MorningStar's Kitten

Cade awoke before Keira and moved carefully to avoid waking her. He pulled on his breeches and boots, picked up the tray from the balcony, and placed it on the table near the door. He pulled the bell cord to summon a servant and left the door ajar so the girl would know to not knock. Cade walked back over to the bed and looked down at Keira. She looked like a dark angel as she slept and he resisted the urge to climb back into bed with her.

“M’lord.” Danae said quietly from the doorway.

Cade turned and walked over, when he stopped in front of her, Danae smiled and reached up to wrap her arms around his neck. Cade caught her wrists and pushed her away. The girl looked hurt and a tear slid down her cheek.

“Stop your theatrics, Danae.” Cade growled.
“I thought I was your favorite.” Danae whined.
“You were my favorite of my Uncle’s slaves, but my wife certainly is far more important than you.”
“I’ll bet she can’t please you as I do.” Danae snapped.
“Actually she pleases me much more.” Cade said, and then added when Danae expression turned to anger, “Now stop this nonsense before I have you whipped to remind you of your proper place.”

Fear washed over Danae and she took a step back from Cade. She mumbled an apology and looked down. He told her to remove last night’s tray and to bring up breakfast. She quickly took the tray and turned to leave the room when Cade told her to send up his Uncle to speak with him. She looked frightened but nodded and hurried off. Cade closed the door and moved back into the room. He smiled when he saw Keira sitting up and stretching like a sleepy cat.

“Did you sleep well, my pet?” he asked as he walked over and sat on the bed next to her.
“Yes, my love. I seem to always sleep well when I’m in your arms.”
“Softening me up with compliments before I take you shopping?” Cade laughed.
“Just stating a fact, Cade.”
“Well it still earns you an extra bauble, my pet.”
“If you insist… Will I need baubles, as you call them?”
“Yes, my pet.” Cade explained. “There will be parties, dinners, balls and other formal occasions and the Court will expect my wife to have jewels.”
“Alright, Cade. But will it matter if I prefer simple things?”
“Of course not. Simple can still be elegant, as long as you like them. Now you might want to get dressed, my Uncle is coming up to talk to me.”
“Yes, my love.”

Keira gave him a quick kiss, jumped out of the bed, and quickly dressed. Cade watched her, both amused and amazed. His experience with women had taught him they were typically, moody, rarely satisfied, quick to complain or whine and always took forever to dress. He silently thanked the Gods that his wife was not a typical woman. Keira dressed quickly as usual and was re-braiding her hair when there was a knock on the door. Cade stood and let his uncle into the room.

“Good morning, M’lady.” Kelly said to Keira, and then turned to Cade “You needed something M’lord?”
“Good morning, sir.” Keira said softly, as she tied the ribbon at the bottom of her braid.
“Several things.” Cade said, with a smile at Keira who walked over and put her arm around his waist.
“First we’ll need to rent a carriage for the day.”
“I’ll have one here by the time you finish breakfast.”
“Kia will also need one of the girls to attend her while we shop.”
“Cade, I don’t need to be fussed over.” Keira protested.
“A proper lady is always accompanied by at least one maid.” Cade told her. “And I do think you should be fussed over.”
“Alright, if that’s the way it’s done.” Keira sighed, sounding like a small child who’d resigned itself to something like eating their vegetables or no dessert.
“It is.” Cade laughed and kissed her on the forehead.
“I suppose there are a lot of things I’ll have to learn and get used to.”
“Yes, my pet. But you’ll learn it all in time.”
“Is everyone always going to be so formal too?” she asked looking at Kelly.
“Well, for the most part, yes.”
“Except for family,” Kelly broke in. “especially favorite uncles.”
“You’re my only uncle.” Cade chuckled
“Uncle?” Keira asked puzzled.
“Yes, child.” Kelly said. “And I expect you to call me uncle as well.”
“Cade?”
“Don’t mind him, lass. He just thought you should get a taste of how things will be now.”
“Uncle Kelly is my mother’s brother, I knew I could trust him to do as I asked and still make you feel comfortable.” Cade told her.
“Confused would be more accurate, Cade.” Keira looked over at Kelly “Do you have a big family?”
“Well, my wife and I have three daughters and two sons, and somewhere around fifteen grandchildren, but my sister, Shaina had only Cade, so that’s pretty much it.”
“Poor Cade. It must have been lonely being an only child.”
“Not really.” Cade said. “We lived only a block over and Aidan, Connor and I were near inseparable.”
“And always in trouble too, it seemed.” Kelly added with a chuckle.
“Usually for tormenting the girls.”
“You’ll meet the boys when we get home, they live at the stronghold and are my two most trusted Commanders.”
“I just hope your family likes me, Cade.” Keira said softly.
“They’ll love you without a doubt, lass.” Kelly said pulling Keira into a hug. “I’m already finding myself wishing I were twenty-five years younger.”

Keira hugged Kelly back and blushed bright red, then stepped back into Cade's arms as there was a knock on the door and he told whomever it was to enter. Danae carried the breakfast tray and Leah followed behind with a pitcher of juice and glasses. They put the breakfast items on the table and stood quietly next to it, their hands behind their backs and looking down.

“I need to get my wife fed and take her shopping for pretty things that make girls smile.”
“Was there anything else you needed, laddie?” Kelly asked.
“Just a list from Aunt Colleen of the finest lady’s shops in the city, and her favorite jeweler, who should be informed we’ll be in for a private showing later this morning.” Cade's said, and then added “and I haven’t been a ‘laddie’ in quite some time, Uncle.”
“You’re trying to get me in trouble with your Aunt, aren’t you?” Kelly said shaking his head “and you’ll always be laddie to me.”
“Why should it always be me?” Cade chuckled. “And I suppose I’ll just have to live with it.”
“Will I get to meet your Aunt before we leave, Cade?”
“Aye lassie, you and Cade will take the evening meal with the family.” Kelly told her “The girls are very excited to meet you.”
“Now Uncle, I don’t want Kia overwhelmed by everyone at once.” Cade's said.
“It’s alright, Cade. You forget I have six older brothers, I’m used to a large family.” Keira reassured him.”
“Alright then, Colleen will be thrilled. I’ll see to those things you requested, Cade.” Kelly said with a grin.