“A wonderful memory,” she said, and the warmth in her expression faded.
Thomas damned that he’d mentioned his family when she had none. Aye, she had a family, a father who was a pitiful cur and wanted her only as goods to barter.
Neither would he linger on the bastard. He’d made Alesone laugh, something she’d had little of as of late. A woman like her deserved more than the foul turn life had foisted upon her. If for the short while as they were together he bolstered her spirits, she deserved that and more.
And she was right. Regardless of the discord between him and his father, he did have family, one that loved him. “As the oldest, Donnchadh will receive the title of duke and inherit Dair Castle.”
“Were you close?”
“We were. And before you ask, I miss him.”
She studied Thomas a moment. “You are worried about seeing your brother?”
“Aye, and with good reason. With my having disappeared without a word after Léod’s death, and absent when my mother, Orabilia, and Matheu died, Donnchadh will nae be pleased to see me.”
“What if you are wrong?”
At the hope in her voice he shook his head. “I am nae.”
“But what if you are?” she pressed.
Irritated, he shot her a cool look, then moved his bishop to the square at the edge. “Check.”
“You canna always avoid talking about what you dinna wish,” she said.
Blast it! “Your king is in jeopardy.”
With a shrewd eye, Alesone surveyed the board. She slid her pawn before the king. “He is safe, unless you wish to take my man with your bishop.”
“’Twould be foolish to sacrifice my bishop for a pawn.”
She held his gaze, hers darkening in silent challenge. “That depends on what you are trying to win.”
Chapter Nine
Pinpricks of tension rippled across Thomas’s skin as he held Alesone’s gaze. He damned himself for succumbing to the temptation of a verbal spar. ’Twas a perilous decision, more so with a woman who twisted his thoughts down a sensual path he had nay intent to follow.
Lavender eyes held his in soft challenge, and he fell into their depths, cursed the image of her moving into his embrace.
Stunned by the raw desire flooding his body, he shoved back his unwanted thoughts. Over the years never had a woman caught his interest, made him want.
Alesone did both, dangerously so.
This entire situation didna make sense. He was a man in control of his emotions, one who made his own rules of how to live, nae a green lad lured by a siren’s call.
Guilt twisted in his gut. Nor was he fair to label her such. Her actions werena tossed out with the sensual expectations of an experienced hand, but those of a woman struggling to find solid ground. In truth, Thomas doubted she had any idea of her appeal to him.
Alesone hadna asked for her life to be cast in mayhem. As he, she’d been torn from a way of living that she loved. Now, they both were floundering against change, except he served King Robert, while she was left with naught but her doubts.
Given the circumstance, ’twas best to stow any interest she roused. God knew ’twas the logical solution. Except however much he tried, a part of him wondered if she, too, felt the stirrings of awareness.
Blast it, look at him rambling over a woman who had nay place in his life. Mayhap he wanted her, but by God if he chose such a foolish path, ’twould be a conscious decision, nae one spurned by desire.
Determined to put his reckless musings behind him, Thomas focused on her question of moments before. “And what is it you are trying to win?”
She sighed, and the defiant tilt of her chin lowered. “A life of my choosing.”
Relief swamped him at her shift in topic, and he muddled back to safer shores. “With your being a healer, dinna you have that now?”
