Twenty-Six
Connor woke up before dawn and dressed. He went to the door, looked back at his wife, and walked over to the bed again. He leaned down, and gave her a kiss on her forehead and her lips. He brushed a lock of hair from her face. Connor walked to the door, and with one last look to hold him over, he left their chamber.
Maddie awoke in the morning alone. She remembered the night before and smiled. Their lovemaking had been rough, but she’d enjoyed it. Had he? Connor seemed to have liked it, too.
It had been over two months since they’d married. Until recently, their union had been wonderful, but now he wanted an obedient wife.
Maddie wasn’t what he wanted anymore.
Tears sprang to her eyes. Her stomach lurched and she ran to the chamber pot. She hunched over as she released the bile from her stomach. Once done, she stood up and was dizzy. She held on to the bed’s post and sat down.
Could she be coming down with something? Nay. She knew what the cause was. Connor was losing interest in her. She wasn’t living up to his expectations. He was disappointed in her. Maddie was sickened with the thought that he might leave their bed and go to another’s.
At first she wanted to kill him with kindness, but now, she just wanted him to love her as he had in the beginning.
Her stomach lurched again.
She would change.
She had to.
She wanted her husband to love her again.
*****
“The inconsiderate louse!” she mumbled to herself when she found out that Connor had left without telling her anything.
No, she wouldn’t get angry. She needed to change her attitude. She needed to change herself so that he’d love her, and he wouldn’t be disappointed in her anymore.
She would change.
Two weeks passed without his return, and during that time she ate more, worked less, and sewed until her fingers hurt. Connor said over and over again that she was too thin. She tried hard to open her appetite and even the family was noticing her new hungrier self. When she thought about losing Connor and his disappointment in her, her stomach would lurch and she would empty her tummy. She worried so much, she grew dizzy at times.
Maddie spent more time with the children. She didn’t give that up, and she wouldn’t either. She would tell them stories, put on plays, and play games. Katie joined as well. The days were long and the nights were longer as she waited for Connor.
Maddie was outside and running around with the children when Connor returned. Her face was flushed and she was sweating. She saw the drawbridge lower and the riders come forth. Connor stood out like a white horse among black. He was massive, handsome, and powerful.
He was staring at her.
To Connor, his Maddie looked gorgeous. To his surprise, she also looked fuller. He dismounted and walked towards her.
“Connor!” she yelled happily, waving as she ran towards him. Happiness bubbled within her and her laughter reached him. Connor smiled in reaction. She was like a breath of fresh air. Lord, how he missed her.
Maddie slowed her sprint and then came to a halt before she reached him. Everything grew quiet around her. The world grew brighter then slowly darker with small stars appearing where her eyes tried to focus. The smile left her face and her hand reached up to her forehead to wipe the sweat. She collapsed on the ground and Connor’s world ceased to exist.
His legs couldn’t take him to her fast enough. He sank down to the grass and turned her over.
“Maddie?” he asked roughly.
No response.
“She’s breathing,” he croaked, more for himself than for those surrounding him.
Connor picked her up and took her up to their room. He wanted answers and he wanted them now. Why had she swooned? It was obvious she had been eating. Was this due to the exertion in the sun?
Esther came in and helped to revive Maddie.
“Connor,” she whispered and smiled as she reached up to cup his face. “I’ve missed you,” she said, tears springing to her eyes.
He was choked with emotion.
“I’ve missed ye, too,” he managed to say.
“I love you,” she said, her eyes growing droopy.
“I love ye,” he murmured and her eyes flew open briefly, before fluttering closed again.
Connor saw the confusion in her brief questioning gaze and wondered from where that had come. He walked over to the anteroom of their chamber and shut the door to the bedroom.
“What has happened since I left?” he asked, his anger apparent. He addressed his family who worriedly waited for him to come out.
“She has been a bundle of nerves. Yer behavior towards her lately is what’s at fault. She sleeps more, eats more, and sews more. Everything ye wanted, she does. She thinks that ye doona love her anymore,” Miriam said heatedly.
“Nonsense. Did she tell ye that?”
“Nay, Connor! But ye’d have to be blind not to know that by her actions. She’s done everything that she’s fought ye over not to do. Everything that ye’ve wanted her to do, she has zealously done,” Miriam said.
“She been aloof,” Malcolm said.
“No. I willna believe it. She knows that I love her,” Connor said, arrogantly.
Miriam had had enough, and said as much when she stormed out of the room. Everyone left after her and Connor returned to Maddie. He took off his clothes and got in the bed with his wife. He brought her into his arms and fell asleep holding her.