Page 34 of The Splendor of Fire
Moira hurried inside the tower door and wrapped her arms around his slender body. The first embrace he’d had in almost a year. The affection caught him by surprise, but he clung to her, closing his eyes and wrapping his bony arms around her, gratitude refilling his lonely soul.I depend on You, God. For even this.
The smell of lavender and late summer clung to her, and he breathed her in. Goodness in a world of evil.
She pulled back from his embrace, smiled, and mouthed one word.What?
He was awestruck by her, and he struggled with his foggy brain not to blurt out his feelings then and there. “Nothing. I’m only relieved that you are back and safe.”
Strength and joy radiated from her and he knew at once something good had happened to her. The joy emanating from her served to makeher even more lovely, and make him more self-conscious. He looked down at his own wasted appearance, touching his fingers to his long hair and the beard disguising his face.
Moira giggled at him in silence, and he realized he had done nothing but gawp at her for several minutes. “How—how was your trip?”
She held out her left hand flat and motioned over it as if she were writing.
“Paper and quill?”
She nodded.
“I have some upstairs. Come.” His hand found hers as if she were his own, and he led her up to his tower room.
Light in the small room was scarce, and he lit the rush light in the hearth before returning it to its stand. Locating a few pages of linen paper, he spread it across the desk with ink and quill, eager to hear her every thought.
Moira lingered in the doorway, eyeing him and then his bed. A flicker of honor shivered through him and he remembered himself, taking several proper steps away from it and moving toward the wall.
“I’ll stand over here. You take the desk.”
Stealing glances over her shoulder in a way that charmed him, she sat down and inked the quill, motioning him closer. He moved a bit closer and looked over her shoulder and watched as she wrote.
Gabriel is well. A missive arrived in Lochbuie two days ago that he is in good health and spirits, and he is thinking of, and speaking of, Papa every day. His mémé sends love from him, and from her as well. They know you will come as soon as you are able.
Tears of relief sprang to his eyes and he laughed and then snorted, trying to compose himself. He dropped to his knees beside the desk and kissed each of her cheeks. “Thank you, Moira. Thank you.”
She blushed.It was nothing. We are friends.
The little word sliced through him. Friends. He blinked. “Oui. Friends.”
Hector and Cara want you to know that your nephew, Eamon Léonid MacLean, is here, and missing you as well.
He pictured Hector holding his son, and his heart was glad. Cara had survived. Their baby was safe.
Margaret sends her deepest thanks, love, and prayers and told me to give you this?—
Moira’s arms came around his neck and held him close. Curls tickled his nose and he was nearly overcome with tears again. She pulled back and looked into his eyes, and for a long moment he thought of kissing her.
Clinging to honor, he cleared his throat. “I thought you would be back weeks ago with the priests. Then your father said you stayed behind. What made you extend your stay in Lochbuie?”
She licked her lips and picked up the quill.I stayed until a messenger arrived back from Calais. Ia— Chief MacLeod volunteered to take me home on his bìrlinn when we—when I was ready.
I-a.She had nearly written Iain’s Christian name.When we.Jealousy scorched his good mood. “Did the boy have nothing better to do?”
Her eyes narrowed.I thought you would be pleased. He went out of his way to accommodate the messenger from France so you could have word from your son when I returned.
Léo felt himself growing hot. “Of course. I—I read that wrong.” He changed the subject, endeavoring to disguise his jealousy. “How is Hector?”
Hector was happier than everyone put together that you are alive. They’ve had much success in containing threats to Skye and Lewis. He has been training the Shield against the Wolf.
“The Shield?”
Hector’s new team to carry out missions against the Wolf—the Shield. Hector said you knew of his plan to form a fighting unit. Do you remember?
