How he’d ever imagined she might be a nun, he couldn’t fathom.
How Aillenn had drifted off, she didn’t know.She expected the violent explosion of their coupling would keep her awake and alert for hours.But somehow she woke up, tucked under the coverlet, to the sound of Adam snoring beside her in the dark.
As promised, he’d swabbed the mess from her belly.
It had been thoughtful of him to guard against impregnating her.She’d been so distracted by carnal longing that the thought hadn’t crossed her mind.Of course, that was exactly what the abbess had warned the sisters about.Eve was lucky Adam was responsible.Without his precaution, she might have ended up in a horrible predicament.
All in all, however, she was highly pleased with what had happened.
Coupling with Adam had been divine.They were Adam and Eve indeed.She felt as if she’d glimpsed Eden.Captured lightning.Grasped the stars.Looked upon the face of God.
It made sense, of course.Creating new life was a miracle.It was only logical that God would make the act that created that new life miraculous as well.
She snuggled closer to the warm, naked, beautiful man who had taken her to heaven.
This was God’s will, she decided.The Lord was showing her the way.
Chapter 12
When Adam woke at dawn, the first thing he saw was Aillenn perched on the edge of the bed, dressed only in her leine, sewing.He blinked a few times.Even in the dim light, she was more beautiful than yesterday.Beautiful and fascinating and tempting.But he dared not delay their journey further by pursuing that line of thinking.
“What are ye doin’?”he croaked.
“Ah!Ye’re awake.”
She quickly covered herself with the bedcurtain.He wondered why.He’d seen—and touched and kissed—every bit last night.Every delectable inch of her.
Clearing his throat and his thoughts, he scrubbed at his eyes and sat up.“Is that the curtain?”
“Aye.I’m repairin’ it.”She glanced at him, unable to hide the pleasure in her eyes at the sight of him.“I’m almost finished.”Then she shyly lowered her eyes to where she clutched the curtain to her chest.“I want to thank ye.”
“Thank me?”
“Aye, for…” She gazed at the spot where they’d made love.
He couldn’t help but grin.“’Twas my pleasure.”
She gave him a sly glance.“I think from now on I shall have to insist on goose-down pallets.”
“From now on?”The idea of a future with her pleased him immensely.
She pretended she didn’t hear that.She went back to her sewing, frowning intently at her work as he pulled on his braies and slipped into his leine.
He was completely dressed by the time she snipped off the final thread and slipped needle, thread, and scissors back into a case in her satchel.
“There,” she said.“’Tisn’t perfect, but ’twill have to do.I have a task to attend to.”
A task?Oh aye, he remembered.Aillenn had promised to look in on Finlay’s wee brother.
He hung the curtain while she dressed, doing his best to hide the ragged seam in the folds of the drape.Then they packed up their satchels, grabbed an oatcake and ale in the great hall to break their fast, and bid Pitcairn a grateful farewell.
Finlay brought them their horses.Then the lad led them to his home, a nearby crofter’s cottage.
Adam squinted at the thick smoke coming through the roof.It was common wisdom that the ill should be closeted in a warm environment.But the Rivenlochs came from Vikings.They believed in clean water and fresh air.
“What’s your brother’s name?”Aillenn asked Finlay.
“He hasn’t got one yet.He was born but a sennight ago.”
