Aoife nodded. “Good to meet you.”
Kian still hesitated, suspicion carved deep into the lines around his mouth. Then, with a grudging sigh, he extended his hand as well. His handshake was brief but firm.
“Kian,” he said.
Aoife met his gaze. “Inis Morra should look after its own.” A breeze caught her hair.
Lugh slung his rifle across his back. “You should head in, miss. Storm’s coming.”
“Should we walk you to the house?” Norin offered.
“No need. I can find my way.”
Norin smiled and touched two fingers to his brow in a salute. “Stay safe.”
Aoife nodded. “You too.”
Then they were gone. Three silhouettes framed by a storm-coloured sky disappeared into the narrow, hedge-lined path.
Aoife stood alone for a moment, assessing the darkening sky.
She hadn’t expected to find allies in Halverton’s own uniform. Nor amongst the lords. This was turning out to be a strange day indeed.
But perhaps there were more cracks in his empire than he realised.
***
By the time Aoife reached the house, she didn’t have long before the dinner gong. Hurrying, she made her way to the servants’ hall. The staff were busier than she’d ever seen them as they prepared for the dinner service. Several stopped when they saw her, but she simply smiled and they carried on. For the first time, they didn’t treat her being there as an unwanted intrusion.
She found James with several of the other staff in the kitchen. He was carrying a tureen, a deep oval-shaped dish that she’d learnt the word for in the last week. She could tell from his very fixed expression that it pained him.
“Can I borrow James for a moment?” she asked Mr Lanyon. He grumbled something she couldn’t hear.
“It won’t take long.”
“Very well,” the butler conceded, and she led James away from the bustle and back to the workroom. The spare bandages were still on the table and she made quick work of changing it. The burn looked angry and sore, but there was no sign of evil spirits having got in, at least.
James watched in silence as she worked, but it was a comfortable silence now. He might not have seen the point in them understanding one another. But she had been right; it had made things better.
“What are you doing down here?” Clara stood in the doorway. “Mr Lanyon’s just about to ring the dinner gong.”
Aoife looked at James. “Try not to overuse it.”
He gave her a wry smile. “I’ll do my best.”
***
The table setting for dinner had changed. Where Halverton usually sat at the head of the table with her on the other end, tonight she’d been moved to sit next to him. It was clear why the moment she sat down and he leant in to kiss her. It was brief, and she was glad of it.
She was shocked again when the food was served, skipping the usual entrée and going straight to the main course. Halverton clearly noticed her surprise as he leant in and whispered, “I thought we might have better things to do than eat.” A shiver ran down her spine and heat flooded her belly; different and opposing feelings competed for her attention.
Aoife ate slowly, wondering how she was going to get out of this. Feigning sickness would give her an excuse to return to her room, but she still wanted to talk to him about last night. After the plates were cleared, he slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. He bent his head to nuzzle her neck, and she tipped her head to give him better access. Her heart raced as her eyes fluttered shut.
Pull yourself together.
“I wanted to thank you, my lord.”
“Hmmm,” he murmured, his lips never leaving her neck.
