many twins as ye have in yer family, I’m surprised more havenae arrived.”
“I’m surprised ye dinnae have a twin,” Alistair quipped in return. “All yer brothers do, after all.”
Graham shrugged, his expression even. “I dinnae have a happy home life and might’ve enjoyed a twin brother.”
Davina’s heart ached for her love’s past, and she grew even more determined to ensure he’d have a happy future.
“So, since ye’re here, Graham, will ye look at the spot on my stomach?” Alistair prompted, reminding Vina of his request at the meal yesterday.
Before Graham could answer, Aunt Agatha scoffed. “There are ladies present, ye clot-heid! If anyone is to be disrobing and showing off fine assets, we would prefer it to be someone we’re no’ actually related to!”
“I dinnae mind looking at his stomach,” quipped Lara with a smile.
Davina winked at Graham, “I’m sure ‘tis a verra fine stomach, and I’m no’ related to Alistair.” Not by blood, at least.
“Well, I am!” grumbled Agatha. “I changed the laddie’s nappy when he was a bairn, and he once pissed in my face. I have nae need to admire his body now, thank ye verra much!”
“Ye’re no’ into that sort of thing, Aunt Agatha?” Lara asked with a straight face.
While his great-aunt sputtered—much like she must have all those years before at the moment of the urine attack—Alistair shook his head. “I hate to say it, Aunt Agatha, but I think ye’re getting forgetful in yer dotage. I would never piss on a woman. ‘Tis clearly more Kiergan’s style.”
Graham’s eyes danced with merriment at the joke, and Davina wondered if anyone else could see it as she could. “I have to admit, Kiergan is the sort who—”
“Nay,” the old woman interrupted, “I remember quite clearly. The wee laddie had a spot on his—ahem.”
Alistair threw his hands up. “See? I’ve had the spot on my ahem for years now!”
His wife poked him in the side. “As I recall, ‘tis Finn with a spot on his ahem. Yers is on yer stomach, although I think ‘tis a freckle.”
“Freckles are no’ that big, and this one is huge.”
“Men,” scoffed Lara, in an aside to Davina, “are obsessed with the size of their ahems.”
She nodded gravely in response. “So I am learning. How do ye ken of the spot on Finn’s ahem?”
“Och, the whole castle kens of that one, thanks to the circumstances surrounding his courtship.” Lara winked. “When identical twins tried to woo identical twins, things got a little silly.”
“A little?” griped her husband. “Ye’re going to have to share the full story with Davina, but leave my brother’s ahem out of it, aye?”
“I make nae promises,” chuckled Lara.
Aunt Agatha’s cane slammed against the cobblestones. “That is the last straw! I dinnae have to stand here and freeze to death while I listen to the four of ye discuss Finn’s ahem!” She turned and began to hobble toward the kitchens. “Disgraceful!”
“Ye’re the one who brought it up, Aunt Agatha!” Alistair called cheerfully. “If ye’d just admit Kiergan was the one who pissed on—”
He bit off his words when his wife jabbed him in the side.
“Be civilized,” she managed to scold past her giggle, “and catch us up to her so she doesnae fall.”
“Ye expect me to escort two invalids into the kitchens now?”
Lara winked at Graham as she slid her arm through her husband’s. “I’m pregnant, no’ an invalid. But if ye’d like, I’ll be certain to share yer opinion of pregnant women with Evelinde.”
“St. Elzear’s sacred seed, nay!” Alistair begged his wife, as he led her after his great-aunt. “She’s turned into a termagant in her confinement! Did ye see her throw that roll at my head yesterday?”
“My love, we all wanted to throw a roll at yer head yesterday.” Lara laughed, then waved over her shoulder at Davina. “Enjoy yer walk.”
As Davina was trying to decide if Lara was teasing them about an obvious rendezvous, Graham darted forward and snatched up her hand.
“Thank St. Luke!” he declared breathlessly, tugging her deeper into the garden. “I thought they’d never leave!”
In the shade of the young apple tree, the air wasn’t as warm, but they were well-hidden. Knowing this, she didn’t hesitate to press herself against him and wrap her arms around his neck, before stretching up on her toes to kiss him.
He settled his hands on her hips and pulled her even closer, claiming control of the kiss. ‘Twas hard and fast and over too soon, but it left both of them panting.
“I’ve missed ye,” she whispered with