Author's Note: Hello all and welcome back! Here is the next chapter; sorry it took a few days but there was something about it that I didn't like and I didn't want to post it without being completely satisfied with it. Thank you to PsychoBeachGirl88, Kitcat12, Graegan88, and Gale Lover for the reviews on the last chapter!
Please review if you like the story so far - or even if you don't! Let me know what you think!
Chapter 11: Not the house-wife type
By the time Jamie and Eva had dressed and entered the great hall, many others had already arrived and were milling about in conversation with a drink in hand. As the two entered the room many cheers and toasts went into the air and the couple smiled their thanks at the castle's occupants.
A flock of women swooped in and guided Eva away to chat. She sent a fleeting look of help at Jamie but he just smirked and winked at her, causing her to narrow her eyes in mock frustration at him. The women were giddy and asking Eva an array of questions. She regaled how she had come to be wed to Jaime, including the events leading up to their nuptials, but leaving out the details of Jamie's outlaw status and Captain Randall. She described the lengths Jamie went through to ensure her wedding was special, despite the fact that it was arranged last minute and how lovely her dress was.
"Ach," A woman named Maura said. "I remember me own wedding day; why if Dougal wasna as hungover as possible it might have been worth remembering." She sighed and Eva gave her a wide-eyed look.
"You're married to Dougal?"
"Aye. I mainly stay at Beannachd with the barins." She explained.
"Oh you have children?" Eva inquired.
"Aye, four girls. Tis no wonder poor Dougal stays here at the Castle, being surrounded by women," Maura laughed merrily and took a sip of her wine. She seemed soft and kind, although not a rose among thorns by any means.
Eva was surprised to learn that not only was Dougal married, but a father of four! She had a difficult time reconciling the harsh and intimidating man that was the war chieftain of clan MacKenzie with a father. Perhaps that is why he stayed at the Castle; so he would not have to truly be a father.
"Excuse me," Jamie's baritone voice cut over the quiet discussion. "I'm afraid I require the presence of my wife." Eva nodded her farewells to the ladies and looped her arm through Jamie's walking away.
"I didn't know Dougal was married," Eva said once they were alone.
"Aye, he's married. Doesna act much like it though." Jamie replied.
"What do you mean?"
"Well," Jamie said uncertainly. "He has taken many mistresses throughout their marriage. Only really goes home to Beannachd when he needs to lay with Maura." He explained.
Eva gasped. "That's awful! Certainly the children need a father in their life!"
"Dougal doesna see it that way. He wants an heir, a son to pass his name on to. Since Maura hasna given him one he sees no reason to return to raise the barins."
"But it isn't even her fault she only has daughters!" Jamie gave Eva an odd look and she sighed. "Nevermind, forget I said anything." Her face was distraught and Jamie cupped her cheek, forcing her to look in his eyes.
"I'll no' do that to ye, Eva," He said softly. "If we only have girls, or if God sees it fit to not bless us with bairns at all, I'll still be faithful to ye and be there. I made a vow, and I always keep my vows." He kissed her softly and when they broke apart Eva smiled softly up at him.
"You will be a wonderful father Jamie. You are already a wonderful husband," He grinned down at her kissing her again swiftly. When he stood, the hall went quiet and the two looked to the entrance where Colum and Letitica were standing stiffly and formally.
"My deepest congratulations to the two of ye," He spoke loudly, commanding the attention of everyone gathered in the hall, including the servants. "May your marriage be a happy and long one." Jamie and Eva bowed deeply in respect, thanking their laird for his well wishes.
"It has been some time since we've had a wedding here," Letitica crooned. "It is good to see the castle alive in such a way." She looked at Colum with a slight curve of her lips before looking back down at Jamie and Eva. "May your union have many blessings. She raised her goblet in a toast before speaking in a loud, ringing voice. "Chun beatha!"
Echoes of 'Chun beatha' filtered throughout the room as the crowd repeated it and drank deeply. Eva and Jamie did as well and when Colum and Letticia had walked from the doorway to the center of the room Eva turned with a questioning gaze.
"What did that mean?"
"To good health, mo fiadhiach duine." Eva nodded in understanding. Jamie nodded his head to a figure standing behind them and looked down at her. "I believe someone wants to speak with ye." Eva turned and saw Fiona standing a few paces away. When she turned around again, Jamie had disappeared, giving them privacy to speak. Fiona came over, smiling at Eva and grasped her hands in a friendly manner.
"Congratulations, mo charaid, on your marriage. He is a great lad who will treat you well." She smiled honestly at Eva who could not help but smile back.
"Thank you, Fiona. He is a great man, and a good friend." She paused and grinned. "But are you sure you don't mind me taking him from you?" Fiona laughed loudly and some people nearby turned to look at them.
"Ach, not at all. Actually, I wanted to speak with ye about that," She paused, looking uncertain. "Jamie told me that ye know about me. It's a lot to ask, I know, but-"
"Of course I won't say anything!" Eva interrupted. "I could care less who you love, as long as you are happy and they treat you right." Fiona's smile of relief broke across her face, making her look even more stunning than usual.
"Thank ye!"
"There is no need to thank me," Eva waved her hands in dismissal. "But if I may ask...I don't mean to sound rude or insensitive but how can that possibly work? It isn't accepted here is it?"
"No," Fiona's smile quickly turned into a slight frown. "It isn't. I must be careful and use good judgement. I shall never be free to marry someone I truly love or want to, but I hope that when I do marry, it is a good and kind man who will treat me right."
"But couldn't you just not marry at all? If you don't love the man, why would you?"
"Oh, it must be much more simple where you come from, mo charaid. A woman who doesna marry will be shamed forever. She will have no means of supporting herself or making a living. Nay, I must marry and bear sons for that is my duty in life; as it is yours." Eva looked at her confused.
"What do you mean, it's my duty?" She asked.
"Well ye must bear Jamie bairns of course. If he ever is able to go home ye'll run his house and raise the children while he works and makes a living fer ye." Fiona explained this like it was so simple, but Eva couldn't imagine herself being nothing more than a housewife.
"Please excuse me, Fiona. I need to have a word with my husband." Eva stormed off before she could even hear Fiona's response and tapped Jamie on the shoulder. He was currently in discussion with Murtagh and Rupert, laughing at a joke and eating some food.
"I need to speak with you," She shot a glare at Murtagh and Rupert. "Now." Jamie nodded, set his plate down and followed her off to the side of the room where they could have some privacy.
"What is it?" He asked, concern reflecting in his eyes.
"I just had a very interesting conversation with Fiona," Jamie merely raised an eyebrow in response. "About our marriage and my job within it." The depth of the crease in Jamie's eyebrows nearly doubled.
"What about yer job, lass?"
"Having children!" She whispered loudly. "Is that all I am in this marriage? Someone to give you heirs? I'm telling you right now, Jamie I will not sit at home like Maura while you go off galavanting through the countryside and girls like a bachelor! I want to do more with my life than be a common housewife!" Jamie's brow flattened and his eyes began to glimmer and crinkle in a smile. "What is so funny, Jamie?"
"Ah, lass I never thought you would be a common housewife; for one thing yer not common." Eva blushed at that. "I would never ask ye to give up yer dreams for me, lass." He said in a more serious tone. "If ye wish to continue yer work with Davie Beaton I have no quarrel with it. If we have bairns and you want to continue working we can hire a wet nurse or someone to help ye with the child." Eva shook her head.
"I don't want anyone raising my baby but me."
"But how do you think ye'll manage to work and raise a babe? From what I have been told being a mother is an exhausting occupation."
"My mother did it," Eva said softly and Jamie smiled at her. "And if she could do it, then so can I."
"Aye," Jamie kissed her softly. "If anyone can manage all of that, it would be you lass." Eva felt her cheeks tinge pink with embarassment. "Now come, have a dance with me."
After several dances, toasts, and jokes, Eva was exhausted and could not wait to fall into her bed. She had left Jamie in the hall where he was still drinking with Rupert and Angus and playing a dice game that was unfamiliar to her. She bade him goodnight and climbed the stairs to their rooms, falling onto the bed in a heap and falling asleep before she could even take her clothes off.
She was woken sometime later by the door opening and closing loudly. Eva rolled over and glanced at the doorway where Jamie was trying unsuccessfully to untie his boots. He let out a quiet curse and sat down on a nearby chair, untying his laces and dropping the boot with a loud clang! He flinched at the noise and glanced at the bed, hoping he hadn't woken his wife and frowned slightly when he saw that he had failed.
"I'm sorry, mo fiadhiach duine. I tried to be quiet."
"You're about as quiet as a herd of elephants," She snorted and he grinned in response. "Here, let me help you."
She rose from the bed, hissing at the cold boards beneath her feet and stride over to her husband, kneeling at his feet and taking off his last boot with quick precision.
"Thank ye, mo fiadhiach duine." Jamie's voice was little more than a whisper. He reached down and grasped her arms pulling her into his lap, kissing her softly.
Eva pulled away with a crinkle in her noise. "Good god you reek! How much did you drink?" She laughed.
"Not as much as poor Angus. He thought he could beat me at cards if he got me drunk enough. Might have succeeded if he himself didna get so stinking drunk himself." Eva laughed at that and Jamie smiled hearing it. He liked making his wife laugh. It made him feel as if he was not a terrible husband and she truly liked spending time with him.
"Well, let's get you to bed." Eva tried to help him walk the few paces to the bed but he was too heavy for her and she quickly gave up. Jamie managed to get to the bed and tore off his shirt, throwing it on a nearby chair. His head flopped onto the pillow and he was instantly asleep.
Eva smiled wistfully at her sleeping husband and gently ran a hand through his red curls. In his sleep, Jamie smiled and nudged her hand, much like a cat. Eva smiled in response before turning from the bed and began removing her heavy dress for it was incredibly uncomfortable to sleep in. When she had succeeded she placed it over a chair delicately and climbed into bed beside her snoring husband. When she fell asleep, she did so with a smile on her face.
Eva awoke sometime later with a soft moan. She was feeling the most delightful sensations throughout her body and she writhed, trying to ease the friction.
"Stay still, mo fiadhiach duine," She heard Jamie whisper in a gravelly voice. She looked down and saw a lump beneath the covers in between her legs and threw her head back. A warm and wet sensation filled her as Jamie thrust his tongue into her causing her to shut her eyes with ecstasy. She reached beneath the blankets, holding his head fast against her and she began to rock with the pleasure of his tongue on her.
His tongue snaked around her clit, circling it twice as he inserted two fingers into her and she hissed in response. "God, Jamie," She panted. "Don't stop; please."
"I wouldna dream of it," His voice was muffled beneath the covers but she could still make out what he had said. He continued his procedure of licking, sucking, and gently biting and soon Eva felt a warmth pool deep within her belly. "Oh god," Jamie sucked her clit into his mouth and arched his fingers within her. With a final cry, Eva's walls began contracting down around his fingers and he grinned in satisfaction. He continued to lightly suck until she had stopped and when she had he pulled his head up above the blankets and kissed her neck, moving slowly up to her lips. She could still taste herself on him and found it oddly arousing.
"Where did you learn to do that?"
"Just something I picked up," He answered slyly and Eva decided not to pursue it. Jamie looked at her with a frown of confusion but soon his eyes widened as her meaning became clear.
She pushed him into his back and straddled his waist leaning down and capturing a nipple lightly in her teeth. She bit gently, then circled it with her tongue to ease the pain before moving onto his other nipple.
"Does this hurt?" She asked huskily.
"A little," his voice was tense.
"Do you want me to stop?"
"Dia no."
Eva moved from his chest and slowly traveled downward, kissing and licking as she went. She circled his navel with her tongue before she came to the heavy length in between his thighs.
There was a spring of dark red hair at the top, and his impressive length prodded out from beneath the curls. She heard him let out a soft gasp as she took him into her mouth and he groaned in satisfaction and she moved up and down the length of him. She reached beneath him and grasped the twin weights in her hands, lightly rolling them in time to her licks and sucks.
Jamie began bucking his hips into her mouth and hit too deeply, causing Eva to gag lightly. At the sound he paused and looked down.
"I'm sorry! Are ye alright?" Eva smiled up at him and nodded.
"Yes, you just went a little too deep." He blushed at that and before he could say more on the matter she took him back into her mouth and her let out another groan, throwing his head back onto the pillow, eyes closed.
Soon, Eva felt him begin to tense up and she knew he was close. She quickened her pace and with a deep suck, felt the warmth from him trickle down her throat. She swallowed him, continuing her ministrations until he had finished. When he had she moved up to him and rested her head on his chest.
"That was," he searched for the right words. "Like heaven." Eva grinned and kissed him.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," he smirked back at her. "Can we spend all day here? I don't want to face the rest of the castle."
Jamie shook his head no. "Ach I wish we could. But there's a new filly that needs breaking and I'm sure Master Beaton is eagerly awaiting your return."
"Bugger Master Beaton and the filly. I'd rather spend the day with you."
"As would I," he replied. "But if we don't leave it's likely someone would come looking for us." He gave her a smoldering look. "And I'd rather them not see you with me on top of you." Eva blushed and Jamie laughed, kissing her quickly and leaving the bed. He walked over to the chair, wiggling into his breeches and looked over at a pouting Eva still in bed. "Up you get, lass! Colum waits for no man."
"I guess it's a good thing I'm not a man, then."
After much coaxing from Jamie Eva left the confines of their room with the promise of a repeat performance of the morning the night. The two made their way down the to the hall to break their fast. While Eva was eating a small portion of eggs she felt a pair of eyes on her. She looked around, concerned until she met the icy blue eyes of a pretty young woman who was glaring at her.
"Jamie," She motioned with her head to the girl. "Who is that?" Jamie turned and saw who she was motioning to. The young girl quickly averted her eyes as she realized she had been caught staring.
"That's Laoghaire. Mrs. Fitz's granddaughter." He said simply.
"Have you," Eva struggled to find the words. "I mean have you ever met her?"
"I suppose I must have met her once or twice in my time at the castle. It's not a very big place ye ken?"
"Yes, but what I mean to say is was she ever one of your meetings behind tapestries?" Jamie laughed loudly and reached over to grasp her hand.
"No," his thumb rubbed soothing circles on her hand. "She's much too young fer me. Besides," he grinned at her. "I have a very attractive wife who keeps me from those tapestries." Eva smiled in response but it did not reach her eyes. Something about the girl, Laoghaire, unsettled her. The pair quickly finished their breakfasts and went their separate ways, Jamie to the stables and Eva to the surgery.
Despite Jamie's assurances, Eva could not shake the odd feeling she got from Laoghaire. She entered the surgery in a pensive mood, a slight frown on her face.
"Is marriage all that bad that you are frowning already?" Eva was slightly confused as Davie Beaton had never been this happy to see her before. "Is he not pleasing ye then?" Eva chuckled in response. She was quickly learning that the Scots were a crude bunch and many, it seemed, thrived on making her blush.
"He pleases me just fine, I assure you."
"Good. Now come," He beckoned her over. "These plants need grinding." Eva realized why Davie had been so excited to see her on that moment. He wanted her to do the manual labor so he could focus solely on healing. Eva nodded and sighed in resignation; at least she was being productive.
The weeks passed by with impending regularity. Each morning Eva woke, dressed, broke her fast with Jamie before they parted ways. Him to whatever area of the castle needed him and her to the surgery. Sometimes he would come and visit her while she worked and sometimes she would leave the surgery early to see him. They would eat their dinner in the hall, and stay for some time after for the evening's entertainment, before retiring to bed when they would do it all over again the next morning.
Despite her happiness in her marriage, Eva found herself wishing for more. More adventure and surprises perhaps, anything to break what was fast becoming dull monotony.
She was working in the surgery, sweating profusely because Davie Beaton had a roaring fire in the hearth that warmed the entire room to near stifling temperatures. She was mixing a poultice when the door slammed open making her jump in surprise.
Two men, holding third in between them came rushing down the stairs with a frantic look in their eyes.
"Set him on the table! What happened?" Eva asked rushing to prepare anything that Davie Beaton might need.
"The axle of a wheel cut him; can you help him?" Eva looked down at the arm that was gushing blood. The cut was fairly long, about six inches and looked deep but it didn't look as if the brachial artery was severed which was a good sign.
"We will do everything we can. Now if you could please excuse us?" The men nodded, wished their friend good luck and left the room. Eva looked around and saw Davie Beaton still standing near the fire and she looked at him in surprise.
"Well, get to it, girl. You're going to want to stop that bleeding before he dies." Eva was shocked.
"You mean you're actually going to let me treat someone?" Davie nodded.
"I will observe, but yes. I think you are ready to begin a more practical approach. Now, what must you do first?"
"Boil water and begin cleaning the cut, while applying a tourniquet," Davie nodded and Eva quickly set to tying a piece of leather above the cut in order to slow the bleeding while Davie boiled water mixed with whiskey. She slowly began cleaning the cut, trying to judge how deep it was once all the blood was clean.
"So I'll need to stitch it closed and then I was thinking of applying a honey salve to stop infection as well as giving him some garlic and cinnamon to fight off infection and fever, then covering the wound?" Davie nodded with a slight smile on his face.
"Exactly as I would have done," Eva nodded and pulled out a piece of silk and a needle, beginning to stitch the flaps of skin together. "Make your stitches tighter and closer together," Davie observed and Eva did so. When she had finished treating the man he was groaning and pale, his skin clammy. She was suddenly glad that the fire was so warm, for it would likely help save his life after the amount of blood he lost. When she looked back he had fallen into a fitful sleep.
Eva quickly went around cleaning up the tools she had used and when she was done Davie looked at her with something akin to pride in his eyes. The door opened once more and a young serving girl came in bearing two covered plates. "The two of ye missed lunch," She explained. "Mrs. Fitz sent this up for ye."
Eva's stomach lurched. She did not think she would be able to keep down any food after witnesses the bloody mess that had been that young boys arm. Davie nodded, thanked the girl and sat with one of the trays motioning for her to join him. She sat across from him but did not touch her food.
"You're not eating?" He raised an eyebrow quizzically.
"No," Eva shook her head. "I'm afraid I'm not hungry after that." She motioned to the sleeping boy and Davie nodded.
"First time I had to amputate an arm I didna eat for near three days for fear of being sick. You get used to it, though."
"God I hope not."
"Go to your husband, girl. You did well today. I will sit with the lad and make sure he makes it through the night."
"Are you sure?" Davie nodded and Eva picked up her skirts, leaving the surgery behind as she went to find Jamie.
She found him down at the ferrier where he was assisting in the shoeing of a horse. He gave her a glance and a nod in return, but doubled back, dropping the hoof he was holding up causing the farrier to curse in frustration. He rushed over to her, grasping her arms tightly in his hands as he furiously looked her over.
"What happened to ye lass? Are ye alright? Come let's get you to the surgery!" Eva looked at him in confusion but suddenly she understood as she looked down at her blood stained dress. In her hurry to leave the surgery she had not thought to change; what must the servants be saying about her!
"It's alright, Jamie. It's not my blood," He sighed in relief and the tension noticeably went out of his shoulders. "There was an accident and Davie Beaton let me treat the boy who was injured."
"He did?" Jamie smiled. "That's fantastic!" Eva nodded. She was glad to be gaining more experience in the surgery and Davie Beaton's trust after all these months. Perhaps things were looking up for her.
