Page 64 of Laird of Smoke
“That won’t be necessary,” Eve said.
She’d forgotten for a moment that she was Lady Aillenn, who had servants for everything.Still, it seemed silly to be bathed by someone else when she was perfectly capable of washing herself.
Then she remembered she wouldn’t be by herself.Adam would be in the chamber.
Should she ask for a maidservant after all?
She’d nearly lost her wits, just kissing him.Almost forgotten who she was.What she was.What she was here to do.She’d been completely out of control.
But that kiss had been dizzying.Invigorating.Exhilarating.
In the end, she decided to remain silent and allow destiny to steer her course.
The lads gave their solemn vows to Adam not to say anything about the master’s brush with death.Then they left.
She raised a dubious brow.“Ye don’t really think they’ll be able to keep their word?”
He shook his head.“I wouldn’t be.”
“Neither would I.”
“Which is why I was hopin’ to get an early start in the morn,beforethe tales get spread all o’er the keep,” he said pointedly.
She sighed.“I couldn’t refuse to look after the lad’s sick brother, any more than ye could refuse to give that brute his due.”
He nodded.Then he stared at his clasped hands.“About…before…”
“Aye?”Her heart was in her throat.
“I should have stopped.I’m sorry.”
A tiny fissure cracked her heart.Nay,her mind spoke.Don’t be sorry.I’m not sorry.Nay, ye should have gone on and on, driven me mad with desire.’Tis what I wanted, after all.
Instead, she said the correct thing.“’Twasn’t your fault.”
That was true.She’d been the one to launch herself at him against the door.
“We have to keep our wits about us,” he said.
“O’ course.”She supposed he was right.Damn him.
He wrapped his hands in linens to protect them from the heat.Then he fetched the cauldron of simmering water from the hearth and poured a measure into the tub.“More?”
She tested the temperature with her hand.“Oh aye, much more, all of it.”Then mischief wagged her tongue.“Otherwise, ’twill be cold by the time ye get your turn.”
He arched a brow at her.“Just how long a bath are ye plannin’ to take?”
She grinned.“When did ye say we were leavin’ on the morrow?”
“Saucy lass,” he chided, pouring in the rest of the hot water.“Be out before midnight, or I’m climbin’ in beside ye.”
Eve choked out a laugh.Her cheeks turned to flame.Adam’s words had painted a vivid picture in her mind, and it wasn’t an altogether unpleasant image.Unsure what to do or say in reply, she turned away from the bold knave and busied herself rounding up the linens.
“So tell me,” Adam said, setting down the cauldron and unwrapping the linen from his hands, “how does an Irish noblewoman know so much about curin’ ills?”
She wasn’t about to tell him she was a nun with access to an extensive herb garden and medical texts.So she shrugged.“How does an outlaw know so much about sword fightin’?”
His eyes sparkled with amusement.“Point to Lady Aillenn,” he acknowledged.
