Finnan would wager not.
“I wish you would tell me what did he write, that gave you so harsh an opinion of me.”
Anger licked at Finnan’s soul. “That you did not love him.” Would not, no matter how Geordie tried.
“Well, that is true. He knew it at the outset. He said he did not mind.”
A man might say many things, as she would learn to her sorrow.
“No matter now,” he told her, and smoothed Danny’s bandaging in place. “The yarrow should dim the pain from that wound. But I hate to move him again.”
“Stay then,” she urged, her gaze fleeing his at last.
He felt it then, how close he stood to having his way with her. He said, “I dare not.”
“Why?”
“A thousand reasons, not the least of which is what passed between us last night.”
She bit at her luscious lower lip. He ached to do the same. “We might try to overlook that,” she said, “since we were both at fault.”
“That is generous of you. I know I overstepped myself, and quite honestly I do not know that I would not do the same again.”
“Oh!”
“I will take to the hills. But I would ask of you one last boon: might I leave the lad here one more night? If you agree, I thought we could conceal him in your loft.”
“Well—” He saw the thoughts move behind her eyes. Leaving Danny here made a reason for Finnan to return. “All right, just for the one night, mind.”
“Aye, sure.”
“But I do not see how you are to get him up to the loft.”
“Leave that to me.”
He stepped away from the sleeping lad, brushed past Jeannie, and felt the contact all down his body.
“Aggie,” she bade the maid, “come sit beside the patient. Wring the cloth in cool water, and lay it on his brow.”
“Gladly, mistress.”
Finnan experienced a flash of misgiving. He did not need the maid succumbing to any inconvenient attraction. When he and Danny left here for good, they would break all ties, clean.
He watched as Aggie settled herself cozily beside Danny’s makeshift cot. When he turned back, Jeannie MacWherter once more watched him. She could not keep her eyes away, it seemed.
“I will be off out of here before dark,” he told her.
She hesitated before she said, “Must you? I was just out at the well, and the weather is on the change. Rain coming, so I do believe. Surely no one will be hunting you in the wet.”
She did not want him to go. A good sign.
But he shook his head. “I’ve no wish to endanger you.” And if he stayed, could he have her in her bed this night, the two of them entwined and making their own heat while the rain fell outside? Aye, that image would haunt him while he slept in the wet.
“At least take a good meal before you go.”
“I will, that.”
She turned to the fire, but not before he saw the gladness fill her eyes.
