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Chapter

He was gone.

When Maisie had woken up, her bed had felt incredibly empty. She’d been glad for that emptiness since Baldwin had died. Though he’d kept his own bedchamber, when he did visit her, it was never a pleasant experience. Anything but that, in fact.

Last night, however?

“My lady?”

Alice looked at her as if it was not the first time she’d attempted to gain Maisie’s attention. She’d gone about her duties this morn, her usual gusto absent. Not only had her bed been empty, but it did not appear Kieran, or his brother, were coming to break their fast. They’d have done so by now, and it took all her will not to check the stables to see if their horses were there. She should not care.

“Aye, Alice?” She needed to stop thinking of last eve. Stop thinking of him.

“I’ve come from the stables. The horses are fed and groomed.”

Their stableboy had taken ill, and Alice currently fulfilled his duties.

“Very good,” she said, about to give Alice other duties for the day.

“Also, my lady, the Duncraig warrior. The one who has been staying each night?”

“Kieran Duncraig,” she said, a vision of him atop her not one she was able to stop from entering her mind. “Aye?”

“He asked that I tell you he and his brother will return later this eve.”

So he’d left, as she suspected, but not without word. Maisie attempted to appear unaffected. “Thank you, Alice.”

She bobbed a curtsy, certainly not necessary, and walked away. For the remainder of the morn, Maisie had one thing on her mind. Namely, Kieran. What would he say when he returned? Would he learn anything that day now that his brother was aiding him?

What were they to do about their predicament? Because there was no doubt, it was a predicament surely. Each day that passed, she’d become more and more fond of him. When the door of the inn opened, something Maisie typically did not notice as it happened often enough, something drew her eyes to it.

Sure enough, it was a woman, and not one she’d ever seen before. Two men followed her inside. Certainly she was one of the most beautiful women Maisie had ever seen. And she was looking directly at her.

Something drew Maisie to the newcomer, and she greeted the group herself.

“Welcome to the Red Stag Inn. I am Maisie, the innkeeper here. Are you seeking rooms for the evening?”

“Perhaps,” the woman said as her companions found a table. She unclasped her cloak and took it from her shoulders. She wore a simple, but elegant, deep green riding gown. “I am looking for my husband, whom I am to meet here.”

Niall’s wife.

“You are Lady Avelina of Clan Duncraig?”

She smiled at that. “‘Tis odd to hear myself called so, but aye, I am indeed.”

Odd because she was the sister of Clan MacKinlay’s chief. “I am acquainted with your brother-in-law,” she said. “Kieran has been staying at this inn while . . .” She stopped. Of course Lady Avelina would know what he was doing, but it was not Maisie’s place to speak of it. “He and your husband have gone into Aberdale, my lady.”

“Ahh, of course. I could join them.” She seemed unsure how to proceed.

Maisie offered her a choice. “Or you might rest and allow me to serve you a meal first? It seems rain threatens, and you would do well to avoid a storm.”

“Indeed,” she said. “I will await them here. Did my husband procure rooms already?”

“He did,” Maisie said. “I am happy to show you to yours. Will you require two additional ones for your men?” Thankfully the priest and his retinue who had taken four of her rooms had left that morn, which allowed her to offer a room for each of them.

“Aye, if you have them.”

“I do, my lady.”