He glanced up and a sad smile crossed his face. “Siusan, ah think Mazey should take ye to bed now. Mazey, will ye visit with me again after ye get her tucked into bed, please?”
Mazey nodded and took little Siusan by the hand.
“Thank ye,” Siusan murmured in a sleepy voice after Mazey put her in bed.
“For what wee’un?”
“For getting Faither to tell me stories. He seemed happy.”
Mazey kissed the girl's forehead and smoothed her hair back away from her face. “G’night.”
“Will ye sing me a song again?” Siusan whispered before Mazey could get up.
“What would ye like me to sing ye?” Mazey felt a lump in her throat at the request. This child had her heart and it would be hers forever.
“Sing me the one yer maither sang to ye when ye were small.” She snuggled closer and placed her hand on Mazey’s belly.
“All right, but then ye go to sleep.” Mazey sang quietly and as sweetly as she could muster for the tired girl.
“Upon the darkest night of summer,
Ah am sleeping under a starless night.
Wild one called up of cloudless thunder,
Ferry me safely to the joy of the light.”
Mazey tiptoedover to Baile’s study and knocked quietly.
“Enter.”
She slunk into the room and waited for him to speak. He rifled through parchment and made notes with a beautiful quill. It was a black and silver feather that would have been from the most breathtaking bird. He stopped and turned his chair toward her. “Ah wanted to talk to ye about something important.” He ran his hand through his silver touched hair. “Ah wanted to thank ye. It scared me to speak to Siusan about her maither. She asked a few times about her maither, but ah thought it was a mere curiosity. Now ah know, ah can tell her about Moire and have conversation about loss and love. Ye opened up that subject for me. For that, ah’ll forever be grateful.”
It wasn’t what Mazey expected to hear from him at all. “It was nothing. She mentioned she was sad sometimes, and she missed Malmuira. Ah shared my stories about my maither.”
Baile’s eyes turned down. “Yes, Malmuira. She looked after Siusan as a maither would. Loved that child like her own even though they were sisters. Ah’ve missed her a great deal since she left. Ah’ve received word now and then about her wellbeing.”
Mazey nodded, sure that was the reason. “Aye, Siusan trusts me because ah’m so close to Malmuira.”
Baile shook his head and his eyes lit up. “Ah think there’s more to it. Ye’re good with wee children. Ah see it when ye speak to her. Ye’re kind and treat her well. Ye speak to her like an equal. Few people are kind to a child the size of Siusan.” Mazey turned her head away, embarrassed. “Why do ye look away when ah compliment ye?” Baile asked. His voice sounded more serious.
Mazey’s eyes flew up to his. “Ah guess ah don’t think ah deserve the compliments ye give.”
Baile stood and took a step toward Mazey, putting his hand out for her to take. He helped her to her feet. His steady eyes were grey in the firelight. “Ah don’t give out compliments that are not due. Ah only speak truth how ah see it. And ah see a kind heart in ye, Mazey. A lot of bravery as well. Ye’re more than ye give yerself credit for. Let no one tell ye differently.”
He gently wiped away a tear that snuck its way down her cheek. Tender. “Aye, ah’ll work on accepting yer compliments.”
He used his thumb to rub the side of her cheek and stepped in even closer. His body radiated a raw masculine energy that immediately excited Mazey in a way she wasn’t used to. His eyes were hooded and his dark eyebrows arched over his beautiful steely eyes. He put one arm around her waist, encircling her with the comfort of his strength. She sucked in a breath of anticipation. Baile just looked in her eyes. His hand moved in circles around her lower back, then up and down her side. She felt pleasure in a wave through her body and then his hand swiped just to the side of her breast, brushing the sensitive skin. She shivered and sighed. He moved in and kissed her with fervor. He was a man who starved and suddenly presented with a feast. The kiss took her breath away. When he parted her lips and thrust his tongue inside her mouth, she let out a moan. When he pushed her against the wall, she winced in pain. Her arm throbbed. Baile backed away, sitting down at his desk.
“Ah can’t do this to ye.” He said, his voice cracking.
Mazey felt confused. “But, ah want it.”
“Aye, but ye’re not ready. Ye need time to heal.”
“My arm is fine. It’s just a wee bit sore,” she argued.
Baile’s eyes looked kindly on her. “It’s not yer arm ah’m worried about. It’s yer heart. Ye need time.”
