“We’ve got company,” he muttered and withdrew from the kiss, setting his hands to Shanna’s ribs and moving her back a step. As she whirled in bemusement, he turned his back to the maid, since his tight breeches lent him nothing of concealment for his once raging desires. He snatched a robe from the armoire and hastily donned it as Shanna found her tongue with a fury.
“Hergus! Do you spy upon me? What is the meaning of this?”
The maid could only stutter, shamefaced and painfully aware of her mistress’s meager garb. It was one thing to be alone with Shanna in the altogether, but another to see her nearly so in the presence of her lover. Hergus was a modest person, and her motherly fondness for Shanna made her embarrassment all the more excruciating.
“ ‘Tis obvious you have no excuse for spying on me,” Shanna snapped, stamping her foot in outrage. Whirling angrily, she flounced to Ruark’s bed where she threw back the coverlet and turned down the sheet. The irate, non-widow Beauchamp plumped her round bottom upon the soft feather tick and threw up a hand in disgust.
An amused smile twisted Ruark’s lips as he began to fill his pipe. It was his most fervent desire of the moment to join his wife on the bed, but there was yet the Scotswoman to deal with, and she seemed not to have the least intention of leaving.
“Mister Ruark,” Hergus groaned, a worried tone in her voice. “There is no time!” She wrung her hands in anguish and hurriedly came to him to whisper, “Squire Trahern said that he would himself come to see her safe abed.” The servant moaned in dismay. “And if the squire should find her here—Oh, Mister Ruark, ‘twould be dreadful!”
Ruark looked up from lighting his pipe. “How long were you there listening?”
A red flush of color brightened the woman’s cheeks, and her eyes fell to her twisting hands. “I didna come to spy, only to warn her that her pa is coming. I only just come. I wouldna lie to ye, Mister Ruark.”
“I know that, Hergus.”
“I wouldna speak a word of it.” Then she added quickly. “Or of anything else, sir. I think ye—”
She halted and stared past him in amazement. Following her gaze Ruark turned to see his wife curled like a child upon his bed, her dark lashes resting against her cheek in deep slumber. He set his pipe down and nodded to Hergus.
“Fold down her bed.”
As the maid willingly fled, Ruark crossed softly to the four-poster and carefully lifted Shanna. Feeling his arms close about her, she sighed like a soft kitten and snuggled to him, at once at ease and most content wherein she lay.
Shanna’s own sheets were being tucked about her when footsteps sounded in the hall. Ruark quickly took his leave by way of the balcony, pausing outside in the darkness so that his own passage would not be noticed. He heard the door to Shanna’s room open and then Hergus’s voice, hushed and much relieved.
“She went out like a snuffed candle, sir. I was just putting away her clothes.”
Trahern’s grunt sounded. “Good enough.” A long pause followed, then he said, “Hergus, have you seen much of a change in her of late?”
“Ah, n-nay, sir.” The maid’s words stumbled slightly. “She’s grown up a lot, that’s for sure.”
“Aye, that is sure,” Trahern repeated thoughtfully. “I wish her mother were here. My Georgiana was always better with the child than I. Still, I have learned much these past few months.” His heavy sigh came soft and wistful. “Perhaps between the two of us we will yet see the best of all of it. Good night, then.”
The door closed, and Ruark leaned back against the wall in relief. Hergus came close to the French doors and, spying him, marched out to stand before him.
“You’re a fool, John Ruark. And you make a traitor of meself. The good squire trusts me to see what is best for the lass, and I warn ye now I canna twist me tongue around another lie.”
Ruark’s frown was hidden in the shadow, but his tone bore the pain her words inflicted. “Lord willing, I shall not have to ask you again. There is, indeed, a time to live and a time to die, but sometimes it seems the time to live is far outweighed by the other. Have patience, Hergus. I can only swear to you that all I do and all I intend is for Shanna’s good, for you see, Hergus,”—and his voice became a hoarse whisper—“I love the lass beyond all else.”
Hergus lowered her gaze as she struggled to maintain her anger and find a scorching answer. Then she realized she was alone.
Preparations approached the frenzied point as the sailing date neared, and the mill was readied for its first load of logs. Ruark was left to see to the final inspections, and this was his labor just days before the journey to the colonies was to be launched. With the overseers, he conducted an exacting last check, seeing that all bearings were well greased and all cogs, wheels, and walking beams were sturdy and set as directed. The huge water wheel was checked; it was perfectly balanced and turned with no more than the gentle pressure of a hand upon it. The new saw had been laid in place and awaited the first load of logs coming by wagon from the south plateau.