From the strained look on his face, her smile must not have been all that reassuring. When she felt the trickle of blood from the opened wound, she understood. She was a mess.
“It’s not your fault,” she offered.
Espath harrumphed. “Mayhap next time you won’t leave your boots lying about so someone might fall over them,” she scolded him.
With a groan and another apology, he backed away and left the kitchen.
“I don’t know what he’s about. Normally he’s a very tidy man.” Kenna shook her head and went back to her ministrations with Mari’s ankle.
“You shouldn’t be working,” Mari said, watching the door. There would be trouble if Lachlan came in and saw Kenna bending over her ankle.
“You do remember I have two wee boys already who keep me moving all day? I’m glad for this small rest. I love them dearly, but all their energy… They get it by draining other people, I think.”
They laughed together.
“Try walking on it now,” Kenna ordered.
Mari took a step and then another. She nodded. “I wouldn’t want to walk for miles, but it’s not so bad now. Thank you.”
Kenna gave a pleased smile. “Good.”
“I’ll try my best not to limp in front of Cameron. I don’t want to pile more guilt upon him.”
Kenna’s eyes went wide. “Are ye mad? You’re in the perfect position to get whatever your heart desires. He’s so guilt-ridden he’d likely do anything for you.”
“Anything?” Mari wondered with a raised brow…though more to herself.
“Well, perhaps not that. Men have a funny idea that they will hurt you worse if they give in to their randy ways. They think us fragile and breakable.”
“Anyway, I wouldn’t want him to do…that…simply because he felt guilty.”
Kenna chuckled. “I’m sure it would be no hardship for him. You should give it a try.”
For the rest of the day, it seemed Cameron avoided her. Twice she’d seen him come into the hall, and both times as soon as he saw her he turned and left again.
Was he repulsed by her injuries? A shiver of fear went down her spine at the memory of her late husband looking on her with disgust. She swallowed down her unease.
Cameron was nothing like Endsmere. He was kind and gentle.
Thanks to Kenna’s suggestion, Mari had been thinking of the things she might ask for, now that Cameron was pliable to her wishes.
Things like kisses and touches. And other things that made her face heat.
Despite coming up with a number of good fantasies, she knew she’d be too frightened to ask Cameron for what she wanted. Though it wouldn’t make a difference if he stayed away from her until she healed.
She almost hoped he had gotten her letter. She thought about the words she’d written. How she’d told him she liked his kiss.
She was sitting in the corner of the hall working on her sister’s embroidery with her foot propped up per Kenna’s instructions when the young man, Liam, came in and handed her a letter.
“The war chief asked me to deliver this to you.”
“Thank you,” she said with a puzzled nod.
“Yes, madam.”
As soon as he was gone she opened the letter and found a page full of Cameron’s large script. He seemed to have no regard for the size of the paper. It reminded her of how he took up the majority of their bed. She smiled until her lip pinched.
Dearest wife,
I canna tell ye how truly sorry I am for causing you this pain. I ken you’re quick to forgive me, and I’ll not play the coward and confess my sins in a letter. Just know that I’ll stand before ye soon and state my wrongdoings. I can only hope you’ll forgive me.
I must also apologize for not acknowledging your letter yesterday. I’m not one for correspondence, and I was impatient to move forward. But I now see the allure of the written word. And how easy it is to pour your soul onto a page.
Please know you are not alone in wanting physical pleasure between us. I think of ye in that way most of my waking hours, and many of my sleeping hours as well.
I fear I’ve ruined any chance for further kissing in the near future, but know I will take advantage of the opportunity if you feel me worthy of such affections.
Your repentant husband,
Cam
Another smile split her lip open again, but she didn’t mind. She was too overcome with joy. He’d written to her. He said he wanted to kiss her and thought about it often. He also thought she wouldn’t want him to. She went to Kenna’s solar to retrieve a paper and quill.
She’d just have to tell him how wrong he was.
Chapter Fifteen
“I’m going to bloody kill you.” Cam grabbed Bryce up by his shirt, lifting the man off the ground.
“What did I do?”
“You suggested I should be messy and toss my things about.” Cam waved a hand in the air as he dropped Bryce back to his feet. “Did you see my wife? She’s hurt, and it’s all because I listened to your stupid talk. God bless Maggie for dealing with the likes of you for the too-few years she was here with us.”
“Do not speak of Maggie.” Bryce’s dark eyes flashed in warning.
Cam had overstepped, but he wanted someone else to blame for Mari’s pain, and Bryce was somewhat responsible. Even if he hadn’t been the one to throw his boot in the path of Cam’s poor wife. Bloody hell.
“I’m sorry.” He ran his hands through his hair. “How do people stand this? She’s so little and delicate. I don’t want to hurt her.”
Leaving his boots out where she might trip was bad enough, but if she consented to lie with him, what then? How would he make love to her without injury?
“Even the dainty ones are stronger than you think. They birth babes, Cam. They’re not
