In time, the sails filled with wind, increasing the vessel’s speed. Kieran tasted brine and welcomed the brisk air lashing at his face. He’d brought his sisters out in their father’s boat time and again, though usually Cara tried to throw water on him. An emptiness caught his conscience at the memory. Both Cara and Aisling had practiced their feminine wiles, twisting him to do whatever they wanted.Críost, he missed them.
As he tied off the sail, he caught Iseult looking at him. “Davin showed me the carving. You did well.”
He hadn’t expected the compliment, nor the slight softening of her lips. Her clear blue eyes contrasted against the dark gray waters of the bay, while the wind nipped strands of reddish-gold hair against her cheeks.
Kieran inclined his head, acknowledging her before directing his attention back to the sea. His pride warmed to the words, though he didn’t know why she’d spoken them. She didn’t like him. Was afraid of him, even.
Or was she? Perhaps things had changed. He hadn’t been able to answer her questions about her son. How would he have noticed a small boy, after the hundreds he’d seen?
When he risked a glance back at her, he found Davin watching him instead.
“It was fine work,” his master agreed. He laid his hand upon Iseult’s shoulder, as if to claim her. Iseult touched her palm to Davin’s in response.
Kieran’s hands tightened upon the ropes. He felt like an intruder upon a private moment, and he turned away. The sun gleamed through fleecy clouds, and at long last, they chose a spot to set down their anchor.
“Care to make a wager?” Davin asked.
Orin eyed his foster-brother with suspicion. “What did you have in mind?”
“Whoever catches the fewest fish has to clean them.”
Orin winced. “I’m not sure we should—“
“I’ll take the wager,” Kieran interrupted. Cleaning fish was never a task he enjoyed, and he felt fairly confident in his skills.
“And I,” Iseult responded. There was a competitive edge to her expression now, and he wondered what she knew that he didn’t.
“I want to start with the net,” Orin said, still looking unconvinced that a fishing competition was a good idea.
“We’ll take turns with the net,” Iseult assured him. “You can begin. I’ll use the pole.”
She opened the basket and withdrew chopped pieces of crab. Baiting her hook, she dropped the line over the side of the boat.
“Pass me some of those, won’t you?” Davin asked.
Iseult raised an eyebrow. “This is a wager. You’ll have to get your own bait.” She tilted her head with feigned innocence. “Or did you forget to bring any?”
Davin’s eyes narrowed. “Now that isn’t fair,a stór.”
“Fair or not, it won’t be me cleaning all the fish.” Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
Kieran adjusted his own line, unraveling a knot. He wouldn’t deny that Iseult MacFergus was an intelligent woman and likely knew a great deal about fishing. But then, he wasn’t above cheating, when it came to avoiding tasks he hated.
Kieran waited until her attention was on the line. Then, he slipped his hand into her basket. With a quick gesture, he tossed a crab to Davin, keeping one for himself.
Iseult slapped his hand. “Those aren’t yours!” Her cheeks burned with color, when she realized what she’d done.
“No, they aren’t,” he agreed. Leaning forward, he added, “But you weren’t paying attention.”
Her face reddened even more. This time, she set the basket between her knees. Lowering her skirt, she glared at both of the men. “You won’t be stealing my bait now.”
Were she any other woman, he would view this as a challenge. He imagined trapping her against the bow of the boat, molding his hands against the base of her spine. He’d lower her against the wood until his body rested atop hers. Perhaps steal a kiss, if she were willing. Then the basket of bait would be all but forgotten. Instead, he risked a glance toward Davin. “I could distract her, if you’d like.”
“I don’t know if I’m that brave.” Davin eyed Iseult with a light smile upon his face.
I am,Kieran thought. And from the way Iseult drew back, he supposed she knew it.
From that moment, she avoided looking at him. It was deliberate, and sensible. Whatever connection he’d sensed last night had been severed. They could never be friends, for they were not equals. He was a slave and she, a lady—despite his former rank. And more than all else, she belonged to Davin.
