Page 50 of Captured by a Laird
“I’ll leave ye to your work,” she told the cook.
Hoping to avoid Wedderburn a little longer, she passed through the hall with her head down and hurried up the stairs. She tiptoed past their bedchamber door and continued up the wheeled stairs to the Tower Room to find her daughters. As she neared the top, she heard the rumble of a deep voice intermingled with her daughters’ giggles. She paused outside the partially open door to listen.
“Baaa, baaa.”
Who was that bleating like a sheep? The sound was followed by another burst of giggles.
“Moooo.”
She opened the door and was stunned to find the infamous Beast of Wedderburn sitting on the floor with her daughters playing with carved wooden animals. Shy Margaret sat on the laird’s lap petting a wooden pig with her finger while Beatrix bounced a wooden horse across the floor. All three looked up at Alison at once.
“Look what David made for us!” Beatrix bounded over to her, holding out the carved horse for her inspection.
“Ye cannot call the laird by his Christian name,” Alison quickly chastised her daughter.
“I told them to.” David rubbed the top of Beatrix’s head with his knuckles, making her squeal with laughter. “Ach, this one’s a wee rascal, aren’t ye?”
Confused, Alison dropped her gaze and examined the carving Beatrix had handed her.
“’Tis beautifully made,” she said as she ran her fingertip over the smooth wood. It was simple and yet captured the essence of the animal.
Wedderburn was a complex man, full of contradictions. He was a fierce Border laird who struck terror in the hearts of his enemies—and probably his friends as well. And yet here he was playing with her children, making silly animal noises. He was lethal with a sword and made beautifully carved toys with a small blade.
“Make the piggy sound again,” Margaret said, leaning against his shoulder. “P-l-e-a-s-e.”
Alison felt a rush of warmth toward him as he made an awful snorting sound that sent the girls into gales of laughter.
She was struck by the realization that Beatrix and Margaret had never been at ease around their father. It was not just that they had no joyful moments like this with him, but that they had sought to avoid his notice. With the instinct of small animals, they had hidden in the corners and shadows whenever he entered a room.
Alison thought she had protected them from seeing the evil in their father, but she had failed.
David stood and brushed the stray shavings from his breeks to cries of “Don’t go! Please!”
“I must speak with your mother now,” he told the girls. “You two behave yourselves.”
Both girls ceased their begging and gave him solemn nods.
Alison’s eyes stung as she watched him lift Margaret over his head, and her daughter’s peal of laughter filled the room. No matter what evil acts Wedderburn might be guilty of committing, a man who showed such kindness to her young daughters had much good in him too.
“I can see that you’re a verra fine mother,” he said, taking her arm as they descended the stairs. “Beatrix and Margaret are remarkable lasses.”
Nothing could have touched her more deeply, and she felt herself blush with pleasure. Her resolve to resist him was weakening by the moment. Worse, she was beginning to fear that guarding her heart could prove to be an even greater challenge than resisting his passion.
Ach, he was a dangerous man.
***
As soon as David had Alison inside their bedchamber, he kissed her slowly and thoroughly. He wanted to see that look again—the one she’d had on her face when he looked up from playing with her daughters to find her standing in the doorway. Her expression had been soft and held no trace of fear or resentment.
He was gratified when she kissed him back. Her fingers gripped his tunic, and she rose on her toes to meet him. Without lifting his lips from hers, he felt for the pins holding her head covering.
“I love your headdresses,” he murmured between kisses.
She laughed and leaned back. “They’re so plain. How can you like them?”
“They’re easy to remove.”
She laughed again, a sound that somehow made him feel lighter. This was going far better than he expected after the way she had run off earlier. He kissed the side of her neck and the sweet spot below her ear as he loosened her braid. When he had it undone, he buried his fingers in her thick hair and breathed in her scent.
