“I didn’t attract attention,” I snapped peevishly. “I was only walking…” I trailed off, furrowing my brow at the pointed look he gave me. “As you wish, my lord,” I grumbled through gritted teeth.
He gave a little mocking bow in return and turned and walked away as though my barb had bounced right off him and he hadn’t felt a thing. I “hmphed” loudly, but by that time there was no one around to hear.
I didn’t know what it was about this man that vexed me so. One moment, I felt fragile around him, and the next, I was acting the part of a child, despite my royal station and the years of tutelage I’d had in the genteel arts. I’d never deserted my courtly manners no matter what Wallace had done to me, and yet this man was capable of bringing out a side of me that I hadn’t known existed.
I’d met some of the finest, wealthiest lords in the kingdom. What did Antony possess that, even common-born, he should make my heart beat so strangely beneath my breast? Each day, it grew worse; ever since the spanking he’d given me, I’d begun to feel my body flush with heat every time he came near. Even now, just thinking of it made my skin tingle anew with warmth that made a fire seem almost unnecessary.
When I heard the hoof-beats of approaching horses, I ducked down quickly and crawled slowly to the nearby brush, hoping to hide myself from their riders. As much as I might not appreciate being given orders, Antony had a point—in my gown, even as stained and sullied by earth as it was—I was an intrigue that most strangers wouldn’t pass up. As the hoof-beats came closer, I shrank back, hoping that the green foliage would shield me from their sight. Better yet if they should keep riding.
I concentrated on breathing slowly, in and out, until I heard them stop near my hiding spot. At that point, I tried to stop breathing altogether. My ears strained toward the strangers and as I heard theplunkof boots hitting the snow, I realized that they were dismounting one by one. There were threeof them, if I should hazard a guess.
Three. My chest was beginning to ache from lack of air, so I let my breath out as slowly as I possibly could before inhaling in the same manner.
“I’m tellin’ ye, there’s an inn up the road this way.”
“You’ve already led us astray twice, Smith. At this point, I would be a fool to believe you.”
“It weren’tmyfault that the fork in the road was missing!”
I leaned closer, peering between the brush as the men argued amongst themselves. Just then, I saw something with familiar colors flutter in the wind. Why, if I didn’t know better, I’d swear that horse bore the Hohenzollern flag! Catching my breath, I leaned closer, turning deaf to the men themselves as I tried to get a closer look at the animals they rode. Each bore the same flag, in the Hohenzollern colors of light blue and deep violet.
So consumed was I with righteous anger that I’d stood to my feet and marched over to the riders before I even knew what I was doing. Even when they caught sight of me and stopped speaking, I was shaking too hard to think twice about my actions.
“Ah, well-met, m’lady. Who might—”
“Howdareyou?” I demanded, my tone heavy with accusation as I glared at them. “Who do you think you are? What in all hells gives you theright—” I broke off, my chest heaving as the men looked at each other. I could see now that they were all soldiers. Even though they didn’t wear the armor like Hohenzollern warriors, they were each outfitted in the same black jerkins and trousers and each had an impressive sword sheathed on his hip. Too late, I realized that I’d been lecturing men that probably had no cause to be friendly toward me.
“I’m sorry if we’ve somehow given offense, m’lady,” one of the men—clearly the leader—said as he stepped toward me.
I took a step backward, silently cursing myself for my foolishness. I’d done it again—acted without thinking, and I’d be lucky if I could get myself out of it now. Oh,whydidn’t I think before I spoke? “You’ve stolen these animals,” I said, my voice much lower and controlled than before.
The leader, who was tall and well-muscled, shared another glance with his companions. “They weren’t stolen,” he informed me, looking me over carefully. “They were spoils of war.”
He continued speaking, but I didn’t hear anything that was said. My entire body was going cold, the blood in my veins turning to ice as his words washed over me. Their implication was enough to make me feel faint, but the proof was right in front of me, in the form of the animals that bore the mark of my home. What Antony had been trying to tell me all along, what I refused to believe…
“M’lady? Perhaps you should sit. You look unwell.” His hand found my shoulder, but I brushed him off without sparing him a glance.
“Of course I am unwell, you brute. Don’t deign to touch me.”
“Very well then. Tell me, are you traveling alone?”
My mind spun with the horror of what I’d learned and my breath began coming in short, sharp gasps. I couldn’t make any sense of what he was asking me. The only word that made it through to my dazed brain wasalone. God knew I’d never felt more alone in all my life.
“No, she is with me.”
When I heard Antony’s quiet yet strong voice, I turned my head at the sound of it. For the first time, I was so happy to see him that I longed to run to him and pitch myself in his arms. I would have done, if my feet hadn’t melded to the ground I stood on.
“I see.” Though I didn’t turn my head, I could feel the other man sizing Antony up. “You ended up with better spoils than we did, friend.”
I tensed at the words, even though I saw Antony smile easily.
“Perhaps you would not think so if you knew what a tongue lashing the lady can deliver.”
The other men snorted laughter and the leader replied only with, “Perhaps. A good horse is as valuable as a good woman, I always say.”
“Well said, friend. Is there any way I can help you?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, we’ve gotten turned around somehow. We’re on our way to Amshire and were looking for a place to rest our heads for an evening.”
