She remembered the exact moment he entered the great hall. It was during her third bite of food. It was as if someone threw open the shutters and sunshine came bursting in. He stepped through the doorway and made his way to her table. She watched as he was stopped a dozen times by men seeking his advice, women wanting to talk, and servants wanting to serve him.
She wanted to ask him about his beautiful betrothed.
He wore a white léine beneath a short coat of embroidered black. His long, strong legs were encased in black hose and leather boots. The coat only reached his hips. His hose were not overly tight but the bulge peeking out from beneath the hem made Silene’s blood sizzle.
Streaks of gold eclipsed his eyes that had already found her.
Her uncle was patient while the captain stopped at Mac’s table and laughed with Padrig. Silene missed sitting with the men, laughing with them. She may have sighed. She straightened her shoulders and turned her attention to her uncle and his wife with dreadful anticipation.
Their gazes were steady on her while they waited.
Silene’s belly balled into a knot. They knew! They knew she cared for him. Surely, they could see it in her eyes, her darting glances. They could likely hear her heart beating, pounding like a drum.
She took a sip from her cup. Whatever was in it was starting to taste more like wine. Rather pleasant wine. She forgot the people she was sitting with and watched the captain share a furtive glance with Alex and Margaret.
He set his gaze on her table. On her.
Was he about to smile or scowl?
“Captain,” her uncle called out and startled her. “We tried to wait. Ye are tardy.”
Silene looked into her bowl. She didn’t dare look at him taking his seat at the steward’s right, on the other side of the table.
“Aye,” she heard him say. “Fergive me. Many sought to speak to me on my way to supper.”
“Aye. We bore witness,” the steward said dramatically. “Did we not…Sister?”
Silene’s face burned. He’d been watching her watching the captain. It was as if she could not control herself. She was mortified and finished with her supper.
“Sister?” His husky voice drew her gaze to him and set her spine on fire. “Fergive me fer makin’ ye wait here with this pompous fool.”
He eased her with amusement, and then he smiled at John, as if it were said in fun.
“Captain,” Matilda said, ignoring how he had just mocked her husband. “Is it true ye had to look after two of my little ones today?”
The captain’s spoon paused at his parted lips. His gaze flicked to the children’s table. “’Twas no trouble, my lady. They are well-behaved and rather fun.”
“I am pleased ye think so highly of them,” their mother offered. “Ye can keep them with ye since ye threw their teacher oot of Dundonald.”
The captain lowered his spoon and his voice. “I dismissed their teacher because he left yer children to their own defenses today. If ye wish me to look after them, I will.”
“Nonsense!” the steward slammed down his cup, drawing much attention to himself. “The captain isna here to watch over my bairns. I willna—”
“I will do it, my lord,” the captain told him. “I dinna mind. If I have things to see to that are dangerous, I will lock them in my chambers. They will be safe with me.”
Silene listened, looking up at him now and then while he spoke. This is what he did. He kept others safe. Her, the children. Heaven knew how many others. She was quite sure he did all this for Daffodil and the children. This would give them time to play together.
“In the meantime, my lady,” the captain said as he fixed his steady gaze on Matilda. “’Twill give ye time to find a more responsible teacher fer yer bairns.”
“Aye, Captain,” Matilda promised, granting him absolution for releasing the teacher. He was, after all, looking out for her children’s safety.
“What happened today that ye wanted me to know?” the steward asked him and then looked at his wife.
Silene flashed Matilda a glare.
“There is nothin’,” the captain assured him. He obviously didn’t feel the need to explain why Silene was alone with him in front of his open door.
Across from him, Silene smiled subtly.