Page 29 of Hold Fast

That was the reason he wanted her to like him, to trust him. It certainly had nothing to do with wanting to hear his given name slide off her tongue.Lairddid not do the same things to a mouth thatEwandid. But that was ridiculous.

“That is,” he began, trying to salvage the situation, “Iwouldbe your laird, if you agreed to stay.”

“I am bound for the Stewarts.”

“Are they expecting you? Is there an emergency?”

Her hesitation was answer enough. He forged ahead. “What can the Stewarts offer you that I cannae provide? Safety? Meaningful work? You are needed here, Una. I can provide it all. And keep you safe.”

“Other people are counting on me. People who would join me at the Stewarts.”

“Your family?”

“Nay,” she said, looking at her feet. “A… friend. In need of a new situation.”

“She would be welcome here as well, Una.”

Una looked at him. “What wouldhedo here?”

The wordhewas a much-needed dousing of cold water on his racing brain. Perhaps she had a sweetheart, some poor bastard who had pined away for her throughout her handfast to another man. Ewan hated the idea, though he recognized that that wasn’t remotely fair.

“That depends. Has he an occupation?”

Her eyes darted to the left before she answered. A flick. Perhaps nothing more than a trick of light.

“He’s a soldier. He trains the new guards.”

“There is always room for good men in the guard. Would he be staying in the barracks? Or… would you and thisfriendrequire a cottage and a priest?”

He regretted the question before it had even left his mouth.What does it bloody matter, ye riddy bastard?

She narrowed her eyes. “He sleeps in the barracks now, so I doubt he will expect anything different.”

Ewan’s heart was pounding, and he couldn’t account for it. It didn’t matter who this man was. It didn’t matter what he meant to Una. What mattered—the only thing that mattered—was taking care of his clan. That required a healer.Herequired a healer.

“I want you to stay,” he blurted out, coughing into his fist after. “That is,wewant you to stay.”

She arched an elegant eyebrow, seeing too much. He remembered the last healer, a crotchety old man named Mason who, for all that he had the people skills of a distempered goat, could read people like scripture. He never missed a thing. And neither, it seemed, did Una.Healers.

“Stay,” she repeated flatly. “For good.”

“For as long as you like.”

He was nervous. More nervous than usual, which was saying something. Since his father died, Ewan felt as if he was built brick by brick from nerves.

“You will be safe here. There will be plenty of work for you, especially the way my family seems to be in scrapes more often than nae. And for the rest of the clan as well. And your”—he coughed—“friend will have work, too. We can always use a hand training the young ones.”

She sucked on the inside of her right cheek, pondering, staringthroughhim and taking his measure.

“Verra well, m’laird. I will stay for a trial period. So long as you promise to deliver me to the Stewarts should I choose to leave.”

“Fair enough,” he answered easily.

“And you will send for my friend when I ask you to?”

“I can write whatever missive you require.”

“Nay!” she blurted. “Nay. It cannae be written. It must be done… another way.”