“She’s a beauty, without question. One evening alone with the lass and both of ye smile like wee fools at the sound of her name.”
Adwen made a gruff sound, his own irritation building at the memory of Jane’s arms wrapped around Orick’s thick neck. Clearly the lass had done it for only one purpose, but he knew that Orick had gained more than enough enjoyment from the exchange. The thought displeased him greatly.
“Ach, Orick would smile if a one-legged fairy kissed him as Jane did. I doona think he overly fancies the lass.” Adwen moved the egg mixture, now seasoned with dried herbs, to the shallow pot hanging above the fire. He reached for a wooden spoon, stirring the mixture as it cooked while looking back to Isobel as she spoke.
“Ah, so ’tis no Orick that fancies Jane, ’tis ye.”
Orick’s voice joined in on their conversation, and Adwen turned away to hide his expression—his friend’s tone remained laced with amusement.
“I wouldna allow a fairy to kiss me, one leg or no. No good has ever come to any man who kissed a fairy. But I do fancy the lass, no in the way ye mean I imagine, but I would fall in love at first sight with any lass who had the wits about her to reject Adwen so ardently.”
Adwen ground his teeth firmly together, determined to remain gentlemanly in the presence of Isobel. Instead, he said nothing, allowing Orick and Isobel to continue the conversation without him while he turned his attention back to cooking.
“So do ye mean ye dinna enjoy the kiss the two of ye shared? If ye say ye dinna, I willna believe ye.”
Orick laughed and, as Adwen dished each of them a serving of eggs along with a side of herring onto wooden plates, Adwen resisted the temptation to spit onto the center of Orick’s plate.
“Nay, I canna say that. I enjoyed it more than any kiss I’ve had in me life, but I know well enough why she kissed me. ’Tis she who would kiss a one-legged fairy if it meant proving Adwen wrong.”
“What do ye mean by that, Orick?”
Adwen turned quickly, plates in hand, as he did his best to interrupt the conversation. “Food is ready. Taste these eggs and tell me if they are no the best ye have ever tasted.”
To Adwen’s delight, the temptation of food distracted Orick enough that he didn’t answer Isobel’s question, instead starting in on the food immediately. Isobel quickly followed suit.
“So? Did I lie to ye?”
Isobel smiled, and Adwen sat down to eat his own food. Jane could eat hers when she arrived—he didn’t imagine she’d wish to dine with him anyway.
“No, much to my surprise, ye dinna. I shall have to teach Jane how to cook the eggs this way.”
“He’s no verra good at much, but I’ll admit that Adwen knows how to prepare a proper meal.” Orick begrudgingly gave the compliment.
“I can see that. Now, what did ye mean about Jane proving Adwen wrong?” Isobel turned her head briefly to address Adwen directly. “Doona think that I dinna notice how quickly ye went about feeding us right at the time I asked the question. I am no distracted easily. If anything, yer efforts have only increased my curiosity.”
Adwen laughed, nodding as he relented to the knowledge that inevitably Isobel would learn what really had happened the evening before. Even if he prevented Orick from relaying the tale, Jane surely would tell her the next moment the two of them were alone. At least now, he was there to make certain the true version was told.
It shocked him to realize that it didn’t bother him overmuch. He wished to be her friend—a desire he’d never had for another woman in his life.
“Go on and tell her, Orick. ’Tis clear that she has no intention of speaking of anything else ’til ye do.” Adwen leaned forward in his chair, stuffing his mouth full of eggs as Orick spoke.
“Adwen asked Jane to bed him, just outright, and the lass took offense to it, as she should. Adwen’s so foolish he couldna believe she’d deny him unless she enjoyed the company of other women. She only kissed me to prove to him that she didn’t.”
Adwen clenched his jaw as Isobel took to laughing so loudly, he was certain she would keel over from the effort at any moment. She laughed until the coughing overtook her. Only after stopping to catch her breath did she speak.
“No, Adwen, ye dinna? I’ll no say that I have much experience with men trying to bed me, but surely ye know enough of women to know that few would no take offense to such a question.”
Swallowing the mouthful of eggs, he smiled. “I can tell ye with certainty that more than a few have no taken offense.”
The smile on Adwen’s face slowly diminished as he took in the look of utter disgust on Isobel’s.
“If ’tis true, Adwen, I can promise ye that ye have no been bedding the right lassies.”