“But he said he wouldnae take your horse. I cannae believe he is a man who would break his word. That is one thing he has never been accused of.”
“He isnae. He said he wouldnae steal my horse. He never promised not to try and coax Elfking into his stables. Sneaky man. I suspicioned what was afoot fairly quickly, but I kenned it for sure this morn. I feared Papa didnae care about my honor when he said my ransom must wait, but Parlan said the man had cared. He said Papa had made him swear not to hurt me which Parlan did so Papa’s suspicions were lulled. A sneaky man is Parlan MacGuin and fair proud of it he is too.”
Wiping tears of laughter from her eyes, Giorsal said, “He doesnae sound the bloodthirsty beast he is rumored to be.”
“Och, he isnae.” She told Giorsal the tale of her near escape. “He does have a sore hot temper though ’tis mostly roar and stomp.”
For the remainder of their walk, Giorsal prompted Aimil to talk of Parlan. Aimil left her sister, thinking that she had eased all of Giorsal’s qualms but, in truth, she had increased them. When leaving for their camp, Giorsal found herself alone with Parlan for a brief moment. She glared up at the large man clearly startling him with her ferocity.
“Dinnae ye hurt Aimil,” she hissed.
“As I told your father—” he began.
“I ken what ye told Papa, ye sneaky man. Dinnae play that game with me. I am little concerned with her virtue or her body. ’Tis her heart that I speak of, and if ye leave a bruise there, ’tis fair sorry ye will be, Parlan MacGuin.”
“What was that all about?” Lagan asked as the Mengue party left.
“The lady’s motherly instincts have been roused by the plight of her wee sister. She has warned me nae to hurt Aimil.”
“Och, ye would never hurt a woman.”
“She wasnae meaning in body but in heart. She fears I may win the lass’s love with my charming manner.”
Lagan chuckled as they headed back into the hall, but then he grew serious. “And what if ye did?”
“Did what?” Parlan asked absently, his mind on bed and Aimil’s lithe body.
“Win her love. Ye have had many a lass’s heart tossed at your feet. Aimil Mengue might do the same.”
“Nay, Aimil will never toss her heart at my feet for me to kick about as I please. She would place it in my hands and expect fair treatment.”
“And what if she does just that?”
“If I marry her, t’would be a verra good thing, would it not? A marriage goes smoother if the lass gives her heart with her vows.”
“Still thinking on marrying her, are ye?”
“Aye. As I have said, I am of an age to wed, to get on with the business of a family, and she still looks the best choice.” He grinned at Lagan as he started toward his chambers. “That would do to soothe Giorsal MacVern’s ruffled feathers.”
Giorsal was still fretting over the state of Aimil’s heart when Iain entered their tent and prepared for bed. She briefly contemplated the possibility that Parlan meant to wed Aimil but decided that that was the last thing that would happen. Parlan MacGuin did not look like a man who would choose marriage over the freedom of a bachelor.
As Iain undressed, he watched his wife pace the tent until his curiosity became too strong to contain. “What has ye in such a state, loving?”
“They are lovers, Iain.”
“Aye, ye had already guessed that. I thought ye had decided not to let it wear upon your mind.”
“Aye, I had but that was before I had discovered how she feels about the man. If she doesnae love him now, she is verra close to it.”
“Ah.” Iain removed his shirt to wash up.
“Ah? Ah? Is that all ye have to say about it?” she exclaimed even as she fetched him a cloth to dry off with.
“Sweeting, ye cannae do anything about it. There is no directing the heart. It will go where it pleases.”
Giorsal lay down, burying her face in her arms. “She will be sore hurt and she will still have to wed Rory Fergueson.”
“Aye.” He lay down on his side and rubbed his hand soothingly over her back. “Still, the lass will have kenned the sweetness of love and carry some verra fine memories. I think if ye set the problem before her she wouldnae alter the direction she has chosen to walk. She is a practical lass and she willnae let herself forget she is tied to Rory. ’Tis possible she is trying for all she can get before she must wed.”
