Free Highland Vampire by Hannah Howell, Deborah Raleigh, Adrienne Basso Page B

claim her?"
    "Because I believe it would be unkind and curse us both in the end. Aye, there could be compromises made, as Cathal has made for Bridget, but there is one thing Efrica wants and needs that I may ne'er be able to give her."
    "What?"
    "Children. Ye are the only child I have bred, David, and I have been indulging myself with women for thirty years or so. E'en Cathal, who is a mon of both worlds, feared he might not be able to breed a child. Despite the many Pureblood women Efrica's brothers have bedded down with when they come to visit, only two bairns have been born."
    David sighed and dragged his hand through his hair when they paused just outside the door of Jankyn's room. "Weel, then, why not become lovers? At least ye could have that."
    "And then who would take her to wife? Men prefer their wives to be untouched when they come to the marriage bed."
    "Unless that wife has a verra fine dowry, one sweetened with a bonnie piece of land. Mayhap I am a selfish bastard, but if I stood in your place, I would take all I could. I would glut myself with sweet memories to hold in my heart, ones to be brought forth later, when I am again alone. Weel, I best go and clean myself up and then hie myself back to the great hall ere my Fiona thinks I have deserted her."
    Jankyn watched his son walk away, then turned to frown at his door. Why not become lovers ? The very thought of being Efrica's lover made his knees weak, as if he were some untried boy facing the loss of his virginity. Cursing his son for putting that idea into his head, Jankyn entered his chambers. When Efrica turned from staring into the fire and smiled at him, he felt as if he had come home and he silently groaned. Why not become lovers ? As Jankyn walked to his bed and flung himself down on it, he knew that one small hint of welcome from Efrica and he would give in to the temptation to start making some of those sweet memories.
    Efrica moved to stand beside the bed. "Are ye still weak? Do ye want some of your wine?" She frowned at him as she suddenly noticed the state of his clothes. "How did ye get so wet?"
    "Nay. Aye. 'Tis raining." He had to bite back a grin when she rolled her lovely eyes.
    "Why did ye go out in the rain?"
    "Ah, weel, we couldnae leave four dead men lying about the corridor, could we? David and I took them outside the walls and tossed them into the burn. Luck was with us the whole way. No one stumbled upon us as we left the castle, and the foul weather hid us as we went to the burn. So the only one who will ken what happened to those men when the bodies are found is the one who hired them. He willnae be talking, will he."
    "She," Efrica said as she grimaced at the muddy state of his boots. "Here, let me get these off ere ye ruin the bedclothes."
    "She?" Jankyn asked, absently shifting around enough to allow Efrica to remove his boots.
    "Aye. I believe your lover Lady Eleanor hired them."
    There was a definite bite to her words, Jankyn noticed. "My former lover. My former lover of but a verra brief time many weeks ago. I should be surprised that a woman would hire mercenaries to murder a mon, but I am not. Cold and vicious is Lady Eleanor. Vanity dressed in a rich gown. How do ye ken she is the one?"
    As she grabbed a drying cloth and began to rub his hair dry, Efrica explained. When she looked at Jankyn, he was grinning at her, and she thought that an odd reaction. Then she realized what she was doing and cursed softly.
    "What am I thinking of?" she muttered, glaring at the drying cloth.
    "That I am wet?"
    "'Tis habit, ye ken. Someone comes in wet, then ye hurry to get them dry and warm so they dinnae take a fever, but that isnae a problem with ye, is it?"
    "Nay, but feel free to continue."
    There was an odd glint in his eyes, as if he challenged her. Efrica also sensed some change in him, as if he was no longer so intent upon keeping a distance between them. Perhaps, she mused, he had been as affected by his brush with death as she had. As