Thor hesitated, making Greer lift her head to look up at him. “Aye. Blaine must have had his body removed before I went back belowstairs. I didna see him when the Sassenachs were there.”
“Will aught happen because ye slayed him?”
“They should ken nae to come back for ye, and nay one should speak ill of ye.”
“Ye ken what I mean.”
“Mayhap something will happen because of it. But I think me refusing to let ye go is more likely the cause than Samuel dying. He’s a reminder of Edgar, and the council would do well to be rid of anyone related to him.”
“Am I a reminder of Edgar that they wish to be rid of?”
“Nay. Ye are but a pawn to them. They think an alliance with the MacDonnells and MacDonalds will allow them to exert more power against us. The MacDonalds may be a huge clan, but they dinna outnumber us when we summon our allies to our side.”
“Are we safe to stay here?”
Thor kissed her forehead before she settled back against his chest. “Right now, I believe staying here is the safest place we can be. But we shall see, wee one. We may need to run.”
CHAPTER11
Rose rapped on her brother’s chamber door, uncertain whether she should intrude on the couple. Curiosity and concern drove her up to the third floor. She wished to learn how the supposed enemies resolved their conflict and wound up married in the space of an hour. She wondered how Greer fared after the confrontations, and she wondered whether they wished for a tray to be sent up to them.
“Who is it?” Thor barked.
“It’s me,” Rose called through the door. She heard the bed creak, but little else, until her brother spoke again.
“Give us a moment.”
Now that she was married, she understood what that meant. Her cheeks flushed as she considered her twin brother coupling with her best friend. Not only did the idea seem outrageous, it embarrassed her. She wished to think of neither of them in that context. She stepped back from the door and waited until Thor opened it. He wore his leine, but he hadn’t pleated his plaid, merely wrapped it around his waist. Greer wore her chemise with a Sinclair plaid wrapped around her shoulders. The couple didn’t appear like they’d recently been locked in the throes of passion, but it was almost too intimate for Rose. She certainly wouldn’t want either of them to arrive at her chamber door if she and Blaine were in such a state of undress.
“Rose?” Greer came to stand beside Thor as he opened the door wider.
“Aye. I came to make sure ye were all right after everything that happened, including the adder bite.”
“I’m well. Whatever Una gave me cured me almost immediately.” Greer observed Rose and noticed her friend’s flushed cheeks and how she looked anywhere but at Greer or Thor. “Perhaps you should come inside, so we can explain.”
Rose looked around, realizing there were only two chairs and the bed upon which to sit. She didn’t consider herself a prude now that she was married and barely able to keep her hands off her husband—and he was no better with her—but it felt like she intruded.
“Mayhap ye could dress and join me in Blaine’s solar. That way he can be part of this.”
“Nay, Rosie. I dinna want Greer where people can stare after what happened. I wish for things to blow over, and we’d prefer our privacy.”
“Ye may want the latter, but I dinna think hiding is the way to make sure gossip doesnae begin. It looks like ye’re too embarrassed to be seen in public or that ye’re avoiding explaining what the devil is going on between ye.”
Thor crossed his arms. “Does the clan wish to ken or do ye wish to ken?”
Rose stepped closer to her brother and rolled her eyes. “Ye ken it’s both. Ye need to look like a married couple, and nae just by remaining locked in yer chamber.”
“I recall ye remaining locked in yer chamber for a sennight after ye and Blaine wed.”
“After our kirking. We didna do that after we handfasted. It wasna an option. I dinna think it is for ye either.”
Greer rested her hand on Thor’s arm and gazed up at him. She silently wished for him to agree to them appearing belowstairs. She didn’t want to leave their cocoon, but she saw the prudence in what Rose suggested.
“Nay. I dinna want people to have aught to pass along to someone outside this clan. The less they see, the less there is to talk aboot.” Thor wouldn’t budge.
“The less they see, the more for them to make up.” Greer tugged on Thor’s forearm. He released them immediately and wrapped one around her waist. He gazed into her violet eyes, and he could deny her nothing. He nodded, and his heart stuttered when she smiled her appreciation. Without looking at Rose, she spoke to her friend. “Can ye give us five minutes before we meet ye in Blaine’s solar?”
“Aye. Will ye join us for the evening meal?”
