Page 45 of Laird of Smoke
“PerhapsRonancan find himself a rich heiress.”
He chuckled.“Perhaps.”
“But certainly ye have other skills,” she said.“I saw ye in the melee.Ye can handle a blade.And ye chased off the thieves.Ye could work for the king as a man-at-arms.”
“A man-at-arms?”He stroked his chin, as if considering the notion.But there was a mischievous gleam in his eyes that told her he found the idea amusing.
“Or perhaps ye could take your vows,” she suggested.“That way ye’d live a life o’ chastity and be relieved o’ the burden o’ findin’ a wife.”
She half expected he’d react to that idea with distaste, indicating he wasn’t a man of the church.That would help narrow down his true identity.
Instead he answered with a noncommittal, “True.”
Still hoping to unmask him, she asked, “What other disguises have ye donned?”
He gave her a sly glance.“I’ll tell if ye will.”
“Fine.”She supposed it would do no harm.Besides, there was something exciting about being able to share her life’s passion.“I sometimes dress as a milkmaid named Maggie Gall.”
“Maggie the milkmaid?To what end?”
“For the milk, o’ course.”
He grinned.“O’ course.”
“And sometimes I hear a bit o’ useful tattle about a household.”
“What kind o’ useful tattle?”
“Who’s ill.Who’s soused.Who’s stealin’ from the kitchens.Who’s sneakin’ off in the middle o’ the night.”
“So ye’re employed as a spy?”
“Nay.”
“Then why do ye do it?”
She shrugged.“To right wrongs.”
“Hmm.”
“Your turn.”
“Let’s see… I once posed as the mystic Hildegard o’ Bingen.”
She gasped.“What?”
His brows shot up.“Ye’ve heard o’ her?”
She realized he’d startled another piece of information out of her—that she was knowledgeable.Of course she’d heard of Hildegard of Bingen.Among the educated, Hildegard was a renowned abbess, a visionary versed in natural philosophy, medicine, writing, and music.
“Everyone has heard o’ Hildegard o’ Bingen.But how…?”She couldn’t imagine Adam disguising himself as a woman, especially such a famous woman.
“Everyone hasheardo’ her,” he said.“But has anyoneseenher?”
He had a point.If he comported himself with enough confidence, she supposed he could fool anyone into believing he was the elusive abbess.That was how he’d convinced everyone he was the emissary of the Pope.Still…
“Ye can’t pass for a woman,” she decided.
