Chapter Thirty-Seven - Eithne

“There’s a lot of intrigue in a royal court.”

Iain set down his tankard, wiped his mouth and offered up a smile. “I’m beginning to understand that, Princess. Though Isabel wouldn’t open up to me. Scared of her own shadow that one.”

“You’re wrong, gladiator,” Ava said. “She’s just different, that’s all.” She looked him straight in the eye as she added, “Izzy needs someone to love and appreciate her or she’ll never know her own worth.”

The big man spluttered, and Eithne slapped him on the back.

“Surely you don’t mean me?” he gasped. “Bloody piece of bread went down the wrong way.”

“That’s what you get for stuffing your face.”

Ava said it with affection, and Eithne couldn’t help remembering how readily she’d prepared the simple meal which included cheese and red apples, as well as buttermilk. She’d disappeared for a while “on a forage” as she said. No doubt the food had been pilfered from the royal larder but these days the Princess of Ormond wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the m