He cast her a forlorn look and then captured her gaze with his and held it. “No matter. I can come to ye.”
She smiled, but there was nothing friendly about it. “Alas, I must decline your company, Captain.”
“And why is that, lass?” he asked and moved closer to her.
She looked longingly toward her chamber door, then down the hall a bit to Elias’ room. She thought she saw something from the corner of her eye…a movement in the shadows.
“Because,” said a deep, male voice—one that Julianna knew better than her own, “she knows I would cut you to pieces and she is trying to save you.”
“My lord,” Captain Wallace said at the end of Nicholas’ blade. “Fergive me. I didna know she was spoken fer.”
“She is not spoken for, Captain,” Nicholas growled through clenched teeth.
Julianna thought for certain he was about to ram his sword into the captain’s throat, and closed her eyes.
“She is a lady who declined you. A woman who also happens to be my son’s governess.”
Julianna opened her eyes again and stared at him.
“She owes you no explanation for her decision. Do you understand, Wallace? Because if you do not, you can leave Lismoor today.”
The captain nodded his head. He gave one last look at Julianna then hurried off.
“Did he touch you?” Nicholas asked, turning to her. His rich, deep voice covered her as he twisted his wrist and sheathed his blade.
She had never seen him so angry. So ready to kill. He threatened his captain’s life over her. Was he jealous? Protective? Was it something more?
“No.” She smiled at him. And why shouldn’t she? She meant something to him—even if it was being his son’s governess. She smiled because she suspected that she was more than that to him. She wanted to leap for joy. His heart still called to hers. She knew it. She’d always felt it. It had led her here.
“Stay away from him from now on. I will make sure he knows to do the same. And the halls will be brighter by tonight.”
“Really, my lord, there is no need.”
He took a step closer and bent to look her in the eyes. “Of course there is, Julianna. I will not have you unsafe in my castle. In fact, I should assign one of my trusted men to your side.”
“I have a dagger,” she told him. She knew the trick of not falling completely captivated by William’s steely, powerful gaze was not to look at him. “I do not know why I did not carry it with me. But I will from today forth. I really do not need a man at my side.”
He smiled, just a little. He didn’t think she could fight. He was correct. But thanks to her poison-tipped blade, she didn’t need to. She let him be amused. She wouldn’t tell him about her poisons in case she ever needed to use one on him.
“What are you doing back here?” she asked him instead. “I thought you left.”
He suddenly looked a little lost. “I…I returned for…ehm…”
Her smiled deepened. She liked seeing him squirm over her. Perhaps he needed to squirm more often, until he admitted the truth. He cared for her, perhaps even…still loved her.
“Because I thought I heard Elias crying.”
“I see.” She started to walk off toward the babe’s chamber. “I will check on him. Thank you for your help with the captain, my lord. I will let you get back to your duties.”
“Aye,” he muttered and said nothing else to stop her.
With disappointment framing her lips, she reached Elias’ door and pressed her ear to the wood for a long time. There was no sound. She turned from the door to leave and found Nicholas standing there, waiting for her.
“Was there anything else, my lord?”
He shook his head and gave her a frustrated look.
“I was just going to my chamber to refresh myself before the captain arrived,” she told him quickly and with a radiant smile, hoping to keep him waiting a little longer.
