He massaged her nape. “Why thesetears?”
“I never cry,” she mumbled, though evidence to the contrary wet hisskin.
Rolfe stifled a chuckle and rocked her in the warmth of his arms. “Of course not,” heagreed.
“My lord,” she whispered. “I am so sorry that I broke my promise to you. I thought you would notknow...”
“And you were curious beyondall.”
“I was.” She sighed. “I erred, sir. I wanted to know as much as I could in order to helpyou.”
Rolfe was awed by her words. “And I erred in hiding myself from you, so perhaps we areeven.”
“Truly?”
Rolfe smiled, though she did not lift her head. “Truly.” He tugged at the pile of his clothing that she held tightly. “I shall need these if I am to be decent in the presence of a lady.” he reminded her in amurmur.
“I am so glad that you are alive!” She reached up and kissed him, initiating their embrace in the way that fired hisblood.
“Yes, Annelise. I am alive,” he whispered into her hair. “Surely you did not believeotherwise?”
“But you have been gone all this time. And there was the wolf.” She started and tried to stare past him as she dropped her voice to a whisper. Her hands clutched at him. “Is he gone? One attacked my horse, that first night that I came to the palace, and it wasterrifying...”
“Hush.” Rolfe stroked her shoulder, knowing that when she calmed and began to think the matter through, she would see the answer. “The wolf will not troubleyou.”
“But he was just there, right inside the door. You must have seen him when you camein.”
His thumb slid across her lips, silencing her. He cupped her chin in his hand and tipped her face up to his. “Did I not promise to see yousafe?”
The fight went out of her shoulders and she dropped her gaze, demure as he had never expected her to be. “You did.” Then she shook her head and he watched as her fear receded. Just as he anticipated, she began to reason through the puzzle. “But why are you without your clothing? And where is the wolf?” She made an exasperated sound. “How did the wolf know to show me that Yves had ridden away? Why did the gates open for thewolf?”
Rolfe turned away to quickly don his clothes as she spoke her thoughts aloud. Her conclusion was inevitable and by the sound, she would reach it quickly. He struck the tinder and lit a fire, but Annelise stared out the window toward the palace, her fingers drumming on thesill.
“I cannot explain it, but every puzzle has akey.”
Rolfe closed his hands over her shoulders. He touched his lips to her neck, relieved that her skin was warmer. She shivered, but he guessed it was for another reason. and she shivered despite herself. “It seems I must believe in destiny, after all, my Annelise. I have never been so fortunate as to have known a woman like you before, and yet you are mywife.”
“What manner of woman is that?” she asked, her wordshusky.
“A passionate one,” he confessed, punctuating his word with a slow kiss beneath her ear. “A loyal one.” Another kiss on her ear prompted Annelise to sigh. “One who would make my battle herown.”
“Then you have been unfortunate, sir,” shewhispered.
“Indeed, I have been, but my fortunes changed with the taking of a bride.” He turned her in his embrace but Annelise kept her gaze lowered. “Will you forgiveme?”
“Will you trust me?” shecountered.
“I will,” Rolfe said, knowing it was past time to take a chance. “If you can endure it, Annelise, I will confess the entire tale toyou.”
“Truly?” She glanced up then and met hisgaze.
She gasped, then took a step backward in her surprise. Rolfe knew that the puzzle had found itskey.
