Page 86 of The Splendor of Fire
As they crossed into the night-cloaked kitchen, her trembling gave way to full body shaking and she longed for Léo, for the refuge of his arms as they held her up, broke her fall, supported, and guided her. Tears stung her eyes, realizing that she needed him to steady her and hating that she did. He’d saved her. She hadn’t been able to do it herself.
Isobel put cups and a bottle of uisge-beatha on the table and motioned her to sit. Rattling the chair across the stone floor, Moira wobbled into it and brushed a tear away.
Pouring a trickle into the bottom of a cup, Isobel took a drink, then passed it to her. The warm burn of good uisge-beatha lit up her throat, and after a few moments, the ends of her tense muscles.
Isobel gave a small hiccough. “Dinnae ken wha’ the man is thinkin’. Niall will murder him when he hears. S’pose I dinnae have tae tell you that.”
Moira shook her head, weary at once of her role at Dun Ringill.
“Léo may still do it for Niall. I’ve never seen him that way. It’s obvious he?—”
The kitchen door opened and Isobel stopped speaking, winking atMoira, then handing Léo and Ardis each a tiny glass with a minuscule trickle of the brown liquid. “Have a dram.”
Léo put the cup aside and sat next to Moira, his eyes full of fear. “Are you—did he?—?”
Moira shook her head adamantly, longing to sign to him.
His eyes traveled over the bruises appearing on her arms. “I—I thought I was too late.”
Ardis downed the whisky and put her cup down in front of Moira. “Lucky for you Léo was taking me upstairs and we passed by your room and heard scuffles. You shouldnae have encouraged Gordon with your stares. I suppose you cannae help it—you’re softheaded.”
A click of noise emitted from Léo’s throat, anger returning to his features.
Rolling her eyes, Moira cocked her head and signed, knowing that of all her enemies at Dun Ringill, Ardis she could handle alone.Shut up, you stupid cow.
Léo snorted and coughed.
“What does that mean, eejit?”
Isobel cleared her throat and turned to the shelf, lifting a cloth from a bowl. “Give it a rest, Ardis, and help me wi’ this cake.”
Ardis retrieved four bowls and laid them out, each one banging against the wooden table. When everyone had a seat, Isobel dished out a small cake to each one of them, but only Ardis and Isobel ate.
Isobel smoothed her curled hands over the battered wood of the table. “The question is, are we to send for Malvina, or is it safer if we have somethin’ to hold over his head to keep him on the straight and narrow until the laird returns?”
Ardis spoke through a full mouth. “Send for Malvina.”
Léo’s bronze eyes set with flint. “I believe it’s best to wait until the laird returns. The threat of going to Niall is the only thing that will put fear into Gordon. He wants to preserve his job and his position, not to mention his life. Malvina doesn’t care about a common leman. Bringing her back now will only make our lives more difficult.”
Isobel nodded. “I believe you’re right. In the meantime, Moira, we’ll have the door repaired. You can stay with me until it’s done. Don’t let Gordon get you alone. Perhaps you can stick by me during the day.”
“I’ll keep an eye out for her as well.” The tone of Léo’s voice erased her fear, and confusion bogged her down. She wanted to save herself, and yet the knowledge that he was watching over her brought her undeniable comfort.
Ardis scoffed. “Fine, but Malvina will be annoyed if it comes out and we didn’t tell her.”
Isobel dusted her hands over her plate. “And who’s going to tell her?”
A tense silence rose over the kitchen, but Ardis relented. “Fine then. But I’m telling her it was your idea to keep it quiet if it does come out.”
Isobel rolled her eyes. “I’ll accept that risk.”
Ardis pushed back from the table. “I’m going to bed. Léo?”
Léo stared at Ardis. After a few moments she put a hand to her hip. He still did not move.
Ardis shot a nasty look across the table at Moira. “You’ve ruined everyone’s evening.”
Stepping forward, Ardis caressed Léo's cheeks and threaded her hands through his hair, then kissed him passionately.When she straightened, he looked at her, mouth open, eyes wide, the two lines of puzzlement above his right eyebrow deepening. Moira nearly got up and walked for the tunnel. Tonight had been quite enough.
