“Her mind is too busy,” Marcán answered. “She needs something to keep herself occupied. Something to keep her out of trouble.”
“Ah, that one is never out of trouble.Sheis the reason my father always found a reason to be somewhere else.”
His voice got quieter. “Kane told ye that?”
“I believe it is how he felt. He told me to either take a caring woman to wife or never marry at all.”
“D’ye think of him often?”
The silence had Astrid looking toward them, waiting to see how her brother would respond. His arm was draped over his face, shading it from the sun.
“I wonder how he would have advised me in certain situations. Like when the Meic Murchadha came to offer his daughter to me. Would he have had me accept?”
Astrid had no notion of when such a visit had taken place, but she was usually sent off on some wild goose chase when anyone came.
Marcán nodded, a smile in his voice. “Daimhin? Comely. With breasts that hang like heavy fruit. More than a handful.”
Astrid cupped her own breasts, which were more than her palm could hold, but surely he meanthishands. Marcán’s hands were huge. She was of an age that all those changes were well underway, but Daimhin was not that much older than her. How was she so well-endowed by this time that men spoke of her thus?
“Ho ho!Morethan a handful, is it?” Diarmuid laughed. “And she did not mind me noticing them either.”
“And what else did ye notice?”
Diarmuid turned to Marcán, a huge grin on his face. “Everything she wanted to show me. I did not refuse her.”
“Ah, a true gentleman.”
“I am that.”
Astrid was on the verge of sleep when they finally spoke again.
“I do not wish to take a wife. Kane was so unhappy in his marriage. Why should I believe mine would be any better?” Diarmuid’s words surprised her. Thederb finehad to decide on theirri túaithewithin the next few weeks since the death of theirtánaiste. Kane’s successor had survived long enough to bring word of their father’s death, but the wounds he’d received were mortal. A slow, long-suffering death. Everyone assumed Diarmuid would be chosen as the next king, and it would be unusual for arito remain unmarried for long.
“Do not despair. Ye have not found the one who sparks yer attentionandpleases ye in bed. Although ye’ve done yer best with the bedding.”
Astrid covered her mouth. She knew some of the women were regularly taking the men into their beds, but it shocked her to realize her own brother was one of them.
“The ones I bed have bedded many before me.”
Marcán said nothing.
Diarmuid shrugged. “They believe their experience will please me. What would please me more is if Daimhin would speak to me as if she were even half witted.” There was a pause before he continued. “And what of ye, Marcán? The women are more than pleased with ye, but I do not see ye feeling the same toward them.”
The sigh Astrid heard brought a lump to her throat, it was that sad. She watched Marcán when he answered. “The one woman I want is as elusive as smoke.”
Setting her mind to the puzzle of which woman he might fancy, she forgot to be quiet when she rolled over. She could still see Diarmuid’s scowl when he turned toward her. He bolted upright at the waist, ready to yell at her, but Marcán put out a hand to halt his angry advance.
“Astrid?” Marcán’s voice was calm. “Come.”
He sat up more slowly than her brother, his eyes on her while she scooted out from beneath the bush to stand. Her gown was drenched with sweat, flat against her. For a moment she wished she were young again so she could take off her gown as they had doffed theirléines. Then she noticed Marcán’s eyes, watching her. Noticing everything. The sweat puddling between her breasts and molding the coarse fabric against her, scratching her tender skin.
“Come closer, Astrid.” His eyes finally came back to her face and she did as he told her.
“Ye’ve been told not to sneak around!” Diarmuid all but barked the words at her.
But Marcán patted Diarmuid’s arm to quiet him, his eyes staying on her. One blue. One green. He watched her as she pulled the damp gown away from her chest.
“Were ye sneaking?” His voice was low and quiet, his eyes bright.
