“Ye have, aye, but it is no’ that.”
He smiled.
“I ha’ come”—she sucked in a breath—“to ask ye for a favor.”
“Only name it.” His gaze moved over her with curiosity and something more. A very masculine sort of admiration. “I am at your every command.”
Och, and was that not a heady proposition?
“I should like the lend of one o’ your men.”
“One of my men?”
“Only when ye do no’ need him, of course.”
“Aye, but—” He looked honestly puzzled. His gaze moved to the keep and back again. “Have ye not plenty men of your own?”
“Aye, so. But I should no’ like my father to find out.”
“Mistress Katrin, ye have me curious.”
She sighed. “I am framing my request poorly. I should like help wi’ training at arms. Wi’out my father’s knowledge.”
He actually backed off a step. “It is an odd request.”
“Not so. I began training some time ago wi’ my brother. My father never approved. Since Geordie’s death, my training has fallen off. I merely wish to tak’ it up again.”
“I see,” O’Hanlon said, though clearly he did not.
“I can pay ye,” she said, “if I must.”
“’Tis not that. Only, I am hired by the chief. If he does not approve—”
“And”—she eyed him up and down deliberately—“are ye afraid o’ incurring another man’s displeasure? Now ye surpriseme.”
That made him smile again. “Nay. Though when he holds the purse wi’ my pay—”
“I see. I misjudged ye.”
“Wait.” When she moved to turn away, he put out a hand. His fingers lightly grazed her arm before falling away. “I have not refused.”
“It sounded to me like ye had.” Her gaze once more met his.
“Might I ask, mistress, why ye wish to train at arms?”
“That I might become proficient.”
“And why d’ye wish to be proficient?”
“That I might then go to war.” She tipped up her chin. “In my brother’s place.”
This time it was he who performed an inspection of her, head to foot.
“Ye can see, Master O’Hanlon, I am no delicate flower. I am strong and determined, and I do no’ at all see why a man—why my brother—had to die in my place.” To her horror, her voice choked on tears. She had not meant for that to happen. He would not be convinced by her emotions.
“’Twas my understanding,” O’Hanlon said, “that I was to go to battle in your brother’s place.”
That struck her. Was it how Da looked at things? She stared.
