Page 71 of The Stag & The Owl
Roark buried his head in his hands andgroaned.
“Then you went all moon-eyed andintrospective,” Owen continued.“After that, I admit I don’t recallmuch either, other than Gavin and me helping you up the stairs.It’s all still a bit hazy.”
Roark shook his head in his hands, thankfulhe’d apparently not told them any more details of his time withAlina.“I have a vague memory of being hauled up the stairs by youtwo.Did we fall?”
Both men laughed good-naturedly.“Aye, lad,”Owen said.“Twice, according to my lady wife, with a great deal ofthumping around and colorful cursing that woke half thehousehold.”
“Alina?”Roark asked.
“Siusan said Alina found it quiteamusing.”
“She would.”Roark chuckled, relieved hewouldn’t have much explaining to do as to why he hadn’t visited herrooms last night.Not that Alina was the type to get mad at him forit, but she’d been so disappointed about her moon-flow, the lastthing he wanted to do was disappoint her more.“Speaking of which,”he said, standing and taking a moment for his legs to work and hishead to stop spinning.“I should give her a visit.”
“Do yourself and her a favor, lad,” Owensaid, giving the air around Roark a sniff and a grimace.“Visit thebathhouse first.”
***
Roark knocked on Alina’s door, preparing toapologize for last night and to ask her if she’d like supperbrought up to her room.She’d been asleep when he’d gone to visither after his bath, so he’d gone back to his room and slept theafternoon away.He’d woken feeling much revived, and seeing Alina’sface as she answered her door dressed and ready for supper made himgenuinely pleased.
“I’m heartily sick of four walls and a bed,”she said, closing the door behind her and looping her arm throughhis.She peered intently at him.“How are you feeling?”
“Better now,” he said.Now that he’d gottensome sleep and had her on his arm.“That whisky has quite akick.”
She giggled.“No broken bones or permanentinjuries from tumbling down the stairs, I take it?”
“Only a few sore spots,” he said, grinning,and rubbed the back of his head, the only part of his head thatstill ached.“One advantage to falling when you’re verra drunkapparently.”
“Or dumb luck,” she said with a teasinggrin.
“Or that.”He stopped at the top of thestairs and cupped her chin.“I’m sorry I missed spending time withyou last night.”
She shrugged.“I wouldn’t have been goodcompany anyway.”
He peered into her eyes and saw the telltaleredness of shed tears.“Alina…”
“I’ll be fine.”
He wasn’t sure he believed her.He wasn’tsure she believed herself.But the tone of her voice told him shedidn’t want to talk about it.He kissed her lightly on the lips andthen deepened the kiss.
“Ahem.”They both turned around to see thelaird and lady standing arm in arm outside their chamber’s door.“Shall we?”Owen said, stepping past them with his lady and headingdown the stairs.
Alina laced her arm through Roark’s and theyfollowed, the smell of roasted meat making his belly growl andrumble as they took their seats.They had no sooner tucked intotheir meal when Niels and Grant strode into the hall with a nod tothe laird and then to Roark as they too sat, but at a low table,still covered in the dust and grime from their trip.
“They made good time,” Owen said, “whichbodes well for you two.We’ll meet with them after supper.”
Roark met Alina’s too-bright gaze andsqueezed her hand under the table.For all he knew they could beleaving here tomorrow.Alina for her ship and Roark back to NorthShore Keep.He made himself eat, though he barely tasted the food,and saw that Alina did the same.At last, the laird and ladystood.
“Roark, Alina, Gavin, Agnes,” Owen said.“Ifyou would come with us to my council chambers.”
Niels and Grant joined them, Grant closingthe door behind them as the three couples chose their sofas and themen their chairs.
“What news?”Owen asked Niels.
“We found a ship docked at the southern port,theTrade Wind,that sails under a Captain Wallis, who’swilling to take the Lady Alina to Sea Ridge for the price of herpearl.They sail in four days’ time on the morning tide.”
“Do you trust this Wallis?”Roark asked.
“We asked around,” Niels said.“Got nothingbut good reports on him, and he owns the ship he sails, so he’s notbeholden to any laird who’s likely to side with this Roger.Wallissays he’s traded at Sea Ridge before, and he’s always found thetrading there fair.”
