Binding Vows(20)
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Watching the enemy from across the room, Grainna calculated her next move. Patience was never her strong point. With victory in sight it grew terribly short. It took every ounce of will to keep from snatching Tara up and hiding her until the solstice. No, it would not bode well to have the authorities alerted of a missing person. Besides, Tara was surrounded by Grainna’s guard, and now that she knew of the threat, watching them would be easy. When all was said and done, no one would be able to touch her. Besides, by the time the authorities found Tara’s body, Grainna would be 55
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long gone.
The anxious woman sitting beside her hung on every word Grainna muttered. Fools, all of them are fools.
If she told the woman what she really saw in her palm, or read in her mind, the woman would search out her unfaithful husband this minute. Telling these simpletons the truth only hurt the cause.
Grainna looked over at Tara and saw the man’s hand take hers to his lips. The color flowing into Tara’s flesh was telling.
Grainna smiled at her current customer, mumbled a cryptic, “You’ll live long and love another.” She then waved off the other patrons waiting for their turn.
56
Binding Vows
Chapter 5
Duncan marveled at how easily Tara slipped into her regal role. She walked toward him with hands extended, her smile radiant. He kissed her in greeting, a chaste kiss, but powerful enough to put a blush in her cheeks. “You look lovely.”
“Well you know what they say, if you can’t beat them, join them.”
Duncan didn’t have a clue as to what she meant, but instead of pointing out his confusion, he nodded and stepped back when she announced dinner.
Duncan found her tales of school fascinating.
Her effort to be a healer didn’t come as a surprise, but without the knowledge of how it was done in this century he couldn’t add anything to the conversation. He listened, and thought how much his mother would love to discuss how medicine would change in time.
Cassy and Tara did go on about their lives.
Duncan wanted to tell her tales of his own youth and the adventures he and Fin had had. However, it wasn’t possible. How could he tell her of the time he learned the ability to light a fire without the aid of flint? How with his brother’s encouragement, he almost burned down the west end of the Keep?
Nay. He could only listen. In an effort to feel closer to Tara, he took her hand. Heat surged to her face in the form of a blush, her pulse quickened under his thumb.
Not so unaffected by my charms.
Fin leaned forward and whispered so only 57
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Duncan could hear. “She comes.”
Grainna walked toward them quickly, halting all conversation at their table. Duncan and Fin’s inner thoughts turned to the music being played and the woman in their company. Both shielded their feelings so Grainna couldn’t read them.
“Ladies.” She gathered her skirts and stepped up on the platform. “I trust you are enjoying yourselves?”
“This really is amazing, Madame Gwen,” Cassy answered.
Grainna’s eyes pierced Duncan. Her smile painted on. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friends?”
“Of course.” Tara found her voice. “Duncan and Fin, this is Madame Gwen. The lady to whom we owe our elevated status.”
Grainna extended her hand.
Duncan shook her hand briefly.
“You put on a lovely show. Have you been doing this for long?” Duncan asked.
“For several years now, Mr...?”
He wasn’t about to tell her his surname. He had no way of knowing if she had encountered his ancestors before his birth.
Fin jumped in when Duncan stumbled on his reply. “Several years? Wow, it must be tiring for someone your age?” Grainna stared at him, displeased with his rude remark.
Duncan kicked Fin under the table. “I think what my brother is asking is if you plan on retiring soon? Although, I doubt any could do as good a job managing this event.”
“If everything works out, gentlemen, I’ll be retiring very soon.” Her gaze drifted to Tara. The scowl on her face lifted. “Enjoy your evening.”
Grainna turned to walk away.
Duncan let out a silent sigh of relief.
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They called it roast duck, when they served what was really chicken. Not that it mattered, because Tara didn’t taste a thing. Every once and a while, she would glance up when someone laughed a little too loudly or when a guest stumbled into their table. The party went on around her, but she didn’t notice much except Duncan. Tara didn’t want to see the evening end. But as people started making their way to their tents, and the musicians stopped playing, she resigned herself to say good night.