“If that is your wish.” She smoothed her hands down his side, pausing to lightly caress his taut, smooth hips.
“My command,” he muttered in an absent tone as he traced the pulse in her throat with his tongue.
“Ah, a command. I recall another command ye made when we first lay together. Then again, mayhaps ’twas more of a request.”
“Aye? What was that?” He turned his seductive attentions to her breasts.
“Not to touch ye here.” She slowly curled her fingers around his erection. “Have ye changed your mind?”
“Aye.”
She smiled faintly, for his voice was a mere rasp and he trembled as she caressed him. “Mayhaps it will help ye to forget Balreaves.”
“Balreaves? Ne’er heard of the mon.”
Jennet wished that was true, then shook aside the thought and concentrated on giving Hacon a night he would not soon forget.
Chapter 11
As Hacon rode forward to speak to Douglas, Jennet, mounted on her pony, looked around her. Spread out through the scrub forest of pine was the army she had traveled with for so long. Last night, when they had stopped to camp and Hacon had confirmed that they would head for Liddesdale by midday, she had not given much thought to the army. She realized that, in some ways, she would miss it.
Their arms and armor glinted as a rare late summer sun touched upon them. With them marched the captives of war, who were forced to herd the stolen livestock. Women plodded along, walking away from their homes and families and into a life Jennet did not care to contemplate. She felt guilty, for she had done little to improve their lot, either through halting their abuse or setting them free. Then she shook the regret away. There was nothing she could do. She had to soothe her conscience with the knowledge that she had aided Mary and Elizabeth in a small way. Mary was now headed back to her family and Elizabeth was where she wished to be—with Robert.
Hearing Murdoc make his usual babble of greeting from his sling draped on her back, Jennet turned slightly in her saddle to see who approached her. Elizabeth stood there, one hand full of thistle blooms, the other ruffling Murdoc’s thick curls. The woman looked so happy that Jennet could not help but smile at her.
“I shall warn you, Elizabeth,” Jennet said. “Days as fine as these are rare indeed in this land.”
Elizabeth laughed softly. “’Tis rare that the sun shines so warm and bright in England as well.”
“So, ye are in Scotland proper now.”
“Aye, and now there is no doubt that I shall be staying.”
“Robert has asked to wed you?”
“He has.”
“Oh, Elizabeth.” Jennet reached out and briefly clasped her friend’s hand. “I am so verra pleased for you.”
“So am I.” She exchanged a grin with Jennet. “ ’Twas a moment of great romance and emotion. We gazed into each other’s eyes and my Robert said, ‘Ye have stuck with me like a burr and ye mean to keep sticking, dinnae ye woman?’ I said, ‘Aye, I do.’ He said, ‘Weel then, we may as weel say them vows.’ ‘Done,’ says I, ‘as soon as I catch sight of a priest.’”
When Jennet started to laugh, Elizabeth joined in.
“Such levity,” Hacon said as he walked over. In deference to the heat, he wore no armor, simply a dark blue overtunic and matching hose. “May I share in the jest?”
“’Tis no jest, Sir Gillard,” Elizabeth said.
“Nay.” Jennet smiled at Hacon. “Elizabeth and Robert are to be wed. We but shared a moment of happy laughter.” She leaned toward Hacon. “Robert isnae truly skilled in the use of sweet words. Now, dinnae think we make jest of the mon.” She felt a need to clarify the reason for the laughter, knowing how easily it could be misunderstood. “’Tis but amusing that all Elizabeth has waited for so long came about so plainly and easily.”
“Ah, aye.” Hacon briefly clasped Elizabeth’s hand. “Robert chose weel.”
“Thank you most kindly, Sir Gillard.” Elizabeth blushed faintly.
“And remember, Robert might be blunt and a wee bit dour, but he is also honest and steadfast.”
“Oh, aye sir. I know well the worth of plain, blunt truth o’er the emptiness of sweet, pretty lies.”
“Weel, tell your mon we head toward Liddesdale right after our noon respite.” Hacon helped Jennet down from her pony, then lifted Murdoc from his sling.
