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“Aye, my lady. He asked for a bath to be brought to him. I’ve told Alan and James.”

“James is there,” she said, spying the boy heading into the kitchens with buckets in his hand. It did seem that he, indeed, was bringing hot water to Kieran. “Thank you, Margaret.”

As the hall blessedly filled, Maisie grateful for it since an empty hall meant empty coffers, she attempted to push thoughts of a nude Kieran in his tub from her mind. Unsuccessful, Maisie busied herself with preparations for the evening meal, alternating her time between the hall and the kitchen.

And then, she saw him.

His hair still damp, he looked as she might expect of a man freshly cleaned, his clothing new as well. She would offer to launder the others.

“I will take it to him,” Maisie said of the ale Alice held in her hand, her destination clear.

“Aye, my lady.”

As she thought when he entered the hall, something was different this eve. He seemed ill at ease. Placing the ale in front of him, too curious not to ask, Maisie did so.

“Is all well?”

The way he looked at her told Maisie it was not. He glanced at the seat opposite him, and she took his hint to sit.

“After days of inquiries, my presence in the village has been noticed.”

“That is bad?”

“Not necessarily. There are some within the castle walls who know me, the chief among them. I would do well for them not to learn I am within their village, but ‘tis not a concern otherwise.”

“But something is amiss.”

He smiled for the first time that evening. “You know me not at all, and yet quite well.”

She returned his smile. “’Tis my job to know my patrons. Doing so keeps me and the others safe. It keeps the Red Stag open, the only thing important to me.”

“The only thing?”

Her answer was immediate. “Aye.”

Kieran leaned forward. “There is naught else of importance to you, Maisie?”

His gaze did not waver, Kieran’s eyes peering into hers as if they knew her well too. “Nay,” she lied, her heart beginning to pound.

“Have you thought of our kiss these past days?” he asked without warning.

She had no experience flirting, so it did not occur to Maisie to employ cunning in her answer. “Of course,” she said. “Have you not?”

He laughed. “Of course I have.”

“Why do you ask such a question?”

Kieran shrugged, leaning back into his seat. “If your life is filled only with work, and no pleasure, I fear it willnae be as fulfilling as it can be.”

“I’ve not the luxury of pleasure,” she said. “A woman in my position . . .” She trailed off.

“A woman in your position, in every position, deserves both security and pleasure.”

“Perhaps,” she mused. “But that does not answer my initial question to you.”

“Will you repeat it?” he asked. Then added, “I confess your beauty, and thoughts of our kiss, have left me unable to remember of what we spoke.”

“And this is why I’ve avoided you these past days.”