They had not kissed lips to lips, even though she ached for it. In truth, she’d been afraid to kiss him. The feelings and the impulses incurred in kissing him might be too powerful to endure. She’d wanted to, aye—och, shewanted. She wanted more than kisses. To be one with him, a part of him. To belong to him, soul to soul.
Mayhap she already did.
That thought startled her. It terrified her. But aye, mayhap ’twas what all of this meant. She had belonged to Adair MacMurtray before she met him.
Impossible. A child’s tale. She did not believe in such nonsense.
Then what was this she felt?
She made her way back up the shingle and to the great dun, wherein she found her mother and stepfather at breakfast.
“Good morn,” Kendrick told her affably. “Will ye join us to break your fast?”
“Nay, thank ye. I do no’ want to eat. Indeed, Kendrick, I would ask a word wi’ ye.” She glanced at her mother. “Alone.”
Mam glared at her, affronted. “Wha’ is there ye canna say before me?”
Aye, Mam proved disagreeable these days, carrying the bulk of her child.
“Never mind,” she snapped before Bradana could answer. “I may well be banished from my own hearthside. Genna,” she called to the servant, “ye had better come too. They no doubt wish to discuss matters o’ state.”
When the two women had gone, Kendrick rolled his eyes at Bradana. “Pray, sit down. If ye can tell me how to handle your mother these days, I would be well pleased.”
“I doubt there is a way.” Mam could be prickly at the best of times. “It’s about Adair MacMurtray I wish to speak.”
That did make him look surprised. “Wha’ is he to ye, that ye should so concern yoursel’ wi’ him?”
A good question. Bradana could not admit the truth. She did not even comprehend the truth.
She sat down. “Ye maun keep him alive, at least until ye can persuade him to get on that boat o’ his and sail awa’. If Kerr and Toren tak’ things a step farther, ye may have a blood feud on your hands.”
Kendrick eyed her far more sharply. “Ye ken fine what Kerr and Toren are. One worse than the other, and they urge one another on. Nay, I do no’ want a blood feud wi’ relations in Erin. By the same token, it might be argued Gawen was foolish to send the lad here after the first two returned to him empty-handed.”
“Perhaps he believed Adair more persuasive.”
“He’s likeable enough, I’ll give him that. Even I like him, though he’s a right pain in my arse. I do no’ want to see the lad killed.”
“Then harness your sons.”
This time he narrowed his eyes at her, a far less pleasant expression. She had lived here in his dun from a wee lass. In truth, he had been a father to her, providing as generously as for his own sons. He considered her his daughter—only witness the marriage alliance he’d made with Mican MacGillean.
They shared familiarity, maybe even a measure of affection. She had never before attempted to tell him what to do.
Before he could kindle in anger, she went on, “They will listen to ye, if ye put your foot down. Ye may no’ think so, but they will. Right now, they think they ha’ your tacit approval to get rid of their cousin.”
“Nay, Bradana, they want rid o’ him because his father threatens to strip awa’ lands that will one day be their own. Lands that they ha’ helped me to hold. In truth, who can blame them?”
“So ye are fine wi’ one o’ them planting asgian-dubhin Adair’s back and ending his life?”
Kendrick sighed. “Nay. But the lad and his father should ha’ known he entered a perilous situation. Verra well. Since ye ask it, I will speak wi’ the lad.”
“With Adair? No’ with Kerr and Toren?”
“I will speak wi’ all o’ them. Now awa’ wi’ ye and let me enjoy my breakfast.” He waved his hand. “And by the gods, if the child your mother carries be anything like the three o’ ye, ’twill be a sore trial.”
She went off as ordered, not particular happy about the encounter. She collected breakfast for herself, her hound, and Adair, and hurried to his quarters—only to find him up and on his feet.
“What are ye about?” she asked sharply.
