She laughed and slanted her eyes at him. “Pity you did not say Mr. Adams or Sir John. They have been here. The warden has not.”
“Oh, well,…he…I…ehm…”
She took a good amount of pleasure in watching him squirm.
“I followed you last night—just up to this point,” he hastened to explain when she frowned at him. “That is why I was unsure of which way to go.”
“What do you mean you followed me?”
Was this normal behavior for a man?
“I wanted to make sure you arrived home safely. I know you can fight well,” he said, holding up his hands in surrender when she turned a glare on him. “But I do not know how many you can fight at once if you were attacked in the dark.”
She blinked and his jaw grew rigid. “I do not need a guardian, my lord.”
“I know,” he told her, a deep guttural sound from the center of his chest. “I do not need to be one.”
They walked for a little while longer. She didn’t mind. No, she liked being here with him. She wouldn’t question it as she walked further from home. “Never mind all that.” She waved her hand across her face, dismissing their previous conversation. “Tell me about yourself. Where did you spend your years after the raid on Till Castle?”
“In…ehm…in Rothbury.”
Heavens, but his brows were furrowed now. Why did he find such discomfort in speaking about his past?
She would take no mercy on him. She was beginning to feel as if he weren’t telling her the truth—about Rothbury, at least.
“Who is lord there?” she asked and looked toward the winding river to her right.
“William Stone,” he answered without hesitation, “Very loyal to the throne.”
She nodded. “I’m surprised the Scots have not raided there yet.”
“Hmm,” he muttered and kept walking.
“Where are you going?” She stopped and looked over her shoulder at Avalon grazing in the grass, then back at the knight.
“I was following you,” he announced a bit shyly.
“You are in front of me,” she pointed out.
His face broke into a wide grin that nearly dropped her to her knees.
“I should be getting back to the castle and my duties,” he said, growing serious again. For a moment, he looked so torn and undecided that Braya thought he would not move again…ever.
“Stay,” she heard herself whisper. She was only certain she’d said it by the way his stormy green eyes roved over her. “I was hoping you could stay.”
His gaze held her still. “I could if you ask.”
She laughed again and watched his gaze go soft and his breath falter. “I just did! Would you have me beg?”
He nodded, his smile deepening to a playful grin. “Aye, I would.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. She tried not to laugh again and pretended to be indignant. “I will not beg. Go home now. I will wave farewell to your back!”
He tossed his head back with a short, mocking laugh. “You would pine for me. I think you would…”
She turned away lest he look into her eyes and see that shehadbeen pining for him, holding her breath still, lest he see her tremble when she inhaled.
His laughter and his voice faded. “I meant no insult. I do not truly think you would—”
