Page 92 of Laird of Smoke
And the person riding it was a woman.A noblewoman.
Eve straightened.She knew who it was.
“Lady Feiyan,” she murmured.
The sight of the lady, a Rivenloch, made her heart flip.Eve’s first thought was that her crime—stealing Gellir’s bride—had been discovered.Somehow Lady Feiyan had found out that Eve was the one responsible.
Then she realized Lady Feiyan had been at Perth.She’d seen Gellir happily married to the maidservant Merraid.Surely Feiyan and the rest of the Rivenlochs were no longer angry about the abduction of Carenza, his first betrothed.After all, things had ended well for Gellir.
Eve knew things had ended well for Carenza as well.She’d brought the bride to this very convent to unite her with her lover, Gellir’s cousin Hew.Could that be why Feiyan had come?To press Eve into revealing what had become of Carenza?
Eve wouldn’t tell her.She was a woman of honor.She’d sworn to keep Hew’s secret.No one but Eve knew the happy couple had been living in a wee remote byre in the woods.
But Lady Feiyan’s presence reminded Eve she needed to get word to Hew and Carenza.They were safe now, forgiven for their impulsive elopement.They could come out of hiding.
As she watched Feiyan enter through the cloister gate, she couldn’t help feel a thrill of excitement.Eve was starved for the company of women from the outside.Women who weren’t literally holier than her.After Eve’s fall from grace, she felt as if everyone in the convent was her superior, that she could never make ample amends for her sin.
Completely forgetting her vow of silence, Eve rushed forward to greet her.
“M’lady Feiyan,” she said, holding her hand out.“Welcome.”
Feiyan took her hand.
Eve’s eyes lowered involuntarily to the lady’s swollen belly.She grinned and blurted the first thing that came to mind.“Och, ye’re takin’ your bairn for a ride, are ye?”
Fortunately it didn’t offend the lady.She lifted her leg over the saddle and said, “Might as well get the child accustomed to my horse.”
Eve helped the lady down.As she did, her gaze settled on the satchel hanging from Feiyan’s saddle.Settled on it and recognized it.
It was hers.
Her heart began to pound.Chaos stirred her thoughts as she tried not to stare at it.
Why did Lady Feiyan have Eve’s satchel?
Had Adam given it to her?
How had their paths crossed?
Was Feiyan the one from whom Adam had stolen that Rivenloch medallion?
Had Feiyan stolen Eve’s satchel in retribution?
“After all, I can’t afford to lose my skills,” Feiyan confided, “if I’m to participate in the summer tournament.”
Eve summoned up a shaky smile, trying to betray none of her panic.Only half listening, she mindlessly echoed, “Summer tournament?”
“Aye, at Darragh, after the bairn is delivered.”
When Feiyan’s words finally registered, Eve’s eyes lit up.Her worry vanished.A tournament.“At Darragh, ye say?”
“Aye.”
“Will your whole clan be there?”
“They had better.’Twill be in celebration of the laird’s new grandchild.”
Irresistible visions of waving pennants and flashing swords, sparkling armor and clashing blades danced through Eve’s mind.What a spectacle it would be.A tournament to rival the king’s at Perth.
