Page 24 of Laird of Smoke
For a moment, Adam thought luck was on his side.They’d have to share a chamber after all.
His devious heart gave a silent cheer.After all, many a happy marriage had been made of such inconveniences.
But his hopes were dashed when Anne went on to assure her, “O’ course your servant can have a place by the hearth with the others.”
Was that a flash of disappointment he detected in Lady Aillenn’s eyes?Or just his wishful imagination?
Ofcoursethe proprietor would assume he was the lady’s servant.She was so blinded by Aillenn’s brilliance, she hadn’t given Adam a second glance.
But even when shedidmeet his gaze, she didn’t recognize him.
It wasn’t surprising.It was typical.
Still, he’d stayed at Anne Campbell’s inn before.Twice.Once as Lugo the spice merchant from Castile and once as himself, Adam la Nuit.But as he’d explained to Aillenn, his face was forgettable.
“Adam,” Lady Aillenn said, jarring him from his thoughts, “will ye bring my things upstairs?”
It was foolish to hope that was a conspiratorial glimmer in her gaze.
“Aye, m’lady.”
Anne showed them to a chamber even more splendid than the one she’d given to Adam la Nuit of Rivenloch on his last visit.He frowned as he followed Aillenn into the room and dropped the satchels beside the curtained bed.
“I hope ’twill do, m’lady,” Anne said.
“’Tis lovely.”Aillenn’s voice was considerate.But he had the sense she was not overly impressed.She must be accustomed to such opulence.
“I’ll move a pallet near the hearth downstairs for your man,” Anne said, then took her leave.
For an instant, Adam wished he’d donned a different disguise.Perhaps Margaret the maidservant.Margaret would have been expected to sleep here with the lady.
With a sigh, he went to the hearth to poke the coals of the banked fire to life.
“Ye don’t have to do that,” Aillenn said.
“If I’m to beyour man,”he told her, winking as he said the words, “’tis what’s expected.”
She blushed and moved toward the bed.Pushing the curtains aside, she peeked under the coverlet, looking for fleas.Apparently satisfied, she turned, plopping down to sit on the mattress and immediately emitting an indelicate gasp.
“’Tis goose-down!”she cried out in pleasure.
At her words, a wave of heat hit Adam full in the face.A wave that had nothing to do with the blossoming fire.
“Is it?”he managed to squeak out.
It took all his strength of will to keep his eyes trained on the fire as he added more peat.
Goose-down.There was nothing better than a goose-down pallet when it came to swiving.
Sinking into a woman while she sank into the mattress.
Feeling the embrace of feathery softness as they climbed together to a blissful ecstasy.
And afterward, floating in each other’s arms on a downy cushion like a heavenly cloud.
“Aye,” she replied.“I mean… ’Tis what we have back at the castle, o’ course.”
“O’ course.”
