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Kieran did not have to be offered it twice and wasted little time disrobing. Maisie watched him until he was nearly stripped bare and then made to turn from him until he stopped her.

“You’ve seen me before,” he said. “And dinnae shy away.”

“Somehow it seems more . . . intimate to do so again. As if it is a common occurrence.”

“It will be,” he vowed.

Maisie seemed rightly confused.

“As I said, we’ve much to discuss.” Kieran tossed his clothing to the side, now standing before her completely nude. He wanted her to become accustomed to him, as he would her. The memories she had of what was between a man and a woman in the bedchamber would be completely forgotten, replaced with new ones.

She listened, though, and was no longer turning away. Maisie watched him get into the tub.

“‘Tis a shame you’ve bathed already.”

Her eyes widened as Kieran took the rag and soap on a wee table beside the tub. He began to wash himself, the feel of hot water and intensity of Maisie’s gaze upon him making him want to pull her into the tub with him.

“You’ve a magnificent body, Kieran,” she said, sitting on a chair not far from him, in front of the fire.

“As do you, Maisie.”

“Does your arm pain you still?”

It did, but he’d not have her worry. “I’ve endured much worse injuries than this.”

“I thought he would kill you,” she said, not for the first time. “I dinnae wish you to die.”

Kieran laughed. “I am glad to hear it.”

“I . . . meant only that, when I thought you were in danger . . .” Maisie stopped, but he knew what she wanted to say because he’d felt the same when he’d thought she was in danger. But before they could discuss the matter, he wanted her to know first what they’d learned that day.

“I am not the son of a clan chief,” he said, “but one of a blacksmith.”

“You learned something today?” she said, obviously surprised.

“I did. And had planned to tell you earlier.”

“But were distracted.”

He was pleased to see her smile. That she could do so, and jest about the incident, did not mean she was beyond it yet, but it was good all the same.

“Aye,” she said. “We were a wee bit distracted. Tell me.” She moved her stool closer to him, and he was pleased to see her look down into the wooden tub.

“Do you seek something in particular, my lady?”

Her head snapped up. “You are no gentleman to say such a thing.”

“I am very much a gentleman,” he responded. “As well you know. But I am also a man who has known you, Maisie. And wishes to again.”

Her eyes widened.

“Would you like that too?”

She nodded. “Aye. But we—”

“But we have much to discuss, as I’ve said before. First, my father.”

Maisie’s hand flew to her mouth. “You so distracted me, I realized only now what you said. Son of a blacksmith? Did you find your father?”