Will put his hand on her arm. “As your betrothed, I must object.”
She pointedly removed his hand. “You are not my betrothed, Will. And even if you were, Keifer is my friend and I will speak to him. Privately.”
Keifer’s emotions went from anxious to anger to a stifled chuckle in the course of this exchange. Perhaps she hadn’t changed so much after all—although she was more diplomatic than she’d been as a child.
“As you wish, my lady.” Will’s scowl was anything but conciliatory, but Keifer didn’t care. Will was turning away and Nola was here, and they would talk at last.
TWELVE
NOLA HAD BEEN GLAD when Keifer found her in the courtyard and asked for a private word. The way Will had hovered nearby all day wore thin, and she was especially relieved when Keifer made it clear that Will wasn’t welcome.
Now she would have a chance to find out why Keifer had acted so odd, whether he had changed over these past four years into a stranger. But no matter what he said or did, she would not mention that he no longer wore her favor. A grown man should not be taken to task for putting aside the childish gesture.
Keifer allowed her to enter the empty church first and closed the door behind them. Again she noticed the graceful way he moved, as if perfectly at ease in his body. His shoulders were broad and she’d felt strength in his arm when she placed her hand on it. He wore dark trews and a white sark. A surcoat emblazoned with Sir Bryan’s coat of arms proclaimed Keifer as Sir Bryan’s man.
She knew she was staring, but Keifer did the same. Someone had to start the conversation. “Do you plan to remain in Sir Bryan’s retinue?”
“Aye. Although I’ll go home to Innishewan eventually, I will be assigned to him if we muster for a battle.”
There was little warmth in his eyes and he seemed restrained. What had happened to the camaraderie they’d always shared? “You have changed,” she blurted.
His gaze flicked up and down her person. “And so have you, wild one.” His voice softened, and a hint of a smile graced his face.
She blushed. “Four years makes a difference. In both of us.”
He didn’t say anything.
“Why did you bring me in here?”
He seemed taken aback. “I wanted to thank you for bringing the ring. I thought we . . . perhaps it was a foolish idea. Yesterday . . .” he huffed out a breath.
“Yesterday what?” Why were they having so much trouble talking to each other?
Keifer’s expression darkened. “Are you betrothed to Will Macpherson or not?”
“No!”
He paced away and back. “He seems to think the announcement will be made any day.”
She tipped her head to one side and grinned. “Are you jealous, Keifer Macnab?”
He stopped in front of her and straightened to his full height. “Of course not. I’m simply . . . I simply want to keep my promise, the one we made to each other. Or did you forget?”
He was angry. Just as he’d been angry yesterday! “I thought you had forgotten. I haven’t given my heart away, Keifer.”
Was that relief on his face?
“Then you don’t love Will?”
“No, I don’t. I care for him, but I have not decided to marry him or anyone else.”
Keifer’s expression softened, but this was not the same rebellious boy who’d left Moy. “No wonder he didn’t want to let you out of his sight.”
She smiled and walked to the window to look out. She heard him move behind her and turned to see that he’d pulled out a bench for them to sit on. Nola took the seat he offered, though she felt much too restless to remain seated for long.
She waited for Keifer to speak, afraid that if she spoke first, she would blurt out her feelings for him and send him fleeing. But she couldn’t wait for him. “I am so glad to see you again. I was afraid yesterday—”
“So was I. I thought our friendship hadn’t survived the separation.” He sat down next to her, careful to maintain a proper distance.
“Just look at you, Nola. You’ve grown up. I’m surprised someone other than Will hasn’t swept you away from Moy.”
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
His face clouded.
“What? Don’t tell me you have given your heart elsewhere.”
“No, of course not. I don’t intend to marry. You know that.”
With a dramatic sigh she said, “I thought you might have changed your mind.”
“Looking at you is enough to make me consider it.”
She grinned. She would not give up hope. “Perhaps if we were to spend time together, I could change it for you.” A lady should not be so bold, but too much was at stake to be timid.
But her resolve was nearly shattered with his next words.
“I should like to spend time with you, Nola. But I am leaving in two days to accompany the Earl of Moray to Paris for the treaty negotiations.”
“Leaving? For Paris!”
“Aye. I will be gone several months. And after that I must spend a year or more competing in tournaments to earn some coin. Innishewan isn’t a rich holding.”
He would leave and she would not see him for a year or longer!
Will and her father would never agree to delaying a marriage that long. Something must be done. “Take me with you to Paris.”
He stared at her as if she’d grown an extra nose. “Take you with me?” He shook his head. “Nola, how will it look if I ask to take a woman who isn’t my wife?”
“Ask my da for permission. If he says yes, then no one can object to you escorting your foster sister.” When he remained silent, she furthered her argument. “You know I’ve always wanted to see Paris. And you promised me an adventure.”
His expression softened. Did he remember how many times Nola had told him of her dream of seeing the world before she settled down? He remained adamant, though he gentled his voice. “I’m not going on some great adventure, Nola. I’m going to Paris on the king’s business. There won’t be a lot of time for pleasure.”
“Aye, you get your dream and I’ll not get mine. I just want to see the sights my mother has told me about.”
Patiently he explained again. “I’ll have duties to perform, Nola. This is a not pleasure trip. I won’t be able to spend my time defending the honor of a beautiful young woman.”
She grinned. “You think I’m pretty.”
“Don’t change the subject. You know I do.”
“Please take me with you, Keifer.”
“Why aren’t you pestering Will to take you there?”
“I did ask him once. He sees no reason to do such a thing. And for all the saints, why would you want me to go to such a romantic . . . Why are you being so difficult, Keifer Macnab?” Nola asked.
Keifer crossed his arms. “ ’Tis you who is being difficult. You can’t go with me. Your father will never allow it.”
“This may be the only chance I ever have to see Paris. And you promised to give me an adventure.”
“So I did. But such an adventure would be more proper if we were married.”
Nola bit her lip to keep from saying the obvious. Let him suggest it.
Keifer gave her a rueful stare. “You have changed. I fully expected you to suggest we marry before the day was up.”
She laughed. “I almost did. But we should have my father’s permission first, don’t you think?”
“You can’t come with me to Paris, but I will ask my mother to invite you to Innishewan when I return. We will have our time to become reacquainted, I promise. Just promise me you won’t marry Will while I’m gone.”
“I must make promises and keep them, but you don’t?”
“We will have our time together, Nola. Then, if we decide to marry—should I decide to reconsider my decision not to marry—I will take you to Paris.”
“If we marry I’ll get to go to Paris? Call a priest, I’m ready today!”
He laughed, as she had meant him to. “Nola. Be reasonable.”
If they were still children, she would push and wheedle until she got her way. However, this was not a boy but a man with responsibilities. Nola sensed that he spoke from conviction, and certainly not because he didn’t want to take her. He truly believed he could not do so. She sighed, admitting a temporary defeat of her plans. At least he was speaking of marriage and her in the same sentence. That was progress. “I’m going to hold you to your promises, Keifer Macnab.”
“That’s Sir Keifer,” he teased.
She gave a wan smile. “When do you leave?”
“Day after tomorrow.” He blushed and looked away, clearly embarrassed by something.
“What? Why do you turn from me?”
His shoulders rose and sank with a deep breath, and when he looked at her again, she drew her own breath sharply. She was not a child anymore, and she recognized a man’s desire in his eyes. He wanted her. Whether he knew the truth of it or not, she did.
She smiled, remembering the kiss they’d shared when they had parted at Homelea years past. She wanted his kiss. Wanted to see if there was any hope of marrying her best friend. “Perhaps you should kiss me.”
“Aye. Perhaps I should.” He hesitated, then accepted her dare. He held her arms, pulled her to him.
The kiss was every bit as sweet and as moving as the one they had shared four years ago. And his kiss told her that what she’d seen in his eyes a moment ago was real, told her what she needed to know about the feelings he tried to hide. He might fool himself that he didn’t love her, but she wasn’t fooled in the least.
As their lips parted and his hands fell away from her arms, she made up her mind.
She was going to Paris, whether he liked it or not!
KEIFER AND OWYN traveled with Sir Thomas Randolph to Edinburgh, where they assisted the earl in preparation for the voyage to Paris.
Just after midnight on the third day after his departure from Homelea and Nola, Keifer stood at the rail on the ship’s stern and watched as the dark outline of Scotland’s coast disappeared into the inky night. High thin clouds hid all but the brightest stars, and a half moon glowed through the hazy veil.
Salt air ruffled his clothing and soughed through the sails overhead as lanyards clanked against the mast. He was sailing to Paris! He had never dreamed his duties might take him away from Scotland.
His stomach knotted as it always did with farewells and new places. How many times had he left familiar surroundings and loved ones in his short life? But the gentle rise and fall of the deck soothed him. All that was missing was Nola.
Disappointment speared through him. It might be months before he saw her again. It shouldn’t matter. But after their kiss, he knew that seeing her again mattered a great deal.
KEIFER SLEPT SOUNDLY despite the strangeness of his surroundings. He awoke refreshed in the morning, refreshed and hungry. The smell of food wafted under the door of the tiny stateroom he shared with Owyn.
Keifer stood and yanked the covers off Owyn. “Let’s find the source of that delicious aroma.”
Owyn grumbled at the rude awakening. “Couldn’t ye warn a man before ye . . .” He lifted his head and sniffed, then grabbed his clothes. “One of the mates showed me the dining area last night.”
They donned their clothes quickly and Keifer followed his squire to the small area that served as a dining room. It was empty except for a red-haired woman. For a moment, Keifer thought she looked like Nola. He shook his head. His thoughts last night had led to dreams of her, and now he saw Nola where she couldn’t be.
It was going to be a very long voyage and sojourn in Paris if he couldn’t get her off his mind any better than this. But when the red-haired woman turned to greet them, Keifer felt as if he’d been hit in the chest with a caber pole.
“Nola?” Shock turned to anger as he realized what his impetuous foster sister had done.
Stowaway!
“By the saints, Nola! What have you done now?”
She stared at him as if he were the one who had lost his mind.
“Your father will have my head!”
“Why would my father be angry?”
Keifer groaned. “Surely you didn’t confide your plan to stow away aboard this ship?”
“Stow away?” She looked helplessly at Owyn, who shrugged. Realization came over her features. “Did Sir Thomas not tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
Nola peered behind him.
Keifer turned and saw the earl and his wife. Now it would all come down on him for sure. This prank of Nola’s would have consequences as serious as her near drowning years ago.
“Good morrow, Lady Randolph,” Nola said.
The lady looked at Keifer and Owyn, then at Nola. “Good morrow, Nola, gentlemen.”
When had Nola met the earl and his wife? And why wasn’t Lady Randolph surprised to see Nola this morning? “You two have met,” he said, feeling decidedly half-witted.
Now Sir Thomas smiled, as did his wife. “We have indeed. While you and Owyn were at the docks yesterday, Nola and her father paid us a visit. I believe that in the hurry to finish preparations, I may not have mentioned that Lady Nola has agreed to be my wife’s companion during our stay in Paris.”
Nola laid her hand on Keifer’s arm. “You are surprised. I’m sorry. I thought you knew.” She chuckled. “You thought I was a stowaway.”
Everyone had a good laugh at Keifer’s expense. Though it was churlish of him, he wasn’t quite amused. “Your father agreed to this?”
“Aye. It’s perfect, Keifer. I will get the adventure I’ve always wanted.” But her expression showed less enthusiasm than her words were meant to portray.
“And in return your father gets . . . what?”
Nola glanced at the others who were standing there, clearly entranced with this conversation.
“Excuse us, please.” Without waiting for a reply, Keifer took
Nola’s elbow and guided her to the other end of the small room.
“What have you promised your father?”
With a bright but obviously false smile, Nola replied, “I have promised to marry when I return.”
“Will?” he choked out, louder than he meant to.
She only shrugged. “Da did not specify to whom.”
A quick glance over his shoulder at the others convinced him to lower his voice. “But Will is waiting for your return.”
She stared at the low ceiling, evidently finding the knotholes in the wood quite interesting.
“Nola, tell me all of it. I am relieved your father gave you permission to go to Paris. But I want to know how you convinced Will to let you out of his sight. Particularly aboard a ship I’m on.”
Now she stared at her hands, and he knew he wasn’t going to like whatever she had to say.
“Will thinks I am staying in Edinburgh with Lady Randolph.”
She said it so quietly he almost didn’t hear her. “You lied to him?”
Now she looked at him and carefully said, “He made an assumption and I didn’t correct him.”
Keifer shook his head. “Will and I are not the best of friends, but I would not see any man treated so.”
She stuck her hands on her hips. “Will is not my betrothed. He has no say over me. I am here with Da’s permission, nay, his blessing, Keifer Macnab. And you and Will are not going to ruin this opportunity for me.” With that she shoved past him and sat down to finish her meal.
She’d certainly put Keifer in his place. Hunger and anger warred in him, and hunger won out. He took a seat by Owyn—as far from Nola as possible—and broke his fast.
Owyn raised his eyebrows in question.
Keifer shook his head, unsure whether to laugh at her audacity or bellow in rage. Typical of his feelings ever since Nola had arrived for his knighting ceremony, ever since he had met her, really. And his confusion had only worsened since their kiss. Their good-bye kiss.
He stole a glance at Nola where she sat with the Randolphs. He would do his
best to stay angry at her, keep his distance. After all, he was a soldier with duties to perform. He couldn’t be distracted by— Then he saw her laugh, head thrown back and eyes dancing, and his anger dissipated as quickly as it had come. It had always been so with her.
Hadn’t he prayed to be shown God’s will? Now by some miracle God had granted them time together. Somehow, despite the demands of his work, Keifer would renew his friendship with Nola, see if there was something more between them that might tempt him toward Randolph’s suggestion of reconsidering marriage. Only a fool would waste springtime in Paris with a beautiful woman.
And Keifer was no fool.
THIRTEEN
AFTER BREAKING THEIR FAST, Nola and Lady Randolph retired to the cramped stateroom they would share for the voyage. Sir Thomas had graciously agreed to sleep with the other men when no other cabin had been available at the last minute for Nola.
Lady Randolph smoothed the covers on the bed and sat down.
Nola sat beside her. “Your husband was kind to give up your company and his bed, my lady.”
“You may call me Isobel in private, Nola. And Thomas is glad that I will have an agreeable companion. My sister had planned to come with us, but she discovered she was with child. This will be their first, and she and her husband thought it best not to risk the journey.”
“I’m sorry for her but . . . I hope I will make a good companion.”
“I’m sure you will. You have already proved quite interesting.” She smiled broadly. “So, who is Will?”
“A neighbor and friend who thinks we should marry.”
“And what of you? Do you want to marry?”
What could she say? “Not really.”
Isobel stood and went to one of the three trunks that held her clothing. “My husband says you grew up with Sir Keifer.”
“Aye. He came to live with us when I was about six years old and he was ten.”
“From the way you look at him, I would guess ’tis him you prefer to wed,” she said quietly. She removed a gown from the trunk and shook out the wrinkles before hanging it on a peg on the wall.
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