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Ian.
He took her shoulders in his hands and steadied her. The touch sent a current of excitement through her, and melted her bones at the same time.
“Ye all right, lass?” Ian asked.
“Yes,” she breathed out, all anger and disappointment gone, replaced by a sensation of playful bubbles in her stomach.
His brown eyes on her, Ian nodded and released her, then stepped back a little.
He glanced at Manning, then at her. “I wanted to thank ye both for what ye did for the wake yesterday. I couldna have wished a better feast to honor my father.”
Manning glanced at Kate with a cold look, as if to say that she shouldn’t even dare to take any of the gratitude on herself. “Aye, lad,” he said. “Anything for yer father.”
Kate wished she could have gone to the burial yesterday, too, to give Ian moral support. As she’d found out, women didn’t go to the burials. He’d been pale and sad all day—understandably. But he was also withdrawing from the people and the world around him. He was respected by his tenants. She saw that in the way they talked to him. But he wasn’t responding. It was as though he’d wanted it to be over as quickly as possible.
“Are you all right, Ian?” she asked.
He glanced sharply at her, his face tensing. “Aye, I’m all right.”
“You look—”
“I said I’m all right, lass. ’Tisna yer concern. If everyone just stopped fussing about me…”
Kate stood still for a moment, unable to move. Something about that interaction rang a familiar tune. The slam of a door…the abrupt rejection of care…
“Looks like I’m nae the only one annoyed by ye, lass,” Manning said slowly. Then he shook his head and returned to peeling parsnips.
“I’m nae annoyed, especially nae with Katie,” Ian said. “But I must speak with ye, Manning.”
“I can go…” Kate said.
“Nae, ye have much work to do,” Ian said. “Manning. Please come with me.”
They exited the kitchen, and Kate felt a small pang of regret that Ian had left.
She finished cleaning the table and picked up the bucket to fetch more clean water. But when she reached the door, Ian’s and Manning’s voices came from the hallway.
“Lord, ye must understand, she doesna belong here. ’Tis clear as day.”
Ian sighed. “I ken that she doesna.”
Kate’s chest chilled.
“She will be gone when her memory comes back. She’s already started remembering something.”
So he wanted her to be gone. He didn’t want her to stay, did he?
“Aye. Good. The lass has these strange ways of doin’ things. I dinna like her meddling in my kitchen.”
“It won’t be for long. Be patient with her. She’s been through a lot.”
Yes, Ian only pitied her. All that care, all that kindness, it wasn’t because he liked her. It was because he had a good heart.
“Aye, lord. ’Tis hard, though, with her around.”
The bucket trembled in Kate’s hands.
“Manning, ye’ll manage. ’Tisna easy for her.”
