Quest of the Highlander (Crowns & Kilts #5) - Cynthia Wright Page 0,58
your husband has shown us,” Cicely said, watching her. “You know it, of course.”
She won more of his regard by not giving anything away. “Of course.”
“The two of you must come to London. We’ve decided,” Cicely continued. “Haven’t we, Robin?”
Their salivating greyhound was inching his way across the flags, clearly hoping to steal the dozing wolfhound’s half-gnawed bone. Lennox couldn’t suppress a grin when Fergus suddenly emitted a low warning growl.
“God’s eyes, is that beast dangerous?” Fairhaven exclaimed.
“Robin, do pay attention to our conversation.” Cicely gave him an impatient look. “Don’t you agree that Lennox and Nora must come to London with us? I am hopeful that Andrew, who is so much older than we are, will recognize this fellow in the miniature. Since he is a painter himself, he may even know the artist.”
As they all continued to talk, making plans, Lennox stole a glance at Nora’s pensive profile. Was she thinking about her own future in London, the one she dreamed of creating as a master weaver? Something caused him to reach for her slim hand, clasping it in his own.
“Are ye pleased by this plan, wife?” he whispered, a hint of irony in his tone.
She lifted her chin and sent him an enigmatic smile. “It seems an answer to both our prayers.”
* * *
Nora watched everyone else eat heartily while she poked around with her eating knife, feeling slightly sick. This time, however, she knew she couldn’t blame her condition.
They were going to London. The identity of the man in the miniature would be revealed at last, and everything in their world was about to change. She felt it in her bones.
Yet wasn’t this what she had wanted, to go to London and pursue her ambition to become the first female master weaver at the court of Henry VIII? And as she watched Lennox chat with Hector, Nora told herself that she must also wish for a wonderful outcome for Lennox. In London, he would discover the answers to all his questions, solutions to his problems. Quite possibly, he would find his rightful place in the world.
“What has put that crease between your brows?” Lennox asked with a bemused smile. “Is there a problem with our tapestry?”
Nora let herself look into his eyes, feeling a conflicting surge of emotions as she took in his use of the word our. She ought to be putting distance between this man and her vulnerable heart, but it felt impossible.
“The tapestry will take many hours to complete, even days, but it is begun,” she murmured.
“I should have a private viewing, I think,” he teased. “Later tonight.”
His eyes touched her lips, and she felt an answering twinge between her legs.
“Now then, ye two lovebirds,” scolded Hector with a grin. “Ye are surrounded by other guests—”
Just then, a loud pounding came at the double doors. “Help, help!” shouted a man’s voice. “Ye must come. There’s been a terrible shipwreck!”
* * *
The great hall became a scene of chaos as the messenger was admitted and Hector Mór heard his plea for strong men to aid in the search for survivors of the shipwreck.
“Some of us were hawking over on the west coast of the island, far from any croft or shepherd. The storm was rising and we sought shelter in a grove of trees when an awful cracking sound reached our ears. ’Twas the destruction of a great galleon, pushed by the wind into a narrow cleft in the rocks.” The man paused, panting, overcome by emotion. “’Twas being crushed like a walnut. Men were screaming, but the cliffs were too high for any to reach safety. When we came to the edge and looked, we saw only the waves, sweeping them overboard!”
Hector Mór would hear no more of the man’s story. He ordered whisky and a bowl of venison stew for the distraught messenger, while the rest of them hurriedly made preparations to leave on a rescue mission. It was no surprise to Nora when Lennox insisted on joining the MacLean warriors and clansmen, and even Lord Fairhaven gallantly proclaimed that he would go as well.
When Nora and Lennox were upstairs in the bedchamber, and he was assembling his possessions and weapons, he paused to look at her.
“Will ye worry for my safety, lass?”
His tone was light, and his teeth flashed in a smile, but when Nora came near, she thought she saw a sign of something deeper in his eyes. “Of course I will worry,” she said sincerely.