willing, but her body wasn’t able. As she watched Brodie’s hardened length move as he stood to help her out of the bath, she considered what Aggie told her that morning. She remembered how flatly he’d told her Gara was dead. It didn’t strike her as though he harbored any sentiment for her. But she struggled to reconcile all of that with the lusty man she knew. “Brodie?”

“Aye, Laurel,” Brodie rarely used her full name when they were alone together, but her tone made him feel his response warranted it.

Laurel waited until they were both under the covers once more. She struggled but managed to roll onto her side to look at him. She observed him for a moment, trying to tell what he was thinking, how he might answer her questions. But she knew she could read nothing into his expression until she asked.

“Gara seemed far too jealous and possessive for a woman ye never bedded. I dinna ken if I believe ye anymore.” Laurel watched his reaction. There wasn’t a moment of guilt for past actions or for being caught.

“I told ye the truth, Laurel. But I also ken what I saw too. It didna make sense to me either. I dinna have a reason why Gara acted as she did. But I didna lie to ye.” Brodie didn’t like Laurel doubting him, even thinking for a moment that he would lie to her. But he’d left her alone with strangers while he went to fight a battle from which he might not have returned. He couldn’t blame his bride for being on edge and worrying.

“I admit I asked Aggie. I just couldnae understand why Gara was so hostile. She spent most of the day glaring at me. When she stepped in ma way one too many times, I didna change course. I walked right into her and knocked her on her arse. I thought she’d locked me in the larder as revenge.”

“I canna say she wasna who did that, but she isnae alive to do ye any more harm if she was. What did ye ask Aggie?”

“I asked her if Gara was yer leman.” Laurel looked at Brodie once more. She believed him, but there were still too many things to reconcile for her to feel at ease. “She laughed and denied it. But then I wondered if she was just being loyal to ye and hiding yer secret.”

“Aggie kens I dinna bed servants. The way Gara acted was just what I’ve always wanted to prevent. I didna want a moody woman or a boastful one upsetting the other maids.”

“That’s what Aggie said.”

“Because I’ve made it clear for years, well before I became laird.”

Laurel’s brow furrowed as she came to the part that left her in the most doubt and was most confusing. “Aggie said that ye go to the village when ye wish to couple.”

“Wished, Laurel. Wished. Went, nae go. As in the past. Nae present, and nae the future.”

Laurel nodded at the sternness in Brodie’s voice, appreciating the conviction. “She said ye’re practically