He smiled at her. “Ye need nae saying anything.” His hand rubbed her back. She blinked drowsily. “Go tae sleep now. I will be here when ye awake.”
CHAPTERTWELVE
He could not explain it if he tried, how, of all the women he had met, this one, an Englishwoman with ties to the enemy, was the first one that he truly cared for. Of course, there were women that had made him look a second time, he’d even enjoyed their company to a varying degree. But when he looked at Jane, he felt the overwhelming urge to protect her. Which was just what he was doing then. She was curled up in a ball, her black hair fanned about her, while her form rose and fell slightly with each breath she took. How could someone be so innocent and yet so tempting? Sodesire-awakening?
It worried him somewhat.
If he had been told that he would care about a lass he had met only two days prior, he might have burst into laughter. And yet here he was. He could not afford to let his desire for her cloud his judgment, in any way. She was the only one standing between him and Ramsay’s release. Besides, Jane was bound by duty, as well. It was no use encouraging a fire that could not be allowed to burn.
But it was a lovely fire.
It would be first light in a few hours. He had promised her that he would stay, but he needed space to organize his thoughts. He got off the bed. She sighed in her sleep, but then went back to her even breathing. He touched her slightly on the cheek and went out of the door.
He went out to stare at the early-morning sky. It was midnight blue. He could spot some stars dotting the horizon. He looked out at his land, the land he would give his life to protect, for his people.
“Good morning, me laird,” he heard, and turned. It was Catrina. Like him, she did not sleep much. It was she who, most times, roused the servants. In addition to being his best friend’s sister and his most trusted warrior’s wife, she had become quite indispensable the running of the castle. She was holding a dim lamp and was clad in a robe on top of her very modest nightwear. Alistair had it in mind to ask why she had given Jane a rather arousing one, then.
“Catrina,” Alistair returned.
She walked to him and paused. “Dae you really mean tae keep our visitor under lock and key?”
“Nay,” Alistair said, perhaps more forcefully than he had meant to. “Nay,” he said again, his tone more even, “she may walk around the castle - and around the castle only.”
Catrina nodded. “Yes, me laird. That is much better, I think.”
Alistair cocked his head and Catrina explained, “I mean, it cannae be very comfortable, being constrained tae a room. Men have run mad fer way less.” Alistair nodded. Catrina looked at him with meaning. “Me laird? Is there… perhaps more tae this than meets the eye?”
“What dae ye speak of, Catrina?”
“Jane,” Catrina said.
“Jane?” Alistair said. “What could there be more than what meets the eye where Jane is concerned?” He did not give her time to reply, afraid that she would ask something about their, for lack of a better word, relationship. “I need to rouse the lads. We are going fer a hunt. I shall be back soon.” He then turned and walked down the passageway.
* * *
“Is there a reason fer which we are going hunting in the dark of night?”
Keith’s horse moved at a strolling pace, in step with Alistair’s. A cool breeze blew. Somewhere beyond them, an owl hooted.
“It is almost first light, Keith,” Alistair returned.
“Aye,” Keith said. “But it is nae first light.”
“If it were Douglas who protested thus, I would understand. But I have not pulled you from a loving woman’s embrace.”
“I doubt that Douglas is ever pulled from a loving woman’s embrace. Catrina is up before the roosters themselves.”
“Aye, that is true,” Alistair said, remembering this morning’s conversation with Catrina.
“And ye have,” Keith said.
“I have what?” Alistair said, cocking his head.
“Youhavepulled me from a loving woman’s embrace. Ye pulled me from the loving embrace of sleep.”
Alistair shook his head, but there was a smile on his face. “A little sleep, a little slumber, as the holy book tells us.”
“The holy book also says that God gives His beloved sleep, Alistair,” Keith returned. Alistair smiled and said nothing. Keith chuckled. “I have made the great Alistair Fletcher speechless,” he said. “How is that for an achievement?” He stared into the horizon. “Why are we going as slowly as mules? At this rate, we won’t reach the forest until sundown.”
