“What did you just do?” she whispered, hiding her face against his shoulder as she spoke. “In truth, you did not just do anything.Non, I mean you have not—”
Nigel smiled faintly. “This was for you.”
Gisele did not understand, and she hated that more than she hated being embarrassed. She had been told that she had an unbecoming greed for knowledge for a woman, wanting to know all about things men felt she had no right or need to know. Her refusal to remain ignorant had only been hardened by her marriage. She truly believed that if she had known more about what could happen between a man and a woman, what was right and what was wrong, she might have been able to save herself some pain. She would have at least been able to better articulate her problems with the man her family had given her to.
She slowly looked at Nigel, lightly biting her bottom lip as she struggled with her words. Her hesitation to ask him the questions pounding in her mind surprised her. She realized that she dreaded hearing Nigel’s disapproval of her intense curiosity, and she grew annoyed with herself.
His face was taut, a light flush accentuating the lines of his high cheekbones. Gisele recognized the signs of a man infected with a strong passion. It was something she had learned to watch for in her husband so that she could slip away and hide before he turned to her. She was rather pleased that the look on Nigel’s face did not frighten her. She realized that his expression lacked that hint of viciousness that had always tainted her husband’s look. It also made her all the more curious about why Nigel had done nothing to sate that desire.
“I do not understand,” she said.
“And that troubles ye, doesnae it?” He could not help but smile at the look of irritation that flickered over her still flushed face.
“Oui. You told me you would seduce me and you just did, yet you did not complete the act. I believe there was no confusion about my willingness, yet you held yourself back. That confuses me. Is this some game?”
“Such a suspicious mind.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “No game. Did ye e’er once lie with a mon who didnae hurt ye when he took what he needed?”
“I have only bedded down with one man in my life, my husband, and the answer is no. You guessed that. You saw my fear. It is plain that I am free of those fears now.”
He shrugged. “Mayhap. Lass, I just thought it might help if, just once before we truly became lovers, ye learned what ye can feel. Aye, ye were willing, but how swiftly would that have faded once I settled my body on yours? Is that nay when the worst of the pain was inflicted?”
She blushed, but before she could respond a loud banging sounded at the door. Nigel cursed and rapidly got to his feet. He grabbed his sword and strode to the door. Gisele moved quickly to don her clothes.
“Who goes there?” Nigel demanded.
“It is David,” called the man on the other side of the thick door. “Let me in.”
“Ye pick an ill time to come aknocking. Come back later.”
“If I come back later it may be just to bury you.”
Nigel hastily opened the door, scowling at David as the young man strode in. “What do ye mean?”
“The DeVeaux will soon be kicking down your door.”
“They are here?” Nigel began to dress.
“Just outside of the village. Some fool in the inn must have realized who you are and sought them out. I was afraid of this. The greed of men could become your deadliest enemy.” He looked at Gisele as a cursing Nigel finished dressing. “Are you well, cousin?”
Gisele knew what stirred David’s concern. The way he kept scowling at Nigel told her who he was ready to blame if she claimed any injury or upset. His concern was too little, too late, she thought crossly. Her innocence had been ripped away a long time ago, and no one had listened to her cries.
“I am fine,” she replied a little curtly, unable to hide all of her anger.
“I just wondered—”
“Well, you may cease your wondering. None of this is your concern. I think the fact that my enemies have sniffed me out again is of more importance.”
David blushed slightly and nodded. “Your mounts are saddled and ready.”
“Good lad,” Nigel murmured as he flung their saddlepacks over his shoulder. “I think ye should leave this place, as weel.”
“I intend to. My horse is also ready. I do not wish to be found by the DeVeaux.” He kissed Gisele on the cheek. “Take care, cousin. I swear on what little honor I have left that I will find the ones who killed your husband and free you of this horror.”
She barely had time to thank him before Nigel was hurrying her out of the room. The sun was only beginning to rise, and the dim light it shed made the badly rutted road they rushed along somewhat treacherous. Gisele stumbled several times, but Nigel quickly steadied her and pulled her after him as he nearly ran for the stables.
“David has not followed us,” she said even as Nigel tossed her up into her saddle and threw her saddlepack across the saddle in front of her.
“Clever lad.” Nigel secured his saddlepack, mounted, and rode out of the stables.
