Bartholomew grimaced, for he had not considered that possibility.
“You might ensure that Royce’s heir can make a competing claim to your own after Royce is dead.”
“I promised, Anna.”
Anna turned away. “It is a wicked bargain, to be sure,” she murmured. “And one that cannot end well.” She appealed to him again. “Do you not see that she will see her husband rid of the threat of the true heir? She saw you saved, but the price is your sacrifice!”
Bartholomew shook his head. “Nay, she cares naught for such detail. I believe she seeks only to leave Haynesdale…”
“No matter who bears the cost! What a selfish fiend of a woman!” Anna began to pace the riverbank in his stead, periodically kicking ice into the river. “And you!” She spun to fling out a hand toward him. “You believe all the people in Christendom to be as noble as you. What innocence is this? What folly! You are fool enough to trusther!”
“I gave my word. To break it would make me one of those people you condemn.”
“You will step into a trap!”
“Indeed, I might.” He arched a brow. “You could grant me some credit. I ask your assistance in finding a way to evade this obligation.”
“With your honor yet intact?” He nodded and Anna growled. “Understand that Lady Marie is a fair match for Sir Royce, which means that she sees solely to her own advantage. She might be lovely and she might have fine manners, but her heart is as a stone. She might seduce you to conceive that son, but cares little if you are captured or killed for so doing.” She seized a fistful of his chemise and gave him a shake. “Do you not see that she will betray you? She could not suffer to let a man who had claimed her live, for he might tell of it. If she were charged as an adulteress, she could lose all!”
“She might lose all if the king agreed to grant Haynesdale to me.”
“Exactly! And this is why both she and Royce would see you dead.” She shook her head and leaned toward him. “Do not go. Do not put yourself in such peril.”
Bartholomew shook his head. “I must go, but I would find a way to survive the interval.”
Anna’s gaze simmering and she paced the riverbank again. “When do you meet her?”
“After midday on the first day without snow. At the old mill.”
“Vexing man,” Anna muttered. She tipped her head back and considered the pale hue of the sky. The snow fell thickly and it seemed that there was only snow as far as the eye could see. “But the truth is that otherwise, I should not admire you so.”
Bartholomew chuckled. “I could say much the same of you.”
“It appears you have some time,” she mused, then turned a sparkling glance upon him. “However do you mean to pass it?”
He smiled and rose to his feet, seeing the anticipation in her eyes as he came to her side. “I hoped you might also have a suggestion about that.” He dropped his hands to her shoulders and smiled down at her. “I love you, Anna.”
“You do?”
“I do.” He smiled as he watched her eyes light with pleasure. “I want all of this to come right, but cannot yet see a way for it to be so.”
“Nor can I,” she admitted, tangling her fingers with his own. “But there is one deed I would ask of you.”
“What is that?”
“To give me a memory, one to warm me all the winters of my life that I will be without you.” Her eyes shone with her conviction and Bartholomew’s throat tightened. “I understand what you can promise and what you cannot, and why it must be so, but I love you as well.” She sighed. “Let me have you so long as it snows, for that is better than not at all.”
It was an invitation he could not refuse. Bartholomew framed her face in his hands and claimed her lips with his own, savoring all the passion that Anna had to give.
He would grant her memories and to spare.
When he broke their kiss, she smiled up at him, her ardor clear in her gaze. “Perhaps we might discover exactly how much a mortal man can endure of love play,” she suggested, her tone teasing, and he could think of no better way to spend this time, however long it might be.
“Once again, I take your challenge, Anna.” Bartholomew declared, and kissed her anew. He loved the passion of her response, that she was both honest and intrepid, and wished they could be together for all time.
He swung her into his arms and strode for the cavern, not caring who saw them or what was said. There was only Anna, Anna and the sweet fury of her kiss, and all the joy they could summon together.
*
