“It must be so hard for ye to leave all that and come awa’ here.”
Emotions warred in Darlei’s face. Pride that said she did not want to admit anything hinting at weakness. Honesty. She nodded. “It is hard, thinking I may never see any of it again.”
“But surely ye will travel home now that the country is one and united. No more warring. Ye will be free to come and go.”
Darlei looked at Deathan, her silver eyes rueful and sad. But she said only, “Yes, mistress. So I am sure.” She rose to her feet and clasped Mam’s hands. “I must leave you. Thank you for your kindness.”
“My dear, ye be always welcome here wi’ me.”
Deathan sprang to his feet as Darlei made to move past him, and was at the door ahead of her. In opening it, he could catch her scent. The fragrance that came off her hair.
“Master Deathan,” she said courteously as she moved past him. And then, very low, so none but he could hear, “I will visit your mother first thing every morning.”
“Ah. As will I.” He bowed.
A chance for them to see one another. One built into the day.Like a promise.
He wanted the promise of this woman’s company, and to give her promises. He longed for it. Wished to pledge himself, his heart, his life.
That shocked him so much, he stood like one struck as she left.
“She is a sweet lass,” Mam said then. “Kind of her to come and see me. Now come, son, and tell me o’ yer day.”
There was little to tell other than that he feared he’d lost his heart.
After his visit with Mam, and still without breakfast, he went back up on the walls, paced them with a restlessness he could not deny. Eyed the land for danger—but aye, Mam was right. From whence would danger come, now, with the country all one?
He watched the clouds build up on the sea and imagined rain pounding down.A small, quiet sleeping place. A woman in his arms.Not Darlei. Or was she?He kissed her as if he needed the taste of her more than breathing. They made love, and it claimed him.
It changed him.
He shook himself loose of the dream, one that beset him on his feet, and tried to think.
Tried to think of reasons to be near Princess Darlei. Means and excuses for being in her company. Mam had given him one.
He needed far more.
Chapter Twenty-One
The hunting partycame home at nightfall, soaking wet. Darlei happened to see them from the front steps as they came riding in through the gates looking disgruntled and carrying little game.
She and Orle had spent much of the long afternoon listening to Master Coll play upon his harp in the hall beside a good fire. The rain had sent damp creeping through the keep. Autumn now came in earnest.
She half hoped Deathan might come in to hear the impromptu concert, but he had not. Duties to which he must see, so she supposed.
Her next glimpse of him would be at supper. Indeed, Master Coll had been chased out now so the servants could set up for that meal, as if they knew their master headed home.
She would go mad here with nothing to do. With nothing to think about save her impending marriage.
To the wrong man.
Ah, and from whence had come that thought? She frowned. It had been there all the while.
“Let us go.” Orle laid a hand on her arm. “Before they come in.”
Very wise. Darlei did not want to be caught here by Father. By Rohr.
“Let us go up to the little room Mistress MacMurtray bade you use,” Orle suggested. “It will be warm there.”
