Once Upon a Romance 02 - As The Last Petal Falls (17 page)

“Saved you, how?”

“He carried me off, instead’a lettin’ the goldcoats take me.”

“He carried you off?” Her curiosity was on fire, but she tried to ask casually.

“Oh yeah. Snuck me outta my house at night. My ma sure cried, but Fain said I had to go.”

“He kidnapped you?!” Vivienne was horrified, but Billy scoffed at her.

“Don’t you know nothin’? I’d heaps rather be here with Fain then off with the goldcoats.” He’d rolled his eyes and run off, but apparently she’d been forgiven for prying, as today he ran up to her without hesitation.

“What’cha need, Miss Belle?”

“Well, Master Notter, Connelly tells me that you know the location of a particularly hardy witch hazel in the woods.”

“I do! We gather them flowers for all kinds’a potions.”

“I was wondering if I might send you on a quest to retrieve some for me? Connelly tells me the new soap is finally ready, and fresh witch hazel makes a lovely addition to bath water.”

“I’d love to get you some, Miss Belle. Might take me a while, though. You don’t need your bath ’til later?”

“Not until evening, Master Notter.”

“Oh, I’ll be back long ’fore then. Tell Master Fain where I’ve gone, awright?”

Vivienne nodded and waved at the little crusader as he set off at a gallop to gather his winter wraps. He was such a happy little fellow, but frequently seemed bored, pent up in the keep. It was nice to be able to give him something to do.

“Belle!” Marcus Shapherd was calling from the kitchen.

“Yes, Master Shapherd?”

“Get in here. Matt thinks he can teach you how to make something edible.”

“And what do you think?”

“I think the betting started an hour ago, so you’d best get in here and start cooking.”

She was carefully spreading the mashed potatoes with a greased spoon when Fain MacTíre came roaring into the kitchen.

“What have you done?!”

Vivienne kept her eyes on her casserole. She would
not
look at him. If the beast wanted to keep her at arm’s length then she would let him. She wasn’t going to go sniveling after him like some besotted cow.

“Well, the brothers here assure me that I have made a type of pie, but I am skeptical, since it hasn’t any sort of pastry crust to speak of.”

“I don’t mean the food, woman! I mean
this
!” Fain thrust his arm beneath her face, and Vivienne was hit by an overpowering scent. Oh. Right. She had almost forgotten.

“Why, Master MacTíre, what a lovely floral bouquet.” She smiled at him with sweet sincerity. “Lavender is one of my favorites.” While he gaped at her, she fluttered her lashes at him. Twice.

“Belle,” he said, warningly. “Tell me why I smell like an over-laundered linen closet.
Now
.”

“Well, you
did
put me in charge of the soap production, and I thought it would be lovely to have some scented bars. Connelly was ever so generous. He let me use all the essence I wanted.”

“Are you telling me that
all
the soap you made smells like this?”

“Of course not.” Fain started to sigh in relief. “Some of it smells like attar of roses.”

“
ROSES?!
”

The next thing she knew, he had scooped her up and flung her over his shoulder. Vivienne let out a startled squawk, but then she composed herself. It would be hard enough to sound composed and in control while hanging upside down. She didn’t need to make funny noises as well.

“Fain MacTíre, you put me down this instant.” She could see that the Shapherds would be no help; both men were laughing too hard to lend any aid. “This is your own fault. If you didn’t want it to smell pretty you shouldn’t have asked me to do it.” He ignored her, striding out of the kitchen and towards the great doors that led to the inner bailey. “I would think that you’d be grateful. Perhaps this will induce some of the men to bathe more frequently.” Fain casually kicked open the double wooden doors and went out into the open air. Vivienne wasn’t dressed for the chill at all. The lower half of her legs were left bare by the breeches, and Fain’s linen shirt was far from heavy enough to keep out the wintery chill. Goosebumps leapt up on her exposed skin.

“Th-that is q-q-quite enough, Master MacT-t-tire.” Her teeth were chattering away. “T-t-take me back ind-doors this instant.”

He swung left and entered the stables, depositing her unceremoniously in one of the empty stalls. Grabbing a horse blanket, he tossed it to her and then turned away, resting his forehead against the stable wall. Then… nothing.

It was difficult drawing the horse blanket around herself with only one arm, but Vivienne managed it. Once she had it clasped firmly around her shoulders, she turned her attention to the madman who had carried her out here. He still wasn’t saying anything, but his shoulders were… vibrating.

“Really, MacTíre, I wouldn’t think you’d be so angry about a simple prank.”

If anything his quiver only intensified. Both his hands were braced against the warped wooden planks that ran along the wall of the stables.

“It’s not as though I
poisoned
you,” Vivi muttered.

MacTíre finally turned around. He was
laughing
. The no-good, low-down, dirty oaf of a mountain man had dragged her out into the stables to
laugh
at her.

“I don’t see what’s so funny.” She sounded sullen, even to herself. “Unless it’s that you smell exactly like a high class whor—”

Vivienne never finished her sentence. She would have—she wasn’t the type to leave a thing unsaid—but her mouth was suddenly otherwise occupied. Fain had closed the distance between them and, even as she spoke, covered her mouth with his own.

How had she ever thought the stables were cold? Her whole body was warm, wrapped in Fain’s arms and the rough horse blanket. In fact, she began to wish the horse blanket were gone, so that she could use her good hand. No sooner had she thought it than she began wriggling her left arm free. She finally got it out as Fain deepened the kiss, nudging her mouth open.

Pushing him gently back, she smiled at him sweetly. Then, using all her strength, she slapped him in the face.

Fain’s face hurt. That was the first thing he registered. Specifically, his cheek was throbbing. One minute he had been kissing Belle, and the next he was standing here with what must surely be a red handprint blossoming on his jaw. He didn’t need to ask about the odd turn of affairs, though. Belle was already speaking.

“Of all the nerve! You think me a liar, and a murderess, and gods know what else; but you think I’ll just kiss you in the stables whenever you feel the urge?” Fain opened his mouth to respond, but Belle didn’t even stop for breath. “You don’t speak to me for
days
, then you save me and run off, and then you yell at me and take liberties with my person? Out
rageous
.”

“To be fair,” Fain broke in a bit wryly, “I rather thought you were in favor of my taking liberties.”

“That is
not
the point.” Belle blushed red, but refused to be swayed. “Whatever my feelings on liberties
may
or
may not
have been, any gentleman would have made certain of my good will before… before…”

“Before ravishing you in the stables?”

“Precisely.” She glared at him.

He started to grin, but then a thought struck him, and he felt like he’d been doused in ice water. How could he have forgotten? “I’m sorry Belle, I’m a fool. You must feel like you can’t walk anywhere in this keep without some miscreant slobbering on you.”

She whacked him again, this time on the shoulder. “Don’t be an idiot. You are nothing like Simon Legrey.
He
is a villain of the highest caliber.
You
are merely an idiotic mountain-bred troll with
no
idea how to properly behave around a lady.”

His chest eased, and he smiled again. “In that case, I beg your forgiveness.” He made his bow ridiculously florid and elaborate. “I was overcome by your charm, and lost sight of propriety.” It was true. Gods help him, this woman was like a plague in his blood. He’d been angry when he first discovered her prank, but now… Something about her dissolved his anger, made him see the humor in what she’d done. And when he wasn’t angry anymore, all he could think about was kissing her.

“You are
not
forgiven.” He started to laugh again at her prim tone, and then checked himself. The minx didn’t need any encouragement. “Perhaps I could be induced to forgive you for
this
little incident, but you have not even
hinted
at any remorse for thinking that I would… that I am… that…” She stopped abruptly. “What exactly is it you believe I
am
, anyway? I confess, I’m a bit confused.”

Fain gazed at her for a long moment. Her confusion seemed natural, and honest. He weighed his options. If she had been sent here to harm him, he had already given away his suspicions. And if she hadn’t… Truthfully, if she
wasn’t
a spy then he would very much like to be on her good side. Perhaps telling her his suspicions would help her understand, and ease her anger.

“I’m waiting.” Her raised eyebrows and petulant tone left no doubt that she expected an answer, and, just like that, Fain decided to give her one. Maybe he’d learn something from her reaction.

Maybe he just wanted to
see
her reaction.

“Well,” he drew the word out, “as it happens, I think you’re probably a spy.”

Her eyes widened.

“Sent to harm me, if you can.”

Her lips parted.

“Or, if you can’t, to report back on my position and resources.”

A little squeak came out.

“All in all, I think I’ve been a rather good sport about it.”