“I already told you—”
“Hush.”
The word was spoken softly, but with enough authority to shock me. I took a step back, until I was leaning into my horse. “You do not command here! Why, you are nothing more than a… than a…” I trailed off helplessly, thrown by his calm, by his quiet authority in the face of my anger.
I took a closer look, certain that if I could recognize him, I would recall his master, who would undoubtedly be hearing from me. The man was tall, standing a good head or more above me. He had a full head of copper curls and stubble of the same color marring his cheeks. His lips were lush, the color of ripe berries, and I decided on sight that they were lips unaccustomed to smiling. No, I did not recognize him, not even on a closer look. Though he wore servant’s clothing—trousers and sturdy boots, and a long-sleeve white tunic that opened at the chest—somehow he carried himself in a manner that belied his station.
“I do not know why you are here, but it is not the place for you. It would go better for you if you returned at once.”
I blinked my large, blue eyes in surprise. “Why? Is there danger afoot?” Something in his expression changed when I said her name and I smiled, finally feeling as though I had the upper hand. “Yes, perhaps I shall go fetch her right now, I think she would like to know there are impertinent stable boys in her household.” I turned to go, but I had not gone two steps when I felt his hand close over my arm in a surprisingly strong grip.
“I cannot allow you to do that.”
I whirled on him, irritated with his matter-of-fact tone as well as the fact that he would dare lay hands on me. “Who do you think you are?” I demanded. “How dare you touch me!”
If anything, his grip on me tightened. “I’m afraid I can’t risk you’re leaving. You’re going to have to come with me. Just remember, I did try to warn you.”
“Warn me about what?” I practically spat the words at him, my fury incensed when he did not so much as blink. “Unhand me, you brute!”
“Come along quietly now, or I’m afraid I’ll have to gag you.”
The way he spoke without wavering, the dead-set look in his eyes, told me that he would not hesitate to carry out his threat. Yet, I dug my heels in and yanked with all my might. When I did not find myself released, I took a deep breath, preparing to scream at the top of my lungs and alert anyone nearby to my plight. Before I could, however, I felt his hand come down sharply on my backside. It was only once, but it was swift and hard. I opened my mouth to shout my indignation, but his hand came clamping down over my lips, smothering my outraged cries.
“Do as I say, or it’ll be worse for you,” he promised.
Just then, looking at his stony, unrelenting face, I longed to weep. I knew I was lost—there was nothing I could say or do to stop this stranger from having his way with me. Though I did not trouble to reply, he must have sensed my defeat, because before I knew it I felt his hands around my waist, lifting me back in Fortune’s saddle. Before I could utter a word more, he himself was sitting behind me and urging the mare on with a clap of the reins. It was all I could do to hold back the tears as I turned my head for one last look at the castle. The lights shone, seeming like beacons of hope that I’d been riding toward only moments ago. Now, one by one, they faded away. I could imagine the laughter and dancing that was taking place in the dining hall just now. All of the court would go on with their flirting and feasting, none of them having any idea that I’d been there at all.
* * *
Though the sun was out, its rays did nothing to diminish the chill in the air. I shivered, my teeth chattering despite myself. My thighs ached nearly as much as my backside from long hours in the saddle and my eyes grew weary of rows of trees stretching as far as the eye could see for my only view. Yet, I would not—indeed,couldnot—cry. It would only delight my tormentor and I had no intention of giving him that pleasure.
He was letting me ride alone as he walked along, but that did not make him a man of honor. Indeed, he was a coward who had stolen me away from the only true home I’d ever known. Tears of anger and frustration, of fearand hopelessness, prickled at my eyes, but I shut my eyes tightly against them.I will not, I told myself.I will not cry. It was my mother’s voice I heard; she’d been strict with me and quick to rap my knuckles if I ever forgot my teachings. Practically from the time I left the breast I’d been reared to be the epitome of a lady, as my parents lived at court and expected that I would do the same.
I liked the life of a duchess—pretty dresses, fine rooms, with servants to wait on me and fulfill my every whim. I was ill-suited to hard rides and I longed to make my complaint known, though I doubted it would mean much to the man who held me prisoner. I looked down at him, walking astride the horse while he held the reins. Idly, I wondered if it was to ensure that the horse did not buck or that I did not attempt to escape.
He’d hardly spoken to me since he’d captured me and carried me off like some wild savage, but that suited me fine. If he had the audacity to address me, I might forget my courtly manners altogether. After all, he didn’t deserve courtesy.
“We’ll be stopping to rest soon.” His gruff voice startled me as it broke into my thoughts. “Then we’ll trade places for a while.”
I didn’t demean myself to answer, but I was horrified by what he suggested. He couldn’t mean thatIwould be forced to walk in the snow… surely not! Yet, I knew without asking that it was exactly what he meant, and that however abhorrent the idea was, it was a fate that I must bear. Oh, how horrified my lady mother would be to see me treated thus! Thinking of her, and the fact that I might never see her again, made the tears that had been threatening ever since my abduction spring forth and a sob worked its way from my throat despite myself.
“Are you unwell?”
I ignored the rough man who dared to address me so, trying to get the horrible thought out of my head. Of course I would see her again. I would escape this horror somehow. I would return to Hohenzollern, to those that loved me. I had to believe it—it was the only hope I had to cling to now.
“I said, are you unwell?” he queried again as he tugged on the reins and halted the horse.
A grim little smile curved my lips. “Frankly, no, not that it’s any concern to you.”
At first, I’d thought he might reply. Indeed, he opened his lips to do so, but in the end he closed them again and continued walking. After a moment, Fortune followed suit. I wished I could feel even the slightest joy at this small victory, but I was too tired, too cold and hungry to feel anything but miserable and frightened.
I’d never given much thought to the fire that was kept burning in my rooms. They were always there, as they should be, and it had never occurred to me to give a moment’s notice to who had performed the task. Right now,I longed for nothing so much as a nice, bright fire to warm myself beside. That, and perhaps my comfortable bed with down blankets piled high as the eye could see.
Instead, I had to content myself with the meager burning of a few twigs that we had managed to uncover from the blanket of snow that surrounded us. I supposed I should have been grateful that my captor had provided that much, but I wasn’t in the mood to feel appreciative. Which was why when he offered me a freshly killed, cleaned dove, I only stared at him.
“Your dinner, my lady,” he said with only the faintest hint of mockery hiding in his deep voice.
I had watched him roast the bird over the fire, yet I was surprised to find it offered to me. “Thank you, no. I don’t eat pheasant.”
