Twilight Magic by Shari Anton

Their kiss had thoroughly aroused her and should have kept her awake half of the night. Instead, she’d slept so soundly she hadn’t heard Maura enter the room to deliver the cup of herbs mixed with ale or to lie down on the pallet placed under the room’s single window. ’Struth, Emma hadn’t heard a sound until this morn when a crowing cock greeted the sunrise, pulling her and Maura from slumber.
    Maura had arisen and dressed to begin her day. Emma had fallen back asleep, not yet able to rouse sufficiently to get out of bed. The added sleep had done wonders, giving her the strength to leave the bedchamber behind.
    As Emma took the few steps to reach the table, Darian’s hand stilled on top of the hound’s massive head. He looked up, and his smile faded.
    He stared at her for a moment. “Your eyes yet shine. Should you be out of bed?”
    Maura spun around to have a look, too. “Ah, but her ladyship is not so pale.” She pointed at the mug. “Would you care for another?”
    Though the potion would do no good, Emma saw no reason to be ungracious or ungrateful for Maura’s thoughtful offer.
    “My head no longer feels about to split open, so I need not stay abed.” She handed Maura the mug she’d not emptied until a few minutes ago. “My thanks for the potion, Maura. Another would be welcome.”
    “Bread and cheese?” Maura asked.
    “The bread only.” She gave Maura a conspirator’s smile. “Best not to tax my stomach too soon.”
    “As you say, milady. I will be back anon.”
    Maura hurried off to fetch the victuals; Emma took the vacated seat across from Darian. He still stared at her hard, and Emma fought the urge to turn away.
    Did he truly see a shine in her eyes? Certes, she saw things other people did not, and his comment of last eve still bothered her. However, he couldn’t possibly know how close he came to the truth. More like, he viewed her as feeble and waited for her to stumble.
    Irked that he judged her as a weakling, but determined to make an attempt at companionability, Emma sought a distraction by reaching over to run a finger along the hound’s nose.
    “Gar’s hound?”
    “William’s. Are you certain you should not remain abed?”
    Darian didn’t distract easily. Sweet mercy, did he believe all women fragile beings or just her?
    “Remaining abed will not banish the pain. I have learned that if I move slowly and attempt nothing too taxing, I do better by being up and about. ’Struth, I suffered one all through my father’s and brother’s vigil and burial without stumbling or collapsing.”
    Though she’d stayed close to her sister Gwendolyn for support. Darian need not know that, however.
    He hesitated before he said, “Then you have suffered these sudden headaches before. How long have they plagued you?”
    Too long. “Half my life. They come on quickly and leave when they will.”
    “I knew a man whose aching head could send him to bed for days. He discovered he could not drink more than one goblet of red wine in a sitting. Do you know what causes yours?”
    The lie she’d told for years came easily to her lips. “Nay. Does the hound have a name?”
    Again he smiled down at the hound. “This is Rose. The others are Daisy and Lily.”
    Which made
her
smile. “Somehow I cannot envision the earl standing out in the field calling to his...flowers. Whatever possessed him to name them thus?”
    “William deserves no less for allowing Maura to name his hunting dogs, particularly since the bitches are ferocious in the field. I have seen Rose bring down a lordly buck all on her own.”
    “Impressive.”
    He nodded, ruffling the hound’s fur, causing the bitch’s head to rise and lean into the more vigorous rubbing. “One cannot always judge by a name, or title, or rank. Not with man or beast.”
    How well she knew. Ladies were accorded courtesy; traitor’s daughters were not. Neither were mercenaries.
    “William could have renamed his hounds.”
    “Perhaps, but he