Free Midnight for Morgana by Shirley Martin Page A

puzzled look with Keir but could think of no more arguments, except to press her concern about their father’s illness. “And Lady Ahearn said in her note that Papa’s illness wasn’t serious?”
     
    “Yes! Isn’t that what I just said? I wish I had the note to show you, but Alana took it with her.”  She smoothed the wrinkles in her dress.  “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going back to my bedchamber to change my clothes.”
     
    As Nola stalked out of the parlor, Morgana turned a confused face toward Keir. “Doesn’t her whole story sound strange to you?”
     
    Keir clasped her hand, his voice low and husky. “Darling, let’s take her word for it. We have no reason to doubt her.  If we don’t hear anymore within a couple days or so, I’ll send Ferris back to Dornach to see how your father fares.”
     
    A rush of affection for her new husband swelled inside Morgana. In spite of her anxiety about her father, her gaze covered his face, and she took in all the features that meant so much to her, his brown eyes, so dark they were almost black, his straight nose and firm mouth. His chestnut hair had a natural wave and was windblown now, since he’d recently come in from outside.
     
         “You would do that for me?” .
     
    He kissed her on the tip of the nose. “For you, anything.”
     
    She wished she could stay with him here in the parlor, or better yet, spend the afternoon with him in their bedchamber. But duties occupied her mind, prompting her to stand. “Best I see about our evening meal now.”
     
    He stood, too, and cupped her face in his hands. “You are not to prepare any more meals, nor do any housework. It’s not your job to do any such thing. I’ll send Ferris to the woman you say helps tend to the house and hire her to cook and clean for us.” Releasing her, he headed for the front door and turned her way. “You say she lives near here?”
     
    Morgana nodded. “About one mile west. Frame cottage with a thatched roof. Lilac bushes and a willow tree in front.” 
     
    “Very well. Ferris should be done grooming the horses by now. I’ll send him to fetch the woman.”  He opened the door, letting a gust of cool air into the room, walking out to a day that was quickly becoming overcast.
     
    After he left, Morgana thought about her relationship with her new husband, whom she’d known for such a short time, yet it seemed as if she’d known him forever.  Could she be falling in love with him already? She had heard about love at first sight and had always considered the concept a foolish one, certainly nothing that would ever happen to her. Of course, that wasn’t truly the case with Keir, for she had experienced such anxiety upon first meeting him, that she had felt a terrible misgiving, a fear that she could never measure up to his expectations. But if his lovemaking was any indication–and surely it was–he felt more than just a casual interest in her. She smiled in recollection of their wedding night, a time when he had initiated her into the joys of the marriage bed, when his sensual needs had seemed well nigh insatiable. Yet at the same time, he had been tender and considerate with her, such a skilled and wonderful lover that she knew she could never spend the rest of her life without his lovemaking. 
     
    Panic seized her as she recalled she still had to meet his parents and the rest of his family, still must adust to life in his kingdom. I can do it, she vowed with a newfound confidence, for if she had earned Keir’s affection and respect, certainly that was a good start, and surely his family would eventually accept her. Smoothing her hand across the leather sofa cushion, she thought further about his country and reminded herself to ask him more about its customs, something she should have done earlier, if their courtship and wedding had not happened so quickly.
     
    A short while later, she heard her husband’s footsteps outside the parlor, and he opened the