“And she’d never mean to hurt you.” Which, Branna thought, was another thing different entirely. “Sex is powerful, and I think will only add to the strength and power of the circle.”
“Obviously, we should’ve jumped into bed before this.”
She only laughed. “The pair of you had to be willing and wanting. Sex only to take power? That’s a selfish act, and damaging in the end.”
“I can promise we were both willing and wanting.” He bit into the apple, which tasted as tart and crisp as it looked. “And it’s occurring to me I left you on your own last night.”
“Don’t insult me.” Branna brushed that aside. “I can more than take care of myself and our home, as you well know.”
“I do know it.” He picked up the pot to top off her coffee. “And still I don’t like leaving you on your own.”
“I’ve learned to tolerate a houseful of people, even enjoy it. But as you know me you know I prize being on my own in a quiet house.”
“As I’d switch the prize and tolerate around, it’s a wonder we came from the same parents at times.”
“It may be you were left on the doorstep and taken in out of pity. But you’re handy enough to have around when a faucet’s dripping or a door squeaks.”
He pulled her hair, crunched his apple. “Still, you can’t ask us to give you that quiet and alone too often till this is done.”
“Sure I won’t. I’m after making beef bourguignon for the horde of us tonight.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Fancy.”
“I’m in the mood for fancy, and you’ll see someone brings some good red wine, and plenty of it.”
“That I’ll do.” He tossed the apple core in the compost pail, walked over, kissed the top of her head. “I love you, Branna.”
“I know it. Go on and change your clothes before you’re late for work.”
When he left, she sat looking away and out the window. She wanted him happy, more even than she wanted happiness for herself. And yet, knowing he was on his way to finding what he didn’t yet know he wanted made her feel so painfully alone.
Sensing it, Kathel rose from beneath the table, laid his head in her lap. So she sat, stroking the dog, and returned to poring over the spell book.
* * *
IONA STEPPED INTO THE TACK ROOM WHERE MEARA organized the equipment needed for her first guided ride of the morning.
“It’s coming time for another good going-over of everything in here,” Meara said cheerfully. “I’m taking out a party of four, two brothers and their wives who’ve come to Ashford for a big family wedding on the weekend. Their niece it is, having the wedding at Ballintubber Abbey, where you and Boyle will marry next spring, then back to Ashford they’ll all come for the reception.”
“You and Connor had sex.”
Meara looked up, and blinking dramatically began to pat herself front and back. “Am I wearing a sign then?”
“You’ve been smiling all morning, and singing.”
“I’ve been known to smile and sing without having sex beforehand.”
“You don’t sing the whole time you’re mucking stalls. And you look really, really relaxed, which you wouldn’t, without sex, after a day like you had yesterday. Since you kissed Connor, you had sex with him.”
“Some people are known to kiss without having sex. And don’t you have a lesson in the ring on the schedule?”
“I have five minutes, and this is the first time I could catch you alone. Unless you want Boyle to know. It was wonderful, it was good or you wouldn’t look so happy.”
“It was wonderful and good, and it’s not a secret. Connor and I both agree—as we’re a circle, and something like this can change matters, though it won’t—all should know we’re together that way. Right now.”
She gathered reins, bit, saddle, blanket. “So we are.”
“You’re good together— You’re happy,” Iona added, hauling up more tack herself and following Meara out. “So you’re good together. Why do you say right now?”