Page 73 of An Enchanted Spring

“Even so, Em will need a guard.” Aidan swallowed the last of his breakfast. “We’re going with the noblewoman story.”

“You say it like it’s something that happens all the time,” Emma said uncomfortably.

Reilly pushed his now-empty plate away. “More often than you know, lass.”

Bri nodded. “It’s a good plan.” She smiled at Emma. “You’re my cousin, and I’m so glad to see you.”

Reilly let out a laugh. “Another cousin? I believe we might use the term a bit too liberally.”

“It is our catch-all word, isn’t it?” Bri agreed with a smirk. “But no one ever questions cousins. Are they cousins by marriage? By blood? How many times removed? It all gets so complicated, and no one really cares about another’s family tree so much.”

I tend to disagree,Emma thought, looking between the four of them.

“Now, tell me of the future. How fares Evelyn and Conner?” Bri asked eagerly.

When Emma fellasleep on Aidan’s shoulder, Brianagh took pity on her. “I’ll bring her to her room.” She roused Emma.

“She stays with me,” Aidan said firmly, half rising as the women made their way toward the door.

Brianagh stopped suddenly, her mouth open in surprise. “But…you can’t! You’re not married!” She glanced at Emma apologetically. “Your ladyship would be at stake. If you sleep in the same room as Aidan, your reputation will be shattered.”

“Do I need to worry about a reputation?” Emma asked, raising a brow.

“Oh, very much so,” Nioclas said, stroking his chin. “Being my wife’s cousin, and with the current guests we have, added to a large number of guards looking for their next conquest…”

Emma bit her lip. “Oh.”

“She stays with me,” Aidan repeated forcefully. “Her beauty is too strong a temptation for the men in this hall.”

Emma’s heart tumbled in her chest at the forcefully-given compliment.

“My guard wouldn’t allow such a thing!” Nioclas replied, bristling.

“I don’t think he means to be insulting,” Bri said calmly, holding out a hand. “He wants Lady Emma protected at all costs. Which she will be…in the chamber directly next to yours, Aidan.”

“Is there an adjoining door?” he asked.

“No,” Brianagh replied with a roll of her eyes. “What would be the point of separate chambers, then?”

Emma opened her mouth, but Nioclas opened his at the same time, and she snapped hers shut. The man somehow silently commanded deference. She wondered how he obtained such a skill, or if lairds were simply born with it.

“She’ll be safe, Aidan. I vow it,” Nioclas said, leveling his brother with a stare. “No one will touch her inside of the castle, or on castle grounds. We’ll inform the guard together that she’s here under your protection, and also mine. They’ll honor that.”

“I’ll have a chambermaid sleep in her room, and post a guard in the hallway,” Brianagh added. “Our castle is the most secure it’s ever been, and our guards are true.”

Aidan looked undecided.

“Aidan,” Emma broke in softly. “I’ll be fine.”

He sighed and nodded, and Brianagh ushered Emma out of the solar before he could change his mind.

A few twistsand turns later, Bri pulled the impressive key ring out again and waved toward the door on the right.

“This is your chamber. I’ll have a bath sent up straight away, unless you’d prefer to sleep first?”

“Thank you for being so kind,” Emma replied. She grimaced, thinking of their silent walk to the chamber. “I’m normally much more social than this.”

Bri leaned forward and spoke so low Emma strained to hear her. “Time traveling will do that to a woman. Trust me. Firsthand experience.” She leaned back and said, only slightly louder, “And any amount of time with my family in close quarters couldn’t have been good for your mental state. Sleep, bathe, and eat again. I’ll fetch you later. For now, I’ll send Camille in. She’ll be your personal chambermaid. Her entire purpose will be to serve you—if you’re anything like I was when I first arrived, and I suspect you might be, you’ve never asked anyone for help. Enjoy the attention; there’s something very special about being important enough to a person that they’d willingly give their life for yours.”

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