Annaleigh giggled. “With her father, the last I saw,” she said. “Ye’ll have tae fight William tae get tae her and I dunna think ye want tae do that.”
He released her hand with a smile. “Probably not.”
She continued to giggle. “Then it is best tae forget yer vengeance for now.” Annaleigh noticed that, behind him, Monty and Clement were pulling out possessions and weaponry and beginning to organize them. She pointed. “Are yer men leaving?”
War glanced at them before returning his attention to her. “We all are,” he said. “De Wolfe wants to take us to Wark Castle and then on to Northwood Castle. I am here on a tour, after all, so it is time to start touring.”
Annaleigh couldn’t help it; her face fell. “I see,” she said. “When are ye leaving?”
It was a gesture not missed by War. His eyes glimmered dully as he cocked his head, trying to get a better look at her lowered face. “Within the hour,” he said. “I could ask de Wolfe to delay it until tomorrow.”
She was starting to feel vastly disappointed and embarrassed that he probably sensed that. “Why would ye?” she asked. “There’s no need for ye tae remain at Castle Questing. Ye must get on with yer business.”
“I can think of a good reason to stay.”
“What’s that?”
It was his turn to be coy. He scratched his neck, seemingly awkward for the first time since Annaleigh had known him.
“I’m not entirely sure I should say,” he said. “You see, I’m not entirely certain she feels the same way and I do not wish to embarrass myself. Or her.”
Annaleigh looked at him, then, thinking she understood what he had implied. “There is someone here that…?”Realization dawned, or at least she thought it did, and her disappointment returned tenfold. “Then ye should ask her, of course. I willna take anymore of yer time, m’lord. I’m sure ye have tae…”
She was starting to back up and he reached out, quickly taking her hand and preventing her from getting away.
“You have no idea who I mean, do you?” he asked.
Annaleigh was trying to pull her hand away but she didn’t want to yank. “’Tis none of my affair,” she said. “I wouldna pry. But I wish ye well. I…”
He cut her off again, though it was gently done. “I meant you,” he said quietly. “Did you truly not know that?”
She paused, her eyes wide. “Me?”
He nodded, a smile tugging at his lips as he dropped her hand again. “May I return to Castle Questing to call upon you?”
“Me?” she said, astonished.
“That is not an answer.”
“But…why?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“If it was, I wouldna ask ye.”
He snorted. “I suppose you wouldn’t,” he said. Then, he took a deep breath as he summoned his courage. “Let me be clear– I would like to return to Castle Questing to call upon you. That means I would like to come here just to visit you. When you found me near the river those months ago and healed me, that bound us together in a way that is difficult to understand if you’ve not faced death before. You saved my life, Annaleigh. That means something to me.”
She was starting to overcome her shock, listening seriously to what he had to say. “Is that why ye want tae return?” she said. “Because ye feel some obligation tae me? Because if that is the only reason, it’s not a good one. It should have nothing tae do with ye wanting tae call upon me.”
He was nodding even before she finished speaking. “I know,” he said. “I did not mean I feel obligation. It has nothing to do with that and everything to do with a bond I feel with the woman who saved my life. You did not have to do what you did, but you risked much to do it. That speaks of bravery and selflessness that few people have. You’re warm and humorous and beautiful… you’re a rare woman, Annaleigh. That is why I want to return to call upon you. I want to see you again.”
Annaleigh could hardly believe what she was hearing. Months of dealing with Talus and Anthony, of discouraging them, came rolling back in her mind as she realized this was the one man shedidn’twant to discourage. But she was at a loss as to why the man should be interested in her.
Yet… he was.
“Then I must ask ye a question and I want ye tae be honest with me,” she finally said. “Will ye do that?”
“I will always be honest with you. I know of no other way.”
