He grinned. “You slept with Sorcha?”
“At the convent, yes.”
He lay down, crooking his arm beneath his head for a pillow. “What is she like? Are you close to her?”
“Very close. I’m only six months older than her. I … I can’t remember a time when she wasn’t a part of my life.”
“You miss her.”
Gwen pulled her knees up against her chest. “Yes. I miss all my sisters.”
“You’ll see them again.”
Gwennore nodded. In a month. Brody had promised to check on her in a week. “Brody said he would bring me letters from them.”
“That’s good.”
“The—the jewelry you loaned me tonight—”
“Not a loan. I gave it to you.”
“You shouldn’t have. Those pieces belonged to your mother, so they should go to Sorcha.”
He shrugged his shoulder again, causing her gaze to return to his broad chest. “Would you mind telling me about her?”
She tilted her head. “Who?”
“Sorcha. Unless you’d rather sleep.”
With an inward wince, she realized she’d been staring at the curious-looking ripples along his abdomen. She turned her head away and scooted back so she was sitting against the headboard with the coverlet up to her chin.
“Are you cold? I could build up the fire.”
“No!” The thought of him wandering about in his underpants was too much. “I—I’m feeling warmer.” Her face flushed with heat. “Do you still want to hear about Sorcha?”
“Yes. She seemed very … straightforward. And strong.”
“She is strong. I’ve always envied that about her.”
“Why would you? You’re strong, too.”
Gwen shook her head. “I let people look down on me. If someone sneered at Sorcha, she’d probably punch him in the face.”
He chuckled. “Probably so. But I still think you’re strong. You have an inner strength that doesn’t give up. And once it’s added to your cleverness and sense of loyalty, it makes you formidable. Just look at what you’ve been through the last two days.”
Her heart softened. Even though he was a scoundrel, somehow he knew exactly what she needed to hear the most. “I’m not used to…”
“To what?”
Her blush grew hotter, and she hoped he couldn’t see it in the dim light. “You seem to think highly of me.”
“I do.”
She ventured a quick glance at him. Good goddesses, his face looked so sweet against that pillow. Don’t think about that! She hastily made sure her mental shield was intact. “I’m afraid I’ll disappoint you. I can’t be sure I’ll succeed—”
“I know. I’ve fought enough battles, seen enough of my people die, to know that success is never guaranteed. We can only do our best.”
With a sigh, she closed her eyes and leaned her head back. He did have a serious side. How could he not when he’d witnessed so much war and death? His habit of joking had to be the way he dealt with stress and hardship. It was … endearing.
“Margosha told me you didn’t find any poison earlier.”
She opened her eyes. “That’s true, but we did make some progress. We ruled out the possibility that the poison being used comes from the darca flower. Tomorrow, I’ll check the garden for any other plants that could be used to make poison.”
“Sounds good.” He yawned. “I have some meetings I have to go to, but I’ll catch up with you at the midday meal.”
“All right.” The sight of his yawn made her yawn, too.
“We’re tired. Try to get some sleep.” He rolled over toward the edge of the bed. “Good night, Gwen.”
“Good night.” She stared at his back for a while. So strong. And muscular. The tanned skin looked like it would be warm to touch. Don’t think about that.
She scrunched down, curling into a ball on her edge of the bed. Behind her, she could hear the sound of his soft breathing.
Sorcha’s brother. She smiled to herself. If Sorcha knew what her brother was doing, she’d clobber him for sure.
But he wasn’t causing her any harm. He hadn’t tried to touch her. In fact, he’d told her the things she’d most wanted to hear. With a sigh, she stretched out and closed her eyes.
Perhaps he could be trusted, after all.
Chapter Fourteen
She should have known not to trust him. Some hours later, she was jerked abruptly awake when he suddenly wrapped an arm around her and pulled her back against him.
She gasped. “What—?”
“Shh,” he whispered in her ear. “Play along.”
She elbowed him and when he scooted back, she rolled onto her back to glare at him. The scoundrel had moved the pillow and crossed the line. “You—” She halted when he rested his hand against her cheek.
He leaned close. “The sun is up. Your maid will be coming—”
The door creaked open, causing a narrow shaft of light to beam into the room and fall across the bed.
Gwennore blinked, suddenly able to see Silas’s face so close to her. His hair was tousled, and her fingers itched to brush back the dark curls falling over his brow. There was a quiet determination in the gaze of his green eyes, and a shadow of dark whiskers along his sharp jawline.
A gasp emanated from the doorway along with a clunking noise.
Silas sat up. “Oh, dear. We’ve been caught.”
“My apologies, Lord General.” Nissa curtsied, focusing on the floor as her face grew pink. “Please forgive me. I was just coming to light the fire.” She motioned to the basket of firewood that she’d dropped.
“That’s quite all right.” Silas smiled at her. “But I suggest you knock from now on. I have a hard time resisting my darling Gwennie in the morning.”
With a groan, Gwennore pulled the sheet over her face.
“That’s my snookums,” he teased. “Always trying to sneak a peek at the crown jewels.”
With a huff, she lowered the sheet and scowled at him.
Nissa gathered up the basket. “I’ll come back in a few minutes.”
Silas gave her a wry look. “Give me an hour at least.”
“Of—of course, Lord General.” Nissa’s eyes widened as she observed his broad, muscular chest. “You can take all day, if you like.”
Gwennore winced. Could this get any more embarrassing?
“You can leave the firewood,” Silas told
