Page 22 of Claimed
Instead, she sat upon the furs, listening to the whine of the wind and the rumble of men’s voices that punctured the night.
They should be all going to bed soon.
She certainly hoped so, for impatience thrummed through her.
Although the wind was up, the night was mild for this time of year. As such, the warriors who’d accompanied Carr were, unfortunately, in no hurry to retreat from the fireside.
Drew clenched her jaw and forced herself to breathe.Patience … the time will come soon enough.
Glancing down, she took in the clothing she’d chosen for this occasion. She’d removed her heavy fur mantle, as it would only hinder her when she slipped out of the tent later. Instead, she wore a cream-colored léine with a pine-green kirtle atop it.
Drew’s mouth curved into a half-smile as she reached out and traced her fingers over the soft fabric.
Foolish vanity … he won’t even notice what ye are wearing in the dark. Even more foolish too, for soon these fine clothes would be nothing but a memory.
Life at Inishail would strip all her finery from her. At the priory she’d be the same as everyone else. However, it was something she actually welcomed.
She knew that many of the poor who lived upon MacKinnon lands had viewed her with resentment and jealousy, yet a life of privilege hadn’t brought her any more happiness.
She’d never felt as alive as she did in this very moment. Maybe it was because she knew everything was going to change for her soon. The realization had slowed time down, had made her take notice of things she’d only ever taken for granted—like the softness of the finely made léine against her sensitive skin and the luxuriousness of the fur she sat upon.
Swallowing, Drew reached up and unpinned her hair. It tumbled down over her shoulders in soft waves. She usually wore it up, tightly coiled upon the crown of her head. But tonight such a style was too prim, too controlled.
Tonight she was a different woman.
11
In the Moonlight
IT WAS LATE when Carr finally fetched her. So late that Drew had actually lain down upon the furs and fallen into a light doze.
At the sound of someone whispering her name, she sat up, blinking.
The tiny fire pit in the center of the tent had burned down to glowing coals, yet she could just make out Carr’s face as he lifted up the edge of the weather-stained hide.
Heart pounding, Drew moved.
Wordlessly, she went to him, took the hand he offered, and squeezed under.
As she rose to her feet, Drew felt nervousness flutter up under her ribcage. This was finally happening; it almost seemed surreal.
Outdoors, the wind buffeted against her, and she glanced up at the sky. There was a full moon tonight. It appeared as the racing clouds parted, allowing hoary light to filter over the world below.
Shifting her attention back to Carr, she saw that the moonlight now kissed the strong lines of his face. However, his eyes were cast into shadow.
He squeezed her hand then and turned, leading her into the oak wood. His hand was warm and strong in hers.
Drew didn’t dare glance back at their camp. She knew one of the men would be still awake, keeping watch by the fire. But if they were quiet, he’d never know that they’d crept away.
Moonlight now frosted the trees. Carr didn’t speak as he led her deep into the woods, and when they were at least five furlongs distant from the camp, he halted.
Drew’s heart was now beating so hard that she could feel it pulsing in her ears. Earlier she’d been all aflutter with excitement. But now she felt sick with nerves. In her head, this encounter had been much lessreal.But now that she and Carr were finally alone together—now that he stared down at her with hunger etched across his features—she suddenly felt out of her depth.
And when Carr dipped his head to kiss her, she took a step back.
“What is it?” he murmured, the rough edge of need in his voice turning her knees weak.
Drew stared at him, her body going taut as a bowstring. Aye, she was in deep water here and floundering badly.
