Chapter 56

The object of Frang's desire was eating in the kitchen with Ailene, discussing plans, tasks already ordered and those yet to be made.

"How much more must you do on your dress?" Ailene asked. "I've finished mine. It's so daring, I wonder what Stuart will say. I've never worn something so revealing before."

"About an hours work, no more. I should finish it tomorrow without problems."

"How have things gone with Frang? Is he respecting your wishes?"

Isobel sighed. "He is. I am in my own room now. He remains a gentleman, leaving me to my own devices. I'm grateful for his forbearance. Last night, he looked at me with such hunger, I felt naked under his gaze. He has not bothered me though, nor pressed his suit. I imagine we might continue on as we have, but at some point, I feel he must find someone else. I know he hopes for more, but I cannot give it to him. He is so kind. He's arranged a hot bath for me each night. It's so comforting after a morning of hard training and my household tasks. I feel so sore and tired each night."

"You've developed a good appetite, anyway," Ailene said, noting how much Isobel had consumed.

"I ate that much?" Isobel said, noting the empty plates, the half eaten loaf, the empty pitcher.

"Indeed, you did," Ailene responded.

"My goodness. I didn't realize I was so hungry. My appetite hasn't been good, particularly in the morning. I so detest that house and all of the dreadful memories, it's a wonder I ate at all."

"You don't have to worry about it for several days. We shall have fun and drink and dance. It's so long since I've danced, I can hardly wait."

"I don't think I've danced since my wedding to McTavish. Only briefly then; he was so eager to take me to the marriage bed. I wonder if I even remember how it's done?"

"You needn't worry about that. All of the Cameron men are splendid dancers. They shall make it easy to find the steps again."

"Let me help with the rest of the preparations. How can I assist you?"

"We have three guests spending the night tomorrow. The guest bedrooms need to be dusted, cleaned and thoroughly aired. If you could supervise that, all else is well covered."

"I shall be happy to," Isobel said.

She hugged Ailene and met with the maids in charge of those bedrooms to ensure all would be well for their guests. It was time for supper when the rooms were finished and she ate another hearty meal, before seeking her room. She was pleasantly surprised to find another hot bath waiting for her, Frang somehow arranging for her comfort even here during this busy time. He really was quite kind and considerate.

Ailene finally got to bed around nine and saw Frang was there as well.

"I'm sorry," she said. "If you require privacy, I can give you a few more minutes." She turned to leave.

"Actually, Ailene," Stuart said. "Frang hoped you could give him a few minutes. It seems being alone with Isobel has left him frustrated. He said it wouldn't take long."

"Right now? With you in the room?"

"I can't let you go to his room, and I can't leave you alone with him in ours. It wouldn't be proper."

"Yet, somehow, it's proper to have sex with your brother while you're in the room? Fine! Lift your kilt, Frang! Let's get your little problem taken care of, shall we. Can't have one of the Cameron males suffering from a stiff cock. It wouldn't be proper."

She knelt down, lifted his kilt and reached for his cock.

"Perhaps it would be best if I came some other time, Stuart," Frang said, backing away. "She seems upset."

"Upset! Me upset? Whatever gives you that idea, Frang? That I should have to service three fucking brothers anytime one of them develops a cock stand. Why should it be upsetting? You can come here any time you wish and I'll be happy to take care of you. I thought I'd be done with at least one of you once you moved out. What are you going to do, Frang? Come running back here every couple days because you're frustrated? Or do you expect me to come to Lady Luck Farm and service you there? I suggest to you it may be time to find some willing widow to warm your bed as it will soon be apparent to everyone in fucking Scotland that you're bedding your brother's wife if I'm to continue dousing your fires for you after you've moved out of the Keep."

"I thought you'd accepted that I'd share you, Ailene?" Stuart asked. "That you were past being upset by it?"

"Maybe I was, for awhile," she admitted. "But I thought it would end at some point. You'd have shared me, shown me off like some prize calf, and we'd be done with it, but I don't see an end. Frang is interested in Isobel. She's a lovely woman and he should be interested in her. At some point, what if she does accept his offer of marriage and comes to his bed? And then he tells her, 'Oh, by the way; my brothers and I are close and you'll have to fuck them, too. Nothing much. I don't want you becoming pregnant from one of them, so you'll only have to surrender your mouth or your ass to the other two.' I'm sure Isobel will have no problem accepting your arrangement given the way her previous husband passed her around.

"And Thorburn; interested in the widow Mackintosh. I suppose she won't care about being shared with other men either? After all, you haven't married one brother, you've married all fucking three of them. Or am I the only one who gets passed from brother to brother, satisfying their sexual needs? Why not get one big fucking bed and we'll all sleep in it and fuck whoever we want, whenever we want - man or woman. I mean, if I have to share my husband with two other women and be shared by two other men; what difference does it make who we're fucking?"

Stuart and Frang looked at each other, then Ailene, still kneeling on the floor, then each other again. She started crying. Stuart got down on the floor with her and held her.

"I'm sorry, Ailene," Stuart said. "I never thought this through. What would happen if all were married and the consequences."

"Aye," Frang added. "If I was lucky enough to win Isobel's heart and tried to share her with my brothers, she'd gut us all."

"As should I, Stuart," Ailene cried. "It was a cockamamie idea and I went along with it because I love you and would do almost anything for you. And I care for Frang and Thorburn and perhaps a part of me found it exciting to be lusted after by three strong, handsome men. But I can't do it anymore. I can no longer convince myself it's acceptable to fuck all of you. Hopefully, Frang and Thorburn can find the right wives to share their lives with, and they can love them the way I love you. However, I won't do this anymore, and if you insist, I'm leaving. So, decide now what you want from a wife, because I'll no longer be communal sex property."

"I'm sorry, Ailene," Stuart said. "When put that way, it makes no sense and I was wrong to expect it of you. Please accept my deepest apologies, my love. I will never ask it of you again."

"Frang, you'll have to seek other relief as I will be unavailable from now on."

"I'm sorry as well, Ailene. We should not have treated you like a horse or hound," Frang replied. "I'll let Thorburn know as well. We'll not seek you out again."

"Good night, Frang."

"Good night, Lady Cameron." Frang left.