“I am sorry.”
The genuine sincerity in his voice caughther off guard.
In the silence, Bróccín leaned forward, shoved a piece of wood deeper into the fire. Sparks spit out, danced within the curl of smoke, and then disappeared up the chimney. Face taut, he sat back, a pondering expression darkening his handsome face. “’Tis difficult to losethose we love.”
The roughness of his voice, how his lower lip tightened when he spoke, betrayed an inner pain, reminding her of the priest’s disclosure. “’Tis.” Gwendolyn gave a slow exhale. “I amsorry as well.”
His brows narrowed. “Why?”
“Before he left, Father Iames explained that you had lost your family.”
* * * *
Aiden’s heart slammed against his chest. Gwendolyn knew about his family? Had the priest recognized him? Panic churned as the repercussions stormed his thoughts. No. Had the priest known, Aiden would have been arrested prior to the ceremony, much less been allowed to gain access to Gwendolyn’s bed.
Easing the tension from his shoulders, he glanced at her, noted the curiosity in her eyes. “What exactly did the priest tell you?”
“How your father died several years ago, and your brother some years later.” Her gaze slid to the hearth, paused before shifting to him. “And of how your mother became ill and passed away this spring.”
Relief swept him. She spoke of Bróccín’s family.
“Several months have passed since I lost my father,” she said in a broken whisper. “Yet Istill grieve.”
A flush slid across her cheeks, as if she hadn’t meant to share. Nor had he intended their discussion to deteriorate into something so personal. Unlike her, he’d lost his family when he was a lad. The years had blurred the pain of his loss. Still, ’twas a mistake to allow the conversation to continue.
Aiden stood and stepped away from her. The last thing he wanted was to find common ground with the lass. At least during her time of strife, she was surrounded by people she loved, those shecould turn to.
He, on the other hand, hadn’t experienced the luxury of being with people he knew, those who cared. A homeless lad without family, he’d lived off the land by his quick wit until the Knights Templar had taken him in. A life with the Brotherhood he loved, or had until King Philip had betrayed the men who’d protected himover the years.
He smothered the burst of fury for France’s king. The bastard would pay. Upon the royal’s death, ’twould beHisjudgment the sovereign would face.
“In time,” Aiden said, his jaw tense, “memories of those you love will fade. Then, you will nay longerfeel the pain.”
She frowned. “How can you believe such when your mother died but months ago?”
He silently cursed himself. “I was thinking more of the death of my father and brother. However hard, the hurt at their loss has faded to where I can think of them with warmth.”
Gwendolyn’s mouth pressed into a thoughtful grimace.
Blast it, he did not want to be having this discussion with her, to strengthen their tenuous tieto any degree.
She stood, moved before him. “I shouldna have pressed. I understand how difficult ’tis to speak of those you have lost, those whom you loved.”
Furious at her compassion when he was feeding her naught but lies, Aiden started tomove past her.
She stepped beforehim. “Bróccín?”
Trapped, he faced her.
Shrewd eyes held his, and then she slowly exhaled, as if coming to a decision of great importance. “We are wed, though a choice neither of us wished; mayhap we can become friends.”
A cold laugh welled in his throat. If only she knew their marriage was false. He hadn’t wanted to respect her. Yet like a thorn, she was determined to work her way into his life. An action hecouldn’t allow.
But the harsh words he formed to drive her away wilted on his tongue. Last night, he’d pondered how to gain her trust. If he pushed her away now, any bond between them, however tentative, would be severed, and valuable informationcould be lost.
However much he despised deceiving her, however much she unsettled him in numerous ways, he must continue to use her ignorance to his benefit. With the lives of many Scots loyal to the Bruce at risk, an opportunity he must take.
He forced his expression into a fierce scowl. “I am not an easy man,” he warned, lowering his voice toa hard timbre.
