“Come,” he said then, retrieving his crossbow from its hiding place. “I will escort you to the lady. She will not surrender her wet kirtle at my behest, but perhaps you might persuade her to do as much.”
His comment clearly reassured Anna, for the maid smiled outright, though Ramsay could make no sense of it.
“Aye, lead me to her, sir, if you please.” She smiled at him, her expression playful. “Though I would not endeavor to convince my lady to abandon her kirtle, I might be able to urge her to change to a dry one.”
There was a jest here, one that Ramsay could not comprehend, but he could not care overmuch. Evangeline had survived Rufus’ attack and was resolved against wedding that man. She would be completely out of peril by the end of this day, for he would ensure as much.
Ramsay’s sole concern was that Evangeline might not have found the glade.
Or that she might not wait there long enough. He winced, knowing she could be impatient, but hoped she would follow his instruction. Where might she ride if she did not wait? Even as he retrieved the palfrey, Ramsay began to make a list.
* * *
Evangeline had never believedtime could pass as slowly as it did while she awaited Ramsay and Anna. She knew she had found the right location, for that fine dapple destrier was tethered there. The beast, unlike herself, was serenely content to graze.
Evangeline was not a particularly patient person and never enjoyed waiting on any event, but she watched the sun’s slow progress across the sky and was certain that this ordeal stretched beyond endurance. She was colder than she could ever recall being, though she wrung out her skirts as well as she was able. Had she not been alone, she might have shed both kirtles and worn only Ramsay’s cloak over her chemise, but that seemed audacious beyond belief.
Instead, she paced, her restlessness growing by the moment. At least the movement made her feel a little warmer and she had stopped sneezing. Her agitation rose with every step.
Why should it take Ramsay so very long?
Surely Anna would have sought her out. Surely the maid would be close by and alone. But would she believe Ramsay? Would Rufus grant Anna the opportunity to flee? What if both of them were seized by her betrothed? Naught good could come of that eventuality, Evangeline was certain.
What would she do if they did not appear?
How long should she wait?
Evangeline spun and paced more quickly, more like a whirlwind than she realized. She did not doubt that Rufus would seek to either collect her corpse or find her person. He would want proof of her demise, given what she had seen. That only made lingering so close by seem more foolish. The longer she was near his abode, the better the chance that she could be discovered.
And then what? Evangeline could feel the weight of his gloved hand on her neck again, and shuddered at the recollection. He would not fail in killing her a second time, that she knew well. She touched her nape where his thumb had pressed against her skin and knew she would have a bruise. She could not doubt her recollection.
If Ramsay were seized, he might be compelled to confess her location. Should she leave? But where would she go? How would Ramsay find her if she abandoned the glade and he was not seized? What of Anna?
Evangeline was nigh in a panic. She had resolved upon one last circuit of the glade when she heard hoofbeats. Both horses looked up with curiosity, but Evangeline urged them into the shadows of the forest. She held a hand over Gealaich’s snout, hoping the horse did not take it in mind to snort as once she did, and scarce dared to breathe as the sound of someone approaching grew louder.
One set of footfalls were heavy, like those of a man on foot. There was also the sound of hoofbeats. Could it be Ramsay and Anna? Aye, or it could be a warrior in Rufus’ service, accompanied by a squire or groom, a young boy of smaller stature.
It might be Rufus himself with that boy.
Or hauling Anna beside him, in search of Evangeline.
She froze at the sound of a maiden’s laughter.
“Sir, you charm me overmuch!” Anna declared with merriment.
Who charmed Anna?
Ramsay? Rufus? Some other man in Rufus’ employ? Evangeline could not decide which possibility she liked the least. She scarce dared to breathe as she watched for some sign of whoever approached. Those footsteps had become stealthy, as if her presence was suspected. She saw a shadow move through the trees and gripped Nigel’s blade, prepared to do her worst to see her maid and herself freed—no matter how charming Anna’s captor might be—then gasped aloud when a familiar pair stepped into the empty glade.
It was Ramsay and Anna. Anna rode a palfrey and Ramsay led the horse.
Evangeline was so relieved that her knees nigh gave out beneath her. She gripped Gealaich’s reins and leaned against the horse’s flank, feeling suddenly that she had endured too much on this day. She began to tremble deep inside with awareness of how close she had come to losing her life. Now that Ramsay had returned, she could allow herself to admit her fear.
Ramsay was frowning as he scanned the apparently empty clearing. “My lady?” he whispered and the dapple stallion exhaled mightily. He turned to the horse and saw Evangeline, the relief that lit his eyes a perfect echo of her own.
“Ramsay!” she whispered and fairly flung herself at him. He caught her close as her tears rose unexpectedly and she closed her eyes as he held her tightly. She felt safe in his embrace and never wanted him to relinquish his grip upon her. Aye, she had been close to despair but with Ramsay by her side, she believed that Rufus could be evaded.
“You are cold,” he said, pressing a kiss to her temple before he drew back to survey her. He shed his gloves and wiped away her tears with a gentle fingertip, a gesture so tender that her tears flowed all the harder.
