Hannah sat in the Great Hall the next morning eating her meal alone, her husband still not having returned home. Though sun shined through the windows brightening the room, it still felt dismal. The keep was barren, not an echo of a voice or burst of laughter. No voices raised in conversation or footfalls heard. Nothing but emptiness.

It made the heart ache.

“For someone who claims my food is delicious, you eat little.”

Hannah looked up at Helice, her face pinched as usual. She wondered if the woman was ever happy. “I am not hungry.” She pushed the bowl away. “Where is my husband?”

Helice shrugged. “I do not know. I am not his keeper.”

Hannah stood with a flourish and a bit of annoyance, snatched up her cloak off the bench, and went to the door.

“Where do you go?” Helice asked.

“You are not my keeper either,” Hannah said.

“Your husband will want to know if he returns while you are gone.”

“Then let him find out for himself,” Hannah said, her hand on the latch to open the door.

“You will tell me now, though better still you will remain in the keep.”

Hannah turned to see Slain standing behind and to the right of Helice, his arms folded across his chest. He looked no different from when he had left, though there was a tiredness to his dark eyes that she had not seen before. Otherwise, he appeared as imposing as ever.

Helice gathered up the remnants of Hannah’s uneaten meal and with a respectful nod to Slain went to walk past him.

“Wait,” Slain ordered and cast an eye at the full bowl of porridge.

Helice responded as if knowing what he would ask, “She has eaten little if anything since you have been gone.”

“Bring us more food,” he ordered and Helice gave a nod before leaving the room. He walked to the table Hannah had just vacated. “Join me.”

She did not protest or argue, she was too pleased to see him. Her heart thudded a bit faster as she walked over to him and the flutters in her stomach would not stop. And though tiredness lingered in his eyes, there was also concern that had been there many times before when he looked at her.

A large flutter erupted in her stomach as she wondered if it was more than concern she saw there. Could her husband actually care for her? They had been on the verge of going to his bedchamber, before he had taken his leave, not just to consummate their vows, but to satisfy a passion that had sparked easily between them. Were they beginning to care for each other?

Slain watched her take slow steps toward him, slipping her cloak off her shoulders as she did and dropping it on a bench all the while her lovely green eyes seemed alight with joy at seeing him. She had missed him and annoying as it was to admit to himself, he had missed her. It was the strangest feeling being eager to return home. He had had no wont to return to this empty place since his parents had died and all had seemed lost, even this crumbling edifice. Obligation had him returning and doing what was necessary, though truth be told it was more revenge that drove him. Revenge that kept him going. Revenge that would finally satisfy him.

Slain sat opposite her at the table, trying to ignore her beguiling smile and the way passion flared in her green eyes now and again, turning them a brighter green.

“Your arm does well?” he asked as Helice placed bowls of porridge in front of them and a plate of bread and a crock of honey, then took her leave.

“Aye, it does well,” Hannah said.

Slain wanted confirmed what he already suspected. “You have missed me?”

She nodded, her smile spreading. “Aye.”

“Why?” he asked, her smile feeling as if it reached across the table and stroked his face with the slightest of touches.

She stared at him a moment, a small piece of bread clutched in her hand. “I do not know.”

“You are honest, wife.”

“As much as I can be,” she said, “I only know I am glad to see you.”

“I am glad to see you as well,” he found himself admitting.

“Perhaps it is a start to a marriage that will do well,” Hannah suggested.

“Perhaps, we shall see.” He dared not hope to be so fortunate, since misfortune had been all that had prevailed of late. “Now tell me where you were going.”

“To the village to find someone to talk with, though now that you have returned, I have no need to go there. It would, however, be nice to welcome clan members here again.”

“Maybe in time.”

His response gave her hope, though she also realized that the more she made herself known here, the more news spread of the chieftain’s new wife, the more chance she took of being discovered. But in the end it would be inevitable anyway.

“I have seen your drawings. You have a talented hand.”

“Given to me by my mother along with a passion for the written word.”

“My mum had a book she would read to me again and again.”

“Wherever did your mum learn to read or come by a book?” Slain asked puzzled.

Hannah had been enjoying speaking with her husband so much that she had not guarded her words. A woman of the peasant class certainly would not know how to read let alone own a book, a rare possession. At least she had kept a smile on her face, not showing the alarm his question had raised in her.

She shrugged. “I do not know, my mum never said. I only know she cherished the book as did I.” Hannah feared he did not believe her since his mystified look remained.

“Where did your mum learn to read?”

She assumed he would follow with that question and was prepared with an answer that was partially true. “She spent time in a keep when young and the chieftain’s wife taught her.” She did not expect his next question.

“How did your mum feel about your father selling you?”

Hannah’s smile faded, thinking of her mum and how protective she had been of her only child. “My mum would have never allowed him to sell me. She would have protected me with her life, if she had been alive. But then I do not have to tell you about the love of a mother for her child. From what I have heard you had loving parents.”

“The clan still speaks of them fondly?”

“Aye, I hear nothing but good and kind things about them.”

“Even my father?” he asked.

“I am told he loved your mum beyond reason.”

“An attribute I greatly admired about him,” Slain said with a sense of pride.

“Then you are fortunate, for I have no attributes to admire about my father.”

Slain did not care for the sadness that stole the joy from her eyes. He reached across the table and took hold of her hand. “You are safe here.”

She wanted to believe him, she truly did, but she wondered if the woman she had escaped with had been right when she had repeated over and over that no place was safe. No place.

Her thought jogged her memory of that day in the woods when she heard what she believed was someone betraying Slain. Now would be a good time to alert him to the incident and she hurried to explain.

“I should have told you of this sooner, but I was not sure if I should speak of it to you or not, but now I feel it is important I tell you,” she said and continued on before he could stop her. “When I was in the woods I heard two men exchange information about something happening soon and how victory would he theirs, though there was nothing else for either of them to report this time, so it appears as if the two have met before.”

“What were you doing in the woods alone? Did I not warn you that you were not to go alone into the woods?”

Hannah was surprised that he focused on her and not the incident. “Aye, you did, and Helice told me to keep to the edge of the woods when she sent me on a task.”

“And you saw fit not only to pay no heed to Helice’s order but mine as well?” Slain accused. “Do you know what could have happened to you if those men had found you?”

“I hid—”

He squeezed her hand. “Listen well, wife, you will obey me this time and never go into the woods alone again.”

Hannah was more concerned with the incident than her foray into the woods. “As you say, but what of the man who betrays you.”

“I will see to that. You are not to concern yourself with it.”

She should have expected the dismissal. After all, what did he know of her that should make him trust her? Though she thought he would question her more about what she had heard or seen, making her wonder if he was already aware of it.

“I have some things I must see to, but we will sup together tonight,” he said and released her hand.

Dismissed again, although the way his dark eyes held hers, Hannah sensed they would do more than sup together this evening.

“You have something to busy yourself with?” Slain asked, not wanting her to sit idle, since she just might get herself in trouble that way.

“There was something I intended to seek your permission on.”

That she asked cautiously, had Slain worried as to what she might be up to. “What is it?”

“I noticed in your one drawing that you made improvements to the keep, the front door in particular. I thought I would see if some of the clansmen would be willing to do the work.” Seeing he looked ready to shake his head, Hannah quickly added, “You take good care of your clan. I believe they wish to return the favor for a chieftain they admire greatly.”

“Though fear more,” Slain corrected.

“All the more reason to change that and let them see the keep restored,” Hannah said, though kept the thought that followed silent. And their chieftain as well.

“The door, no more,” he grudgingly agreed, hoping it would keep her busy, and stood.

Hannah smiled, jumped up, and hurried around the table to hug her husband.

Her arms circled him and she pressed her cheek to his chest and instinctively his arms wound around her. She favored his embrace, it having been far too long since she had felt such a caring one.

She raised her head and his lips claimed hers, possessively and eagerly. She responded in kind, having wanted to kiss him since he entered the room. His kiss was even better than she remembered and she lingered in it along with him, exploring, demanding, responding, and enjoying the wonderful mix of sensations that consumed her.

Slain stepped away from her and hastily said, “Until this evening, wife.”

Hannah sighed, disappointed he chose to leave. She would have preferred he stayed. She shook her head. Whatever was the matter with her?

Do not be a fool, she silently warned herself.

He has secrets, as do you and secrets never fair well.

Guard your heart well, for once you lose it all good sense goes with it.

More of her mum’s advice that Hannah wondered if she had learned from experience. Had she lost her heart to Hannah’s father only to discover he was not the man she thought he was? Was she losing her heart along with her good senses to Slain?

She stood and reached for her cloak, tired of worrisome thoughts. She would be cautious and guard her heart and hope it was not already too late to do so.

The village was busy with activity, the onset of spring bringing everyone out of hibernation. Fields and gardens were being planted, cottages repaired, women were deep in chatter, and children were running around in play and laughter.

Hannah smiled and allowed herself to enjoy the moment. She did not know what the future would bring, but for now she intended to enjoy what she had.

Blair waved to her and Hannah walked toward her as she approached.

“It is a good day when the sun chooses to smile on us,” Blair said, greeting Hannah with a smile of her own. “All goes well with you?”

“Aye, all goes well.”

Blair lowered her voice. “A light was spotted in the east wing the other night. You have not gone there have you?”

Instinct warned Hannah to mind her tongue and say nothing about her experience in the east wing. She shook her head. “I have no wont to meet a ghost.”

Blair shivered and rubbed her arms. “Either do I. It is good you stay away from that section of the keep. So what brings you to the village today?”

“I was hoping to get some men to repair the keep door.”

“Slain allows it?” Blair asked, her brow rising with surprise.

“He gave me permission just a short time ago and I am eager to see the task started. If not today, then soon.”

Blair turned and shouted at two men in conversation near a cottage, “Imus.”

The larger of the two men turned to her, though said not a word.

“A moment,” Blair called out with a wave for him to join her.

Imus’ pace was quick and steady for one so large. He had pleasant features and his long, red hair and beard were heavily streaked with gray.

He was only a few steps from them when Blair said, “The chief needs some men to repair the keep door.” A scowl surfaced on his ruddy face and before he could say a word, Blair continued. “The chief gave permission for the work to be done. Can you gather some men and see to it?”

Imus gave a nod and turned and walked away.

“My husband wastes little time on words,” Blair said with a laugh. “He will see the work gets done and be glad about it, though not show it. He says little but does much. He is a good husband.”

Hannah and Blair continued to talk and were soon joined by Kate, then Wilona. It was pleasant to chat with the women on a variety of things, and it made Hannah wish life could be like this, more pleasant moments rather than ones fraught with uncertainty.

When a group of about ten men headed toward the keep, Hannah bid the women good day and hurried on ahead of them. She wanted to inform Helice of the repair work that was about to begin so the woman would not rage at the men and chase them away.

Helice glared at Hannah after she finished explaining what work was about to begin.

“You bothered him with that?” Helice snapped as if scolding Hannah.

Hannah did not know what happened to the woman to make her so unpleasant and quarrelsome, but she was tired of it, hoping to bring more happiness to the keep than misery, and snapped back at her. “What I discuss with my husband does not concern you, and I do not appreciate your hostile manner. You will watch your tongue with me or I will seek your removal.”

“Slain will never allow that,” Helice said with confidence.

“And why is that?” Hannah asked, doubting the woman would answer.

Helice raised her chin. “I am his mother-in-law.”