Page 60 of The Darkland

Niles was gulping his wine, his gaze scanning the room in anticipation of Kirk’s arrival. He ignored the conversation between Mara and Spencer, mostly because Mara kept it very generic. Whenever he would ask her something of herself, she would give him a vague answer and change the subject. And the message, as Niles saw it, was obvious.

Pleased that she was making an attempt to disinterest the man, Niles was feeling rather comfortable with the situation when his gaze suddenly came to rest on the balcony directly above their table. And who should be staring down at them but none other than Kirk himself.

Niles nearly choked on his wine. He sprayed it over the table, his tunic, leaping to his feet as Mara and Spencer turned to him with concern. He assured them that he was well, already moving away from the table in an attempt to intercept Kirk, who was leaving the balcony and heading down the stairs. Covered with red wine, Niles met his captain half-way down the steps.

“How long were you standing there?” he demanded.

Kirk was in no mood to be interrogated. “I told you to keep him away from her. Now I see I must take matters into my own hands.”

Niles put his red-stained hands on Kirk’s chest, preventing him from descending. “She is handling him quite well, Kirk. The conversation has been very limited and she has made it obvious that his presence is of little interest to her.” When Kirk tried to push past him, Niles asserted himself and shoved Kirk against the railing. “Listen to me! ’Twill be much simpler and far less bloody if Mara discourages the man herself. How do you think le Vay will react if he learns you have challenged one of his knights?”

Kirk eyed him, righting himself where Niles had pushed him off-balance. “Le Vay is aware of my feelings for Mara. He will understand if I must defend what is mine.”

“Officially, she is not,” Niles reminded him quietly. “Technically, Spencer has every right to pursue her. You have hardly told him otherwise.”

A dark eyebrow rose. “But I inferred as much. If the man cannot understand that she belongs to me, then I will gladly teach him a lesson.”

“And what lesson is that? That you are bigger, stronger, and by far more skilled? Before this afternoon, you liked Spencer a great deal, Kirk. Now you are determined to kill him?”

“He has eyes for Mara.”

“Every man in the room has eyes for Mara. Are you going to kill them all?”

Kirk sighed, his hard stance softening in the slightest. After a moment, he scratched his scalp irritably. “Then what would you suggest? That I simply look the other way while he pants and paws over the woman I will marry?”

Niles shook his head slowly. “I have already suggested the solution. Allow Mara to discourage him in her own way. She was doing quite well when I left.”

Kirk pursed his lips, eyeing Niles as he continued to scratch and pace on the narrow stair. “She all but encouraged him this afternoon.”

“Because she was seeking revenge against the attention Lily was paying you. Truthfully, Kirk, it would have been well had you informed her of Lily’s infatuation.”

He shrugged. “It was never an issue. Certainly not enough to explain it to Mara as if it was a viable threat.”

Niles grabbed Kirk by the shoulder, shaking him gently. “So you have both punished one another with your schemes and petty jealousies. I would say the time has come to put this foolishness behind you.” He released Kirk and began to descend the steps. “Come along, my Irish hooligan. The time has come to return to Mara and forget about Spencer’ weak challenge.”

Kirk growled in response and, reluctantly, followed Niles into the great room.

The tables were full. The only seat at Mara’s table was the one vacated by Niles and the man graciously allowed Kirk to occupy the spot. Ignoring Spencer altogether, Kirk lowered himself onto the bench and kissed Mara’s hand sweetly.

“You look lovely, love,” he said as if they were alone. “I apologize that my business kept me all afternoon. I hope you were not bored.”

She shook her head, beaming into his handsome face. She was terribly glad to see him. “I spent the time looking from the window, watching thehappenings of the bailey. I watched the blacksmith shoe a large black charger and when the horse tried to bite him, he punched him in the nose.”

Kirk smiled drolly. “Such lady-like entertainment. Is that all you did?”

“I took a bath, with some soap that Lady Lily sent me.” She giggled when he held her arm to his nostrils, inhaling deeply. “What do you smell?”

He closed his eyes, lingering in the fine scent. “Jasmine. Rose.” He growled and sank his teeth into her arm as Mara squealed with delight. “Christ, you taste good enough to eat. I take it that you and Lady Lily have spoken?”

“Her maid brought the soap. I have not seen nor spoken to Lady Lily.”

Kirk glanced over his shoulder at the table behind them, reserved for the le Vay family. He knew that Lionel would insist he sit with the family and he smiled, thinking of Mara struggling to maintain her anger in the face of Lady Lily’s overwhelming sweetness.

“You shall have the chance to thank her personally,” he said. He was still holding her arm, caressing it, as Spencer watched. “When Lord le Vay and his daughter arrive, we shall sup with them.”

“Hardly, my lord.” Spencer was cool, his eyes fixed on Kirk over his chalice of wine. “Lord Lionel’s sister and her family are visiting from Kent. There is no room for you at the head table.”

Kirk sensed the man’s pleasure to have informed him that he was being displaced from Lionel’s table. With equal calm, he collected his own goblet and took a large swallow.