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Chapter Twenty-Five
Fin
“Ye seem tae have a glow about ye, lad,” Hollis said. “Ye look a wee bit different than when I left. More… relaxed.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Aye. I tell true,” he replied. “So, did ye find a lass tae yer likin’? That it?”
Fin chuckled and brushed his hair out of his face. He leaned back in his chair, the wood cracking and groaning beneath him. Outside, a storm lashed the world. Thunder crashed with a sound like the sky being split open, and the lightning flashed brighter than the noonday sun. Wind rattled the shutters in their frames and blew tendrils of cold into the room. The stewards had stoked the fires in the hearth that took the worst of the chill off, but the air in their borrowed office was tepid at best.
Hollis had arrived from Westmarch Hall just ahead of the storm with good news. Gillian was on the mend, and Col’s physician anticipated a full recovery. Even better was that there had been no further attempts on Col or Gillian’s lives. But they remained in heightened vigilance anyway. Until they knew who was involved with this plot and how far-reaching it was, they were taking no chances.
Fin thought their reaction was prudent and smart. Although he was certain they had identified the players and had their finger on the plot, it was still wise to be safe about things.
“We’re nae talkin’ ‘bout that,” Fin said. “Did Col say anythin’ else?”
“Other than askin’ me tae tell ye tae tell me ‘bout this lass ye’re beddin’, nae really.”
Fin burst into laughter and shook his head. “Ye’re bleedin’ mad.”
“And ye’re still dodgin’ me questions.”
“Tis nothin’ tae dodge.”
“Right. So ye normally look like a besotted little lass, then?”
Fin laughed again and threw a wadded piece of parchment at Hollis. It was good to have his friend back again - although being grilled about his activities was less than fun. Fin was not a man disposed to sharing his intimate details, but this was something different. Ivy was something different. She made him feel things he’d never felt before. Things he never thought he could feel. Ivy filled him with a bright white light that ran from the top of his head to the tip of his toe.
“Daenae tell me tis the Lady Welton that has ye so bound up,” Hollis laughed.
Fin shrugged and said nothing. Hollis’ eyes widened, and his mouth fell open as he stared at Fin. A moment later, he erupted in laughter.
“I cannae believe she’d take somebody like ye as a lover,” Hollis beamed. “And here I kent these Ainglish noblewomen had better taste than that.”
Fin laughed. “Ye’re a bleedin’ arse.”
“Aye. Tis why ye like me,” he replied. “We’re so much alike that way.”
They both fell silent for a long moment, and the only sound in the office was the whistling of the wind creeping in through the cracks in the shutters and the crackle of the fire in the heart. Fin took a long swallow of his ale, letting his mind drift back to Ivy and the times they’d shared together.
If he closed his eyes, he could practically still feel her smooth, flawless skin. He could smell the floral fragrance in her hair and taste the sweet wine upon her lips. Fin could recall the way she moved and writhed against him, the sound of her breathy moans, and how it felt to release inside of her.
Realizing his libidinous thoughts were stirring something low inside of him, causing him to thicken with arousal. Fin cleared his throat and took a long swallow of his drink. His mind, though, did not stray far from Ivy and the warm feelings she inspired inside of him.
She was the first woman he had cared for in the way he felt for her. It was not simply lust and carnal desire that compelled him. When he was with Ivy, he felt stronger. She made him want to be a better man. The connection between them was so powerful and so overwhelming that it took his breath away to be near her. For the first time in his life, he felt as if he belonged to somebody and that she belonged to him.
It was difficult for him to put those thoughts and feelings into words. He was used to being so closed off and did not often speak of his feelings. And when it did, it was usually only with Col. He and Hollis were the best of friends, but he felt comfort with Col he felt with nobody else.
Fin glanced over at Hollis and found the man giving him a queer look. There was something akin to sympathy in his eyes, and it made Fin cock his head, as he could not understand why Hollis would look at him so strangely.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Ye ken, this willnae end well for ye,” Hollis said. “You dae ken that, daenae ye?”
“What dae ye mean?”
Hollis took a long swallow of his ale then let out a deep breath. He looked like he was about to deliver the news that somebody he loved well had just passed on, but was hesitant to speak it out loud.
