'How was the fishing?'
'How was the house elf horse?' Moiraine shot back boldly.
The suspicion that Lan had bailed out on purpose, started to take root in her mind on her way home. Siuan had walked her back as the afternoon had drawn to a close. Moiraine wanted to go to bed early and have good dreams for once. She'd traced Siuan's new markings with the tip of her finger, marvelling at the skin rippling under it and Siuan had taken her hands and kissed them.
Lan ambled past and grinned.
'It was a close call but I think we managed to save it.'
Moiraine was scowling at him now. He wondered how long it had taken for her to realise she'd been tricked. He decided to declare his innocence in this excuse until the day he died.
'Did you catch something this time, fish wife?'
Moiraine turned to look at him.
'Excuse me?'
'Unless I'm mistaken and you really did go fishing and did nothing but talk about libraries and horses all afternoon…?'
Moiraine surprised him with something she'd never done before. He peered at her in the fading light. Was that a tinge of a blush on her face?
'Aha, I thought so. While I was battling a horse, you were playing fish wife with Siuan on a picnic blanket.'
He could see that Moiraine was thinking about what to say. She hesitated for too long.
'Next time invite her round with her catch and have a romantic supper' he instructed her, slicing off a piece of honey cake from the bread bin. 'Just make sure she's the one who cooks it' he said as he walked out of the door. He could feel her glare snapping at his heels. Good. It was about time Moiraine showed her feelings more. He had a feeling that Siuan was going to be good for her.