But she had to admire Adam’s courage.His integrity.His sense of right and wrong.Clearly, wielding justice had been worth the risk to him.
Just as looking after the lad’s sickly brother was worth the risk to Eve.
“Bless ye, m’lady,” the youth said, gratitude shining in his eyes.
Still, Adam looked displeased.They would have to make sure to take all precautions to avoid drawing even more attention to themselves.
Finlay’s head stopped bleeding, though there was a large knot left which he said throbbed with every beat of his heart.
“I have just the thing,” she said, digging in her satchel.
Adam frowned when he saw the stoppered vial.
“’Tis only willow bark,” she assured him, removing the cork.She pulled a wooden cup out of her satchel and nodded toward the pitcher set on a small table by the bed.“Fetch me a bit o’ water, aye?”
When Adam returned with the cup, she sprinkled a bit of the powder into the water.“Drink this down all at once.It tastes terrible, but ’twill take away the pain.”
After a bit, Adam elbowed the youth and wiggled his brows at Eve.“’Twas satisfyin’ to see the man squirmin’ a bit, aye?”
Finlay gave a weak smile and nodded.
A proper nun would have scolded Adam for taking the Lord’s vengeance into his own hands.But Eve didn’t feel like a proper nun at the moment.
“Indeed.”
He gave her a wink that set her heart aflutter.
By the time the mess was cleaned up and Finlay’s pain had begun to subside, the cauldron on the fire was steaming.
Finlay asked, “Shall we fetch the lady’s maid now to help with your bath?”
“That won’t be necessary,” Eve said.
She’d forgotten for a moment that she was Lady Aillenn, who had servants for everything.Still, it seemed silly to be bathed by someone else when she was perfectly capable of washing herself.
Then she remembered she wouldn’t be by herself.Adam would be in the chamber.
Should she ask for a maidservant after all?
She’d nearly lost her wits, just kissing him.Almost forgotten who she was.What she was.What she was here to do.She’d been completely out of control.
But that kiss had been dizzying.Invigorating.Exhilarating.
In the end, she decided to remain silent and allow destiny to steer her course.
The lads gave their solemn vows to Adam not to say anything about the master’s brush with death.Then they left.
She raised a dubious brow.“Ye don’t really think they’ll be able to keep their word?”
He shook his head.“I wouldn’t be.”
“Neither would I.”
“Which is why I was hopin’ to get an early start in the morn,beforethe tales get spread all o’er the keep,” he said pointedly.
She sighed.“I couldn’t refuse to look after the lad’s sick brother, any more than ye could refuse to give that brute his due.”
He nodded.Then he stared at his clasped hands.“About…before…”
