Page 54 of The Beast

“I am very much alive,” he cupped her face with both hands and wiped at her tears with his thumbs. “Do not cry.”

Beatrice huffed. “If he were not already dead, I would kill the idiot myself. And to think I invited him here.”

When Duncan pulled his wife against his chest, it was to keep her from seeing anything in his gaze. At the moment, he wasn’t sure what to do, how to feel, or what to think. His head whirled with memories that he’d thought to have shoved away.

“Duncan?”

“Yes?”

“Do ye wish to talk about it?”

“No, I do not.”

Chapter Fourteen

Tense with anticipation, Beatrice leaned forward the entire ride to Keep Ross. Her mother would arrive that day. A messenger had been dispatched with the news as soon as the bìrlinns were spotted by guardsmen.

“We will go directly to the shore to greet them,” Duncan repeated. Seated across from her, he didn’t seem at all nervous about what would happen when her family arrived. For all she knew both Evander and Padraig would arrive and draw their swords upon first laying eyes upon Duncan.

In her letter, she’d done her best to explain that the marriage happened because of extraneous circumstances that she’d caused. However, her eldest brother was not only hot-tempered but would probably not believe her.

She silently prayed that it was Padraig and not Evander who arrived, since the youngest had a bit less of a hot temperament.

Freshly bathed, with his hair tied back and tunic open at the neck, her husband was enticing. Beatrice allowed her gaze to linger down his body recalling that just the night before she’d found delight pressed against it.

“Should ye be undressing me at this moment?” Duncan asked with a lift to the corner of his lips.

Beatrice gasped. “I am doing no such thing.” The warming of her cheeks was proof that she lied, so she lifted her eyes to his. “I am fortunate to have ye for a husband. Ye are very handsome.”

It was endearing that his face brightened at the compliment, but he then shrugged it off as if it were nothing. “It is I who is most fortunate Beatrice.”

Her chest constricted at his warm regard, while at the same time she wondered how he truly felt about her. Would he ever love her?

One of the things she looked forward to, was discussing how love felt. They’d not been visited since marrying, as it was her family custom for a newly married couple to be together for a fortnight. Since the marriage had been hasty and without more than a day’s notice, Beatrice had not held Duncan to it. However, they had spent most of the time together.

She glanced at his mid-section that was healing nicely from the wound. “Do not forget, it has not been long enough for ye to ride. I know ye enjoy such things with yer brothers, but it would not be good if ye fall from yer steed.”

“I am healed.”

She placed a hand on his knee. “Ye are not.”

The sounds of horses and voices made Beatrice whirl toward the window. Several people, as well as carriages, guardsmen, and nosy villagers, had gathered.

It was a busy day for arrivals, it seemed. Two bìrlinns neared the shore, the passengers helped to disembark. Immediately, people rushed to greet the travelers, while Beatrice watched from the carriage.

“There is my sister and Ella. I must go to them.” Beatrice opened the door and was assisted down by the coachman.

As soon as they noticed her, both women hurried to greet her, and they hugged exclaiming happily.

“Where is Lady Mariel?” Beatrice asked.

“At Ewan’s. Visiting Catriona and the bairns. I am sure she will arrive at the keep soon upon learning yer mother arrives,” Ella explained.

Beatrice grimaced. “It will not help things that she is not here to help calm Mother.”

Her sister nodded. “I just told Ella the same thing. The only good thing is that she will not make a scene in public.”

“I am so very anxious,” Beatrice said with a shiver. “Mother will be so angry.”