Adam stood up. “It is my fault,” he said. “I will make more of an effort to visit you and your lovely wife. I know my own wife would like that. She thinks highly of Kellington.”
Jax smiled gratefully. “As do I,” he said. “I will see you on the morrow.”
“We’ll teach the Scots a thing or two, won’t we?”
“Indeed, we will.”
Quitting the tent, Jax headed out into the night, in the direction of the gently glowing town in the distance.
*
“You were verythoughtful to do this,” Corisande said as she stood in the door of her newly rented room. “I almost feel guilty that I left Gaia back in the encampment.Almost.”
Cole was standing in the doorway, too, grinning as the tavernkeeper’s wife finished with the last details of the room, making sure the fire was banked and the bed had enough warm covers on it. She looked anxiously at Corisande.
“Will ye be wanting a bath?” she asked.
Corisande hesitated, not wanting to sound demanding, but Cole spoke up for her.
“Bring her one,” he said. “Quickly, now.”
Before Corisande could stop the woman, she fled the chamber and left Corisande standing there in uncertainty.
“You did not have to do that,” she said. “I do not require a bath. Truly, Cole, the bed is quite enough.”
He leaned against the doorjamb, a smile playing on his lips. “For what you are about to face for the next few days, let me provide what comfort I can for you,” he said. “Please. I want to.”
Corisande set her satchel on the bed. “You are very thoughtful,” she said. “But I have told you that I have faced battle before, Cole. I know what is coming. I am under no illusions that it will be pleasant.”
He simply nodded his head, averting his gaze because he didn’t want to say what he’d already said to her, too many times. In truth, he wasn’t entirely sure how he was going to fight a battle and think only of his own safety when he knew she was somewhere nearby, dealing with the results of that horror. Men who had been maimed and punctured would be coming under her care, her sweet and wonderful care, and that was so much to ask of a woman. Any woman, much less “his” woman.
But there was no use butting heads with her. He didn’t want their last few hours together to be those of conflict.
“Shall I wait for you in the common room while you wash?” he asked.
Corisande looked at him, seeing that he wouldn’t look at her. He was looking at his feet. He sounded subdued, an unusual mood for him, and she knew it was because they’d ventured onto the subject of battle again. It was the only thing that dampened the man’s emotions when it came to her. She was about to say something to him, but the tavernkeeper’s wife rushed in with a copper pot and a stool. She was followed by two serving women lugging buckets of steaming water. Corisande stood back as the woman set the copper pot next to the hearth and put the stool in it as the serving women dumped the water into it.
“I’m sorry that I can’t offer ye a proper bath,” the woman said as the water splashed in. “All we have is the smaller bath that ye sit in.”
Corisande smiled. “That is perfectly fine,” she said. “Thank you for bringing it.”
The woman nodded nervously, eyeing Cole as she shooed the serving women out of the chamber. Water dripped from their spent buckets as they fled, leaving a drippy path behind them. Cole continued to stand in the doorway, still looking at his feet, and Corisande put her hands on her hips.
“Well?” she said.
He looked up at her. “Wellwhat?”
“Are you going to let me wash with the door open?”
He looked around as if to realize what she was saying before pushing himself off the doorjamb.
“I will leave you to your bath,” he said. “I do not mean to rush you, but my father will soon be joining us.”
Without a word, Corisande went to him, pulled him into the chamber, and shut the door. She then directed him over to a table next to the hearth, pushing him down into a chair.
“Sit,” she said. “You can keep me company while I bathe.”
He frowned. “I will do no such thing,” he said indignantly, standing up. “I did not procure this chamber so that I could participate in clandestine activities with you, so I will see you down in the common room.”
