Bride For A Knight Page 0,27

you stay?"

"My sorrow, but there will not be time for suchlike this e'en," he spoke true. "I would be back at Baldreagan before dusk and I'm hoping to pay my respects to my brothers along the way."

Sorcha inclined her head. "To be sure, my lord. I will inform my father and he will welcome you to our table another time."

"I shall look forward to it."

Sorcha nodded again and retreated, closing the door softly behind her. Jamie almost followed after her, her plight compelling him to comfort her, if only with a few awkward words and a gentle pat or two upon her shoulder. But by the time he stirred himself to open the door and step onto the landing, the narrow turnpike stair loomed empty. His bride's unhappy sister was already gone. Turning back to the solar, he was heartened to see that the sky seemed to have lightened. He'd be well served to be on his way before the clouds lowered and the cold rains returned.

His bride had other ideas.

"May I go with you?" she blurted, suddenly standing in front of him. Jamie blinked. "To Baldreagan?"

She nodded. "I have some wax candles for your father," she said, indicating a cloth-covered basket he hadn't noticed. "He keeps them burning of a night and needs more than Morag can supply him."

Jamie tightened his lips and retrieved the basket, not too keen on catering to his da's fool whims. Like as not, if he'd burn fewer candles, he'd sleep better and imagine less ghostly visitations.

But what was one basket of candles when it meant more time spent in his faery's company?

And even if she weren't a true Sithe maid, she certainly had the grace of one. She bedazzled him, standing there limned by the hearth glow and with her violet scent rising up between them, teasing his senses.

For one unsettling moment, she appeared clothed in sparkling, misty glitter and Jamie nigh dropped the basket, but then the image cleared and he realized she'd only flashed him a smile.

"I thank you," she said, touching his chest, and despite the cloud-cast afternoon, he would've sworn the sun itself burst into the tiny chamber. "I know your father can be vexing, but the candles soothe him."

"I suspect it is you who comforts him." Jamie stepped away from her, making long-strided for the door.

His father was a sore subject and other, grievous duties lay ahead of him. But as his bride slipped past him out the door, his father's scowling face rose up before him and he shot out a hand, circling his fingers around her arm.

"My father is overfond of you," he said, looking down at her. "I doubt it's because you take him candles. Yet" - he paused to angle his head - "so far as I know, he hasn't had a pleasant word for any female in years."

Aveline shrugged. "Perhaps he likes me because of the alliance between our clans?" she suggested, lying out her nose.

Jamie could tell because of the way she avoided his eyes, looking down to flick invisible lint from her gown.

Folding his arms, he drew himself up to his fullest height, fairly or unfairly employing his great bulk as his only self-defense against wee, fetching faery lasses, his over-sized body making escape impossible.

"Could it be you treat him too softly?" Jamie lifted a brow, watching her carefully.

"Perhaps listening too long to his blabbering and, through your well-meant sympathy, encouraging his foolery?"

She sniffed. "Some might say you treat him too harshly. He is old and should not be made to pay for past sins or regrets. For myself, I would never do aught that would encourage him to frighten himself."

"Hah!" Jamie grinned. "And there we have it."

"Have what?" Her chin took on a defensive tilt.

"You listen to his prattle about my brothers' ghosts. That is why he is so fond of you."

"Nay, that is not the reason," she said, shaking her head. "Leastways I do not think so."

"Then what do you think?"

"That he likes me because I am the only one who believes him."

Jamie stared at her, his brows shooting upward.

And then he laughed.

"Ah, well, letting him think you believe him may well be it," he agreed, pleased to have solved the riddle.

"You do not understand," she said, the look on her face sending shivers down his spine. "I do not let him think I believe, I honestly do."

Jamie blinked at her. "You believe he sees my brothers' ghosts?"

She nodded. "I know that he does."

"And how do you know?" he