“It’s nae me men I’m worried about. Bandits are all over the forest. Ye ken that.” He let out a frustrated breath and stood. “Be sure to take yer medicine.”
“Aye aye,Da,” she teased again, and Fergus groaned as he walked out of her room and down the stairs.
He left the castle, walking the path through his mother’s gardens as he looked for Jeane. It was beautiful this time of year, in spring, with flowers blooming and butterflies and dragonflies flying around.
At night, if you were quiet, you could hear the crickets and see the fireflies light up the sky.
He picked up the pace when he saw a familiar figure bent over a small wicker basket. The forest was not safe, especially given that Fergus had been attacked there recently.
He realized she was leaning over an animal, but he could barely see it, unsure what it was.
“Ye’re being daft,” he said aloud, and Jeane jumped and squeaked, startled. The animal—Fergus saw now it was a fox—ran off, jumping over roots and rushing further into the forest.
“Ye scared the very life out of me,” she complained, and Fergus just glared at her. “And me fox.”
“The forest isnae safe for women unescorted. And that fox could carry diseases, ye ken.”
“The forest isnae safe for anyone,” Jeane argued. “The forest is its own animal, isnae it? I understand that it’s a wild thing, and I have a respectable fear of the forest creatures. Even the foxes.”
“It’s nae just creatures I’m worried about,” Fergus explained. “I was attacked in the woods nae long ago. Ye were there.”
“Aye,” she answered. “Does that mean I’m to be confined to the castle like the prisoner I am?”
Fergus rolled his eyes. “Ye’re nay prisoner. Ye take yer meals with the rest of the castle, daenae ye?”
“Am I free to leave?” Jeane asked, staring up at him with anger-bright brown eyes.
His eyes narrowed. “Where would ye go? What would ye do? Do yewantto leave?”
“That isnae the point,” she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I think that is the point,” Fergus said calmly, taking a few steps toward her.
Jeane backed up against a redwood tree, but she kept her arms crossed. He was close enough to lean down and brush his nose across hers, but he did not.
Could not.
She did not want him. Anger rushed over him, heating his blood.
“Do I need to tie ye to me bed?” Fergus asked, and Jeane’s brown doe eyes widened.
“Ye wouldnae.”
“Try me.” He paused, taking in a calming breath. The woman was feisty, and she tested him every day. It was one of the things that drew him to her, he supposed. “Ye can come to the forest any time ye like, but I must accompany ye.”
“I can take care of meself.”
“Sure ye can. Armed with… what, flowers and herbs?”
“Some of these flowers and herbs are poisonous,” she shot back.
“Aye, so ye’re what, going to shove them in yer attacker’s mouth?”
Jeane huffed out a breath, and Fergus could see that she knew that he was right.
“I still daenae like ye confinin’ me to the castle,” Jeane muttered.
Fergus sighed heavily. “I’m nae tryin’ to confine ye, lass. All I want is for ye to be safe, daenae ye see that?”
