“Sir?”
“The debt of a kingdom saved in silence, disaster averted, the continuance of Richard’s reign. How would you settle such a debt, if it were you?”
“I would let him go home.”
“Would you?” He smiled at Tadhg. “Would home suffice?”
Tadhg’s heart leapt in his chest. “It is all I want. That and Maggie.”
Maggie leaned forward. “He would also make a fine sheriff.”
The Marshal turned to her, eyebrows up. “Sheriff?”
She nodded. “Oh yes, he knows all manner of tricks that criminals use.”
“Maggie,” Tadhg said quietly, but the Marshal started to grin. “A sheriff, you say,” he murmured. “And what of a title, lady? Does he need one of those, too?”
“Oh, yes. When King Richard returns, he will want to know his back is protected across the Irish sea, will he not? For he will have so many other pressing matters of rebellion pushing against his front and sides.”
“That he will,” murmured the Marshal, and turned to Tadhg. “I’ve been instructed to reward you richly. If that means Ireland….” He shrugged. “What do you think about titles and land and shrievalties?”
“I just want to go home.” He couldn’t say more; his voice cracked, just once.
The Marshal studiously avoided looking at him for a moment. Then, clapping his huge hands to his thighs, the Marshal heaved a sigh.
“So be it. Although….” He paused. “Some find it hard to go home again. To settle back down to a quiet life, after they’ve seen the world, done deeds large and bright. And dark. For good or for ill, going home cannot heal all wounds, Irish. Sometimes it cannot heal any. Is that truly what you want? I suppose what I am saying is, will home suffice?”
Tadhg’s heart beat faster and faster. Green hills and mist and water so blue it hurt your eyes. Endless wind and cliffs and…Maggie.
“Aye,” was all he could say.
“Home it is, then,” the Marshal replied quietly. Maggie’s eyes were shining. “I will have the papers prepared. If you need anything else, inform me directly. Anything you and your heirs want, it is yours.”
He left soon after, after vowing to forget entirely about Renegades Cove, then he paused just a moment at the cave entrance.
“You know what is most odd?” he mused. “I could have sworn I saw the livery of the Earl of Huntington on a pack of horsemen, riding away over the hills, as I drew near. Yet Huntington is far to the north, fighting John.” He looked at Tadhg. “Isn’t that odd?”
“Baffling,” agreed Tadhg.
The Marshal smiled faintly, nodded, and left without another word.
Maggie and Tadhg stood in the resulting silence. They turned and looked at each other. Then they broke and almost ran for the hot spring.
She slid in and he was fast on her heels, slipping down into the steam and heat.
He settled back on the rock and pulled her to him, floated her though the water and seated her atop him, and entered her.
Smiling, her head bent back with a whispered gasp.
“You never answered me,” he murmured, holding her hips down as he lifted his. “Back at the inn.”
He filled her, spreading her open, and her head tipped back of its own accord. “Answered what?”
“If you’ll marry me.”
She looked down at him, her hair wet, falling over her shoulders. “Well, it’s all very sudden,” she said primly, and Tadhg laughed as he moved inside her, a perfect motion, his breath close by her ear, her lips tasting hers every so often, seeking a kiss, the tip of her tongue, a swollen lip to nibble on.
“So aye? Is that an aye?”