Page 119 of Laird of Smoke
Eve frowned.Her husband?It was the woman who looked like she’d tangled with wolves.“But what about ye?”
“I’m…fine,” she lied, her voice shaky.“But my husband was injured tryin’ to protect me.”
“Protect ye from whom?”Adam’s voice dripped with a vengeful hunger Eve had never heard in him before.
The woman shook her head.“Two men.I don’t know…”
“What’s your name?”Eve asked.
“Fonia.”
“Fonia, take us to your husband.”
Fonia nodded, wincing in pain as she got to her feet.Then she motioned them to follow her.
Adam caught Eve’s arm and spoke under his breath.“Are ye certain this is wise?”
Eve whispered back, “We have to help her.”
He grimaced.
“I know ye’re in a hurry,” she murmured, “but if we can be of assistance—”
“’Tisn’t that.’Tis only…we’re not physicians.”
It was clear he was remembering the infant they’d lost.And to be honest, she too was haunted by the prospect of failure.
But she had to ignore that self-doubt.She couldn’t let it hamper her ability to help.
“Maybe not,” she agreed.“But I have to do what I can.I won’t be frozen by fear.”
“Nor will I.But…ye said there was a convent nearby.Withrealnuns.Nuns with a knowledge o’ healin’.And, if they can’t save him, they can at least save his soul.We can take him there.”
Eve’s breath caught.She couldn’t go there with him.Not to her own convent.
Then Adam would know the truth.That she was a nun.That he’d trysted with a nun.
Thankfully, she was saved from coming up with an excuse not to go when Fonia suddenly let out a horrified shriek.
“The alehouse!Simon!”
Not far down the path, Eve spotted smoke billowing from the roof of a roadside alehouse.
It was on fire.And by Fonia’s cry, her husband was inside.
Just as Eve caught the woman to keep her from running into the burning building, Adam bolted past them both.
Without hesitation, he wrenched open the door, pulling it off its hinges.Smoke boiled out, and he raised an arm to shield his face.Then he disappeared inside.
Eve stilled in shock.Her heart leaped into her throat.
Why had he done that?
It was impulsive.Reckless.Dangerous.
What if he couldn’t find Simon?
What if he didn’t come out?
