wanted to be the first one to reveal this to his wife. If her family was betraying their honour and their agreement, she needed to know it first. He owed her that much.
Fia Mackintosh tried to turn her glance away but failed. Oh, she would be the first to admit that her efforts to avoid staring at the intimate scene before her were not her best. But truly, the sight before her was one she would admit she wanted to experience for herself. Not with the man involved—God forbid!—but with a man who would look at her the way her cousin the laird looked at his wife.
Brodie towered over Arabella even more so than he towered over most of the men of the clan. The lady was petite and known throughout the Highlands of Scotland as the most genteel and beautiful woman who lived there. And yet, not for a moment did Arabella seem intimidated by the huge man standing so close to her, leaning down over her. When Brodie pressed his lips to Arabella’s, Fia’s own lips tingled. But that was not the worst thing.
The worst thing was when a loud sigh escaped her control and echoed in the silence of the chamber.
Loud enough to draw Brodie’s attention from his wife. Loud enough to draw his attention to her instead. And even loud enough that Ailean, the lady’s cousin and companion, laughed aloud. Thankfully, Aunt Devorgilla was not here to witness her embarrassment. Once again, Fia had broken the rule that servants were never to be seen or heard from when not being addressed. It was a lamentable failing that her mother had long bemoaned and, once more, it had gotten Fia into trouble.
‘I beg your pardon, laird, my lady,’ she began in a soft voice and without lifting her gaze towards him. ‘I did not mean to intrude on a private moment.’
‘If he wanted a private moment, my husband would have sought me in our chambers earlier, Fia,’ Arabella said, laughing. She dared a peek now and watched as the lady pushed against her husband’s chest, barely moving him an inch. Even so, he stepped back and crossed his arms over that chest. ‘Brodie, I am well. You do not have to look in on me every hour of every day.’
Fia caught Ailean’s gaze and the truth struck her from the knowing look there—the lady was carrying another bairn. Daring a glance at them, Fia realised the laird was being protective, now more than before, because of the lady’s condition. Another sigh escaped as she hoped a man would hold her in such regard. Ailean laughed again at the sound and Fia felt the heat of a blush creep up her cheeks.
‘Go on now,’ Arabella said to her husband, who did not move a muscle in response. ‘You have embarrassed our Fia and I need her attention on her tasks.’ The mending lay forgotten on her lap. Fia grabbed for it to look busy and not lost in her thoughts which only made the laird laugh loudly.
‘I think our Fia understands, my love.’ Brodie leaned in and kissed Arabella’s forehead. ‘But I will leave you to your tasks.’
The wicked glint in his eyes warned Fia that he would not go quietly. So, when he reached out and pulled his wife into his arms and kissed her passionately, Fia had a moment to look away...
And she could not.
It was so romantic. So passionate. So...what she longed for in her own life. At least the next sigh that escaped went unnoticed by the others in the chamber.
‘Good day, Arabella,’ Brodie said as he set his wife back on her feet. ‘Good day, Ailean. Fia.’
He nodded to both of them and left the chamber, his long legs crossing the floor quickly. When the door slammed, it startled all three of them. The lady smoothed her hands down her gown and then tucked a few loose strands of hair back in the braids that hung down past her hips. Ailean stood and filled a cup for the lady. Fia, well, all she could do was smile at the wonderful news she’d gleaned from this encounter. When Arabella caught sight of her expression, she smiled, too.
‘I am not sharing the news yet,’ the lady said softly, her hand sliding over her belly in a protective gesture. ‘Not for a few more weeks, I think,’ she added. ‘But if Brodie continues his behaviour, everyone will realise it.’ The last pregnancy had been too brief and ended sadly, so it did not surprise Fia that they would wait on any announcement.
‘I will not speak of it, my lady,’ she promised. Serving as the lady’s maid often put Fia in situations where she would hear or see things not meant for others and she’d learned quickly how to keep confidences.
* * *
The remainder of the day moved quickly, as her days usually did, filled with tasks and duties, seeing to the lady’s needs, accompanying her wherever she went through the keep and beyond. Fia could not help but smile as the laird seemed to appear out of the mist several times as Arabella walked in the village or saw to her duties around the keep or to her bairns cared for in the nursery. The anger or rather frustration in the lady’s eyes always dissipated quickly as she gazed on her husband.
And each time that happened, Fia sighed.
Ailean and the lady took to laughing at the sound of it, but neither one took her to task over her naivety. The strange thing was that this was new to her. She’d worked for the lady for nigh on two years and, at first, took little notice of the goings-on of the romantic sort between Brodie and his wife. Only over the last several months had she begun to hear the whispered words and see the caresses and kisses.
Her mother had laughed the first time she’d witnessed Fia’s reaction. According to her mother, it was because she was nearing the time to consider marriage and she was now noticing ‘those matters.’
The truth was that Fia had noticed from her childhood days that there was something different...and lovely between Brodie Mackintosh and Arabella Cameron. Even when their clan suffered from the strife that divided them into two factions, forcing her and her family to live in exile in the mountains, Fia had watched the way her cousin treated the woman he’d kidnapped. Even having been only ten years at that time did not prevent her from seeing it.
In the years since, and especially since the lady kept her word and brought her to serve in the keep, it was so clear to Fia and everyone. And what woman in their right mind would not want such a match? Such a marriage? She sighed again. Such passion?
Now, as Fia helped the lady finish the last tasks of her day, before she would see to her bairns and husband, Arabella turned to both Ailean and her.
‘On the morrow, I will accompany Brodie to Achnacarry to visit my cousin,’ she said quietly. ‘No announcement will be made of our journey and so neither of you will be required.’
‘Arabella—’ Ailean began. Fia watched as the inevitable test of wills played out. ‘You are...’
‘My husband will see to my comfort and my safety,’ Arabella explained.
‘But the attacks?’ Ailean asked, wringing her hands together and shaking her head.
‘There has been no sign of more attacks in weeks, Ailean.’ Arabella smiled then and nodded to them both. ‘Who would be foolish enough to attack the armed escort of the mighty Brodie Mackintosh? I am completely safe with him at my side.’
Fia waited for Ailean’s next argument, for there were usually several. So, the quick capitulation was unexpected.
‘Very well,’ Ailean said softly as she nodded and looked away.
‘I
