Simple was an understatement. On opposite sides of the room there were two basic wood-framed beds, she assumed tied with ropes for a mattress, with a few wool plaids and animal skins on top for warmth and comfort. In one corner, which she assumed belonged to Eoin, was a desk laden with rolls of parchment. Aside from two trunks, another table, a couple of stools, a handful of stone cresset oil lamps, and a brazier, there was little else in terms of comfort or decoration.
His mother would be appalled.
“You aren’t sharing your tent with a woman, are you?”
She didn’t think he was going to answer, but eventually his mouth fell in a hard line, and he shook his head. “With Lamont.”
She brightened. “Please let me stay, Eoin. I promise I won’t be in the way. I can help, if you let me.”
She didn’t realize she was touching him, until his eyes looked down at the hand that had fallen on his arm. “How?”
Did she imagine the huskiness in his voice?Somethinghad made her skin prickle. “Let me talk to my father. I know I can convince him to let Eachann go.”
“Absolutely not. It’s too dangerous.”
She drew back. “My father wouldn’t hurt me.”
“Your father is desperate. There is nothing I would put past him.”
Maybe it was too soon to press him, but the opportunity was too tempting. “I wouldn’t think you would care if something happened to me. It would make it easier for you to be rid of me.”
The tic jumped in his jaw, his reaction visceral, even if a moment later he hid it. “It’s the added danger to the boy that I’m worried about.”
She held his gaze for a moment and nodded. “Of course.” But she didn’t believe him. He did care about her—at least a little—even if he didn’t want to.
For more reasons than one, she had to stay. “Please, Eoin, you can’t send me back to the convent.”
He didn’t say anything for a long moment, but just studied her carefully. “If I were smart that’s exactly what I would do.”
Her hope soared. “But...”
He finished for her as she hoped he would. “But God knows what kind of trouble you will get in if I don’t keep an eye on you.”
Without thinking what she was doing, Margaret threw her arms around him. “Oh Eoin, thank you!”
The moment her body pressed against his, Eoin knew he’d made a mistake. How the hell was he going to share a tent with her for God knows how many days without touching her, without kissing her, without making love to her, when every bone in his body was clamoring to do exactly that?
God, she felt good. He’d forgotten how good. Warm and soft, her body molded against his like a tight glove.
He cursed inwardly. It was the wrong thing to be thinking about when his cock was pressed up against another tight glove.
But he’d been down this path before. His desire for her had clouded his reason. He wouldn’t let it happen again. No matter how much he wanted her.
Very purposefully, he set her away. “There are going to be a few rules.”
She blinked up at him, apparently still suffering from the delusion that he’d been moments away from kissing her. “Rules?”
“Aye. You won’t interfere, you won’t snoop, you’ll do everything that I ask you, and you won’t throw yourself at me. I told you I wasn’t interested in redheads anymore.”
Her eyes flared. “I wasn’t throwing myself at you!” Her gaze narrowed and moved down his body with familiarity that belied a six-year separation, lingering for a moment on the place that proved him a liar. “And you didn’t seem all thatuninterested.”
His mouth flattened. “I hear the nuns calling, Margaret.”
She looked like she wanted to hurl something at him. But for once, discretion prevailed. Her smile was far too pleasant for his liking. “I promise I won’t ‘throw’ myself at you, interfere, or snoop. I’ll be the perfectly biddable wife and do whatever you ask.”
He didn’t believe her for an instant, but smiled, knowing how much that must have cost her. Hesmiled. Hell, how long had it been since he’d done that? “Then welcome to your new lodging. I shall send for your things from the convent.”
“Don’t bother. I will not wear that dress again, and I had nothing else that belonged to me.”
