Page 63 of Rebellion's Fire

There was no response.

She smiled slightly. “You’re asleep,” she whispered.

“No,” he said, the unexpectedness catching at her breath all over again. “I just don’t want to answer.”

Some emotion that was close to laughter shook her shoulders. She listened to the beat of her own heart, trying to talk herself out of it. But she asked anyway. “Why not?”

Another pause. “Because at this moment, Iamhappy.”

As his words wrapped around her, she closed her eyes and realized she was smiling. Under her blanket, which smelled of him, her heart still beat and beat; it felt full and she didn’t know why.

*

The lady hadnot come home during the night. On the other hand, although Lanson and all of his soldiers were up and ready for it, neither had there been an attack at first light.

While Lanson bad-temperedly organized patrols to search for his absent wife, Eua walked quietly across the hill to speak to the shepherd’s wife.

“Adam mac Malcolm went to get her back,” the woman said laconically.

“From where?” Eua demanded. “And from whom? This stranger Sigurd saw take her?”

“Aye.”

“Then I suppose we can consider her safe,” Eua said slowly.

“As safe as any woman alone with a young lord who wants her.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Eua snapped. “She’s under his protection.”

“Aye, but who’s to protect her from him? Men say protection. What they mean is power.”

“You’re a nasty-minded old woman.”

“I’m a smart woman who knows how the world works. And not so old either.”

Eua waved one hand in annoyed disparagement. But she didn’t leave. “There’s nothing we can do, is there?”

“Not until she comes home.”

“If she’s spent the night with Adam mac Malcolm…”

“Maybe she shouldn’t come home. Who would you rather have? Adam or Lanson?”

“Adam,” Eua said impatiently. “But she should at least have a say!”

“Why? No one else of her rank does. The rest of us do as we’re bid, too. Besides, who’s to say she hasn’t chosen?”

Eua pursed her lips. Although he’d abducted her, Adam had made Cairistiona lady here. And she’d said nothing to anyone when he’d accosted her at the market in Rosemarkie, nor when he’d been captured at Tirebeck and she’d tended his wounds.

“I thought he frightened her,” Eua said.

“He frightens most folk. Doesn’t stop people liking him. Or women enticing him to bed.”

“Enticing?” Eua repeated, staring at the older woman. “Cairistiona?”

“You think she isn’t?”

“Oh, she’s comely enough,” Eua said impatiently. “Beautiful, even, behind that mask. But she’s no idea of her attractions. She has no thought ofenticinganyone!”

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