Page 55 of My Highland Defender
“I see no convent in her future! Welcome, Laird Douglas, I was hoping I’d see you this night.”
“Convent?” echoed Roger against Julianna’s lips, but she only flung her arms around his neck and kissed him with a fervor that made him embrace her as tightly.
So long a kiss, too, that masculine laughter erupted all around as Alec’s familiar voice sounded nearby.
“Any ale at the camp, my lord king? It’s been a damnable long ride.”
DOUGLAS CASTLE,TWO MONTHS LATER…
“Papa, can we play horsey again?” queried Elspeth, shifting impatiently against Roger as he stood holding her in the bailey, her woolen cloak fluttering in the chilly November breeze.
Breda clapped her gloved hands together and grinned at him from the crook of his other arm, echoing, “Horsey, horsey!” while Julianna smiled up at him with Aran swaddled snugly in a blanket and cradled in her arms, fast asleep.
His beloved wife so beautiful with the afternoon sunlight glinting like gold upon her dark hair, his family gathered outside the keep to bid farewell to Alec—who didn’t look happy at all.
Roger’s strapping blond captain sitting astride his gray steed and flanked by a dozen warriors from the Mackay clan who looked as much like legendary Vikings as did Alec. Since he had ignored every summons sent to Douglas Castle by messenger, his kinsmen had come themselves from the far north Highlands to fetch him home.
To marry…his bride-to-be awaiting him.
A flame-haired Sutherland lass, or so Alec had been informed…their wedding intended to help avert war between the two rival clans, God help him.
Two enemies soon to come together through marriage, Roger glancing at Julianna, whose stunning violet eyes met his as if she had read his mind.
“Mayhap he’ll find happiness, too,” she murmured as the Mackays began to veer their horses around toward the opened gates. “We did, husband. It’s not impossible…”
“Aye, it isna impossible.” Holding his daughters close to keep them warm, he bent his head to press a kiss to Julianna’s soft lips…longing for so much more after the wee ones were abed later.
His heart filled with boundless love for this woman who had brought joy back into his life…and who had told him only that morning while they lay abed that she was with child.
Their first bairn together…the birth expected midsummer next year.
“Farewell, cousin!” Alec called out with a wave of his arm, Roger nodding to him while his daughters waved back and giggled.
For some reason, their silliness made Alec smile, too, after he’d looked nothing but miserable since his kinsmen had arrived yesterday.
More a wry grin until he grew disgruntled again…but it gave Roger some hope for the man.
With the gates closing behind the Mackays, he set the girls down so they could run toward the keep, Elspeth holding tight to her little sister’s hand. Then he drew Julianna close to him, Aran still sleeping peacefully in her arms.
“Have you thought yet if you want a wee lad or a lass?” he whispered against her ear, her cheeks flushing pink as if his breath had tickled her.
“Och, husband, why dinna we wait and see what the angels bring us,” she murmured with a fair imitation of a Scottish brogue, and then she laughed at his look of amazement. “Come, my love, let’s go after our girls.”
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