Page 71 of The Splendor of Fire
His voice was a bare whisper. “Please, Moira, don’t leave.”
She raised her hands to sign, then realized he didn’t know any of her signs, just as he didn’t know her at all. She pointed to the door and mouthed the word,move.
“Meet me at the tunnel after Malvina departs for Iona.”
Moira shook her head, annoyed that thanks to his interference in the attack and their predawn return to Dun Ringill, he now knew how to follow her and deprive her of the only privacy she had.
He followed her and put his arms out for her. “Please, Moira. I want to talk.”
She crossed her arms.NO.
“Mon amour…I’m sorry.” His hands came to her cheeks and he leaned in to kiss her.
She contorted, bending backward away from his embrace and walking her feet over her head, making a small oofas she kicked off his chest.
Wrenchingopen the door, she stomped back to the solar. She began cleaning up the mess beneath Léo’s chair, expecting him to reappear, but he made no move to follow her back in.
Gordon kept his voice low. “No. It isn’t chance. He had something to do with it, I’m certain.”
Her ears attuned to their conversation, but her expression remained blank as she blotted uisge-beatha from the floor and picked bits of crystal from the cracks in the wood.
Malvina whispered. “I want you to keep an eye on everything he does in the fields. Keep track of his coming and going. If there is anything out of the ordinary, send word to me on Iona right away.”
Moira picked up the glass and made her way back to the hall, her heart beating as she lingered outside the door, searching for Léo, and listening.
“I’m sure I could be persuaded to make a close study of all his activity for the right price.”
Malvina made a sound of irritation. “Always a price for these things. What’s yours?”
“Moira Allen.” Her stomach turned.Vile man.
“Done. Make sure you cover your tracks when you’re finished with her. Make her disappear. No trace. Do it before Michaelmas when we return.”
“Thank you, My Lady.” The sound of chair scraping against floor lit through the room.
Moira hurried down the hall and threw the broken glass down the garderobe before heading to her room to change. Like it or not, Léo still needed her.
Chapter 21
ALBHAINN POND - JULY 21, 1385
Léo waited at the mouth of the tunnel opening, praying Moira would appear, but knowing he had good and well ruined his chance to win her over. Still, curiosity may get the better of her, or she might be in the mood for fresh air and to get away from Gordon.
His temper flared. The way Gordon stared at Moira with no shame, making unveiled comments about his intentions toward her was enough to ignite his temper. The fact that he believed her a simple-minded fool, an object only around to satisfy the desires of men, made Léo want to put his fist through his yellowing teeth. And he almost had when the goblet popped in his hand, broken in his clenching fist.
Something niggled his conscience. Yet, hadn’t that been how Léo himself had been treating her for weeks? Remorse flooded his heart again.Please God, give me another chance. Let me make it up to her.
A sound of movement came from the tunnel. His heart leapt as two hands came to either side of the earthen mound and she swung herself out like a practiced tumbler.
“Moira.”
She strode toward him and handed him a belt. “What’s this for?”
Bending forward, she lifted her skirt and pulled the dress over her head. Aghast, he turned away.
She plucked the belt from him and tapped him on the shoulder. When he turned he found her dressed in black hose and a sleeveless tunic. “Is it necessary to dress like that? It isn’t decent.”
She rolled her eyes and put a hand to the curve of her hip and she moved her fingers at him.
