His dark eyes transformed with an intensity she never expected. “Aye.” He leaned in, as though he were about to kiss her. But his mouth hovered a breath above hers. “But there can be no more lies between us, Laren.”
“Then you need to spare a few moments of your time for us,” she finished. “Instead of coming home late at night, when we’re asleep. You’re never there.”
Against her ribs, his palms slid down, as if to determine whether or not her wound had healed. Her cheeks grew warm, her body responding to his heat.
“We’re not through talking about this,” Alex murmured against her lips. When he broke away, she felt a building sense of anticipation. “We have to join the others. But tonight, you’re going to show me your glassmaking. I want to know everything you’ve kept from me.”
She didn’t speak, feeling shaken. She hoped that this would be a new start for them, that they could somehow heal what had been lost. The wind drifted against her skin in a cold whisper, and he released her, leading the way back to the fortress.
Insidethegates,Alexstruggled to mask the response Laren had evoked. He was dimly aware of the women’s excitement as Nairna showed them the food she’d bought with Laren’s silver coins, along with a few ells of cloth. Bram had taken the remainder of the money into his own safekeeping, and they intended to keep it hidden from the rest of the clan until they’d traded and purchased what else they needed.
Laren murmured words to him about seeing to their daughters and disappeared from his side. Alex stood back from the rest of the clan, absorbing the transformation. Though he was thankful for the change in their fortune, he had to decide what to do about it now.
Bram leaned in to speak to Nairna and his wife nodded, handing him a large flagon. A moment later he approached, offering Alex the container. “Nairna and I wanted to offer this wine to you and Laren to share this night.”
“Your wife sent you to do her matchmaking, did she?”
“You’d be right.” Bram handed him the flagon. “I don’t know if Laren told you, but the abbot has commissioned her to build more windows for their new kirk. He’s promised one hundred and fifty pieces of silver.”
Alex couldn’t find the words to form a reply, he was so taken aback by the amount. Never in his wildest imaginings could he have foreseen that the glass would have such value.
“She’ll have to begin work on the windows immediately,” Bram said. “But for this night, Nairna and I both thought you should enjoy your own celebration.”
“There’s no need for wine,” Alex said automatically.
A slight twitch formed at the edge of Bram’s mouth. “But drink loosens the tongue, doesn’t it? And Laren’s not the sort to say much.”
Alex eyed his brother, understanding breaking through him. “I asked her to meet me at Father Nolan’s cavern.”
“Nairna and I will watch over your girls.” Bram sent his brother a conspiratorial smile. “And I’ll make certain your wife joins you this night.”
Laren’sstomachwastyingitself into knots of anxiety with every step she took toward the loch. Bram had offered to escort her there, but she’d refused. She didn’t know what Alex wanted from her this night, but she was prepared to do as he wished.
She followed the curve of the water, avoiding the white stone on the hillside. A thin layer of ice coated the edges and she used the moonlight to guide her path. When she reached the far side, she saw the cavern illuminated from the glow of the furnaces.
Alex was already waiting at the entrance. His hair was darker, wet as if he’d washed in the loch. The tunic he wore was a fresh one, a muted blue that she’d sewn a few months ago.
He extended a hand to her and she entered the cavern, feeling anxious about his intentions this night. Upon the floor, she saw that he’d spread a woolen blanket over the earth floor. He poured two cups of wine and handed her one. Laren drank far too quickly, needing the liquid courage. The sweet wine had a light flavour, one she’d never tasted before.
“It’s from Burgundy,” Alex told her. “A gift from Bram and Nairna.”
Laren slowed down as she drank more of the wine and felt its warmth permeating her body. “It’s good.”
He poured her another cup, then pointed toward the furnaces. “I sent Ramsay home. He warned me not to let the fires go out.”
“He’s very particular about his work.” She noted that her apprentice had set out several melts, some of which were ready to be blown. She removed her mantle and adjusted the ties in her hair, binding it away from her face.
“Some have said that he’s…different from the others,” Alex remarked.
From the way her husband hesitated, Laren understood what he meant. She walked over to check on the crucible of green molten glass. “He is. The boys tease him because he often will become obsessed with a small detail.” She smiled, remembering the first time she’d met him. “He’ll spend hours, counting to himself until he knows it’s time for the crucible to go inside the furnace. He has a brilliant mind, but most people don’t understand him. They think there’s something wrong with him, because he chooses to be alone.”
When her husband’s expression sharpened upon her, Laren hid her discomfort. “But he’s done well as my apprentice.”
Alex walked over to examine some of the pieces of green glass she’d cut. He picked one up and held it to the light, but said nothing about it. Laren set several pipes into one of the furnaces to preheat. When she was finished, she turned back to her husband. In the faint light of the fires, his features were arresting. Dark eyes stared into hers and he made her uncomfortable. “Bram told me about the commission.”
She took a breath and faced him. “I’m going to make the windows. The clan needs the silver.”
“Do you want to make them?”
