He reached down and wrenched open the top of the satchel.
There it was again.The red velvet gown.And with it, the cloud of feminine fragrance that wafted forth to fill his nostrils and his heart and his loins with wistful longing.
He needed to get rid of it before it drove him mad.
It was half a day’s journey to his sister Feiyan’s keep, Castle Darragh.Perhaps he’d go there on the morrow.It would be a relief to be himself for a while.He’d give Feiyan the satchel of clothing and trade it for something more useful.And he could confer with Feiyan and her husband Dougal mac Darragh about rumors of the king’s forthcoming attack on Fergus before heading to Galloway himself.
He lifted Aillenn’s gown to his face to take one more deep breath.He closed his eyes as desire and pain washed over him.Then he stuffed the garment back into the satchel, wishing he’d never met the beautiful deceiver with the wide, wet, innocent eyes.
Chapter 14
“Feiyan!”
Adam waved up at his sister from Darragh’s courtyard.
“Adam!”she cried.
She’d been doing hertaijiquandrills atop the wall walk as usual.He’d been watching her graceful movements for several moments from below, peering between the crenellations.It was a rare person who’d dare interrupt Feiyan’s exercises.But Adam knew she’d forgive her brother.
“What areyoudoing here?”she asked, leaning over the parapet to peer down at him.“No one warned me you were coming.”
“Am I not welcome in my sister’s keep?”He crossed his arms in false outrage.
“Don’t be a dalcop,” she scolded.“I’ll be right down.”
She eyed the rampart for a moment, as if she was considering leaping down to the courtyard from there.Then, being heavy with child, she reconsidered and rushed back into the keep to take the stairs.
Adam couldn’t help but smile as she waddled briskly across the courtyard.It wouldn’t be long before she delivered.
Feiyan, however, was frowning.Instead of the welcome embrace he expected, she gave him a great shove.Even the castlefolk milling about the courtyard seemed taken aback.
“Where have you been?”she demanded.Then, glancing about at the witnesses, she lowered her voice to bite out, “The last time I knew your whereabouts, you were pretending to be the Pope’s emissary at Perth, negotiating with the king.”
“And?”
“If the king had found out—”
“But he didn’t.”
“Do you know the risk you took?”
“Risk?”he hissed.“You’re a great one to talk about risk.You’re an outlaw.”He lowered his voice to a whisper.“An assassin.”
“Was.Besides, I didn’t kill him.”
“Nay, you married him.”
She rubbed her belly, probably glad she hadn’t killed Dougal after all.
She narrowed her eyes to slits.“Anyway, I never tried to kill a king.”
“Would anyone know if you had?”Feiyan’s stealth was legendary.
She ignored that.“And then you disappeared.”She gave him a chiding punch in the shoulder.
“That’s not true.I came to the tournament at Perth.”
“Nay, you didn’t.”
