Once more, she leaned her head on his broader shoulder, washed again with the dreamy sense of safety that being close to Edmund always brought.
Once the storm had moved on, taking its drama and wildness beyond the land and across the sea, he gathered her in his arms and kissed the top of her head, her forehead and the tip of her nose.
“Wee lass, ‘tis time we made our way back tae the castle. If we’re nae there soon Lionel will insist they send a party out tae seek fer us, fearing we’ve come tae harm”
“I wish we could stay here wi’ the fae, ‘tis safe and snug.”
He laughed. “We’d soon wish fer our feather bed and the nourishment from the castle kitchen.”
She gave a reluctant nod.
Once they were back, dry and warm, in their chamber at the Castle, Edmund ordered their supper to be brought and a warm posset laced with brandy wine. His mind was troubled, yet his heart was reveling in the closeness they’d shared.
That night, when they both fell into bed, tired-out, he did not place the bolster in the center of the bed and Annora did not protest.
Instead, they took comfort in each other, curled together like spoons in the kitchen tray.
As she slept, Annora’s fingers found the cuff of Edmund’s shirt and curled around the soft fabric like a babe’s. He inhaled the delicate wildflower scent of her hair, breathing in her essence, his heart swelling with her innocent trust in him. He made a silent vow that he would let no harm come to her. As soon as it was possible, he would sail her in his birlinn to wherever she wished to go. Although he knew that if she were to leave him, his soul would go with her.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Awake at last, feeling languid and sensuous, strangely aware of the contours of her body stretched among the warmth of the bedclothes, Annora rolled over. Seeing she was alone in the great bed, she felt a tiny pang in her belly. She sighed. The night she’d spent in Edmund’s arms had been sweeter than she had ever have imagined such a thing could be.
She’d stirred only once when he’d shifted his arm, and they’d kissed again, a long, leisurely, silent, kiss in the darkness. Then she’d snuggled closer, and drifted quickly back to a dreamless sleep.
Scrambling out of the empty bed, she began to understand that this man, who had come into her life and saved her, was starting to mean a great deal to her with his gentle ways, his power and strength, and his humor.
She could hardly spare a thought for anything but the kisses they’d shared in the place of the Fae. Her heart skipped a beat asshe recalled the pleasure of his arms around her and his lips on her.
She dressed carefully in the new red wool kirtle that she’d found hanging by her garde-robe when they had returned to their chamber last night. It was the first of the gowns the seamstress was sewing for her and she was delighted. She ran her fingers down her sides, smoothing the soft wool, hoping Edmund would be pleased.
She was braiding her hair when there came a gentle tap on her door. It was a young kitchen maid who tottered into the chamber bearing a tray laden with porridge, bannocks, and an assortment of nuts, cheese and berries.
Annora discovered she had an appetite and tucked into the morsels, wondering what had become of Edmund so early in the day. She knew by then that when there was something bothering his mind he’d walk the battlements, letting the breeze clear the vexatious thoughts and helping bring him to resolve.
Although they’d not spoken at length after she’d told him about the mysterious rock, she had seen the grim set of his jaw when she’d relayed it to him. He was right when he’d told her she must be cautious from then on.
After breaking her fast, Annora hurried out of the chamber determined to find Edmund. She hastened up the stairs to the battlements, but he was not there.
“Did ye see milord this morning?” she asked the guard on duty.
He nodded. “Aye. He was joined early by his friend Lionel MacLaren. I heard them say they would enjoy a sparring session.”
“Oh. And where would I find them?”
The man gave her instructions to enter the bailey, and walk beside the outer wall until she found a space where archery was practice. Beyond that was the sparring ground.
“Thank ye.” She hurried away, her heart pumping, hoping she’d catch him there with Lionel.
After taking the steps down to the bailey she continued as the guard had directed and soon came to the archery ground where four young squires were pitting their skill with bow and arrow against each other. She continued on until she heard the clash of swords and came upon the section that was kept for sparring.
She joined the armorer on a small wooden bench where she could observe the two combatants.
Neither Edmund nor Lionel were clad in mail hauberks, but wore quilted gambesons made of thick wool for protection. As it quickly became clear to Annora, it was light and friendly sparring, meant to heighten speed rather than deliver heavy blows. Their sparring was unlikely to cause injury, despite the sharp long swords they brandished,
She watched them as they moved back and forth across the sparring ground. Edmund was always a fraction faster in parrying Lionel’s sword, and several times she observed that, should this have been serious combat, Edmund would have delivered a fatal blow to his friend.
Edmund was, indeed, a master swordsman, and her heart thrilled to see his strength and skill when matched with someone of almost equal power.
