Aliss along with Anna located a cottage suitable to serve her healing needs and set to cleaning it. Presently, she used a corner in the great hall to see to minor ills and injuries.
She and Anna had been working since early morning at cleaning out the place and had taken a rest to enjoy the food the women had brought to them from the kitchen. A long bench in the shade of the front yard served as their table and chairs.
“It is beautiful here,” Anna said, taking a deep breath of the warm fresh air.
“It is heaven on earth,” Aliss said and watched Anna nibble at her food. Something was on her mind. She only nibbled when she needed to express her thoughts.
“What troubles you in this paradise?” Aliss asked.
Anna knitted her brow, chewed her lip, until Aliss wanted to pull the words from her mouth. Instead, she encouraged her to voice her concerns.
“Share with me what troubles you.”
Anna’s head went up and her shoulders pulled back as if a weight had been lifted off them, and words rushed forth. “Many of us worry we will need to leave here.”
“Why?”
“Rogan will leave in the allotted time if you and he do not mend the rift between you.”
“No one need leave with Rogan. The isle belongs to us all.”
Anna shook her head. “Do not misunderstand me, Aliss. The clan cares for you. You are one of us, and we do not want to lose you either. We all believe you and Rogan love each other and that is what we hope you will consider. But we would never abandon our chieftain. He has seen us through many difficult times.”
Aliss had known there would be talk and she had not doubted the clan would take their leader’s side. He had, after all, saved them from a ravaging illness and had found a new home for them. Unfortunately, she had been the key to achieving his goals. Did they not care at all about her feelings?
She barely touched what remained of her food and wished she could spend the rest of the afternoon cleaning out the cottage alone. She had thought herself a part of them and yet they sided with their chieftain. She really was foolish.
She had been duped by everyone, even herself. She should have been more vigilant. She had been too busy dealing with the ill. Rogan probably had counted on her deep involvement in keeping her from seeing the truth. She had been cautious at first with Rogan, even wondering if this isle had anything to do with her abduction. Then she had grown absorbed with treating the ill and finding the cause of the sickness and Rogan had been so kind, attentive, and helpful . . .
Damn, she had fallen easily into his trap.
Aliss was relieved when John came to fetch Anna, and Aliss insisted she go with her husband. Finally, she had the solitude she craved. Rogan did what was best for his clan and would he not continue to do so? She was merely a pawn in this game and she would do well to remember that.
“Are you all right?”
Startled, Aliss bumped into the edge of the table and shot her husband a surprised look, though it changed quickly enough to one of concern when she saw a bloody cloth wrapped around his hand.
“What happened?” she asked, rushing over to him.
“You answer me first.”
She looked perplexed.
“Are you all right?” he repeated.
“Of course I am,” she said, annoyed that he knew she was upset. She reached for his wounded hand.
He yanked it away. “I called to you twice from the doorway and you did not hear me.”
“Are you going to give me your hand or bleed all over my clean floor?” she snapped and held out her hand.
He placed his hand in hers. “I am as concerned for you.”
“Don’t be.”
“You are never curt when treating someone. Something is wrong. What is it?”
“None of your concern,” she said and removed the cloth, resting his hand on it.
Her eyes spread wide. “This is a knife wound. How did you get it?”
“Tell me what troubles you and I will tell you about the wound,” he bargained.
“No,” she said, and shoved him to the table. “Sit.”
She went to work as soon as he sat. She cleansed the wound, which she was relieved to see was not deep. More of a surface cut that had bled out and would now heal with proper attention.
“Your gentle touch belies your anger.”
“I am not angry,” she snapped, and almost winced at her own biting tone.
“Did someone upset you?”
“I need to concentrate. No more questions,” she ordered, and to her relief he remained silent.
She spread a generous amount of salve on the wound then bandaged it with a strip of white cloth, tying a secure knot to hold it in place.
“Keep it dry and clean,” she said, and turned only to be spun back around and drawn between his spread legs to rest close to him.