He didn’t comment on the dress, but just thinking about it made his back teeth grind. “Make a list of anything you need, and I’ll send a lad to town and see what can be procured.”
“I don’t have much coin with me. Only what I was carrying in my purse for the church offerings.”
He waved her off. “I will see to it.”
“Thank you. I will pay you back.”
Like hell she would.
She looked around the tent. “Where shall I sleep?”
He pointed to his bed on the right. He would sleep in Lamont’s. He wasn’t going to analyze why he didn’t want her in his partner’s bed.
She frowned. “What about your friend?”
“He will bed down in one of the other tents.”
She bit her lip contritely. “I didn’t mean to force him from his bed.”
“Lamont won’t mind,” he assured her. “I do the same when his wife is with him.”
“He is married?”
“You sound surprised.”
She shrugged. “He doesn’t say much.”
Eoin couldn’t help smiling, thinking of Lamont’s wife, Janet of Mar. The lass hadn’t met a word she didn’t like. “His wife makes up for it. When you meet her—”
He stopped, suddenly realizing that was very unlikely.Part ways permanently. That’s exactly what he wanted.
An awkward pause followed. Eoin didn’t miss the flash of hurt in Margaret’s eyes, before she broke the silence by asking, “Is there any word on Eachann?”
Grateful for the change of subject, Eoin shook his head. “Nay.”
“How do you plan to get him back?”
He was surprised by the question. “Why do you think I have a plan?”
She rolled her eyes. “I might not be able to keep up with it all the time, but I know the way your mind works. You always have a plan.”
“Aye, well little good it will do me this time.” He couldn’t hide his bitterness. “Carrick has refused to consider it.”
“What did it involve?”
He didn’t say anything. He wasn’t going to tell her the details. Not just because he didn’t trust her—which he didn’t—but also because the less he said about the Highland Guard the better. MacGregor’s recent unmasking and the abduction of his betrothed by the English was a reminder to them all about the importance of keeping their identities secret.
He didn’t want her asking too many questions, which she was bound to do if he spoke of a small highly-trained group of warriors who would attempt a sneak attack on an entire garrison. Word of their exploits had spread too wide.
It would be even more difficult when Bruce and the rest of the Guard arrived. The rest, that is, with the exception of MacGregor. The expert marksman—and the man known as the most handsome in Scotland—was apparently having some difficulty with his betrothed. Used to seeing women throw themselves at the famed archer, Eoin was looking forward to meeting the lass who had trapped the untrappable.
But the imminent arrival of his brethren was the one thing Eoin hadn’t considered when he’d agreed to let her stay here. Margaret was too observant. This was bound to get complicated—as if it wasn’t already.
“I’d rather not say,” he answered finally. “But I will have a better chance when the king arrives.”
She blinked. He hoped to hell that wasn’t dampness in her eyes, but he found his chest growing a little heavier.
“I understand,” she said softly. “When do you expect him?”
