“Come in,” she called.
The door opened, and a tall man with damp auburn hair shouldered his way inside. Ailean carried an earthen jug in one hand and two wooden cups in the other.
Fiona snapped straight, her heart kicking against her ribs. “What are ye doing here?” she blurted, forgetting her manners as her pulse went wild.
His lips quirked into a boyish smile, and he nodded to the jug. “Come, Fi. Even ye must take a break sometimes. I’d wager ye could do with some cool ale to slake yer thirst on this sweltering afternoon.”
In truth, she could. In fact, she’d already drunk all the cooled boiled water she’d brought up earlier. But she’d been so engrossed in her work that she hadn’t made a trip down to the kitchen for more.
She wasn’t going to admit that to him.
“This is a terrible idea,” she gasped, wishing she didn’t sound so flustered. “Visiting me in here like this. What if someone sees us?”
“Oh, no one will.” He flashed her another disarming smile. “As ye well know, we’re virtually alone in the tower house this afternoon.”
She stilled, heat igniting under her rib cage. “So that’s it, then?” she said, her tone cooling. “Ye saw an opportunity and seized it. Is that right?”
He too stilled, his eyes widening at her tone. “Ye think I came up here hoping ye were keen for an afternoon tumble?”
Heat bloomed across her cheeks. “Well, didn’t ye?”
Their gazes locked for a moment, but he didn’t smile to ease the tension this time. Instead, he huffed a heavy sigh. “I know how it looks, but in truth, I just wanted to see ye … to spend a little time in yer company.” He nodded toward one of the wooden chairs by the window. “I shall sit there and mind my manners. But I hope ye’ll join me for some ale.”
She eyed him warily, like a fowl in a coop watching a hungry wolf circle. His words seemed agreeable enough, but she was still on edge. All the same, the sincerity in his eyes made her relax just a little.
Eventually, she huffed an oath under her breath. “Very well. Pour us some ale, then. However, I will drink and work, if ye don’t mind. I’m in the middle of something.”
He nodded, moving to the large table behind the loom and setting the jug and cups along one edge before pouring. He then passed her a cup.
Fiona watched him as he crossed to one of the chairs by the window and lowered himself into it. He held the cup casually, dangling it from his fingers.
Her breathing quickened.Hades. What was it about this man? Every gesture, every movement, enthralled her.
Then, as their gazes met once more, his mouth lifted at the corners, and he raised his cup in a toast. “To long, lazy summer afternoons,” he said.
Fiona snorted, even as she lifted her own cup. “For ye, maybe,” she said, raising an eyebrow, “but not for the rest of us.”
14: IN SUNLIGHT
FIONA PICKED UP her cup now and then, sipping at the ale as she sorted through her wool, finally selecting the right shade of grey.
She didn’t wish to admit it, but the drink was delicious, and indeed welcome. There wasn’t the slightest breeze this afternoon, and it was oppressively hot inside the chamber, especially with the sun streaming in. The sunlight was excellent to work by, but her lèine and kirtle felt tight and constraining against her sweaty skin.
Moving back to her loom, she wound the grey yarn onto a fresh bobbin, her fingers working quickly from habit. Once it was full, she slid it into the shuttle and set her feet to the treadles. Carefully, she sent the shuttle skimming through the taut warp threads, the wood gliding smoothly back and forth. Sliding the weft into place, she pressed it firmly against the rows below with the beater, feeling the steady rhythm of the loom settle her thoughts. She then glanced over at her visitor.
Ailean had been silent for a while, and although the hush between them was oddly companionable, she wondered what he was thinking. Her heart kicked when she found him observing her, his gaze hooded now.
She wished he wouldn’t look at her like that.
She cleared her throat. “Yer hair is damp. Have ye been swimming?”
“Aye,” he replied with a smile. “It was needed after a day of repairing the granary wall in the village.”
“So, ye’re still working down there, then?”
He nodded. “Although not for much longer.” He pulled a face. “My father disapproves.”
Fiona paused in guiding the shuttle through the warp. “Really? Why?”
