Page 86 of The Ruthless Laird's Virgin
Turning toward her with a smirk, he closed the distance and placed his hands over hers on her belly. “Aye, for now I have more time with me wife, but in a few months, we will never be alone ever again.”
Eleanor’s heart felt as if it would burst as she slipped her hand over her husband’s and smiled. “Fiona says she can hear more than one heartbeat,” she sighed contentedly, thinking of the joy that their unborn children would bring to their lives.
Callum’s hand suddenly stilled beneath hers as the realization of her words set in. “Would one of those heartbeats happen to be yers?” He slowly lifted his head and met her gaze.
Dipping her head, Eleanor began to laugh until she almost cried. The weight of her belly shaking forced her to lean on his shoulders for support as she struggled to keep in her mirth.
“Perhaps Fiona is going deaf. She isnae a bairn anymore.” His words made her laugh even harder as he continued to frown.
“I daenae see what is so funny, lass. I ordered one bairn, and nae two.” His hands began to move over her belly again as his brows knit together in a frown. “What will we do if both the bairns are boys? Who will become Laird? There will be fightin’ over the succession and who was born first.”
Eleanor stopped laughing and shook her head. “Ye are puttin’ the cart before the horse, me Laird. What if ye have two daughters and nay sons?”
“Daenae even suggest such a thing,” he said playfully.
“I am nae suggestin’ it, me Laird, I am tellin’ ye that we daenae ken what the future holds. Ye will have to be content with whatever bairns the gods choose to bless us with,” she said sternly. “Daughters must be just as wanted and welcome as sons.”
Callum’s face softened. “Daenae call me Laird in that tone, macree, ye only ever use that title when ye are less than pleased with me.” He seemed sheepish as he looked down, the corner of his mouth hooking into a smile.
“I just want us to be happy with whatever we have. Bairns are a blessin’ from above and should be treated as such.”
“Then let us hope that we are blessed with either.” He looked lovingly at her belly with all the dreams of their future swimming in his eyes. “Whatever they may be, I ken that they will have the best mother in the world.”
I love this man.
“And I hope for an easy delivery no matter what bairns come out,” Fiona suddenly spoke up as she came walking toward them. After the battle, Fiona had stayed on at the castle, taking her rightful place as the clan’s healer. All talk of her being a witch had long since died, as she had saved more than a few of the men after the battle.
Callum had spent quite a long time rooting out all of the men who had sided with Donald Kincaid. But time had passed, and the castle was beginning to fall into an easy rhythm with only trusted men at his side. It had not been easy to exile the men who had accepted bribes, but everyone knew that it had been the right thing to do in the end.
More than that, the clan had begun to thrive. The fields beyond the walls were greener than Eleanor had ever seen them, and laughter now echoed through the halls where once there had been whispers of doubt and fear. Women moved freely about their work, children played without hesitation, and the men who remained carried themselves with a renewed sense of loyalty. It was no longer merely a stronghold, but a true home for all.
“Aye,” Callum agreed as he let go of Eleanor’s belly. “A safe and healthy birth for both the bairns and their mother.”
Fiona nodded. “And to think that I had to force the two of ye into marriage.”
Callum’s brow once again dipped into a frown as he glared at the healer. “Ye didnae force us, Fiona. It was me idea to begin with, and then me idea to get married for real.”
Fiona seemed thoughtful for a moment as she pursed her lips. “Was it truly yer idea, me Laird?”
Eleanor thought back to the time in the cabin when she and Callum had first met. They had both been suspicious of each other, and it had been Fiona who had encouraged them to put their differences aside and make an alliance. It had not seemed like her idea at the time, but now that Eleanor thought of it, it did seem like Fiona had played a larger part than usual.
Laughing much louder this time, Fiona hung her head back, not caring who saw her laughing like a fool.
Joining in, Eleanor chortled as she glanced at Callum. Everything in the world seemed right as she watched the way he frowned. She had not been sure what it had meant at the start, but she now knew that frowning was just part of who he was. He was a tough laird on the outside and a much softer lover on the inside.
Her cheeks flushed with color at the thought as she averted her gaze. Their lovemaking had not ceased much since the news of her pregnancy.
And yet, there had been quieter moments too, nights where he simply held her, his hand resting protectively over her belly as though he could guard them all from the world. In those moments, Eleanor had come to understand that his strength was not only in battle or command, but in the tenderness he showed when no one else was looking.
Fiona shook her head, obviously enjoying the confusion that she created within Callum. “Never mind all of that now, I only came to remind the mother that she needs to rest. It is good to take small walks, but I want her in front of the fire with a book in her hands,” she said more sternly and narrowed her eyes at Eleanor, who had promised to rest more often.
With only four months left to go, Eleanor had doubled in size from what she had been at the start. She had taken up reading again when Fiona had suggested that she find something less strenuous to occupy her time. It had been difficult at first, but Callum had helped her work through her difficulties with her brother and put the past behind her. She now enjoyed reading again and even discussed the books with Marion.
As if the thought had summoned her dearest friend, Marion came walking toward them with a smile fixed on her face.
She looks happy.
Eleanor’s heart swelled with pride as she watched the confident gait in her maid’s step. Even Marion had come a long way from the shy and withdrawn young woman she had once been.
