Page 34 of The Darkland

She was wedged into the corner of the alcove, picking distractedly at her nails. “Then let it end me. At least my end will be honestly met, speaking my mind for what is right and just. If it is not to your approval, then that is your misfortune.”

He shook his head slowly. “Christ, you’re a stubborn creature.”

She turned to him, then. “Aye, I am. And I refuse to go through life being reprimanded by you every time I open my mouth. If you were serious when you proposed marriage, Kirk Connaught, then I suggest you reconsider. You will not find a perfect wife in me.”

He stared at her. Long and hard. “Mayhap you are right. Mayhap I have been fooling myself all along.”

Mara felt as if she had been hit in the stomach. She hadn’t expected him to agree so readily. Before she could respond, however, he grasped her by the arm again and pulled her from the alcove. Silent and brooding, he escorted her to the chamber she shared with Micheline and left without another word.

When Micheline came to bed less than an hour later, she noticed that Mara’s pillow was saturated with dampness. As she stood and watched her sleeping sister with concern, more tears trailed down her temples and onto the linen. Puddling, weakening. Expressing her sorrow.

When the dawn finally came, the tears were still falling.

*

“Another missive, Kirk.”

Niles was in Kirk’s chamber before daybreak, a rolled message in his hand. Kirk rose from his bed, naked, and snatched the vellum.

“Where’s the rider?” he asked, his voice scratchy.

“In the kitchens,” Niles replied, his blue eyes shadowed. He had been on sentry duty all night and was particularly weary. “He said the missive was for you alone.”

Kirk unrolled the parchment, his gray eyes struggling to read the contents under the weak candlelight. Reaching the bottom of the page, he sighed and re-rolled the vellum.

“Well?” Niles demanded softly.

“It’s from Drew,” Kirk put the parchment aside and went in search of his hose. “Apparently, the potential of a revolt is greater than father indicated. Drew is worried that father will wait until it is too late before summoning help. They need a mediator immediately.”

“You?”

Kirk pulled on his breeches, securing them. “Drew requests that I come,” he said. “I must speak with Edmund on the matter.”

Niles watched the man as he donned his tunic. “After what happened last night, are you sure Edmund will receive you?”

Kirk cocked an eyebrow. “I am his captain, Niles. Of course he will receive me.”

Niles sighed, sitting on the edge of the bunk as Kirk splashed water on his face and wiped it off. “You’re quite smitten with her, aren’t you?”

Kirk did not say anything. Collecting his boots, he sat next to his friend as he pulled them on. “She’s a handful, Niles. A hellion of the worst sort.”

“And how is that?”

Kirk snorted softly, rising from the bed and peeling back the oilcloth on his lancet window to reveal the lightening horizon. “She’s knows she’s a hellion and she doesn’t care. As much as I like her spirit, she must learn to control herself.”

“Before or after you marry her?”

Kirk continued to stare at the sky, turning shades of pink and gold. “Who said anything about marriage?”

Niles chuckled, rising from the mattress. “No one, my friend,” he put his hand on Kirk’s broad shoulder. “Back to the subject at hand, do you wish for me to prepare an escort bound for Ireland?”

Kirk nodded faintly, thoughts still on Mara as he ran his fingers through his dark hair. He’d hardly slept all night thinking of her. “Better still, I plan to solicit our allies for support. Prepare a small party to accompany me to Quernmore Castle. After Edmund’s marriage, I shall ride north and ask Lord le Vay for military commitment. The man owes us after we aided him in ridding his territory of gypsies last year.”

Niles opened the door. “Ah, yes, Edmund’s marriage,” he shook his head. “I heard yesterday that Johanne sent for the priest. Going through with this rather quickly and unobtrusively, are they not?”

“Edmund simply wants to be done with it, I think.”

“What is going to happen when Lady Micheline realizes her husband is sharing his bed with his sister?”