and now she’s decided that ’tis obviously an untruth since you defeated Diormid in swordplay.”
Rionna smiled, this time a genuine smile, and knelt in front of Gretchen. “I must share a secret with you, Gretchen. ’Tis not a popular opinion, but I firmly believe that a woman can be whatever she wants to be if she sets her mind to it.”
Gretchen was aglow with delight. Then she became somber as she looked beyond Rionna to the courtyard. “Your papa wasn’t happy that you fought Diormid.”
Rionna’s eyes darkened from the light gold to an amber hue. “My father despairs of ever making a lady of me. He’s not impressed with my skills as a warrior.”
“I’m impressed,” Gretchen said shyly.
Rionna smiled again and took Gretchen by the hand. “Would you like to touch the hilt of my sword?”
Gretchen’s eyes rounded and her mouth dropped open. “Could I?”
Rionna guided her hand down until it hovered over the jewel-encrusted hilt of the sword. “ ’Tis smaller than a normal sword. ’Tis lighter, too. Makes it easier for me to wield it.”
“That’s amazing,” Gretchen breathed.
“I want to see!” Robbie said belligerently.
He and Crispen both shoved forward, their eyes bright with wonder.
“Can we touch?” Crispen whispered.
As reticent as Rionna had been over the meal, she was open and friendly with the children. Mairin decided she must just be extremely shy.
As the children gathered around Rionna, chattering and exclaiming over her sword, Mairin chanced a glance back at the courtyard to see Ewan standing in the distance, hands knotted at his waist as he stared at her.
She offered a small wave and turned away before he got any ideas about summoning her.
When the children drifted away from Rionna, Mairin eyed the other woman. “Would you like to have a bath drawn before the evening meal?”
Rionna shrugged. “I usually swim in the loch, but I suppose it would horrify my father if I were to do so here.”
Mairin’s eyes widened. “Are you mad? The water is frigid!”
Rionna smiled. “ ’Tis good training for the mind.”
Mairin shook her head. “I have no understanding for someone who would forego the joys of a tub full of hot water for a hellish swim in an icy loch.”
“Since swimming in the loch isn’t a possibility, I’ll gladly take you up on your kind offer of a hot bath,” Rionna said with a grin. Then she cocked her head to the side and looked at Mairin with an odd expression on her face. “I like you, Lady McCabe. I don’t appall you as I do others. And the way you waded through the men to rescue me was very well done.”
Mairin flushed. “Oh, do call me Mairin. If we’re to be friends, ’tis only appropriate that you should address me thusly.”
Maddie cleared her throat behind Mairin, and Mairin turned, horrified that she’d forgotten her manners.
“Rionna, I want you to meet the women of my clan.”
Each woman stepped forward in turn and Mairin went down the line, introducing those whose names she remembered. Maddie supplied the names that Mairin hadn’t learned as of yet.
When they were done, Maddie directed the women back to the keep so they could heat water for Rionna’s bath.
After showing Rionna to the chamber she would occupy, Mairin went below stairs to check on the plans for the evening meal.
She was nearly to the kitchens when Ewan entered the hall. Laird McDonald accompanied him and Mairin quickened her step.
“Where is my daughter?” Laird McDonald demanded.
Mairin paused and turned to face the surly laird. “She’s above stairs seeing to her bath and dressing for the evening meal.”
Apparently mollified by the idea that his daughter wasn’t out battling more warriors, the laird nodded before turning back to Ewan. Mairin waited a moment, fully expecting Ewan to reprimand her for her interference, but he looked past Laird McDonald and winked.
It was done so fast that she was sure she’d seen wrong. The idea of the laird doing something like winking was too much to contemplate. Sure she’d imagined it, she headed for the kitchens once more.
CHAPTER 26
Mairin was long asleep when Ewan came to their chamber that night. He stood by the bed and watched as she slept, so burrowed under the furs that only her nose peeked out.
Talks with McDonald had rapidly deteriorated as more ale had been consumed. Instead of talking marriage and alliances, the men had sat around the table in the hall drinking and engaging in bawdy tellings of tavern wenches and old battle scars.
Ewan had excused himself, more interested in slipping into a warm bed with his wife than engaging in ribald boasting. It should bother him that even asleep the lass had such a hold over him that all he had to do was imagine her above stairs in his bed and he grew restless and ready to depart the men. But he found that it didn’t bother him at all.
