Monroe moved from a large log to offer Kenna a seat. Her chills had nothing to do with the temperature, and she fought to keep from looking out into the darkness. Every once in a while, however, she couldn’t help it. Between the fear of wolves and the stares from Tearloch, she could hardly relax.
Of course, he didn’t miss a thing. Every time she would shift to obstruct his view of her, he would shift so he could see her clearly. With nothing much they could discuss in front of a lady, the others near her fire began to drift away to find their beds, allowing fewer and fewer obstacles between Tearloch and herself.
Kincaid sat closest, and Kenna was grateful this man had no aversion to her. After Tearloch and Duncan, the others seemed to respect this one the most, but it was a different kind ofrespect. She had the feeling Kincaid was the most dangerous of them all. But if that were so, wouldn’t he be the king’s champion?
Perhaps Tearloch was more dangerous than she had imagined.
“Kincaid, is that right?”
“Sir Kincaid, my lady.” His correction of her was not a haughty statement, just an informative one.
“My apologies, Sir Kincaid. May I ask you something? I warn you, you may be offended, but I do not intend you to be.”
She had his full attention.
“I am not easily offended.”
“Excellent. Here it is, then. How much is a maidenhead worth?” She willed herself not to blush.
He cleared his throat, the first nervous act the man had made all day. “Men and women do not discuss such things.”
“Oh, I see,” she said, feigning disappointment. “I have insulted you after all. Forgive me, I only wanted an honest answer and thought you would be the one who could provide it. But if you would rather not discuss it, I’m sure someone else could?—”
“I do not recommend asking the others. Every man will have a different value for such a thing, milady.” The two of them looked up to find Jaimie and Leland staring, wide eyed, from ten feet away.
Jamie managed to speak first. “Did she just ask Kincaid?—”
“Aye, she did, boy.” Leland’s face was as orange as his hair, and not from the firelight as the pair joined them.
Kenna had no choice. She would have three opinions. “I only want to know if a…a…”
“A maidenhead…” Leland prompted.
“Yes, well. I wanted to know how much a maidenhead is worth. Is it worth the same as a horse, let’s say?” She paused only slightly before going in for the kill. “Or a man’s life?”
Kincaid nodded, ready with an answer. “If ye consider how many men have been killed over the taking of a maidenhead, I would say that at times, it is worth a man’s life.”
Jamie shook his curls. “Of course, a horse is another matter entirely.” And of course Jamie would think so, considering the magnificent beast he owned. She was going to have to be more specific.
“But as to it’s worth, how much could a woman, say, sell it for?”
“Well, now.” Leland cleared his throat. “Some women sell themselves for a piece of siller. Others sell themselves much cheaper. Or so I’ve heard.” He shuffled his feet in the dirt, dislodged a stone and tossed it into the embers. The flames grew taller, adding yellow to his orange cheeks.
“But I’m not talking about a leman.” How much more plain need she be?
“Well, then. If she were a lady, ye ken,” drawled Duncan’s voice from the darkness behind her, “she could sell it for naught, as it would not be hers to sell, mylady. It belongs to her father, or guardian, and ishisto barter away, not hers. But dinna let me interrupt.” He stood on the edge of their intimate circle, arms crossed, clearly intending to remain for the duration of the discussion.
“Perhaps ye should tell us why you ask,” urged Kincaid. “We’ll tell you the straight of it.”
Fine. Duncan be damned. She needed questions answered while these men were still at hand. Who knew what tomorrow would bring?
“Would I be able to pay someone with my…maidenhead…for doing a service for me?” The brutes said nothing, but waited formore. “Would a man help me kill another man if I paid him…in that way? Would it be worth a man’s life?”
Duncan’s eyes were narrow. His face alight with more than the meager flames at their feet. She prepared herself for his mockery, but he surprised her.
“Milady, who is this condemned man? PerhapsIwould agree to such an offer.”
Kenna gasped, imagining Duncan coming to her bed, demanding payment. But her harsh breathing was but a portion of the chorus around her. They all suffered from the same malady!
