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He didn’t have to beg, truly. Maitland had already made up her mind to permit his escort.

It would give her a little more time with the man, stolen moments to tuck away in her heart for the times when the loneliness of life overwhelmed her.

That had happened a lot in her short lifetime already.

Perhaps it was selfish of her, stealing moments with a man who was to marry another, but she couldn’t help herself.

She wondered if, in the end, the sorrow of a man she could never have would be too much.

“Of course you and my brother may escort me,” she said after a moment. “I am grateful for your concern.”

Thomas’ gaze lingered on her. “I will always show you such concern, Mae.”

Maitland finished her last stitch. Instead of rising to his comment, which was something quite leading, she simply bit off the silk and set her needle down.

Thomas’ flirting had become something bold, something that could get out of hand should she let it, and given the situation, she simply couldn’t let it become more than it already was.

Therefore, it was best to simply change the subject, as much as she didn’t want to.

It is safer this way.

“You are finished,” she said. “Try to keep it dry and do not put any pressure on it, for at least a day. I heard your mother tell another man that with a similar wound, so I am telling you also.”

He smiled at her, rather sweetly. “As you wish,” he whispered.

For a moment, they simply looked at each other, a thousand words passing between them, words of hope and gratitude and interest, and eventually resignation. Resignation that he had his life to live and she had hers. It was a disappointment beyond words.

“How is yer wound, Tommy?”

Jordan was suddenly standing in front of them and they both turned to look at her as if startled by her appearance. They had been so wrapped up in each other that neither one of them had seen her approach. Maitland jumped up so that Jordan could take a close look at her handiwork.

“I cleansed it with the wine and hot water,” Maitland said, perhaps a little too quickly. “Did I sew it correctly?”

Jordan passed a practiced eye over the wound; there were fifteen very neat stitches in her son’s big shoulder. “Aye, lass,” she said with approval. “Ye did a remarkable job. I dunna think I could have done better myself.”

“She did a beautiful job,” Thomas said, though he really couldn’t see it. “I hardly felt a thing.”

Maitland smiled proudly as Jordan took a final look and stood up. “Seek yer bed, Tommy,” she said to her son. “Rest while ye can. I’ll keep an eye on yer men and yer father is still on the walls. He’s been there all night.”

Thomas frowned. “You and Papa should get some sleep,” he said. “I will stay here with my men.”

Jordan frowned. “Since when does my son disobey me?”

Thomas knew he’d been licked before the battle really got started.

There was no use in arguing with her, especially when she started throwing around words like “disobey”.

With a heavy sigh, he stood up, bending down to pick up his belongings as Maitland crouched down, handing him his padded tunic and collecting the de Wolfe tunic, which had been damaged in the fight.

As Thomas collected his weapons, she noted the torn shoulder of the black and silver de Wolfe tunic.

“It has been torn,” she said, showing it to Jordan. “I can mend it if you have thread of the same color.”

Jordan fingered the tear, stained with her son’s blood. “I have the thread in my sewin’ kit,” she said. “Take what ye need.”

Thomas was on the move while the women talked sewing. “I will sleep only a short while,” he said, looking at Maitland. “And you, my lady, should rest as well if you intend to go to Edenside today.”

Maitland was rather tired, all things considered, but she looked around the hall. “I do not think I should sleep,” she said. “I should help with the men, at least for the morning. I cannot leave it all to Lady de Wolfe.”

But Jordan shook her head. “Rest, lass, and take yer companion with ye,” she said, pointing to Tibelda on the other side of the hall. “The men have all been tended. There is no urgency any longer.”

Maitland was still doubtful. “Are you sure you do not require my help?”

Jordan shook her head again. “Go,” she said. “In fact, ye can leave me Tommy’s tunic. I’ll mend it.”

But Maitland held the tunic close. “Nay, I can do it,” she insisted. “It will only take a few minutes. I… I should like to earn my keep, my lady. Sir Thomas has been a gracious host and I should like to repay him.”

Jordan cupped Maitland’s face between her two hands and kissed her on the cheek. “Lass, ye’ve repaid him many times over with yer help,” she said. “Ye dunna need tae earn yer keep. Tommy and I are very grateful for what ye’ve done.”

Maitland smiled timidly, her gaze moving between Jordan and Thomas, who was smiling openly at her.

“Come, my lady,” Thomas said. “Gather your needle and thread, and I shall escort you to the keep. It would be my pleasure.”

With a genuine smile on her face, Maitland did as she was told. Gathering black thread from Jordan’s sewing kit near the hearth, and a heavy bone needle, she collected Tibelda as well, and the three of them headed out of the hall and into the morning sunshine beyond.

Maitland swore that she’d never seen such a bright and beautiful day.