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“Aye, it certainly does.” Maira knew exactly where this came from. Her attention flashed back to the man sitting in the cart. He noticed and reached up to lower his hood so she could see his face. Maira’s jaw dropped open.
“Maira, are these the hearts that Imanie made?” asked Morag, inspecting Willow’s heart. “Ye ken what I mean. Are they the ones ye said she was makin’ into bracelets that ye’d each get someday?”
“How could they be?” asked Branton. “Why would that peasant have them?”
“Branton, go to our chamber and get our bags. Please load them on the cart,” Maira instructed. Her eyes stayed fastened to the man on the wagon who was none other than the thief she met in the secret garden.
“Did I tell you that the earl is sending me to Durham with you two?” asked Branton.
“That’s nice,” said Maira, not even listening to him.
“Let’s go talk to the stranger,” said Morag. “I want to find out if he has a heart for me, too.”
“I’m sure he doesn’t, and you’re not coming with me. Now go,” Maira commanded, not wanting Morag to know the thief was inside the castle walls. If so, she would tell Lady Ernestine. Maira didn’t want that. She needed to know what he wanted first.
“I’m always forgotten,” pouted Morag, leaving with Branton and heading into the keep.
Maira hurried over to the wagon, nodding to the guard to let the traveling party enter. Once they were inside, the peasants started pulling things off the cart to sell. It was odd since they only had a couple of buckets of berries and a few odd trinkets.
“Lady Maira, we meet again.” The man swung down from the wagon and landed right in front of her. Her eyes interlocked with his. Instantly, she felt the same attraction she’d experienced when he’d almost kissed her in the garden.
“What is the meaning of this?” she sniffed.
“We’re peddlers and here to sell our wares. Thank you for vouching for us.”
One of the men took a few things off the hay-covered wagon. He dropped something and it went clattering to the ground. Maira looked over to see him picking up the poker that had been stolen from Imanie’s cottage.
“These things are not yours to sell, and you know it,” she said in a low voice. “Now leave Imanie’s items, and get out of here at once.”
“My, you are feisty in everything you say and do.” The man took her by the elbow. “Shall we go for a little walk?”
“Nay, we shall not.” She pulled out of his grip. When she did, she dropped the wooden heart. He bent over and picked it up, caressing her name on the heart with his thumb. For some reason, a shiver ran through her. It was such an intimate action and she felt as if he were doing it to her physically.
“If you don’t want to buy this, then I think I will give it to you as a token of my appreciation for letting us inside the castle walls.”
“I’m sure it was a mistake,” she retorted. “I already regret it. Now pack up your cart and leave at once.”
“That, my lady, is exactly what I intend to do. However, my friends are hungry. Since we haven’t had any real food in days, I ask that you allow us to stay for a meal before we retreat.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because it’s the right thing to do.” He reached up and yanked at a leather tie holding back his long hair. His dark mane spilled down, loose, around his shoulders. He was very handsome and she tried to push the thought from her mind because she wanted him to leave.
He took the wooden heart with her name on it and pushed the leather thong through the holes and held it up. “Hold out your wrist,” he instructed.
Without knowing why she did it, she raised her hand and he tied the bracelet around her wrist. It felt good to be getting a present from a man, even though it was with an item that he’d pilfered.
“It is becoming, but could never match the beauty of you, my lady.”
“Thank you,” she said, reaching down and running her hand over the bracelet that was made with the tie from his hair. Her hand brushed against his and a jolt of excitement rushed through her. Then she quickly pulled away and stepped back.
“Lady Maira?” asked Lady Ernestine, coming across the courtyard to meet her. “Lady Morag tells me there is a traveler here with a wooden heart with your name on it. What does she mean?”
“Aye,” said Maira, clearing her throat and trying to figure out what to do. But before she could say another word, the thief stepped forward and bowed.
“My good Lady of the Castle, I thank you for letting us enter into your courtyard to sell our wares,” he said. “I brought the good Lady Maira a present of thanks for the last time she threw us a coin while her entourage was passing through the forest.”
“I see.” Lady Ernestine looked to Maira for confirmation.
