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“My brother is still wroth with me, though Niall’s clan has been very welcoming. More so than either of us expected. His father took some time.” She shrugged. “As will you.”

Maisie glanced at her walking companion but said nothing.

“You are reluctant because of your husband,” she continued. “Which I can ken easily. But Kieran is an entirely different sort of man. He is very much like Niall, in fact, but with an even easier temperament than my husband.”

“That may be so, but . . .” There was something she had to ask the woman. “You’ve not yet spoken to Kieran and know not his feelings toward me. And I am but an innkeeper, no lady born. Yet you seem . . . .” She did not know how to finish, precisely.

“Excited by the prospect of you with my brother-in-law? Because I am. I’ve wished for a sister my whole life, and can easily surmise your character, noble born or nay. You and Kieran, ‘twill happen. I am sure of it.”

She laughed. The woman was mad. “I willnae marry again.”

“You will.”

“Kieran does not care for me in that way.”

“He does.”

Maisie shook her head. “You cannae know such a thing.”

Avelina winked at her, as if she knew a secret, just as they approached the inn. It was not possible, however. She’d just arrived, had not spoken to Kieran, and so it was not possible. Yet, the lady seemed very certain of herself.

No matter.

She and Kieran were simply not meant to be.

19

Chapter

They’d only just sat down, Maisie nowhere in sight, when his sister-in-law looked at Kieran as if she would chastise him. Though she’d greeted him warmly—not unexpected, given the new circumstances surrounding his background—Avelina appeared anything but warm now.

“What are your feelings toward Maisie?”

Not what he’d expected.

“Rather than discuss that we may be related, or are at least fellow clan members, or what Niall and I discovered today, you wish to know . . . my feelings toward Maisie?”

“Aye. I spoke to the maid, Alice, earlier. She told me that you remain in the hall each night until all of the inn’s patrons are abed. I can think of one reason to stay so far away from Aberdale rather than right within its village.”

Astute woman.

“Do you now wish to know what we learned today?”

“I wish to learn that and how you feel about the innkeeper.” He was about to answer when Avelina kept going. “I spoke with her, and the woman is clearly capable, very beautiful, and quite taken with you.”

“Taken with me?”

Niall looked back and forth between them as if he was enjoying their banter.

“You were not aware of it?”

Niall nearly spit out his ale. Kieran smiled as well, thinking of Maisie lying nude beside him, his hand on her hip, her breasts fairly beckoning him. How sensual she looked lying on that bed. How wonderfully tight she was.

“As you can see,” his brother said. “Kieran is well aware of it. We were to share a room last eve but”—Niall cocked his head to the side, as if thinking—“I slept most of the night with no companion. I did wonder where he’d gone off to—”

“Enough,” Kieran stopped him.

Avelina’s eyes could not have been opened any wider. “So, ‘tis as I thought.”