Page 42 of The Darkland

Edmund patted her on the cheek. “Mayhap we shall even send her along with Kirk for the baron’s inspection.”

Johanne giggled again and Edmund was relieved that she had agreed to sending the woman away rather than wishing her away. That was what she called it;wishing,as in wishing for death. But Johanne’s mood was particularly good today and Edmund was thankful; with Kirk’s interest in the girl, arranging her disappearance would have been difficult enough, if not impossible. Even so, he suspected the betrothal to Lord le Vay, once revealed, would not be well met and he realized he walked a fine line between keeping Johanne happy and avoiding Kirk’s wrath.

But family came first, and his sister’s delighted expression was an indication of his supreme devotion. “Now you will not have to wish her away,” he said. “Save your powers for something worthwhile.”

“Like what?”

Edmund shrugged as they headed down the hill toward the grove of gnarled oak. “My wife, of course,” he snorted. “While the sister’s atQuernmore, mayhap we shall have a chance to see if she will fit well into our lifestyle. If not…”

“If not, she’ll vanish like all the rest.”

“Precisely.”

The birdsong was sweet overhead as the shielding branches of the old oaks swallowed them. “Let’s take her to bed with us tonight,” Johanne grasped her brother’s hand affectionately, savoring the power she commanded over Life and Death. “Mayhap she’ll be more… cooperative.”

Edmund lifted an eyebrow. “For her sake, I hope so,” his voice was serious as well as frightening. “Indeed, I do.”

CHAPTER NINE

The nooning mealwas less than an hour away. Kirk sat in the chilly solar, going over the maps of Edmund’s Wicklow holdings and struggling to keep his thoughts from lingering on Mara. He was faced with a very important task and was in desperate need of his mental facilities, even those that would rather seek out the little hellion and apologize rather than focus on the task at hand.

He convinced himself he could not spare the time to apologize to her. He had more pressing duties and his personal feelings for Mara would simply have to wait. So he had planted himself in Edmund’s dimly-lit solar, refusing to cower at Mara’s feet simply to ease the tension between them. He had hoped she had learned something from their negative encounter, although he would have been truly surprised if she had. All he had learned was that he missed her terribly.

Time passed at a painful pace as he endeavored to lay out a plan of containment against the Wicklow estates. Having no knowledge of the true scope of the revolt, a general course of action was the best he could do at the moment. And in the interim, he realized he had managed to quell his surging emotions somewhat and was pleased with his self-control. Self-control against a woman who inflamed and entranced him at the same time.

Hunched over the map table, sturdy boot falls approached from the foyer and he glanced up as Niles entered the room. The expression on the man’s features was enough to distract Kirk from his turbulent thoughts.

“What’s the matter?” he demanded. “Why do you look like that?”

Niles was beyond grim. He was miserable, actually. “Kirk, I have done a terrible thing, I think.”

Kirk cocked a droll eyebrow. “Pray tell, lad.”

Niles shook his head. “This is serious, Kirk. I have just come from Mara and….”

The mention of her name stirred Kirk intensely, dashing his recently-managed emotions. “What about Mara? Is she well?”

Niles nodded quickly, seeing the urgency in Kirk’s eyes. “She is fine, Kirk. But we had a long conversation today and somehow I managed to tell her of Johanne and Edmund’s relationship. Christ, I have no idea how it slipped out, but it did. She badgered me and badgered me and before I realized what had happened, she knew the truth of it.”

Kirk looked at the man as if he wanted to strangle him. “Damnation,” he hissed. “How could you, Niles? Mara, of all people, should know nothing!”

Niles wished the earth would open up and swallow him. Surely it would be less painful than Kirk’s wrath. “I do not know, I tell you. She pestered me until I was crazy!”

Kirk shook his head, the veins in his temples pulsing. “Where is she now?”

“She ran to her chamber. I can only imagine she’s with Micheline.”

Kirk’s face paled. “Oh… Christ!” he bolted past Niles, heading for the foyer. The knight raced after him.

“What’s wrong, Kirk?” Niles was having difficulty keeping pace. “I thought you would be pleased to know she was with her sister. Surely Micheline will calm her!”

Kirk mounted the stairs three at a time, hardly pausing to reply. “Under normal circumstances, I would,” he breathed as they topped the landing and headed down the corridor. “However, Micheline’s first experience with Edmund’s husbandly attentions was not a pleasant one. If Mara forces her sister to tell her….”

They rounded a corner, picking up speed. “Tell her what?” Niles demanded.

Kirk did not reply until they reached the ladies’ chamber. Scarcely stopping, he cast Niles a long look as he grasped the latch. “Johanne was a participant, Niles. Out of respect for Lady Micheline, I shall not tell you more than that.”

As Niles struggled to overcome his shock, Kirk was already into the chamber, his eyes searching for Mara. But the only face he came into contact with was Micheline’s.