He straightened and offered his hand. “Again,” he said. “Two more turns, then ye can retire for the night.”
She took his hand, and they worked the same steps again, but this time with fewer fumbles. When she slipped, he helped her regain her balance with two fingers on her elbow. When she moved fast, he let her win and did not say it. However, the knowledge was not lost on her. The courtyard grew warmer with the lanterns and their breath.
He tested her once more. A reach for her shoulder. A mock pull. She turned and set her foot behind his heel as he had taught her. He barely stopped himself from tumbling down.
“Good,” he said, his smile reaching his eyes.
“Oh, please,” she huffed, suppressing the smirk that tugged at her lips.
“Ye see,” he said, pleased despite himself. “Nae so hard, after all.”
“Nae when ye stop thinking.”
“Exactly.”
She tried not to smile and failed. She was about to speak when they both heard it. A small sound that didn’t sound like the wind or an animal had broken from the hedge beyond the fence.
Jack’s head turned at once, and she felt his hand close around hers, warm and firm.
“Stay behind me,” he muttered.
She obeyed and stepped up to his shoulder. The lantern nearest to them swayed on its hook, and light slid back and forth across the sand.
“What is that?” she whispered.
The sound came again before he could respond, and a single branch rustled in the wind. Then, far out, feet struck the hard ground once and faded.
“Back toward the castle,” Jack ordered.
Emma moved with him despite the questions hanging on the tip of her tongue. The coldness returned all of a sudden, reminding her that she had been outside this entire time. Jack did not draw his sword or anything. She watched him count their steps instead, his hand still clutching hers.
“What was it?” she murmured.
“Could be nothing,” he replied. “Could be a man with enough sense to leave.”
“Ye think it is an intruder?” she asked.
“I think nay one in their right mind would be outside at this point,” he said.
They waited another half minute when they drew closer to the castle, but nothing moved.
“Inside,” Jack uttered.
Emma nodded and let him lead her inside. They did not stop walking until they were well into the hall and enveloped by the warmth of the torches along the walls.
When they were close to the stairs that led to her room, he paused, causing her to do the same. “Emma.”
She looked up at him.
“What I told ye,” he said. “I meant all of it.”
“I ken,” she breathed.
“Do ye trust me?” he asked.
A slight smile crossed her face. “Nae in the slightest.”
CHAPTER 14
