Part 20 (1/2)

She gathered the sheet to her bosom. ”I think not.” Though she was not ashamed, she felt defenseless to him now, stripped of her guard, and she needed distance to rebuild it. Letting him touch her again, though her body cried out for more, would not help. She still did not trust him. Looking away, she glanced at the window, then inhaled a sharp breath. ”Oh, for the love of Saint Michael!” The sun was already high in the sky!

Leaving the bed, she pulled the sheet with her, wrapping herself, but Gaelan caught it, giving it a quick jerk that landed her in the bed, on her back. He loomed over her, half upside down and smiling.

”Where think you to go this morn?”

She c.o.c.ked her head a bit. ”To my duties, my lord. And I am well past showin' meself belowstairs. They will think-”

”You were taking your pleasure of me,” he interrupted, bending until his lips met hers, his kiss slow and wet and stirring the embers hidden under her skin. Her hand rose, almost hesitant, then finally cupped his jaw and tasted him back, racing her tongue over the line of his mouth. His breath shuddered raggedly as he drew back.

”You are in a surprising mood for a man who did not get any hisself.” Her eyes flew wide at her own impertinence.

His brows shot up. ”Wis.h.i.+ng I'd break my promise? For I can accommodate her ladys.h.i.+p-” He threw back the covers.

She looked. ”Jager me,” she whispered, then rolled and scooted off the bed.

Gaelan laughed. No matter how much she abandoned herself to him last night, she still feared her own desire and him, apparently. It was comforting that she was not so resilient, that she had weaknesses, beyond her people. He'd begun to think she was invincible.

She flung open a trunk and rummaged, selecting a gown and a s.h.i.+ft. Her back to him, she slipped on the s.h.i.+ft.

”I saw you bare last night Siobhan; why hide now?”

”'Twas a moment of-ah, I don't feel-” She sighed, dropping her head forward. ”Humor me, my lord.”

”Shyness now, after you rode my mouth like a wave?” She inhaled and spun about, eyes wide. He grinned, loving her blush and watching it spread down to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. ”Intriguing.”

Siobhan snapped her mouth shut. ”Oh, you big ox, cease lying abed and dress.” His laughter filled the chamber as she went to his trunks and retrieved fresh garments, flinging them at him. ”Don't you have men to train or-” She frowned, his tunic in her fist. ”What happened that you were covered in soot?” She rushed to the bedside. ”And your hand.” She grasped it. The bath cleaned it well and it was crusted with healing. ”You need a salve and wrap on that. And to remove your st.i.tches as well.” She dropped her gown on the bed and went to her cabinet, pausing to search for her girdle and the key. She gathered clean strips of cloth and a small pot stoppered with a fat cork. She sat on the bed beside him, plucking out the st.i.tches in his side, and though the wound on his hand was minor, Gaelan let her tend him.

”Tell me,” she said in a firm voice as she gingerly spread the salve.

”A village to the north, 'twas attacked.”

Her head jerked up. ”The people? Grainne and Elric, little Muirgheal and Teague?”

G.o.d above, she knew them by name and the hope in her beautiful eyes nearly destroyed him. ”Dead, la.s.s, all of them.”

She looked at her work, wrapping the bandage, tying it off neatly and collecting her things. Crossing to the cabinet, she replaced the items, locked the cupboard, then moved to her gown, pulling it on over her head and fitting it about her hips.

Frowning, Gaelan stood and dressed quickly and was looking for his pouch when he heard her choke. He glanced and his expression fell into utter sadness. Before the mirror, she combed her hair, tugging angrily at the snarls. Her lips quivered with her effort to hold back tears.

”Ahh, sweetling.” He came to her, wrestling the comb from her tight fist. She shoved at his chest, then shoved again and again, and Gaelan let her, holding her close as she pounded out her grief. Then she cried, sinking to her knees and folding over, rocking.

”Oh Lord above,” she sobbed, and he knelt. ”'Twere three new families there. Grainne and Moreen, they'd just had their first child. Babes, my lord, babes who won't see their first birthday.”

Gaelan wrapped his arms around her, holding her warmly, pressing his lips to the top of her head. Nearly an hour pa.s.sed before she was silent, telling him of the children, the friends she'd lost, and still he held her. Then he saw his pouch under the table and reached for it, tucking it discreetly at his waist.

”'Tis a mystery, Siobhan. The livestock was butchered.” He blotted her face with his sleeve and helped her to her feet. ”There is no sense in it.”

”As in the south. So far apart from the other, why?”

”We rode for miles, la.s.s. Driscoll found another village, in the forest.” Her breath skipped. ”Nay, no one died, but they'd been raided recently. Little more than half their livestock was gone.”

Her delicate brow furrowed. ”But 'tis not the same, then.”

He shrugged. ”Who is to say the villagers did not anger the raiders and refuse to give up their stock?” She agreed with that. ”The second village did not fight, but for a young lad who took a hit to the head.” A pause, and then he added, ”We captured two men just beyond the hamlet with the livestock.”

”Irish?”

He shrugged. ”They've refused to speak a word.”

That marks them with guilt, she thought as she went to the basin and splashed her face with cold water, dried, then took back her comb. She freed the tangles as she spoke. ”I had nary a clue afore, either. I could only bring the villagers closer to the castle or inside.”

”'Twas your wisest choice until now.” She twisted a look at him. ”I have men already out on patrol, Siobhan. And will send more when they know the area and have a guide we can trust.”

She nodded, suddenly seeing the benefit of his legions. She could never spare so many men for fear of leaving the ones here unprotected. ”Allow Driscoll to select the guides, my lord. I trust him. And let Brody go with you if you need him.” Her lips curved a bit. ”He will find castle work tiresome after a bit and he is very accurate with a javelin.”

”I will find them, I swear.” Gaelan's stomach rolled with the memory of the child beneath the bench.

”I know you will.” She saw it in his eyes, his lethal determination, and she came to him, gazing up into his handsome face as she braided her hair, weaving the bells. The sound made him smile softly. ”Come below and break your fast.”

”When I find my boots.” He glanced around, and Siobhan walked straight to them, plucked them from the floor and dropped them in his lap.

”Hurry.” She offered a weak smile. ”I will need someone to blame for my tardiness.”

”Lay it fully on me, wife.” He slid his arm around her, dragging her close for a warm kiss. ”And aught else you'd like.” He wiggled his brows.

Smothering a smile, she scoffed, playfully shoving him back as she pa.s.sed to the door. Gaelan enjoyed the sway of her hips as he donned his boots, then, straightening, he peered to see she was gone before he withdrew the pouch, spilling the contents into his hand.

He stared, scowling, for glittering from the center of his palm was a silver spur.

A knight's spur.

”I am ready for my lesson.”

On her knees in her herb garden, Siobhan looked up. He stood at the far end, a book she'd never seen before tucked under his arm and a basket in his hand.

”You wish to learn to read now? But-” She waved to the garden overrun by weeds.

”Everyone else is taking a meal and a bit of rest, Siobhan.” He walked toward her, careful not to crush her seedlings. ”So should you.”

”I am not tired.”

He squatted and she looked up. ”I could make you tired.” Those brows wiggled and she shook her head, her smile soft. He looked much the boy pleading for an extra comfit, and she sat back on her haunches, dusting her hands on her ap.r.o.n.

”Come dine with me. Then teach me.”

She c.o.c.ked her head, aware again of what it took for such a proud man to ask for her help. He pulled her to her feet and they moved to a tree growing flush against her herb house.