granted me a charter for life occupancy of Castle Raitt as a wedding gift,” Fin said. “My lass loves her home, and Raitt lies but two miles from it, so I expect I may find myself a Highlander again before I know it.”
“Ye’re a Highlander born, lad. Ye cannot be aught else.”
Fin drew a long breath and let it out, feeling a sense of ease that he had not known since long before he had flung himself into the Tay. He had not told Ewan everything, because he had not mentioned Ivor’s part, but his brother now knew more than anyone other than Bishop Traill did about what had happened at Perth.
Catriona paced Castle Moigh’s great hall, wondering how much longer Fin and Ewan would be. Her hair was dry, she was freshly gowned, and she was hungry.
She had gone out to the rock where she assumed that Ewan had meant for them to swim and had found their clothing there. Seeing no other sign of them, she had returned to the castle but only because it was the courteous thing to do.
Ewan might be one of those rare men who preferred not to parade naked where women, particularly his new good-sister, might see him. And she was in no hurry to see any man naked but Fin.
That she looked eagerly ahead to that made her wonder if all newly married women felt the same way. She remained uncertain about the future, because she was sure that she and Fin would frequently argue about all and sundry, as they had. But she hoped that he would also continue to elicit the strong responses she had felt with him that morning just as frequently if not more so.
Consequently, she paced, and when the two men finally strode into the hall, she greeted them with, “At last! Faith, but I was beginning to fear that you had both drowned and I would have to go without my supper!”
“You may have to go without your supper in any event if that is how you greet a guest of this house, madam wife,” Fin said before he caught her by the shoulders and kissed her thoroughly.
Pushing him away as soon as he would let her, she swept Ewan a curtsy. Rising, she said, “If you are as daft as your brother, sir, and believed that I meant aught but teasing, I do humbly apologize and swear that I will mend my ways.”
Laughing heartily, Ewan said, “I think you are just what he needs to keep him out of trouble, my lady. If ever I can aid you in that task, however, you need only ask. Sithee, he has earned a drubbing, so he still treads on thin ice with me.”
“Even so, I trust that all is well between you now, sir,” she said.
“It is, aye,” he replied, smiling at Fin.
Fin said, “As I do not see Ian here, I shall require your help to don a clean tunic for dinner, lass. You may come with me and see what you have earned.”
“I, too, want a fresh tunic,” Ewan said. “I doubt that ye’ll need my aid in managing him just now, Lady Catriona, but if ye do—”
“Nay, sir, I will not,” Catriona said. Despite her confident words, though, she did wonder if her saucy greeting might have irritated her husband.
As they turned toward the inner chamber, he put an arm around her shoulders, but he did not speak. She hoped he was just giving her back some of her own for teasing them, but she could not be sure. Looking up, she saw that he had pressed his lips together, which was an ominous sign.
Aware of her unease, Fin was enjoying himself a little, believing that it served his wildcat right to wonder if she had overstepped the bounds of what he would tolerate. Heaven knew, she had a bad habit of speaking impulsively and would be wiser to take more thought before she did offend someone.
Nodding at the young gillie who hurried to open the door of the inner chamber for them, he urged Catriona inside but did not release her when the door shut quietly behind them. Instead, he turned her to face him.
Looking sternly at her, he said, “Do you know what you deserve for teasing your husband and his guest so?”
“Aye, sir, more kissing.”
Having no desire to argue about that, he kissed her again but did not stop there. Scant seconds later, he had opened her bodice and was gazing