"What is happening?"she asked.
"This is where I reside when I have matters to attend to here."He said it simply."The rest of the men take the tavern nearby.Seumas, Ros, and Tam stay here on guard duty.Guntar and Hilde prepare our meals and anything else we need.Ye'll meet them shortly."
"The gate guard knew ye," she said.
"Aye."
"And the blacksmith."
"Aye."
"And there are rooms kept ready for ye inside the castle."
"Aye."
She looked at him for a long moment.
"Cormac," she said."Who are ye really?"
"I'm yer husband, love," he replied, and kissed her before she could say another word.
***
IT WAS A THOROUGH KISS.Four days on the road with little privacy and his men always close by had left them hungry for one another, and she returned it without hesitation, her hands fisted in the front of his shirt.When they finally parted she pressed her forehead to his jaw and breathed.
"Ye are going to tell me," she said.
"Aye," he murmured against her hair.
"When?"
"Soon."He kissed her temple."First let me get ye settled.Wash off the dust.Let Guntar and Hilde see to us.Eat something.Rest."His arms tightened briefly around her.
***
GUNTAR AND HILDE WEREalready in the drawing room across the corridor when Cormac brought Una through.The room was warm and well lit, a long table laid for supper, the fire built high.Guntar was setting out cups and Hilde was directing a kitchen maid on the placement of the dishes.
They were a tidy, capable pair, somewhere in their late forties, and they greeted Cormac with warmth.
Guntar bowed."Welcome back, master.I received yer missive and have everything prepared."He turned to Una with a smile."Congratulations to ye both, mistress.I confess I did not know there would be a lady of the house, but we shall see to it that ye have everything ye need."
"Thank ye," Una replied."Please dinnae go to any trouble on my account."
Hilde said, "'Tis no trouble at all, mistress.I will send for a seamstress in the morning, a good one who knows what she's about.Ye'll need proper gowns for yer time here."
"I have gowns," Una said quickly.
"Hilde will see to it," Cormac said.
"Cormac, truly, I have what I need.The cost alone."
"No expense is to be spared," he said."That is the end of it."
Una pressed her lips together.Hilde caught her eye and grinned.
Guntar reappeared with a jug of wine."I will also arrange the jeweler for tomorrow, master, if that is yer wish?"
"Aye.Thank ye."
