“Are ye for certs there is naught amiss?”
“E’erything is fine, Moira.”
She sighed in resignation. “If ye insist.” She popped the last bit of bread into her mouth and chewed. When she was done, she asked, “It will take us a day to get to the next location?”
“Aye.”
“What do you think is there? Something of worth?”
Naught but bad memories. But he couldn’t, wouldn’t, tell her that. “I dinna ken. I suppose we’ll find out on the morrow.”
The serving wench arrived with their extra bowl of stew covered with a square of cloth.
Standing, Errol dropped enough coins on the table to cover the cost of their meals and escorted Moira to the door.
She walked slowly, taking care not to spill any of the stew as they made their way back to the inn and their room.
Seema sat at the window and smiled when they entered.
“We thought ye may be hungry, so we brought stew.” Moira held up the bowl in her hand and approached Seema.
The maid put her hands up and shook her head. “I thank ye for the kind gesture, but I cannae accept.”
Moira’s face softened. She set the dish on the table and nodded. “I was hoping that ye would feel well enough to eat, but I see ’tis too early.”
“Aye. My belly has settled some, but I dare no’ eat just yet. Mayhap in the morn.”
“We will head north in the morn, but if ye are still no’ well, we will delay.”
Seema shook her head. “Please, doonae stay for my sake. Ye need to continue on.”
“And leave ye here alone? I think no’.”
Errol watched the exchange betwixt the two women. Moira was genuinely concerned for the well-being of her maid. She sat near the woman, rubbing her hand along the maid’s back in a comforting manner.
The journey ahead of them would not be an easy one. As he’d mentioned, it was a day’s ride from their current location, however, it would take them much longer with Seema’s current condition.
He remained silent. He would not be the one to tell Moira that he thought Seema should stay behind.
Moira patted Seema’s hand. “We shall see how ye fare in the morn and decide then, aye?” She stood and looked at the bed and then to Errol, and then back to the bed. “Where are ye planning to sleep?”
“Dinnae fash, lass. The bed is ye and yer maid’s. I will sleep on the floor.”
She nodded her head in agreement. “That does appear to be ouronly option, doesnae it?”
He left the room to give the women their privacy as they readied themselves for bed.
When Moira called out to him to let him ken it was safe to enter, he looked to the bed and fought back a wave of disappointment in seeing that she was settled under the blankets already.
The thought was foreign to him. Why should he care that he didn’t get a glimpse of her creamy skin? Her long hair cascading over her bare shoulders. The swell of her breasts. The roundness of her bottom.
Christ. He shook his head to clear it as he grabbed the extra blankets from the chair and laid them out on the floor. Then he snuffed out the candle, bathing them all in darkness.
He settled in for an uncomfortable night, but at least he wasn’t sleeping outdoors on the cold ground. But then he would be able to look up at the night sky. See the stars shining above him. One of his favorite things to do.
Moira wasn’t aught more than a mission. He didn’t need to think about her in any way other than that. As a matter of fact, he would be smart not to do so. Especially if she was deceiving him.
“Sleep well, Errol.” Moira said into the darkness and guilt overwhelmed him.
