Betrayed by Bertrice Small Read Free Book Online

legs,” he began slowly,
“is
an opening into yer body. I will join my body with yers through that opening.” He didn't know how else to explain it to her. He wasn't certain there was another way.
    Fiona looked a trifle confused. “How?” she asked him. “How will ye join yer body to mine, Angus Gordon? Certainly there is something ye are not telling me.” A small chuckle escaped her. “This is as hard for ye as it is for me, I expect. I don't imagine that ye have ever had to make such an explanation to a lass before.”
    He laughed, almost relieved by her practical approach to the whole matter. “No, sweetheart, I have never had to explain bedsport to a maid, and yer right. I have forgotten something. We will be joined by an appendage that all men are blessed with.”
    “I think I have heard of such a thing,” Fiona said thoughtfully. “Is it called a manhood?”
    “Aye,” he answered. “Where did ye hear of one before?”
    “When our sister, Anne, married Duncan Keith, she came after a few months to tell us that she would have a bairn by Lammas next. I asked her if she was still happy with her man. She said, aye, she was, that Duncan has a verra fine manhood, and kept her happy. I asked her what a manhood was, but Annie just laughed. She said ‘twas not for a maiden to know such things and mat when I wed would be time enough for me to learn about manhoods.”
    “I have told ye enough for now,” Angus said. “Ye will learn by example, Fiona Hay, but I promise ye mat I will not be rough with ye. There are certain men who enjoy being cruel, but I am not one.”
    When they had finally reached the shores of Loch Brae, Angus Gordon drew his horse to a stop so she might see the castle in all its beauty. He loved his home deeply and never grew weary of it, happy to remain there. “Brae Castle,” he told her.
    Fiona caught her breath in wonderment. She had never in all her life imagined such a beautiful place.
    Brae Castle had been built in the year 1295, in the reign of John Balliol. This unfortunate king had sworn his fealty to the English king, Edward I, better known, in Scotland as the Hammer of the Scots. The castle was situated on an island just off the north shore of an inland loch. The loch was considered small in comparison to the more famous lakes of Scotland, but it was big enough, being almost a mile and a half across at its widest point and four miles in length, for protection.
    The island was connected to the shore by a wooden bridge. The builder of the castle had originally thoughtto construct the bridge of the same stone as the castle, but his wife, the legend went, had pointed out that in case of an attack, an enemy could march easily over a fine stone bridge right up to the doors of the castle, whereas a wooden bridge could be torched, making it difficult for an enemy to reach the island.
    The area between the bridge and the castle itself was kept in field. There were no trees or large bushes behind which an intruder might hide. The shoreline had no sandy beach. It was very rocky, making it difficult to gain the land unless one came over the bridge itself, or via boat to the small landing on the south side of the castle, which was guarded round the clock.
    The laird nudged his horse around a bend in the shore to the bridge that connected with the castle, and they crossed over. Grooms came to take the Gordon brothers’ horses as they clattered into the stone courtyard. The laird dismounted, lifting Fiona down, setting her gently upon her feet. He then took Morag, who was already half-asleep, from Roddy. The little girl's head fell heavily against his shoulder. Angus Gordon handed her to a young maidservant, who hurried from the house, instructing her where the child was to be put to bed.
    ‘Jean will share the chamber with her,” he told Fiona, who looked about for her.
    Jean still sat upon James Gordon's horse. “Will ye not help me down, Jamie-boy?” she cooed at him, her amber gaze soft