“Cameron,” Iain said, as he stoodand gathered Marion into his arms and pulled her close to his chest. “Ye willgo with the guards to see Elspeth settled.”
“As ye wish, brother.”
Without another word, Iain strodefrom the dais and up to their bedchamber. He set Marion on the bed, and to hersurprise, he joined her.
“What are you doing?” she said,laughing. “Do you not need to attend to clan business?”
“Aye. But it can wait. I’ve beencreating something just for ye in my head.” Iain stretched out his long legs ashe reclined beside her and took her hand in his. Then, to her astonishment, hebegan to sing a ballad, and as he started to tell the story, she realized itwas about them. He sung of a laird who’d lost his ability to love and theproud, half-English beauty who awoke first his lust and then his heart, andpatiently taught him how to love again.
Marion’s throat ached with unshedtears of happiness as he finished the ballad. When he was done, he smiled shylyat her and pressed his lips to hers.
“I did not know you could sing.”
“Oh, aye, but dunnae tell anyone.Lairds do nae sing,” he said most seriously. “My father always told me so.”
Marion frowned. “What else do lairdsnot do?”
Iain rubbed his knuckles over hischin as he looked thoughtful. “Lairds dunnae cry, and lairds always put theclan first, above all else.”
“Was your father a hard man?” sheasked, thinking of her own.
Iain nodded. “He was hard, but hewas good and honorable, and showed us he cared for us.”
She quirked an eyebrow. “But nevertold you so?”
“Nay. Lairds dunnae talk ofemotions, either.”
She snorted at that, but theconversation went far in explaining why Iain had not spoken to her of how hefelt sooner. If the rules about lairds were firmly established early in life,and he’d lived them for so long, it was no wonder it had been so hard for him.“I’m glad you are a different sort of laird from your father.”
“Different but the same,” hereplied. “Speaking of how I feel is difficult, but I’ll do it for ye. But onlyye.”
She grinned. “Will you continue tosing for me?”
He chuckled. “Aye. But only forye.”
Before she could respond a knockcame at the door. “It’s Lachlan. May I enter?”
“Aye,” Iain called.
Lachlan strolled into the room witha casual grace that made Marion see why Bridgette was infatuated with the man.Though Marion did not find him as handsome as Iain, he was certainly anattractive man with his thick russet hair and his bright-green eyes, whichalways looked as if he had a secret.
He paused at the foot of the bedand shook his head. “I never thought I’d see the time come that ye would spendall day abed.”
Iain laughed. “Now ye have. Have yecome simply to annoy me or do ye want something?”
“Well,neo-bhriste laird,”Lachlan drawled with a mischievous smile and a mocking tone. “Ye’ll nae holdthat title much longer if ye dunnae train. Or have ye forgotten ye’re wanteddead by the English, and yer wife—” he winked at Marion “—is simply wanted.”
“I’ve nae forgotten,” Iain repliedwith a scowl. “We’ll train tomorrow.”
Lachlan nodded and turned to go,but when he reached the door, he faced them. “Marion, thank ye.”
“What for?” she asked in confusion.
Lachlan grinned. “For nae fleeingfrom Iain after ye first met him. Ye’ve made him happy.”
“It dunnae show, does it?” Iainasked with an indignation that made Marion laugh.
“Nay.” Lachlan rolled his eyes andleft.