“Set her on the tabletop,” Aulay said, seeming to realize the issue.
“Oh, nay!” Dwyn protested, but Geordie was already sitting her on the table so that her feet could rest on the bench.
“We canno’ have yer feet in the rushes, lass,” he pointed out solemnly as he slid his arms out from under her. “They’re unwrappedand like to get infected.”
Dwyn did not protest further, but merely sighed with resignation.
Pleased that she wasn’t arguing or fussing, Geordie bent and kissed her nose. It wasn’t until he straightened and noticedthe surprise on her face, and then glanced around to see the interest on his brothers’ faces, that Geordie realized what he’ddone. Shrugging, he told Aulay, “I would have a word with ye.”
“Aye.” Aulay stood at once even as Alick settled on the bench next to Dwyn’s feet and grinned up at her.
“No’ yet,” Geordie said, waving Aulay back to his seat. “After Rory returns and I carry Dwyn to wherever it is he wants toexamine her.”
“Alick can do that,” Aulay pointed out.
“Aye,” Alick said, popping up off the bench at once. “I’d be pleased to carry—”
“Ye’re no’ touching her,” Geordie barked. “So get that out o’ yer head and sit yer arse down.” He waited until Alick had satdown, and then turned to Aulay to find his brother eyeing him with interest. When Aulay’s gaze shifted to Dwyn, Geordie followedhis gaze to her and he frowned when he saw the concern on her face. She was obviously confused by what was going on, and startingto fret.
“Everything is fine,” he assured her in a soft voice. “Just rest here a minute.”
When she relaxed a little, he waved at Aulay to follow and walked over to stand near the doors to the kitchen. Turning toface his brother, he opened his mouth, and then paused, searching for where to start.
Before he could figure it out, Aulay asked, “Have ye slept with her?”
“Nay,” Geordie snapped, glad he hadn’t and could answer that honestly. “But I’m marrying her.”
“I’m glad,” Aulay said at once, not seeming terribly surprised. “I like her. So does Jetta.”
Geordie smiled faintly at the words. “She’s a smart, sweet, honest and lovely lass who laughs as easily as most lassies weep.”
“Aye,” Aulay began. “Well, then, we should—”
“She’s worth more than all the other women here combined,” Geordie added.
“Her father—” Aulay tried again.
“I’ve never met a more sensitive lass either,” Geordie informed him.
Aulay paused to frown at that. “Sensitive as in weepy, or—?”
“Nay,” he said with disgust. “At least I do no’ think so, else Catriona and Sasha’s antics would have had her in tears. Imeant something as small as a light caress down her arm can make her shiver and break out in goose bumps, and mere kissescan make her mewl and moan with need, and—”
“Aye, well, I would no’ tell her father that,” Aulay said dryly, interrupting his explanation. He paused briefly, but thenasked, “Are ye sure, Geordie? Ye have no’ kenned the woman long.”
“How long did it take ye to decide ye wanted Jetta to wife?” Geordie countered.
“I take yer point,” Aulay said wryly.
“It does no’ take long to sort out whether a lass is a good woman or no’,” Geordie said solemnly. “And once ye do, if ye’relucky enough to burn to bed her, I figure ye’ve found yerself a wife.”
“Aye,” Aulay agreed, and then straightened. “Then if ye’re sure ye want to marry the lass, I guess we’d best talk to her father.”
“Aye, I’m positive I do,” Geordie assured him. “Tonight.”
“What?” Aulay asked with surprise, and immediately started to shake his head. “Ye canno’—”
“I am,” he said grimly.
“Geordie,” Aulay began with exasperation. “Surely ye can wait the week or two it would take fer Saidh and our brothers tomake their way here to—”
“Certainly I could,” he admitted, though he wasn’t sure that was true. Dwyn was like a fever in his blood. He needed to bed her. “But I do no’ want to.”
“Sometimes, ye canno’ do what ye want,” Aulay said firmly. “And if her father wishes to delay . . .”
“I suggest ye help me convince him no’ to wait,” Geordie said grimly. “Because while the wedding may wait, I canno’, and Iwould really rather she be mine ere I take her maiden’s veil . . . tonight.”
“Geordie,” he tried in a reasoning tone. “It will no’ kill ye to wait a week or two to marry and bed the lass.”
“Really?” Geordie narrowed his eyes. “Fine. I will wait a week or two . . . if you do.”
Aulay stiffened, his eyes narrowing. “What mean ye by that?”
“I mean, if ye’re willing no’ to bed yer wife fer the week or two it takes fer everyone to get here, I’ll no’ bed Dwyn. Howbeit,”he added firmly, “I suggest we both go to the lodge until the wedding day to ensure we both behave.”
Aulay’s mouth tightened grimly. “I’ll talk to her father.”
“Ye do that,” Geordie said dryly, and turned to glance at Dwyn, frowning when he saw that Rory had arrived, as had Uncle Acair,and they and Alick were now all gathered around Dwyn, laughing, and chatting up a storm. And the lass was laughing too. Herhair was a wild tumble of pale gold around her face and shoulders that gleamed in the candlelight, her eyes were sparkling,and she wore the wide, relaxed smile of a woman who had just rolled from bed after being tumbled. She was ridiculously gorgeous,and his brothers were noticing. They were also noticing how the neckline of her gown dropped with her every laugh.
Growling deep in his throat, he started toward the table, but was brought up short by Aulay’s hand on his arm.
“They are yer brothers and uncle. She is safe with them,” his older brother said firmly, and then pointed out, “And we havea contract to negotiate.”
“You negotiate it,” Geordie said in a low grating voice. “I—”
“You will come with me for the negotiations. Ye can survive
