The Laird's Captive Wife(70)

‘I thought it might have been Morag.’

‘Ah.’ He glanced round, taking in the pile of discarded garments. ‘Am I interrupting?’

‘No, of course not. Come in.’

‘I need to talk to you, Ash.’

Seeing that he looked unusually preoccupied she gestured to a chair. ‘Well then, won’t you sit down?’

However, he ignored her invitation and moved closer to the hearth, looking down into the fire. Ashlynn waited, puzzled, feeling the first stirring of unease.

‘I have been thinking,’ he said at last.

‘About what?’

‘The future.’ He turned to face her, regarding her with a steady gaze. ‘Your husband has been a most generous host, but I cannot stay here indefinitely. I must make my way in the world. Since the best chance of doing that is to go to Dunfermline and seek military service, that is what I mean to do.’

‘But your shoulder is not completely healed yet.’

‘No, but it grows stronger with every day. In the New Year I shall get back into training and by the spring I shall be fit again.’

Ashlynn bit her lip, fighting the rising sense of dread. ‘I don’t want you to go, Ban.’

‘I know but I must. Surely you see that?’

‘Yes, but…’

‘But what?’

‘You are all I have left of family. I will miss you dreadfully.’

‘And I you,’ he replied, ‘but we will see each other as time and occasion permit. Besides, you will be too busy to miss me for long.’

Ashlynn turned away to hide the tears that threatened. Frowning, Ban took her by the shoulders.

‘No need to be despondent. I’m not leaving yet. There’s plenty of time for you to get used to the idea.’

‘I think I will never get used to the idea.’

‘You must, Ash. Our ways lie along different paths now.’

‘Does Iain know about this?’

‘Not yet, but I shall speak to him soon.’

She turned and regarded him with imploring eyes. ‘Must you really go?’

He gave her a gentle smile. ‘You have found your place, Ash. Now I must seek mine.’

He left shortly after this and Ashlynn paced the floor in mounting distress. In a matter of weeks Ban would be gone. He was an able swordsman and she had no doubt of his finding the situation he desired. And after Dunfermline what then? He had spoken of their meeting again from time to time but she was realist enough to know it could not be often. What if something were to happen to him? Life was precarious; doubly so for one who earned a living by the sword. He was the last remaining tie with everything she had held dear. If she lost him…Suddenly, all her former fears rose like a tide and she sank trembling on to a chair.

* * *

That evening she was quieter than usual and despite the music and laughter all around the feeling of heaviness persisted. Involuntarily her thoughts turned from the present to the last Yuletide celebrations at Heslingfield, to the hall and the great log burning in the hearth and all the walls festooned with winter greenery. She could see her family and hear again their laughter and merry banter as they moved among their guests. Almost she could hear music and song and smell the rich fare issuing from the kitchen for Lord Cyneric was renowned for keeping a fine table. Not only was he a good host, no one was ever turned away from his door no matter how humble. Remembering it, she felt the tears start. Yule would never be celebrated more in Heslingfield. A great Saxon house was gone, along with all its tradition of hospitality and good fellowship.

‘Ashlynn?’

Jeannie’s voice recalled her and she looked up with a start to find both her sister-in-law and husband regarding her closely. ‘Forgive me.’

‘Are you all right?’

‘Yes, perfectly.’

With an effort she dragged her attention back to the room and the company.

‘Duncan and I want to invite you to Ardnashiel in the spring,’ said Jeannie. ‘You will come, won’t you? I would not lose you so soon.’

‘I would be delighted.’ Ashlynn looked up at Iain. ‘That is, if…’

He smiled and then turned to his sister. ‘I will bring her, I promise.’

‘I shall hold you to it.’

‘I wouldn’t dare disobey,’ he confided to his wife. ‘My sister has a fearsome tongue on her.’

Ashlynn smiled. ‘Then I’ll look forward to the spring weather.’

‘It will come soon enough.’ Jeannie threw her brother a shrewd glance. ‘And you will be off adventuring again no doubt.’

‘That depends on the adventure,’ he replied.

Neither of them had spoken the word revenge but it was tacitly understood and Ashlynn felt a sudden sense of foreboding. When all the festivities were over and the guests were gone would his thoughts turn that way? Would the thaw see him gone too? He was a man of action, a man driven by a blood oath. Once the fine weather came he would be drawn from Dark Mount to ride with his men once more, and her brother too would leave for Dunfermline to sell his skills. This magic winter world that held them was only a dream, an illusion that would vanish with the snow. She knew it now and a strange feeling of dread entered her heart. The two people she loved most would be gone and she would be alone again. She also knew that what she felt for Iain was much more than physical attraction. Somehow she had come to care for him more deeply than she would ever have thought possible. It was a very different emotion from the one she felt for Ban, and it could not be denied.