He pushed off from the wall to see Ashley scowling. The man in front of her raised a fist. Christian waded into the crowd, pushing and shoving men aside, as he lunged for the man.
“You will not hit a lady.”
“Look who it is. Lord Winterforth, the man who can’t please a woman.” The man sneered at him. “That’s no lady.”
Christian’s fist met the man’s nose with a crack. He pushed Ashley out of the way. “Stay by the wall.”
The brawl spread throughout the tavern, hands and fists flying. Christian swore as someone kicked him. Only for a moment didhe turn his head to look where he’d sent Ashley out of harm’s way, and a fist caught him on the side of the head. Seeing two of the men in front of him, he swung for the middle and caught the man in the jaw. The man in front of him fell, and Christian touched a finger to his teeth; one was loose. He spat blood on the floor and caught the next man, the one who had started this fight, in the face. He grunted and fell.
Cold water hit Christian in the face.
“Bloody hell,” he bellowed.
The innkeeper and his wife were dousing everyone with water, breaking up the fighting and bringing the patrons back to their senses.
Blood dripped from a cut above Christian’s brow as he made his way to Ashley. She had her eyes shut tight, and as he neared he could hear her humming softly. He stepped over a broken chair.
“Mistress?”
She opened her eyes. “You’re bleeding.”
“A bit.”
She snatched a cloth from a broken table and touched it to his nose and lip.
“Does it hurt very much?”
“Nay, ’tis naught but a scratch.”
The innkeeper stomped over to them. “There will be no room for you tonight. ’Tis going to a paying customer. Sleep in the stables.” He cursed and muttered as he kicked a broken bench away.
Christian opened his mouth to say he would pay for the damages, but he remembered that he was not Lord Winterforth, he was a merchant, and a merchant would not have the funds for this. When he returned home, he would send his messenger with gold for the innkeeper.
He swept Ashley up in his arms, to the cheers of the crowd. She couldn’t stop laughing as he carried her to the stables.
“What amuses the lady?”
“I’ve only seen a fight like that in a movie or at a hockey game. It was…so fast.” She touched his cheek, the look in her eyes making him cease walking.
“You were amazing. Thank you for defending me.” Then she wrinkled her nose. “It smells in here. Like your horse.”
He put her down. “The innkeeper threw us out. Welcome to your chamber, my lady.”
With a sigh, she flopped down on the hay. “Well, at least it’s warm.”
He should be able to provide for her, to procure the nicest room, a beautiful cloak, yet he was penniless until they reached Winterforth. Unless he told everyone who he was, but no—he wanted to remain Christian the merchant for a little while longer.
She took hold of his hand, pulling him down next to her.
“I have to tell you something. It’s very important.”
She looked around to see if anyone was listening. There was a stable boy in the corner, curled up in the hay sleeping. Christian pressed his lips together so he would not laugh as she placed a finger to her lips.
“We must be very quiet. I don’t want anyone to hear. They would never believe me.”
She looked into his eyes, and he felt his world shift.
“I was on my way to England, for work, when I landed in the water and somehow found myself here.” She waved a hand around. “You said it was 1334?”
