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“I’ve noticed.”

“Have you?”

“Aye, Maisie. I’ve noticed little else while in your hall. Except, perhaps, how capable of an innkeeper you are, though that I’d already suspected as much.”

He was twisting her thoughts. Maisie was hardly able to remember the question herself now that she knew he watched her. Thought of her.

Remembered their kiss.

Surely a man such as Kieran had kissed many women, her own innocent kiss just another of many for him.

His expression, just now, told her otherwise.

“The question,” she said, eager to change topics, “is why did you appear as if something was amiss earlier?”

Kieran sighed. “I learned something today that may see some of my questions answered on the morrow.”

Her eyes widened. Maisie waited to learn more. But he did not elaborate.

“Of course you owe me nothing of the tale,” she said finally. “I was but curious.”

“The village healer,” he said. “She was occupied with a birth, but some believe the old woman would know more of a boy gone missing around the time of the Battle of Black Friars. ‘Tis said she’s assisted every MacKinlay birth for nearly thirty years.”

“’Tis good news, aye?”

“Aye,” he agreed.

“Yet you worry,” she surmised, “what you will learn on the morrow.”

Kieran did not respond, which was answer enough.

“I will accompany you on the morrow.”

Kieran’s brows drew together in confusion.

“To Aberdale?”

“Aye.”

“Why?”

A worthy question.

Since her husband died, Maisie had not spent one day away from the inn. Her mind quickly made, she made an offer. One that, given the circumstances, she should not. Her attraction to him did not bode well, and yet, she’d not felt so alive since . . . well, ever . . . in his presence.

“To support you. To give myself a much-needed break from the inn. Because . . .” This was the most difficult reason to admit. “Because I wish to.”

Would he refuse her?

Perhaps he should. The idea had been a silly one. Maisie was prepared to withdraw her offer when he said, “I will gladly accept your company on the morrow.”

“You will?”

“Aye.”

The thought of being with Kieran all day . . . chastising herself for the offer would not do now. She’d made it and would not take it back.

Nor would she wish for another kiss on the journey.