‘No. How would I know what any of you MacCreadies get up to? There is always some ruse or other with you lot.’
‘Then you should have no interest in us beyond claiming your debt.’
‘My interest lies beyond the debt. Perhaps it lies with you.’
The lass frowned, and her hands clutched the reins tighter. She kicked her horse forward, away from him. He discomforted her. Was he doomed to do that to every woman who crossed his path or just the ones who stirred his loins? Snarling and threatening had got him nowhere in the past, but what else did he have?
They were almost upon Fallstairs, just visible through the trees. Smoke from its chimneys carried in the wind, and a faint flicker of candles or a fire within sent light out into the icy shadows. He could not bear to just let Rowenna ride off. On impulse, Jasper grabbed her reins and slowed her horse. He dismounted and swept Rowenna out of her saddle.
‘What are you doing?’
‘I’ve a mind to keep you a while.’
‘I want to go home,’ she wailed.
‘No,’ he snarled, and then regretted his harshness.
‘I suppose you think it is your right to manhandle me. Us MacCreadies are of little importance to the lofty Glendennings,’ she spat.
‘We Glendennings are not so lofty, lass. It is but a generation ago that we were as low and ruthless as any other pack of wolves prowling these woods. Do not be fooled, now, by my fine manners and handsome face.’
She rolled her eyes in disagreement.
Jasper squared his shoulders. ‘Do you not find me a fine and handsome fellow, Rowenna?’
‘What do you want to hear, yes or no?’
‘I want the truth.’
She trembled under his hands but did not back down. ‘Men like you never hear the truth from women like me. It is too dangerous for us.’
Any retort stuck in Jasper’s throat because she was right. He could as easily crush Rowenna’s neck with his bare hands as lay her down and make gentle love to her under the trees.
‘I think you just told me a greater truth than any in my life,’ he said. ‘And you are right. Women tell me what I want to hear. But you do not. Why is that? Do you not fear me?’
‘You are in my path, so I have no choice but to face you, fearsome or not.’
Did she really fear him? She had allowed herself to be alone with him. Was that because she was desperate to find word of her sister and protect her drunken sot of a father? Did his hand guide their meeting at the alehouse? Maybe Rufus had thrown Rowenna in his path today, hoping he would take her as a bride now that Cecily had run away.
Suspicion warred with desire as Jasper gazed at Rowenna’s full lips. ‘So, I will have your honest opinion, lass. Tell me what you truly think of me, as if I were a kind, gentle man, and no wolf. Do I revolt you? Do you hate this?’ He traced his finger along the scar running down the side of his face.
She looked about her as if searching for rescue, but they had only the wind for company. Rowenna took a deep breath. ‘The scar does not scare me. It is a sign of bravery, that you cansurvive a fight. The rest of you, well, many lasses might like that you are tall and strong-looking, I suppose.’
‘But not you?’
‘Strength does not signify much. An ox has strength but no cunning.’
‘Well said. What else strikes you?’
‘When I first met you, it was your eyes. They are a rare colour.’
‘So are yours, lass.’
‘But yours are hard. They could be beautiful if they held any softness.’
‘No softness? Are you sure? Not even now, when I am looking at you?’ he said, like a needy bairn searching for comfort. Jasper despised himself as soon as the words left his lips.
Rowenna blinked rapidly. ‘You can barely see me. It is getting dark.’
