Page 33 of Twelfth Knight’s Bride

James waved him off and sat, slinging his arm back over his chairback and sprawling lazily while picking up his tankard once more. The bread, stacked on trays, was delivered to tables, and excited folk grabbed the small loaves, tearing them open, looking for the bean. Brighde, too, claimed a loaf from the tray laid before them. James eyed Aileana, who had yet to take her helping.

“Well, go on, lady,” Brighde encouraged her. “Aren’t ye going to take one?”

Aileana smiled but shook her head. “I think no.’ I’m growing full as we speak from the fish.”

“Posh, ye mustn’t do that. What if yer loaf is the one with the bean?”

“I do nay think yer people would be pleased if I found the bean,” Aileana replied. James frowned again as he eavesdropped on their conversation. “It’s probably best if I forgo the tradition this year—”

“Here. Ye have this one.”

Brighde placed her loaf on Aileana’s trencher as if she hadn’t heard one word from Aileana’s lips and snagged the other from the tray, leaving none for James, though James never had one. The treat was for his people, not him. Aileana’s chest rose and fell on a deep breath, an imperceptible sign of frustration, but unwilling to disappoint Brighde, she flashed his sister a smile.

“My thanks, Lady Brighde.”

Aileana tore off a small piece of the loaf and ate the morsel, hesitating, before tearing another piece, then another. Sweat had broken out on her brow, glistening beads collecting at her temples. She swallowed hard enough for him to see the shift in her throat, though there was no need for her to worry so. The likelihood of her finding the bean among so many loaves was such a small one—

Nay…

The tiny bean fell out of the bread onto Aileana’s trencher. She stared at it, freezing. James glanced at her face, impassivity capturing her brow, so impassive, it was obvious she was trying to be. Her gaze met his. He eyed her trencher, then her once more, then nodded almost imperceptibly and sipped his tankard as if nothing was amiss. He’d keep her secret. The day had already been a strain on her.

She furtively tried to hide it, nudging it toward her fish to push it underneath, when Brighde, after tearing her bread into crumbs and frowning playfully, glanced over Aileana’s arm to peer at her bread.

“Ye found it!” she squealed, clasping her hands together. The hall hushed as faces looked around.

“Who found it?” muttered voices.

“Sakes, what are the odds,” Aileana whispered through barely moving lips, then inhaled shakily.

Blast it, Brighde! James took Aileana’s hand in his. Aileana’s terrified eyes widened upon him. James nodded, took a gulp, swallowed, and wiped his tunic cuff across his mouth. “It appears ye have, lady, though ye needn’t—”

“Oh, delightful.” Brighde stood, announcing, “The bean has been found! The laird’s new bride is the lucky finder!”

Aileana froze as utterances echoed, then silence fell. Brighde sat back down, clasping Aileana’s arm. All eyes turned toward her, some frowns, some jaws slackened in disbelief. Her back straightened, and her chin lifted in that strong, unyielding manner. James set down his tankard and leaned forward to bring her hand to his lips and press a reassuring kiss upon her knuckles.

Sakes, had he just done that? Kissed her hand so naturally?

“I wasnae going to say a word, lass,” he muttered, though her fingers felt like ice against his mouth.

She smiled, strained.

“Ye must make a wish, of course,” his sister bubbled on.

“Brighde,” he began. “I nay think—”

“What will it be?” his sister continued, waving him off as the silence stretched.

Aileana cleared her throat, smiling.

“Lady Brighde, why no’ ye take the bean and take my wish. I ken how ye wanted so much to find it.” Aileana held out the bean to Brighde.

“I certainly willnae,” Brighde replied, affronted. “The wish only works for the one who found the bean. That’s the magic of it.”

“But this was yer loaf before ye shared it with me. Surely it’s yer wish.”

Brighde shook her head and folded her arms, smiling like an imp. “I gave it up fairly, which means it was intended for ye by the fates. Besides, coming here must have been hard for ye, under the circumstances,” his sister said, softening. “It’s surely a pleasure to have found it. Is it nay?”

Aileana cleared her throat and forced her smile back into place.