Briana

She smiled. “But you’re home now.”

“Aye.” He didn’t return the smile. He had gone somewhere in his mind. A place, Briana realized, that wasn’t pleasing to him.

They both seemed relieved when Vinson knocked, then entered to announce, “My lord, dinner is ready. Mistress Malloy wishes to know if you will take your meal in the great hall or here in the library.”

He had intended a simple meal here in the library, so that the lass wouldn’t be drained by a longer walk. But now, glancing at the portrait over the mantel, he realized he wanted a change of scenery. He wanted, needed, to put some distance between himself and his past.

“Tell Mistress Malloy we’ll sup in the great hall.”

“Aye, my lord.”

The old man took his leave, and Keane stood and offered his arm. “Come, my lady. It’s time you saw more of Carrick House.”

It was, he realized, his first opportunity to show off his home to a guest

Chapter Five

“You’ll let me know when you grow weary, Briana.” Keane deliberately kept his strides easy, the pace slow so as not to tire her.

“I will, aye.” She was grateful for the strong arm to lean on. “This weakness is most distressing.”

“It will soon pass, and you’ll be as you were before.”

She looked up at him with an impish smile. “Do I have your word on that?”

His own features remained impassive. “You do.” He thought about touching that cap of curls and resisted the impulse. “Now tell me how you were before.”

“Before the attack? Or before the convent?”

“Why don’t we begin with your life before the attack.”

“Before the attack I had learned, at great cost, how to keep my head bowed in chapel, how to keep my thoughts to myself, and how to bear the unbearable.”

Though she kept her tone light, he could detect the underlying sadness. “What was this great cost?”

“Penance. It seemed I was always on my knees. If not in chapel, then scrubbing the cold stone floors of the refectory. And when I was allowed to stand, it was to harvest a crop or to fork dung from the barns and stables.”

He couldn’t hide his surprise. “You did all that?”

“Aye. But only after my classes and chores were completed to the liking of Mother Superior.”

“I’d say you were far from weak, if you did all that and survived.”

“I survived all that, and more.”

He knew, by the finality of her tone, that she had no intention of listing all that she’d been through. His admiration for her was growing by the minute.

“Now I would like to hear about your life before the convent.”

She smiled. “That would take hours.”

He paused at the threshold to the great hall. “We have all evening.”

As he led her to the table, the butler, the housekeeper and their army of servants stood to one side, awaiting his command.

Keane helped Briana to her chair, then took his place at the head of the table.

Briana surveyed the table, with its gleaming silver and crystal and the masses of candles that flickered and glowed. “Oh, Mistress Malloy, this is indeed lovely.”

The housekeeper nearly burst with pride. “Thank you, miss. We do our best to please.”

“I haven’t seen anything this grand in years.” Briana turned to Keane. “Isn’t it wonderful knowing this awaits you each night?”

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