He grinned. “Your infirmity? And the skill can be picked up easily enough if one has a family that includes a lot of women and girls, unlike the Camerons or the MacFingals.” He laughed softly as he tugged her closer.
Mora had the feeling that she should stop him as he lowered his mouth to hers and held her close. Instead she let him kiss her, and this time it was not an innocent, light brush of the lips. This time he put some urgency into it. Slowly, making very certain she caused herself no pain, she reached up to put her arms around his neck and hold him close, savoring the feel of his strength and warmth. When he lightly nipped at her bottom lip, she gasped, and suddenly his tongue was in her mouth. He stroked the inside of her mouth and she began to warily mimic his actions as a strange fever began to grow deep inside her.
This is desire, she thought, and was both fascinated and tempted. The embrace he held her in tightened and he pulled her even closer until their bodies were hard up against each other. She was just sinking into the pleasure of another kiss when a sharp pain caused her to cry out.
Gybbon pulled away from her and cursed himself for being so impatient. He had wanted her from the moment he had set eyes on her, but her wound, as well as all her other troubles, had worked to hold him back. Knowing that her stitches were out had loosened the reins on that control. Kissing her had snapped them completely.
“I am so sorry,” he said as he tried to lift the hand she had clapped over the wound. “I wasnae thinking. . . .”
Mora pushed his hand away. “’Tis all right. Truly,” she reassured him when he looked doubtful. “’Twas mostly surprise that it could still hurt.”
“And so it should when some braw laddie is clutching you tight and tossing you round the bed.”
Covering her face with her hands so that she hid what she knew was a fierce blush stinging her cheeks, Mora wondered why they had not heard Jolene enter the room. Now she could add the embarrassment she felt at crying out like a child over what had only been a brief, if painful, twinge to the humiliation of being caught abed with a man by the lady of the manor.
“How do ye keep sneaking up on people?” asked Gybbon as he hastily checked his clothes to make certain they were not too badly disordered and stood to frown at Jolene as she walked to the side of the bed. “Ye have a true skill for suddenly appearing to make your opinion known.”
“And it is a skill I do not wish to share with anyone. I get too much pleasure out of stating my opinion. Now, shoo. I have come to help Mora dress for her journey.”
“I could probably do it myself,” Mora said quietly, trying hard not to laugh at the way Jolene had told Gybbon to “shoo.”
“Aye, but the less you twist and turn and lift your arms, the better it will be for you on your journey.”
Gybbon walked to the door and ignored the way Freya trotted in as if he had opened the door just for her. Then he frowned at Jolene’s back. “Did ye just tell me to shoo?”
Jolene’s lips twitched into a quick, faint smile and then she raised a hand to make a shooing gesture at Gybbon. “Aye, so shoo,” she repeated, then grinned widely when she heard the door shut behind him. “They hate when I do that. Now, are you really all right?”
“Aye, I really am. It just startled me. Ye had taken out the stitches and removed the bandage. Despite the fact that I had dutifully noted all ye said about being careful, I still just thought that I was healed, so when there was a sudden small pain, I think it shocked me a bit.”
“I suspect it did.” Jolene held out a hand. “Best you get dressed now. Time to break your fast.”
“Oh, I do find myself really hungry,” said Mora as she took Jolene’s hand and let the woman tug her to her feet.
“That is good. You did not have the fever for long, but it is good if you eat as well as you can for a while.”
“Thank ye kindly for the use of the shift.”
“Keep it. I am pleased it served and I fear yours is now gone. I used it for bandages.”
“That was what I was doing,” said Mora as she unlaced the shift.
“I will send the last two home with you. I was just thinking it might be a good idea if I put a loose one on you for the journey. ’Twill help keep the area clean and keep the healing salve off your gown.”
“Are ye giving me some of the salve?”
“Aye. It will help the wound and I think it also may ease a bit of the scarring that will be left.”
“I am trying nay to think about scarring.” Mora walked over to the bowl and, grabbing a cloth, gave herself a quick wash. “When do ye think it would be safe to have a bath?”
Jolene laughed. “You could have one now save I dinnae think you would then have time to break your fast. Have one when you reach Gormfeurach. They are verra efficient at it and have lovely baths to lounge in. ’Tis one of the many improvements Lady Annys has put in and I fully approve of it.”
“Ye have been there?” After drying herself she accepted the shift Jolene held out for her and pulled it on.
“Aye. Sigimor likes to keep on good terms with the Murrays. They are a large clan with a lot of allies from the Armstrongs, near the border to England, to Sir Simon Innes, who used to be called the King’s Hound. I swear, there must be dozens between there. E’en if Sigimor didnae like Gybbon and his brothers Harcourt and Brett so much, he would still make certain that alliance stood.”
“Oh my.” She had just been kissing a very important man.
As she tugged on her hose and tied the ribbons to hold them up, she had to wonder what her parents would think about a flirtation with such a well-placed man. Her mother would have danced around making plans to bring him to the altar, and her father would worry. He had been happy with just what he was. A younger son with few duties who did not have to bother with allies, alliances, or even hordes of relations that you were expected to keep on your side. Her father had just wanted to raise his family and carve his wood.
Jolene walked up and held out her gown. “We cleaned and mended it. ‘Tis not too rough now and will suit to riding in a wagon all the way to Gormfuerach.”
“Ye didnae have to do that. I could have just bundled it into my bag and dealt with it later.”
“It would have been utterly ruined by then. Getting to the dirt and the blood fast is why it looks as good as it does. It also looks verra comfortable and worth saving.”
“Aye, ’tis a country woman’s gown. They are nay such slaves to fashion quirks. And they usually have to work in the gown unlike a titled lady. My mither made it for me.”
“Another good reason to save it.” Jolene helped Mora get dressed.
“How is Andrew?”
“He is just fine. He slept in with Fergus and the MacFingal boys. That has left him feeling quite full of himself. Boy thinks he has slept with the men like a warrior would. He still clutches his soldier though.”
“I would nay be surprised if he always does. His da made it. He did love Da.” She sighed, releasing a little more of the sorrow that clung to her. “I wouldnae be surprised if, when he is a grown mon and I go to see him, his wife, and his bairns, if I ask about the Bruce, he will pull it out.”
“’Tis a lovely thought. I think he is looking for you, as well.”
“Then I best get down there to eat.”
Mora hurriedly put some things in her bag. Her injury had kept her from unpacking much, so it was quick. Then she walked down the stairs with Jolene. The moment she entered the hall, Andrew ran over to her.
“I was starting to worry about you,” the boy said as he gently hugged her.
“Why? Gybbon was here.”
“But Gybbon wasnae hurt.”
“True, but now I am nearly completely healed, so you can cease worrying about me.”
She started to make her way to the table, Andrew clutching her hand. Gybbon waved her over and indicated room on the bench for her and Andrew to sit with him. Mora helped Andrew sit next to Gybbon and then she sat next to Andrew. She saw Gybbon look at the boy and then at her, his mouth twitching into a smile briefly.
“Why is everyone so big?” Andrew asked softly as she served him some porridge and apples.