a man who needed rest, more like a lion kept too long at the end of a leash.
Twenty-Five
Edward belted his tunic and looked around for his scabbard. It was nowhere to be found. He grinned and tucked a small dirk inside his sash. The lass was too intelligent to allow a stranger free use of his sword. Mairi of Shiels was an unusual woman. An astute mind lay beneath her lovely face. He opened the door and walked down the hall to the stairs. No one was about. The air was cold, and he drew a deep cleansing breath into his lungs. He’d never quite grown accustomed to the foul-smelling herbs that were inevitably strewn across all sickroom floors.
He walked down the stairs to the great hall. The door to the entry was open. God’s blood! Where was everyone? Didn’t the woman have servants? He opened his mouth to call for Thomas, then remembered he’d sent him back to London bearing the message that the king still lived. Hunger and the tempting smell of spice propelled him out the door and across the yard to a small dwelling he was sure would be the kitchen.
Edward pushed open the door and stepped inside. A rush of pleasure caught him by surprise. She was here, overseeing the preparation of apple tarts. Her black hair, held away from her face by a strip of velvet, hung down her back. Her cheeks were red from the heat and a smudge of flour marked her nose. His mouth watered. He wasn’t sure whether it was the smell of food or the incredibly appealing sight of Mairi of Shiels dressed in the simple clothes of country maid.
“You shouldn’t be out of bed,” she chastised him.
He grinned. “I had nothing to occupy my time. You haven’t been to visit me in two days.”
“There is more to running an estate than dalliance,” she said.
His grin broadened. “’Tis glad I am to hear it. I was afraid you’d been avoiding me.”
She lifted her chin and looked directly at him. “Don’t be absurd. Why would I do that?”
Edward promised himself he would leave the lass pure, but his time was growing short. A bit of flirtation wouldn’t harm her. “Perhaps because I was ungracious enough to refuse your proposal,” he said.
The cooks’ ladies stopped in midair as they turned to look at their mistress in astonishment.
“Of course not,” Mairi said hastily. “You must know I wasn’t serious.”
“I’m sorry to hear it,” replied Edward. “If you don’t wish to marry me, perhaps you’ll agree to feed me instead.”
Her hand flew to her mouth. “Sweet Mary, ’tis past time for the noon meal. I forgot.” She turned to the cooks. “Why did no one remind me?”
“Pardon me, mistress,” a plump, apple-cheeked girl spoke up. “But often times you have no appetite in the middle of the day.”
“I’m afraid ’tis so,” Mairi confessed.
Edward folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the door jamb. He was so tall his head brushed against the ceiling. “I know how to bring back your appetite,” he said. “We shall have a picnic.”
She frowned. “A picnic?”
“A meal out of doors,” he explained. “Surely you’ve done it before.”
Mairi shook her head. “I don’t think—”
His smile was brilliant. “You needn’t think, lass. Just pack up some bread, a bit of cheese, and a flask of wine, and we’ll be on our way.”
Who could argue with such enthusiasm? Certainly not Mairi. She knew, with a sinking feeling in her chest, that he was not a man to accept refusal easily.
He watched her efficient movements with fascinated interest as she gathered the food, stuffing it into a flour sack and knotting it firmly at the top. This was a lady of the manor that he had no experience with. Her capable hands had the slender fine-boned lines of an aristocrat, but her nails were clipped short and he’d felt the calluses on her palm when she’d touched his chest. Mairi of Shiels was not afraid of hard work. For some reason, the knowledge pleased him. Manual labor was something Edward was unfamiliar with. The idea that this border lady with the light-touched eyes was proficient in areas he was not challenged him.
Mairi untied the linen cloth from around her waist. “Shall we go?” she asked, embarrassed at the obvious interest of her servants.
“Aye.” Edward pushed away from the door and held out his hand for the sack.
She gave it to him and waited until he stepped outside before she followed.