Part 2 (2/2)
”Aye, my princess. Meghan will tend you.”
”The day is almost over, my friends, and from here I view a dozen ch.o.r.es left unattended.” People scattered to their duties. ”And Connal,” she said, lowering her gaze to the child. She smoothed her hand over his red-brown hair, his plump cheek, then tipped his head to look him in the eye. ”Have you tended your studies today?”
Connal's gaze briefly swept to his aunt's. Rhiannon chose to look elsewhere. ”Nay.”
”And why not?”
Connal stole another glance at his aunt. ”I was playin'.”
”And what activity was so important that you allowed your aunt to take you from your studies?”
Connal blinked, pleased his aunt would gain the blame. ”She made a bubble from a bladder and we kicked it about the yard.” His lower lip curled down. ”Till Dermott broke it.”
Siobhan lifted her gaze to her sister, folding her arms over her middle. ”Did he learn anything today?”
”Aye, that bladders pop. Now come; eat something.” Rhiannon moved close to her sister and flung her arm around her shoulder, directing her to the long table. Behind her back, she waved discreetly to Connal, and the child scurried off toward his bed.
”Do not think to fool me with your cheating, Rhi,” Siobhan said, glancing over her shoulder to see Connal disappear around the wall leading up the narrow staircase. Her gaze s.h.i.+fted to her sister, who was calling for a trencher and wine. ”He broke a promise.”
”Nay,” Rhiannon said, dropping beside her. ”I did.” Her green eyes pleaded with her older sister. ”Do not punish him. 'Tis only that he looked so unhappy whilst you were gone.”
”Think you that he has too much studies?” Siobhan shook her head. ”Tell me true, Rhi, for oftimes I think learning from books is useless.”
Rhiannon's face warmed with affection and she covered Siobhan's hand. ”Mayhaps a few moments at a time and nay hours? 'Tis so new to him, this sitting still.”
Siobhan laughed softly. ”Aye, aye,” she said, accepting the trencher and wine from Bridgett. She sampled the mutton, aware of Bridgett standing close and awaiting approval. Siobhan nodded. ”A fine hand with the spice, friend.” As Bridgett bobbed and departed, Siobhan turned her attention back to her sister. ”Now shall we discuss the state of this castle in so short a time?”
”Only if you reveal where you hid for half the night.”
”I will not.” She jerked her hand out of her sister's reach. ”I need not touch you to know the why of it comes from a man.”
Revealing that English knights slept so close to Donegal would not scare Rhiannon, but her people were a matter unto themselves. How capable could they be, she thought, when with the exception of fifty or so, their largest and strongest were lost on Irish soil like lambs in the mist.
Siobhan cast a quick look around for eavesdroppers. ”Do not speak of it, please. Culhainn was at my side, and what man can get past him?”
'Twas true enough, Rhiannon thought, but didn't believe Siobhan. Yet if she chose to keep her moments away from the keep private, Rhiannon would respect her wishes. Her gaze scanned her garments, stopping on the bloodstain at her shoulder.
”You're hurt.” Rhiannon pushed Siobhan's hair off her neck to examine her wound.
”Nay, nay, oh leave off!” she hissed, pulling her hair back. ”'Twas an accident and naught else. Leave it at that.”
Rhiannon's brows rose sharply.
Siobhan leaned closer. ”Forgive me, Rhi. I am weary and in need of a bath. Mix a potion for this ache in me head?”
Rhiannon rose and moved to her cabinet by the hearth, withdrew a key and unlocked it, spreading the doors wide. Siobhan watched as her sister mixed and stirred herbs into a cup, added wine, then heated it with a hearth iron. Steam rose from the wood cup as she crossed the hall. Siobhan drained the potion quickly, thanking her.
”Now, sister, about the ch.o.r.es-”
”I think I hear Bridgett calling.” Rhiannon scooted back and with a laugh, Siobhan waved her off and focused on her meal. She ate quickly, then headed to her chamber for a bath, pausing at Connal's bedside. She knelt and tucked the coverlet beneath his soft chin and his eyes drifted open.
”Mama? You're angry with me?”
”Oh nay, poppet.” She brushed her lips across his forehead. ”I love you too much.” A soft bahhing came from beneath the covers and Siobhan eyed her son. He giggled and she drew back the bunting. A tiny lamb peeped its nose at her, round dark eyes begging to let it sleep with its master. ”Connal,” she scolded. ”Did you think to trick me?”
”Can Dermott stay?”
”Aye.” She tucked them both in and Connal smiled, utterly pleased with this day. ”But you both must bathe in the morrow.” The boy gasped and his mother sent him a warning glance. The lamb reeked of the stables. ”Swear to me or I take him now.”
Connal lowered his gaze and muttered, ”I swear.” Siobhan kissed him again and made to leave. ”But not with yer stinkin' weeds!”
Siobhan blinked at her son, her mouth open at his defiance. She snapped it shut. ”Then 'tis with lye and a grooming brush, laddie, since you dare take a tone with me.” She stepped out and closed the door, smiling at his attempt at cursing.
Siobhan walked to her chamber, thanking Meghan as the woman pa.s.sed with empty buckets; then slipping inside, she closed the door and was at once thankful she afforded a chamber to herself. The demands on her constant, she valued the spa.r.s.e moments of privacy. Tigheran had always insisted she care for him, refusing to allow a servant to tend his smallest need. Life with him had left her exhausted, unhappy and, she admitted, terrified. Unease worked into her bones, stirring painful memories, and she cast them off with her clothes, not wasting a moment to slip into the hot, scented water. She would scrub later, she thought, resting her head gingerly on the rim. For now all she desired was the heat of the water soothing away the ache in her bones.
Steam curled in the cool air. The blaze in the hearth roared and crackled, flames eating freshly placed peat and wood. Siobhan sank deeper into the bath, hot water sliding over her skin like a lover's caress. Her senses more intense with fatigue, she fought the masculine image taking shape in her mind, drawing on her disgust at discovering his profession, his self-serving cause.
Yet it came, clear and strong, powerful as he was big. She saw his body glistening with water, his ropey muscles twisting as he dried himself, the desire in his eyes when he wanted more than a kiss of reward. No man had looked upon her such as he had, no man had kissed her with such gentle command and dark hunger. She s.h.i.+fted in the bath, a feeble attempt to ease the heat stirring through her body, yet warm water and silken herbs rushed over her sensitive skin, intensifying the sensations she wanted to crush.
Siobhan swallowed back a moan of despair.
Do not taunt me like this, Englishman, she thought. You are my enemy and here to war. And I will not betray my people. Especially not for my own desires.
Chapter 4.
Surrounded by six warriors and her sister, Siobhan's brow knitted, her gaze s.h.i.+fting between the two feuding villagers.
Someone was lying, she thought, yet could not tell which. Around them the servants and slaves moved in their duties, but she had to solve this problem before she could get on with her own ch.o.r.es. ”Munn, you say the milch cows are yours?”
”Aye.”
Siobhan put up her hand, silencing young Liam before he could speak.
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