“I will. When I was curious and wanted to know passion without fear, it was easier to excuse my behavior. Now I am just behaving badly.”
“I thought ye behaved verra weel,” he murmured and gave an exaggerated expression of pain when she swatted him on the arm.
“This is a serious matter for a woman. You need to treat it with more respect.” She had to smile at the way the glitter of laughter in his eyes belied his solemn expression, then she grew serious again. “You need not fear that I am about to turn against you and claim all manner of unjust things, trying to blame you for all that has happened.”
“I ne’er really feared that. Ye are a sensible lass, and a fair one.”
“I am certain most women are.”
Nigel said nothing, just smiled faintly and let her believe he agreed with her. That was not an argument he wanted to get into. To support his side of it he would have to tell her about women he had known, and this was a bad time to remind her of his less than illustrious past.
“So, what troubles ye, then?” He smoothed a finger down the faint crease of a frown forming between her eyes.
“I just began to think of all the rules I am breaking.”
“No more than many another has, and will.”
“That does not make it right or acceptable,” she said sternly.
“Nay, of course it doesnae, but this doesnae make ye the greatest of sinners, either.” He was a little concerned that she was about to turn righteous on him and demand that he never touch her again. Although he did not think Gisele would behave that way, he could not fully discard the possibility.
“I know that,” she said, then sighed and shook her head. “I will overcome this sudden attack of guilt over my own irresponsible behavior. It will just take a little while. Before I said yes I reminded myself that I will be accused of just this sort of thing because of the way I have lived for the last year. No one will believe otherwise no matter what I say or do, so what matter if I actually do it? I will just remind myself of that from time to time.”
“Such flattery. I am overcome with humility.”
She tried to scowl at him, barely repressing the urge to laugh. “You are a scoundrel.”
“Aye, quite possibly.”
Gisele suddenly realized that the sun was already climbing in the sky, and frowned. “We are getting a late start today, are we not?”
“We are not going to get any start today at all,” he said as he rose from his bed and pulled on his clothes.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that we are taking a much earned rest.”
“Do you think the DeVeaux are resting?”
“Probably not, but they are nowhere about.”
She began to tug on her clothes, using the blanket as a shield for her modesty. “I hate to question you on this, but are you very certain about that?”
“As certain as I can be without tracking them down and finding out exactly where they are. Lass, we are very near the port I seek. I believe that the DeVeaux are there, waiting for us. They are not here. Of that I am sure. I also intend to take myself into the wood and set up a few traps, something to warn us just in case they do wander too close to our little sanctuary.”
Gisele watched him disappear into the wood and slowly rose to put their bedding away. It would be nice to spend a quiet day, a day without riding and looking over her shoulder. She was just not sure it was wise. The fact that Nigel was going to surround them with traps made her feel only a little more secure.
She shook her head and silently scolded herself. Nigel knew what he was doing. Perhaps, because she had spent so long running and hiding, she simply did not know how to stop and rest anymore. It would do them both good to just rest, to enjoy a lazy day in the sun.
As she slipped away into the trees for a moment of privacy, she had to smile. She was sure that Nigel had plans for them that did not necessarily include rest. Gisele had no doubt about his passion for her, even though she might question its depth and longevity. She would be very surprised if the man did not have plans to further explore the desire they shared.
A brief pang of guilt plucked at her heart and mind, but she forced it away. She had chosen her path, and she would stay with it. There were worse crimes she could have committed. She would pay her penance later. Even if she had to spend months on her knees saying her rosary, the passion she shared with Nigel was worth it.
Once back at the campsite, she went to the pond, removed her boots, and dangled her feet in the cold water. Her thoughts turned to Nigel, and she realized that she was probably not going to be able to just savor the passion and then leave when her name was cleared and she was free. Already questions formed in her mind about the future, and she knew that she had no answers, that, quite possibly, there were none. Not with him. Even now, after only one night in his arms, that realization stung. Doing a long, hard penance might well be the smallest of her worries.
“Idiot,” she scolded herself, and kicked at the water.
“Talking to yourself?” asked a deep, familiar voice from right behind her.
