“I’ve had a very magical day.” She smiled. “I was going to see you when you … changed venues. I wanted to tell you that I met your father.”

The finger in her hair stilled as his eyes whipped to hers. “My father?”

“I was sketching in the woods, and there he was. Well, the owl first, but I think I realized almost at once. I’ve seen him before,” she added. “Once as an eagle. He wears a gold pendant always around his neck.”

“Aye, he does.” One that Liam had to accept or refuse.

“Then he—well, changed, and we talked. He’s very handsome and very kind.”

More than a little uneasy, Liam turned away to dress. “What did you speak of?”

“My sketches, for the most part. He wanted one I’d done of you for your mother. I hope she likes it.”

“That she will. She’s partial to me.”

She heard the affection in his voice and smiled. “He says she misses you—but I think he was speaking as much of himself. Actually, I thought he might come to see you.” Bottom lip caught between her teeth, she glanced at the tangled sheets of the bed. “It’s a good thing he didn’t, ah, drop in.”

“He wouldn’t be slipping into your bedroom for a visit,” Liam said, and relieved now, grinned wickedly. “That’s for me to do.”

“But you’d like to see him, just the same.”

“We keep in touch,” he said, and found himself both amused and charmed as she walked over to tidy the bed. Wasting your time, Rowan Murray, for I’ll be having you back in it before long.

“He’s proud of you, and I think he liked me. He said— I probably shouldn’t tell you.”

“But you will.” Liam tossed back his hair, moving to her as she plumped the pillows, “You’ve no guile at all.”

“That’s not such a bad thing.” She nearly sulked, but felt too happy to bother. “He said I should ask you for something.”

“Did he?” With a laugh, Liam sat on the bed. “And what will you, Rowan Murray? What should I conjure for you? A sapphire to go with your eyes? Diamonds to sparkle at your feet? If you want a boon from me, you’ve only to ask.”

He grinned, fully amused now as she caught her bottom lip between her teeth once more. Women enjoyed baubles, he thought, and began to wonder what sort he would give her.

“I’d like to meet more of your family.” She blurted it out before she could change her mind.

He blinked twice. “My family?”

“Yes. Well, I’ve met your father now, and Belinda—you said she was a relative, but I didn’t know she was … Is she?”

“Aye.” He said it absently, trying to realign his thoughts. “You’d rather that than diamonds?”