The Promise of Peace (19 page)

Keifer saw Thomas Randolph in the crowd, reminding him of his imminent departure. Keifer wanted to find Nola, but duty and family must come first. He reached into his sporan and pulled out a sealed parchment. He extended his hand to Morrigan, and as she took the parchment, he explained. “I had this drawn up naming your son as my heir, as we agreed. I urge all of you to return to Innishewan with haste. I will come there upon my return from Paris.”

Morrigan nodded and handed the paper to Fergus. “There is one other thing, Keifer. It's time ye knew how our father died.”

“Owyn has told me.”

“Did he also tell ye that Angus and yer father both courted me?”

Eveleen told him the story.

Keifer was stunned by his mother's tale of the two brothers who had fought over a woman. His own mother. Angus and Ian had both wanted her. Had fought over Eveleen not once but twice. And the second time brother had killed brother. Could Keifer truly trust Owyn with such deep currents running between their families?

And what of this triangle with Will and Nola that Keifer found himself wrapped up in?

When she had finished, Eveleen said, “Promise ye will not seek revenge. What's done is done. I seek only peace.”

“I want to promise it. But if Uncle Angus seeks me out and challenges me, I will not hold back.”

“Very well. Find yer young lady and bid her farewell.” His mother hugged him.

He kissed her forehead. “I will be fine, don't worry.”

She patted his back and walked away with her husband. Keifer was thankful that she had a protector. His mother and sister had given him much to think about.

As he said good-bye to Morrigan and Fergus, Keifer wondered if perhaps he should just let Will have Nola and avoid repeating his father's mistake.

THAT THOUGHT DIDN'T HOLD FOR LONG. Keifer was ready to throttle Will Macpherson. Twice Keifer managed to find Nola, only to have Will barge through the crowd and join them. Will said Nola's parents were looking for her the second time. She promised to return to Keifer in a few minutes, and Keifer wandered about aimlessly.

Determined to get her alone so their talk could be private, Keifer walked up to her as she was speaking with her father and Sir Bryan. Will was nowhere in sight.

Keifer greeted, then turned to Nola's father. “Sir, I wonder if you would excuse Nola so I may speak privately with her?”

Sir Adam nodded. “Of course.”

“Would you accompany me, my lady?” He smiled, hoping to soften whatever he had hardened in her heart in the bailey yesterday.

She stared at him a moment, and her hesitation pierced him, as did the wary look of her eyes. Where had the spontaneous girl he'd known gone? Had he chased her away, or had Nola changed so much? She looked at his bare wrist and he heard her breath hitch.

But she said nothing, just laid her hand on his offered arm and allowed him to lead her into the abbey.

Just as they reached the doorway, Will walked quickly up to them, following them just as he had been doing all afternoon. “Ah, a quiet moment away from the crowd. What a delightful idea. I'll join—”

Keifer said, “You will not join us, Will. I wish to have a private word with Nola.”

Will put his hand on her arm. “As your betrothed, I must object.”

She pointedly removed his hand. “You are not my betrothed, Will. And even if you were, Keifer is my friend and I will speak to him. Privately.”

Keifer's emotions went from anxious to anger to a stifled chuckle in the course of this exchange. Perhaps she hadn't changed so much after all—although she was more diplomatic than she'd been as a child.

“As you wish, my lady.” Will's scowl was anything but conciliatory, but Keifer didn't care. Will was turning away and Nola was here, and they would talk at last.

TWELVE

N
OLA HAD BEEN GLAD when Keifer found her in the courtyard and asked for a private word. The way Will had hovered nearby all day wore thin, and she was especially relieved when Keifer made it clear that Will wasn't welcome.

Now she would have a chance to find out why Keifer had acted so odd, whether he had changed over these past four years into a stranger. But no matter what he said or did, she would not mention that he no longer wore her favor. A grown man should not be taken to task for putting aside the childish gesture.

Keifer allowed her to enter the empty church first and closed the door behind them. Again she noticed the graceful way he moved, as if perfectly at ease in his body. His shoulders were broad and she'd felt strength in his arm when she placed her hand on it. He wore dark trews and a white sark. A surcoat emblazoned with Sir Bryan's coat of arms proclaimed Keifer as Sir Bryan's man.

She knew she was staring, but Keifer did the same. Someone had to start the conversation. “Do you plan to remain in Sir Bryan's retinue?”

“Aye. Although I'll go home to Innishewan eventually, I will be assigned to him if we muster for a battle.”

There was little warmth in his eyes and he seemed restrained. What had happened to the camaraderie they'd always shared? “You have changed,” she blurted.

His gaze flicked up and down her person. “And so have you, wild one.” His voice softened, and a hint of a smile graced his face.

She blushed. “Four years makes a difference. In both of us.”

He didn't say anything.

“Why did you bring me in here?”

He seemed taken aback. “I wanted to thank you for bringing the ring. I thought we . . . perhaps it was a foolish idea. Yesterday . . .” he huffed out a breath.

“Yesterday what?” Why were they having so much trouble talking to each other?

Keifer's expression darkened. “Are you betrothed to Will Macpherson or not?”

“No!”

He paced away and back. “He seems to think the announcement will be made any day.”

She tipped her head to one side and grinned. “Are you jealous, Keifer Macnab?”

He stopped in front of her and straightened to his full height. “Of course not. I'm simply . . . I simply want to keep my promise,
the one we made to each other.
Or did you forget?”

He was angry. Just as he'd been angry yesterday! “I thought
you
had forgotten. I haven't given my heart away, Keifer.”

Was that relief on his face?

“Then you don't love Will?”

“No, I don't. I care for him, but I have not decided to marry him or anyone else.”

Keifer's expression softened, but this was not the same rebellious boy who'd left Moy. “No wonder he didn't want to let you out of his sight.”

She smiled and walked to the window to look out. She heard him move behind her and turned to see that he'd pulled out a bench for them to sit on. Nola took the seat he offered, though she felt much too restless to remain seated for long.

She waited for Keifer to speak, afraid that if she spoke first, she would blurt out her feelings for him and send him fleeing. But she couldn't wait for him. “I am so glad to see you again. I was afraid yesterday—”

“So was I. I thought our friendship hadn't survived the separation.” He sat down next to her, careful to maintain a proper distance.

“Just look at you, Nola. You've grown up. I'm surprised someone other than Will hasn't swept you away from Moy.”

“I've been waiting for you.”

His face clouded.

“What? Don't tell me you have given your heart elsewhere.”

“No, of course not. I don't intend to marry. You know that.”

With a dramatic sigh she said, “I thought you might have changed your mind.”

“Looking at you is enough to make me consider it.”

She grinned. She would not give up hope. “Perhaps if we were to spend time together, I could change it for you.” A lady should not be so bold, but too much was at stake to be timid.

But her resolve was nearly shattered with his next words.

“I should like to spend time with you, Nola. But I am leaving in two days to accompany the Earl of Moray to Paris for the treaty negotiations.”

“Leaving? For Paris!”

“Aye. I will be gone several months. And after that I must spend a year or more competing in tournaments to earn some coin. Innishewan isn't a rich holding.”

He would leave and she would not see him for a year or longer!

Will and her father would never agree to delaying a marriage that long. Something must be done. “Take me with you to Paris.”

He stared at her as if she'd grown an extra nose. “Take you with me?” He shook his head. “Nola, how will it look if I ask to take a woman who isn't my wife?”

“Ask my da for permission. If he says yes, then no one can object to you escorting your foster sister.” When he remained silent, she furthered her argument. “You know I've always wanted to see Paris. And you promised me an adventure.”

His expression softened. Did he remember how many times Nola had told him of her dream of seeing the world before she settled down? He remained adamant, though he gentled his voice. “I'm not going on some great adventure, Nola. I'm going to Paris on the king's business. There won't be a lot of time for pleasure.”

“Aye, you get your dream and I'll not get mine. I just want to see the sights my mother has told me about.”

Patiently he explained again. “I'll have duties to perform, Nola. This is a not pleasure trip. I won't be able to spend my time defending the honor of a beautiful young woman.”

She grinned. “You think I'm pretty.”

“Don't change the subject. You know I do.”

“Please take me with you, Keifer.”

“Why aren't you pestering Will to take you there?”

“I did ask him once. He sees no reason to do such a thing. And for all the saints, why would you want me to go to such a romantic . . . Why are you being so difficult, Keifer Macnab?” Nola asked.

Keifer crossed his arms. “ 'Tis you who is being difficult. You can't go with me. Your father will never allow it.”

“This may be the only chance I ever have to see Paris. And you promised to give me an adventure.”

“So I did. But such an adventure would be more proper if we were married.”

Nola bit her lip to keep from saying the obvious. Let him suggest it.

Keifer gave her a rueful stare. “You have changed. I fully expected you to suggest we marry before the day was up.”

She laughed. “I almost did. But we should have my father's permission first, don't you think?”

“You can't come with me to Paris, but I will ask my mother to invite you to Innishewan when I return. We will have our time to become reacquainted, I promise. Just promise me you won't marry Will while I'm gone.”

“I must make promises and keep them, but you don't?”

“We will have our time together, Nola. Then, if we decide to marry—should I decide to reconsider my decision not to marry—I will take you to Paris.”

“If we marry I'll get to go to Paris? Call a priest, I'm ready today!”

He laughed, as she had meant him to. “Nola. Be reasonable.”

If they were still children, she would push and wheedle until she got her way. However, this was not a boy but a man with responsibilities. Nola sensed that he spoke from conviction, and certainly not because he didn't want to take her. He truly believed he could not do so. She sighed, admitting a temporary defeat of her plans. At least he was speaking of marriage and her in the same sentence. That was progress. “I'm going to hold you to your promises, Keifer Macnab.”

“That's
Sir
Keifer,” he teased.

She gave a wan smile. “When do you leave?”

“Day after tomorrow.” He blushed and looked away, clearly embarrassed by something.

“What? Why do you turn from me?”

His shoulders rose and sank with a deep breath, and when he looked at her again, she drew her own breath sharply. She was not a child anymore, and she recognized a man's desire in his eyes. He wanted her. Whether he knew the truth of it or not, she did.

She smiled, remembering the kiss they'd shared when they had parted at Homelea years past. She wanted his kiss. Wanted to see if there was any hope of marrying her best friend. “Perhaps you should kiss me.”

“Aye. Perhaps I should.” He hesitated, then accepted her dare. He held her arms, pulled her to him.

The kiss was every bit as sweet and as moving as the one they had shared four years ago. And his kiss told her that what she'd seen in his eyes a moment ago was real, told her what she needed to know about the feelings he tried to hide. He might fool himself that he didn't love her, but she wasn't fooled in the least.

As their lips parted and his hands fell away from her arms, she made up her mind.

She was going to Paris, whether he liked it or not!

KEIFER AND OWYN traveled with Sir Thomas Randolph to Edinburgh, where they assisted the earl in preparation for the voyage to Paris.

Just after midnight on the third day after his departure from Homelea and Nola, Keifer stood at the rail on the ship's stern and watched as the dark outline of Scotland's coast disappeared into the inky night. High thin clouds hid all but the brightest stars, and a half moon glowed through the hazy veil.

Salt air ruffled his clothing and soughed through the sails overhead as lanyards clanked against the mast.
He was sailing to Paris!
He had never dreamed his duties might take him away from Scotland.

His stomach knotted as it always did with farewells and new places. How many times had he left familiar surroundings and loved ones in his short life? But the gentle rise and fall of the deck soothed him. All that was missing was Nola.

Disappointment speared through him. It might be months before he saw her again. It shouldn't matter. But after their kiss, he knew that seeing her again mattered a great deal.

KEIFER SLEPT SOUNDLY despite the strangeness of his surroundings. He awoke refreshed in the morning, refreshed and hungry. The smell of food wafted under the door of the tiny stateroom he shared with Owyn.