Dinner was a joyous affair, and Fio

Dinner was a joyous affair, and Fiona found herself enjoying it immensely. The great hall was full to the trusses with clansmen eager to greet Lord Robert. As they dined on roasted boar and blancmange, sweetmeats and ambrosia, he regaled them all with ribald tales of his adventures. The wine flowed like a river in springtime, and Fiona soon grew warm with drink and merriment as the boisterous din of revelers buzzed in her ears.
Throughout the evening, her husband was ever present by her side, offering bites of some delectable morsel or bidding the server to fill her cup again. His smile was ready and natural, his posture relaxed, so unlike the Myles of the last few days who’d barely looked her way. If his attention toward her was purely for show, he was a fine actor, for he played the adoring bridegroom with conviction. Or perhaps his brother’s arrival had cast a spell over them all.
“You seem at ease this evening, my lord,” she finally commented.
A shadow passed over his features but was gone as quickly as it had come. “I am at ease, as I should be. My brother is home, my father is on the mend, and I’ve a comely wife by my side.” The look he sent her way was as much a challenge as a declaration, as if he dared her contradiction.
Her tongue twisted in her mouth, with no response at the ready. She smiled instead, and sipped her wine.
For whatever purpose, he wanted Robert to believe all was well, and she could see no reason to dispute it. Her own brothers were in constant competition, and so it seemed to be with these two as well. And indeed, if Robert saw a weakness in his brother’s marriage, he might be the type to take advantage. She had no use for one Campbell pursuing her. She certainly did not want a second.
Myles leaned closer at her silence. “You are comely, you know, when you haven’t that Sinclair scowl upon your face.” His voice sank to a husky whisper as his hand covered her own. She very nearly jumped from her chair at his familiarity. “I might even confess to missing you a bit these last few days,” he added.
The smolder in his eyes was undeniable. Heat from his grasp shot through her like a torch. And if she were an honest woman, she might admit she’d missed him, too.
“’Tis you whose whereabouts have been the mystery. I’ve not hidden,” she answered.
His lips crooked in a lazy smile. “Is that an invitation? A simple word from you, and I’d be most obliged to rejoin you in our chamber.”
He was as clever as a serpent, this husband of hers. He’d left her to her own devices, hoping she’d grow lonely, and well she had, but not so much that she’d encourage his return to her bed. Or at least not so much that she’d admit it.
“I find I quite enjoy the solitude, my lord. I sleep undisturbed and imagine I am still a happy maiden back at home.”
His jaw stiffened as the smile froze on his face. “Imagine what you like, Fiona. The truth cannot be undone.”
She had not meant to rile him, only to put him off. When his eyes went dark and sleepy in that sensual way, when he touched her hand and whispered close, she could not think past her defenses. It was as instinctual as a blink to push him away.
The night took on a different tone for her just then. Her husband turned away and struck up a conversation with Tavish, sitting on the other side of him. Fiona felt a foolish tear well in her eye, and from whence it came, she could not imagine. She blinked it away.
Alyssa was sitting to her right. “Are you well, Fiona?” she asked.
Fiona nodded. “An ash in my eye, I think. Nothing more.”
Hours later, as Fiona undressed with Ruby’s assistance, she thought of her husband and the gleam in his eye when he’d looked her way. Her body tingled in an unfamiliar fashion, and her mind felt equally bemused. He had made no secret about wanting her, yet found another place to spend his nights. For days, he’d made no attempt to seduce her, and she should be glad. She was glad, of course. ’Twas far better to keep him at a distance, for when he’d stroked her hand at dinner, she’d nearly gasped from the burn of it. The flames licked through her even now, though she fought against it. Her Sinclair strength grew weaker by the day.
“Arms up, m’lady,” Ruby instructed. “Let’s get off this shift.”
Fiona raised her arms, obedient as a child, but as the maid eased the garment up and over her head, the fabric grazed against Fiona’s nipples in a whispering kiss and she drew in breath sharp as a pin. She let it out slowly, half wanting to cup her breasts with her own hands to stop their sudden ache. Her body felt odd, hot and cold at once, like water dropped upon a hot skillet, popping and sizzling in a heated dance.
Fiona frowned at her own thoughts. She’d spent too much time with Vivi of late. The woman had far too randy a nature, always speaking about the great pleasures of physical love. ’Twas hogwash. Fiona had tried it. It had not been awful. If truth be told, there’d even been some pleasurable bits, but mostly, she recalled a lot of grunting and chafing. She had no need of that. And yet, her body seemed inclined to disbelieve her mind.
Ruby was back now with a nightdress, the heavy linen one she always wore, and when the garment floated down over Fiona, her traitorous body reacted once more. Images of her husband flashed in her mind’s eye. Myles, lying next to her upon the mattress, kissing her at the inn, urgently pulling her legs around his hips on their wedding night. Lord save her, how could she long for his caress? When had she become so wanton?
Ruby came around to face her, tying the ribbons of her nightdress securely, trussing her up like a swaddled infant. But she was not an infant. And yet, not quite a woman either. She was somewhere in the middle. Of everything. No longer a virgin, but not quite a wife. No longer a Sinclair, nor thoroughly a Campbell. Tears burned in her eyes, and she nudged Ruby’s hands away.
“Thank you, Ruby. I can finish the rest.”
“Yes, m’lady. Is something amiss?”
Fiona managed a smile. “Everything is fine,” she lied. “But my head aches a bit, and I should like to be alone.”
“Yes, m’lady.” Ruby bobbed into her clumsy version of a curtsy and left, pulling the door shut behind her with a final thud.
Fiona sat down at the dressing table and picked up the brush, running it through her hair. Then she set it back down and ran her fingers through her locks instead, slowly, like a lover might, and once again, her body hummed with want. Her eyes closed, and for a few luscious moments, she let herself imagine how her life might have been if she’d married for love instead of obligation.
What joy would it bring to be stroked by a man who adored her? Who cherished and respected her? A man whose kisses made her heart pound and her legs tremble and fall open. Though she tried and tried to conjure some imaginary knight, her every vision was interrupted by the image of Myles’s face. She could see his smile and his eyes, could feel his hands. And his mouth. She pressed her fingers against her lips, as if she could taste him there. Cursed man. He’d robbed her of both her virginity and her identity. Now he’d stolen her thoughts as well.
She stood up fast from the table, knocking over the chair her haste. She left it there, like a sulking child, and stomped over to the bed, blowing out every candle on the way, until the room was nearly pitch with darkness. Only the red glow coming from the fireplace remained. She climbed beneath the covers with a sigh as heavy as her heart and prayed for sleep.
Sometime later, a scratching near the door disturbed her fitful slumber. The fire was low, the room was dark, and sounds from the hall below had faded away to nothing. She guessed it to be near midnight. The door eased open and in came a great hulking shape. She thought at once to yell, but the beast passed between the bed and fireplace, and she could see it was a man. She might have demanded his identity, but the brute’s foot caught the overturned chair, and he fell with such a clamor and commotion and a torrent of scandalous obscenities she knew at once it was her husband.

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 1:

Makan malam adalah urusan yang menggembirakan, dan Fiona mendapati dirinya sangat menikmatinya. Aula besar itu penuh untuk gulungan dengan anggota klan bersemangat untuk menyambut Robert Tuhan. Seperti yang mereka makan babi hutan panggang dan blancmange, manisan dan ambrosia, ia menceritakan mereka semua dengan mencarut kisah petualangannya. Anggur mengalir seperti sungai di musim semi, dan Fiona segera tumbuh hangat dengan minuman dan kegembiraan sebagai din riuh revelers berdengung di telinganya.Sepanjang malam, suaminya adalah pernah hadir sisinya, menawarkan gigitan beberapa sepotong lezat atau penawaran server untuk mengisi cangkir nya lagi. Senyumnya siap dan alami, posturnya santai, jadi tidak seperti Myles beberapa hari terakhir yang telah hampir tidak melihat cara Nya. Jika perhatian terhadapnya murni untuk menunjukkan, dia adalah seorang aktor yang baik, karena ia bermain memuja mempelai laki-laki dengan keyakinan. Atau mungkin kedatangan saudaranya telah menebarkan mantra atas mereka semua."Anda tampak tenang malam ini, tuan," dia akhirnya berkomentar.Bayangan melewati wajahnya tapi itu pergi secepat itu telah datang. "Saya santai, karena aku harus. Saudaraku adalah rumah, ayah saya adalah pada memperbaiki, dan aku seorang istri yang cantik di sisi saya. " Tampilan diutusNya caranya adalah sebanyak tantangan sebagai Deklarasi, seolah-olah ia berani kontradiksi nya.Lidahnya memutar dalam mulutnya, dengan tidak mendapatkan respon di siap. Dia tersenyum sebaliknya, dan menghirup anggur nya.Untuk tujuan apa pun, dia ingin Robert percaya semua itu juga, dan ia bisa melihat tidak ada alasan untuk sengketa itu. Saudaranya sendiri dalam konstanta kompetisi, dan begitu tampaknya menjadi dengan kedua juga. Dan memang, jika Robert melihat kelemahan dalam perkawinan saudaranya, ia mungkin menjadi tipe untuk mengambil keuntungan. Dia tidak punya digunakan untuk satu Campbell mengejarnya. Dia pasti tidak ingin kedua.Myles mendekat keheningan. "Kamu cantik, Anda tahu, ketika Anda belum Sinclair yang cemberut atas wajah Anda." Suaranya tenggelam ke bisikan husky sebagai tangannya menutupi dirinya sendiri. Dia sangat hampir melompat dari kursinya di keakraban nya. "Saya mungkin bahkan mengakui hilang Anda sedikit beberapa hari terakhir ini," tambahnya.Bara di matanya tak terbantahkan. Panas dari genggamannya tubuhnya seperti obor. Dan jika dia seorang wanita yang jujur, dia mengakui dia telah merindukan dia, juga."'Tis Anda keberadaan yang telah misteri. Aku sudah tidak tersembunyi,"jawabnya.Bibirnya bengkok di senyum malas. "Apakah itu undangan? Sebuah kata sederhana dari Anda, dan saya akan paling wajib untuk bergabung Anda di ruang kami. "Dia adalah sepintar ular, ini suami dari miliknya. Dia telah meninggalkan dia untuk perangkat sendiri, berharap dia akan tumbuh kesepian, dan baik ia, tetapi tidak begitu banyak bahwa ia akan mendorong kembali ke tempat tidurnya. Atau setidaknya tidak begitu banyak bahwa dia akan mengakuinya."Saya menemukan aku sangat menikmati kesendirian, tuanku. Aku tidur terganggu dan bayangkan aku masih seorang gadis bahagia kembali di rumah."Rahang beliau kaku seperti membeku senyum di wajahnya. "Bayangkan apa yang Anda suka, Fiona. Kebenaran tidak bisa dibatalkan."Dia telah tidak dimaksudkan untuk membuat marah kepadanya, hanya untuk menempatkan dia off. Ketika matanya pergi gelap dan mengantuk cara itu sensual, ketika ia menyentuh tangannya dan berbisik dekat, dia tidak bisa memikirkan masa lalu pertahanan nya. Itu sebagai insting sebagai sekejap untuk mendorong dia pergi.Malam mengambil nada yang berbeda untuk itu. Suaminya berbalik dan menghantam sebuah percakapan dengan Tavish, duduk di sisi lain nya. Fiona merasa bodoh air mata di matanya, dan dari mana ia datang, ia tidak bisa membayangkan. Dia berkedip pergi.Alyssa duduk untuk haknya. "Apakah Anda dengan baik, Fiona?" Dia bertanya.Fiona mengangguk. "Abu di mata saya, saya pikir. Tidak ada yang lain."Jam kemudian, sebagai Fiona pakaian dengan bantuan Ruby, dia memikirkan suaminya dan kilauan di matanya ketika ia telah melihat caranya. Tubuhnya tergelitik dalam mode Asing, dan pikirannya merasa sama-sama bemused. Ia telah membuat tidak ada rahasia tentang keinginan dia, namun menemukan tempat lain untuk menghabiskan malam nya. Selama hari, ia telah membuat tidak ada upaya untuk merayu padanya, dan dia harus senang. Dia adalah senang, tentu saja. ' Sungguh jauh lebih baik untuk membuatnya tetap pada jarak, karena ketika dia sudah membelai tangannya saat makan malam, dia hampir terkesiap dari membakar itu. Api menjilat melalui dia bahkan sekarang, meskipun ia berjuang melawan itu. Kekuatannya Sinclair semakin lemah dari hari ke hari."Lengan atas, m'lady," Ruby diperintahkan. "Mari kita turun pergeseran ini."Fiona raised her arms, obedient as a child, but as the maid eased the garment up and over her head, the fabric grazed against Fiona’s nipples in a whispering kiss and she drew in breath sharp as a pin. She let it out slowly, half wanting to cup her breasts with her own hands to stop their sudden ache. Her body felt odd, hot and cold at once, like water dropped upon a hot skillet, popping and sizzling in a heated dance.Fiona frowned at her own thoughts. She’d spent too much time with Vivi of late. The woman had far too randy a nature, always speaking about the great pleasures of physical love. ’Twas hogwash. Fiona had tried it. It had not been awful. If truth be told, there’d even been some pleasurable bits, but mostly, she recalled a lot of grunting and chafing. She had no need of that. And yet, her body seemed inclined to disbelieve her mind.Ruby was back now with a nightdress, the heavy linen one she always wore, and when the garment floated down over Fiona, her traitorous body reacted once more. Images of her husband flashed in her mind’s eye. Myles, lying next to her upon the mattress, kissing her at the inn, urgently pulling her legs around his hips on their wedding night. Lord save her, how could she long for his caress? When had she become so wanton?Ruby came around to face her, tying the ribbons of her nightdress securely, trussing her up like a swaddled infant. But she was not an infant. And yet, not quite a woman either. She was somewhere in the middle. Of everything. No longer a virgin, but not quite a wife. No longer a Sinclair, nor thoroughly a Campbell. Tears burned in her eyes, and she nudged Ruby’s hands away.“Thank you, Ruby. I can finish the rest.”“Yes, m’lady. Is something amiss?”Fiona managed a smile. “Everything is fine,” she lied. “But my head aches a bit, and I should like to be alone.”“Yes, m’lady.” Ruby bobbed into her clumsy version of a curtsy and left, pulling the door shut behind her with a final thud.Fiona sat down at the dressing table and picked up the brush, running it through her hair. Then she set it back down and ran her fingers through her locks instead, slowly, like a lover might, and once again, her body hummed with want. Her eyes closed, and for a few luscious moments, she let herself imagine how her life might have been if she’d married for love instead of obligation.What joy would it bring to be stroked by a man who adored her? Who cherished and respected her? A man whose kisses made her heart pound and her legs tremble and fall open. Though she tried and tried to conjure some imaginary knight, her every vision was interrupted by the image of Myles’s face. She could see his smile and his eyes, could feel his hands. And his mouth. She pressed her fingers against her lips, as if she could taste him there. Cursed man. He’d robbed her of both her virginity and her identity. Now he’d stolen her thoughts as well.She stood up fast from the table, knocking over the chair her haste. She left it there, like a sulking child, and stomped over to the bed, blowing out every candle on the way, until the room was nearly pitch with darkness. Only the red glow coming from the fireplace remained. She climbed beneath the covers with a sigh as heavy as her heart and prayed for sleep.Sometime later, a scratching near the door disturbed her fitful slumber. The fire was low, the room was dark, and sounds from the hall below had faded away to nothing. She guessed it to be near midnight. The door eased open and in came a great hulking shape. She thought at once to yell, but the beast passed between the bed and fireplace, and she could see it was a man. She might have demanded his identity, but the brute’s foot caught the overturned chair, and he fell with such a clamor and commotion and a torrent of scandalous obscenities she knew at once it was her husband.