“Companion, Moira? Of whom do ye speak?”
“No’ the one who warmed yer bed, man, the one who haes the healing touch.”
“Ada? Summon Ada here?” How did she know of both Helena and Ada?
“Aye, the old one. Her skills will be of need to ye in the spring. Bring her as soon as ye can.”
“Moira, why?” Her request was strange since her skills far surpassed anything Ada could do. And certainly no one in Dunnedin would request another healer when Moira was among them.
“I canna say for now. Just do it, Robert.” Moira motioned him back to Anice. “Tell the lass I want to see her back in two days.” She waved two fingers at Anice. “’Two, no more.”
Anice was still shaking her head at Moira when he reached her at the gate. Their walk back to the keep was briskand quiet. Once inside the stone building, Anice was met by her maid and escorted up the stairs, leaving Robert to watch her escape. He was no closer to understanding Anice now than when he rode in through the gates. He shook his head and realized that the same was true about most men and most women.
9
“Come in, Anice.”
Robert stood and motioned her into the small room. It seemed much more filled with him in it. In spite of his presence in the keep and around the village over the last weeks, she was not comfortable having him this close to her. Pounding within her chest, her heart beat a bit faster and harder with every moment this close to him. As if he sensed her unease, he moved back away from the table and turned the chair for her, motioning to her to sit on it. And, if she’d learned nothing in his first weeks here, she had learned how stubborn he could be. She sat in the proffered seat.
This room had been her safe haven. She’d retreated here many days when the fear and depression almost overwhelmed her. There was safety in closing and locking the door, and losing herself in the columns of words and numbers, in the books that recorded the clan’s history and day-to-day supplies and plans. By forcing her mind to focus on the numbers and letters she wrote, she also regained control over her thoughts and over her life.
Now, this intruder took control. Nay, not intruder. Visitor. She glanced over at him as he pulled a small bench from under the table and sat next to her, moving closer so that he could look over her shoulder. Wiping her damp palms on her skirt, she smoothed it over the growing swell of her belly and took a deep breath.
“Have you found something wrong, Robert? Your message sounded urgent.”
“Nay, Anice. As I told ye the first time we reviewed these accounts, the books are as they should be. I asked ye here tobeg a favor of ye.”
This was not what she’d expected to hear from him. Questions about her methods of record-keeping, certainly, but begging a boon from her, nay, not that.
“What do you need from me?”
“Well, I have looked over yer work in keeping the clan and keep’s records and I am impressed with yer thoroughness.” She felt the heat rise in her cheeks, that old pride and satisfaction at a task well done forced her to sit up straighter. “Ye,” he continued, “are much better at keeping the books than I am. And...”
“And?” She turned to face him. She dared not hope that he was leaving already. Then, a momentary flash of disappointment left her puzzled at her true feelings in the matter of his presence or absence.
“I would be beholden to ye if ye would continue to keep these records.” He pushed the pile of books closer to her. “’Twould take but a short amount of time each day and I will do all the work involved...”
“Just the books?” This request pleased her deeply. It would give her something to fill her time, something to focus her thoughts on, something to ease her worries.
“Aye, just the books. Struan haes asked that I oversee some chores about the grounds and in the village and I can do that if ye’ll see to them.” Robert placed his hand on the closed account books on the table and stared at her. His eyes were so unique, so unlike anything she’d seen before. He was waiting for her decision, one she’d made the moment his request was clear.
“Of course, Robert. I can handle keeping the records for you.”
“Good,” he said, patting the cover of the record books and standing up next to her. “Ye are much better than I at doing this and ’twill give me a chance to get outside a bit more.”
His impending departure from the room startled her. “Do you mean for me to begin now? This day?” She could see that he chafed at the bit, like a horse recently broken to it. Being cooped up in the castle was obviously not to his taste or style.
“Aye. Would ye begin this day? If ye have no otherpressing business?” He was backing his way out the door already. His actions surprised her and Anice felt the urge to laugh at his boylike anticipation of escaping chores.
“Aye, Robert. Go, be about your other business. I am willing to do this for you.” She stood and waved him out the door.
“I thank ye, Anice.” Robert took several steps towards her and, without warning, placed his hands on her shoulders, lifted her to her feet, and kissed her forehead. And, just as quickly, he turned and left the room.
The shock struck her within moments, as if the movement of the air caused by his exit had been a fist instead of a slight breeze. A deep gasp tore from her lungs and she waited, waited for the terror and panic to follow.
But, it did not. Surprise. Complete confusion. But nothing like the anguish she usually felt at the touch of another. Especially a man’s touch. Dropping into the chair behind her, Anice pulled a few deep breaths into her lungs. It took more than a few minutes for her racing heart to calm.
Looking around the room, Anice spied the pile of notes that Robert had left on the desk next to the record books. Numbers and letters in nice orderly rows and columns would help her focus. She pushed the loose hairs that curled around her face away, tucked them behind her ears, and bent over the tabletop. In a short time and with a bit of concentration, she was lost in the duties she’d carried for months before Robert’s arrival. She could not tell how much time had passed when she heard Firtha’s voice from without.
