Annaleigh couldn’t help the smile on her lips. “It’s strange,” she mused softly. “When I first saw ye as ye came tae Castle Questing, I will admit that I was surprised.”
“Why?”
“Because I dinna think ye’d survived yer wound,” she said. “I tried tae help ye in that terrible hour, but I dinna know if I actually did. So it was surprising tae see ye looking so well. More than well, War. Ye looked glorious as ye rode in through the gates.”
He gave her a half-grin and bowed his head graciously. “You have my thanks, my lady,” he said. “I am deeply flattered.”
“What did ye think when ye saw me?”
“That you were the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.”
She blushed sweetly. “’Tis kind of ye.”
“It is the truth,” he said. “But I also felt an attraction. I am not a man who becomes attracted to a woman in an instant, but with you, I did. I thought you were lovely the first time I ever saw you.”
She snorted. “I wouldna have known,” she said. “I believe ye said ‘if ye’ve come tae rob me, I shan’t give ye much of a fight’.”
He broke down into soft laughter. “You remembered that, did you?”
“Of course I did.”
“Then you have an amazing memory.”
She shrugged modestly. “I’ve always been able to remember the smallest thing,” she said. “That’s why ye must be careful what ye say tae me. Iwillremember.”
He rolled his eyes, but there was humor there. “God help me,” he said. “Thank you for the warning.”
She could tell that he was jesting so she giggled. “Are ye going tae say something tae me that ye’ll regret, then?”
His eyes glimmered warmly at her. “Never,” he said softly. “Everything I say to you, I mean it from the heart. Every word of it.”
Annaleigh could feel the sincerity from the man. The warmth, the genuine interest and concern from him… everything was washing over her, causing her heart to race. It was true that she was weary, wearier still after the situation with Talus, but she couldn’t sleep. She didn’t want to. She could have talked to War forever.
She was thrilled that she was going to have that chance.
“I believe ye,” she said softly. “But it has occurred tae me that ye’ve not slept all night, either. Ye came intae the hall tae eat and ye were pulled away from that tae help Talus. It was quite compassionate of ye tae do it, but I’d expect no less from ye. Ye’re a man of honor.”
A smile of appreciation tugged at his lips. “I would like to think so when the situation warrants it.”
“Ye must go eat something now.”
“Very well. I’ll go eat something if you rest.”
“Are ye making a bargain with me?”
“I’m trying to.”
She chuckled. She knew the man must have been terribly weary, but here he stood, speaking to her as if he had nowhere better to be. For his sake, she knew she should let him go about his business and for her sake, perhaps shedidneed a few minutes of rest before returning to Talus.
That was the reality of things.
“Well,” she said, standing up with her shoeless feet against the cold floor. “I’ll agree tae it. But only for a few minutes. I must return tae Talus and apologize for running away and becoming angry with him. I suppose ye must understand how the man has tried tae woo me ever since I arrived and, at times, I’ve even hidden from him just tae avoid him. But mayhap he was truly trying tae do something nice for me. Or mayhap he’s still trying tae woo me.”
She was moving towards him and War couldn’t take his eyes off her. “That is a determined man if he is still trying to woo you from his sick bed,” he said. “But mayhap it wasn’t that at all. Mayhap he really did mean to leave you with his legacy. That may be how he looks at it.”
Annaleigh sighed faintly. “I suppose,” she said. She’d come to within a foot or so of him, gazing up into his handsome face. He was more than a foot taller than she was, by far, so she had tocrane her neck back. “If the man truly is dying, then I shouldna have run out on him.”
“Do you think he is?”
