“I will start by doing what is necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly I’ll be doing the impossible.”
“You quote St. Francis. What do you think Mary will say when you tell her you are Christian and an educated man?”
“She must accept me the way I am first.”
“Perhaps the maidens in your village will be sighing and longing for your wicked ways?”
“They will no longer keep me warm on a long winter’s night. I have designs for corn tassel. She will warm my bed for the rest of my days and bear me many sons.”
“You think you can convince her?”
“She is overindulged but will soon learn the ways of my ancestors. Of this, I am most sincere.”
He caught Two Eagles with a smile on his face, watching longingly over Mary. “You are a long-suffering man Two Eagles. I think it will take the moons of six lifetimes to accomplish that feat.”
“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.”
Joshua stretched, his muscles sore. “I wonder what would happen if you ever came face to face with Baron Bearsted?”
“His scalp and body parts would be removed.”
“If it is any consolation, I’ll pen a letter to my father reporting Bearsted’s crimes. The baron must be stopped before more innocent girls fall under his schemes.”
A tendril of Juliet’s hair tickled his chin and he watched her sleep. Thoughts of his mother and happy days with his brothers and sister at Belvoir Castle surfaced. For a few moments, he pictured the Rutland ancestral home. Stately English oak trees lined a meandering road that led to a giant stone edifice complete with turrets and mullioned windows that dazzled, reflecting rays of a golden sun. Manicured lawns, formal gardens, mazes, and a lake dotted with snowy white swans. Across the green valley were vineyards, fields of golden grain and verdant pastures. He could almost hear the clatter of hooves as he and his brothers raced through the village.
He preferred to think of Belvoir as his childhood playground where they had all pretended to be knights with clanking armor setting off for Canterbury to save a maiden in distress. It was at times like these, he remembered and his soul ached with homesickness.
To have a family of his own?
His gut churned. The war cut two ways…the supremacy of England and the throng in the Colonies in their bid for freedom. Thousands of men had died, leaving a void in people’s lives.
Yet, this was a new experience—sleeping with a woman and not doing what came to mind. She shifted, her movements a faint whisper of doeskin against doeskin, her breath coming out against his neck in a feather-like caress.
Juliet stirred and exhaled. She had slept well, given to dreams of better days with Moira. Life had soared with simplicity and happiness. But Moira was gone. She opened her eyes and stared straight into extraordinary, compelling blue eyes. A slow smile greeted her. With a gasp, she hurtled back to earth to find herself pressed against Joshua, her fingers clasping the soft hairs of his chest.
“Oh.” Fingers burning, she jerked her arm from his chest and sat up.
“Good morning,” he drawled.
Heat rose from her toes to the roots of her hair, and she was loath to know how long he’d been awake. “What you must think—”
He grinned. “Not at all.” He thrust aside the bearskin and rose. He reached down and helped her to her feet, his hand warm, awareness skipping up her arm.
A pink glow marked the horizon, heralding the dawn. She glanced around and spotted Two Eagles behind them, his gaze fixed on Mary who shifted and stretched beneath the fur.
“Must we leave already?”
Two Eagles’ shadow covered Mary and her friend looked up wary. He held out moccasins but she lifted her nose and looked the other way.
Two Eagles dropped the pair of deerskin moccasins and pointed to Mary’s feet.
“I am not putting those on. You will not be turning me into a heathen.”
Bending over, he took off her shoes and stockings and hiked the moccasins up her leg.
Mary pushed his hands away. “How dare you.”
“Oh, Mary stop it. He is giving you a gift,” said Juliet.
