her, and the sexual tension between them. Her eyes closed and she leaned toward him.
He wouldn’t be so unfeeling. She’s just lost her uncle, a man she was close to. He’d give her time to deal with the heartache before he’d do anything that would lead her to believe he was uncaring. Sean pecked her cheek, and tugged her hand.
“Let us return.” He guided her inside and left her by her chamber door.
Sean set off to locate the steward. There was much he needed to do and he might as well do something to occupy his mind. Otherwise, he was sure to spend his time thinking about taking his wife to his bed.
CHAPTER SEVEN
On the day of Lord William’s burial, all of the clan came to attend. News of his death traveled through the village and outlying areas, and likely to Edinburgh by now. Sean kept a severe gaze on his face even though he was affected by the man’s death. If you had asked him a fortnight prior how he’d feel about it, his answer would have been far different.
Now that he’d met his uncle, and had somewhat forgiven him of his treatment of his parents, he respected him. At least Lord William knew he’d wronged his mother and tried to make up for it before his death. Such a manner was revered in a man, and Sean couldn’t disregard that.
As some of the clansmen carried the wooden box to the burial spot located behind the keep near a copse of trees, onlookers stood with their hands over their hearts. Some followed and joined the procession. Sean kept an eye on Frances and noticed how she tried to keep herself from breaking down.
He admired her strength but she’d be better off if she cried her heart out and released the anguish. Women usually were better at letting go their woe, but Frances was turning out to be much different from the women he knew.
As if reading his mind, Father Cleve stood on the far side of the resting place and said, “Many of us will miss Lord William. Best let yourself grieve for his loss and not keep it inside. He wouldn’t want us to hold on to him. He was happy to know he would join the angels in heaven. We have all been blessed with knowing him. He wasn’t always a giving man and caused many a bit of grief, but he tried to make amends in the end.”
Many of the clansmen and women nodded. Some of the men grunted in agreement.
Sean felt Frances leaning into him, and he set an arm around her back should she lose her footing. He hoped the clergyman would end his sermon soon because he wasn’t sure how much longer she could remain standing. But that wasn’t to be as Father Cleve lost himself in reminiscing about a story of when he and Lord William were young lads.
Shrouded in material, wrapped carefully around each limb, William’s body was lifted and placed in the wooden structure where it would remain for all time. The cover was set and two men stepped forward to secure it by hammering it closed. Not a sound could be heard which Sean found odd. No wind, birds, or noises from the onlookers.
The quiet of the moment was unnerving and he wasn’t sure Frances could withstand the sorrow for it affected him and he hadn’t even known William that long.
Finally, the burial ended with the descent of the box and Sean remained still, waiting patiently until Frances was ready to leave. She didn’t appear to want to move.
She turned to him, her eyes shiny with tears, and then looked back at the dirt covered mound. He never felt so unsure of himself or how to help her. They waited until everyone departed. Frances turned to him again and looked confused.
“His head is placed to the west is it not? Don’t let them place him north.” She sounded upset and mayhap panicked.
“Aye, it is to the west, his feet to the east. Worry not, Father Cleve took care of it. I’ve had a marker made so you can return here.” He understood Lord William’s wishes to be buried as a Christian and apparently Frances wanted to abide by his request.
In the Highlands matters were not
He wouldn’t be so unfeeling. She’s just lost her uncle, a man she was close to. He’d give her time to deal with the heartache before he’d do anything that would lead her to believe he was uncaring. Sean pecked her cheek, and tugged her hand.
“Let us return.” He guided her inside and left her by her chamber door.
Sean set off to locate the steward. There was much he needed to do and he might as well do something to occupy his mind. Otherwise, he was sure to spend his time thinking about taking his wife to his bed.
CHAPTER SEVEN
On the day of Lord William’s burial, all of the clan came to attend. News of his death traveled through the village and outlying areas, and likely to Edinburgh by now. Sean kept a severe gaze on his face even though he was affected by the man’s death. If you had asked him a fortnight prior how he’d feel about it, his answer would have been far different.
Now that he’d met his uncle, and had somewhat forgiven him of his treatment of his parents, he respected him. At least Lord William knew he’d wronged his mother and tried to make up for it before his death. Such a manner was revered in a man, and Sean couldn’t disregard that.
As some of the clansmen carried the wooden box to the burial spot located behind the keep near a copse of trees, onlookers stood with their hands over their hearts. Some followed and joined the procession. Sean kept an eye on Frances and noticed how she tried to keep herself from breaking down.
He admired her strength but she’d be better off if she cried her heart out and released the anguish. Women usually were better at letting go their woe, but Frances was turning out to be much different from the women he knew.
As if reading his mind, Father Cleve stood on the far side of the resting place and said, “Many of us will miss Lord William. Best let yourself grieve for his loss and not keep it inside. He wouldn’t want us to hold on to him. He was happy to know he would join the angels in heaven. We have all been blessed with knowing him. He wasn’t always a giving man and caused many a bit of grief, but he tried to make amends in the end.”
Many of the clansmen and women nodded. Some of the men grunted in agreement.
Sean felt Frances leaning into him, and he set an arm around her back should she lose her footing. He hoped the clergyman would end his sermon soon because he wasn’t sure how much longer she could remain standing. But that wasn’t to be as Father Cleve lost himself in reminiscing about a story of when he and Lord William were young lads.
Shrouded in material, wrapped carefully around each limb, William’s body was lifted and placed in the wooden structure where it would remain for all time. The cover was set and two men stepped forward to secure it by hammering it closed. Not a sound could be heard which Sean found odd. No wind, birds, or noises from the onlookers.
The quiet of the moment was unnerving and he wasn’t sure Frances could withstand the sorrow for it affected him and he hadn’t even known William that long.
Finally, the burial ended with the descent of the box and Sean remained still, waiting patiently until Frances was ready to leave. She didn’t appear to want to move.
She turned to him, her eyes shiny with tears, and then looked back at the dirt covered mound. He never felt so unsure of himself or how to help her. They waited until everyone departed. Frances turned to him again and looked confused.
“His head is placed to the west is it not? Don’t let them place him north.” She sounded upset and mayhap panicked.
“Aye, it is to the west, his feet to the east. Worry not, Father Cleve took care of it. I’ve had a marker made so you can return here.” He understood Lord William’s wishes to be buried as a Christian and apparently Frances wanted to abide by his request.
In the Highlands matters were not
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