Hawk winked at Gawain. “’Tis true, she’s nearly decrepit.”
“I’m twenty-four,” Shawna said.
“You shall decay within the week!” Hawk assured her, smiling, but then adding seriously, “We cannot stay, that’s why I asked you not to bother unduly with changes.”
“I merely moved a few of my things to leave room for yours,” Shawna said as she rose. “If you like, I can escort you?—”
“I do know the way,” Hawk murmured somewhat dryly.
“Of course.” Shawna smiled. “Then if you’ll excuse me, we had a bit of a trying day here as well.”
“I heard,” Hawk told her, staring at her in a way that unnerved her. His green eyes were so like his brother’s. “We stopped for an ale at the tavern; I understand that you are quite the heroine among the people, rushing down into the shafts and trying to crawl into the narrowest of the tunnels to rescue a boy.”
Shawna flushed. “We were all within the tunnels, Gawain, Lowell, Alistair, Alaric, Aidan, and I. It is our responsibility, we run the operation, nothing more.”
“It is much more,” Hawk assured her. He rose as well, as did the others. He set his hands upon his wife’s waist in a gesture that was both possessive and tender.
“Well, thank you, I shall accept the compliment,” Shawna said. “And I will bid you all good night, since you do know the way.” She kissed Gawain and Alistair on their cheeks, bidding them good night. She walked to the foot of the stairway, looking back. Hawk remained at his wife’s side. They were a gloriously beautiful couple, she so blonde and delicate in appearance, he so dark and powerful. Shawna was suddenly quite glad for his happiness, and wretched in her own knowledge that Hawk would soon know that she would have a great number of good deeds to do ahead of her to make up for the treachery she had once practiced.
“Good night, Sabrina,” she said as well.
Sabrina smiled. “Good night. Thank you for your care and hospitality.”
“It’s your sister’s home,” Shawna reminded her wryly.
“Still, it’s in your care.”
“I hope you’ll allow me to show you some of what is MacGinnis property as well,” Shawna told her.
“I’d be delighted.”
“Do you ride?”
Hawk laughed. “Sabrina is a demon on horseback.”
“I look forward to seeing this land through your eyes,” Sabrina assured Shawna.
“Tomorrow, then,” Shawna said. She looked at Hawk. “When we’ve finished with the books, of course.”
She started up the stairs at last, slowly at first, then fleeing when she reached the second-floor landing. She hurried downthe hall to the narrower stairway that led to the attic rooms and found the one she had chosen in the north turret. She entered her room, bolted it, and started pacing.
There was sufficient room to pace. Once upon a time, prisoners taken in warfare had been kept here, sometimes for months at a time, since Highland feuds could entail the necessity of a fair ransom before a hostage might be released. The room was circular in shape, with two windows. Both were smaller than the window in the master’s chambers, but the one boasted steps and a small balcony as well, allowing the castle’s “guest” to look out on the world where he or she was no longer free to roam.
It was fitting that she had come here. She felt like a prisoner.
She should have returned to Castle MacGinnis, she thought. But then, she’d departed the master’s chambers here with such speed that she couldn’t possibly have planned a great deal.
But now, this deed was done.
She sat upon the bed, shaking. Hawk was home with his wife. And David would find the real help he needed in his brother now. She had lost complete control of her world, and there was nothing she could do about it.
She rose, distractedly shedding her clothing, donning her nightgown. If David made any of his mysterious appearances tonight, he would crawl into his brother’s bed.
It was what she had wanted, what he deserved.
What she had planned.
Yet she felt anxious now, worried that she had lost all chance of communication with David, that, in fact, she had lost David.