“Okay, let’s go now. That water has to be cold. Let’s dry off, go inside.”
He came out, but reluctantly, and stalling. Then he spotted Keegan, and with a happy bark, raced to him instead of her.
“Great. Perfect,” she muttered. No caffeine, pajamas, and bed head.
And, of course, he looked exactly that. Great and perfect as the dog leaped around him, as he laughed and gave Bollocks a good rub.
Stuck, she waited as Keegan walked to her, and the dog trotted beside him as if bringing her a present.
“Good morning. I trust you slept well.”
“I did, thanks.” She gathered the cloak close as the wind snapped at it. “He needed to go out, and he wanted a swim.”
“We’ve dogs around if he wants their company. A pair of wolfhounds, some spaniels and mutts as well.”
“Oh. I haven’t seen any.”
“You will. Are you walking on?”
“No, I was going back.”
“As am I.”
“The Leaving was beautiful,” she said as they started back. “Heartbreakingly beautiful. I didn’t know you sang.”
He shrugged. “I enjoy it more with a pint or two in me.”
“Who doesn’t? I don’t know when or where I’m supposed to go later.”
“In two hours, we’ll have the Judgment. Someone will fetch you.”
“Is there a dress code—what I should wear? It may sound silly to you, but I don’t want to be disrespectful.”
He gave her a glance. “I’m thinking you might change what you’re wearing presently.”
“Funny. I packed light, as instructed, so I don’t have a lot of choices.”
“It’s not a fancy matter, so what you usually wear, what I’ve seen of it, will do very well. I’m sorry I haven’t had time to show you and Marco around—and I’ve kept my mother busy as well. Or haven’t yet introduced you to those who live and work here.”
“I’ve met a few. Brigid and Lo—they brought me up dinner last night.”
He stopped, hissed. “You ate in your rooms? So again, I’m sorry.”
“You’re off the hook. I wanted the quiet, and Marco was with Brian. Kiara, who I already like a lot, brought me invitations—to eat with her parents, or go with her and some friends into the village. I really just wanted to write some and have the quiet.”
“All right then. Kiara’s a likable sort. She’ll talk both your ears off your head, but she’s entertaining and good-natured about it.”
“She’s determined to do my hair this morning.”
He took a longer look and reached out, twisted one of her curls around his finger. “I like your hair as it is, but she’s a skill for it.”
“I also met Shana.”
“Hmm. Not surprising, as she and Kiara are tight as ticks.”
“Are they? I’d say that surprises me, because they strike me as opposite types. One being friendly and charming, and the other being … what’s the term. Oh yeah. A stone-cold bitch.”
He stopped again, spoke carefully—and she assumed as taoiseach. “Sure it’s a pity you found her so, but it should be a simple matter to avoid her company while you’re here.”
“You think?” She couldn’t help herself—in fact, she enjoyed herself by shooting him a big smile. “Harder to do that when she waltzes into my room uninvited.”
His face went blank, but she saw annoyance clearly under the shield. “I’ll speak to her about that, as we prize good manners here.”
“I spoke to her myself, thanks all the same. She made a point of coming to my room shortly after you were with her in the courtyard—the one my room looks over.”
“Plead the gods! If this is some female drama, I haven’t the time or—”
She punched him, solid, in the gut.
Rather than flinch, he nodded. “You’ve improved there.”
“Consider yourself lucky I aimed above the belt. The drama was all hers. She flounced her way in to subtly insult my looks, my clothes—that I’m used to. And she topped it by warning me off you.”
“Sure that’s nonsense, and I—”
“Shut up. She made it clear you and she were together, not that either of you minded a little dalliance—such as me. And whoever she dallies with when you’re not around. But poor, unworthy me shouldn’t get my hopes up where you’re concerned. Added to it, people are dead because of me. If I hadn’t been born—”