“Don’t call me that,” Lucenna snapped.
He chuckled and with a click of his tongue; the captain drew his onyx horse astride to hers. “Then do tell me your name, so I may thank the Heavens for bestowing me with the chance of meeting such a rare beauty.”
She rolled her eyes. His allure was fading fast. “Do such charms always work on women?”
Eagon snorted. “You’d be surprised.”
With a face like that, she wasn’t.
“Well, if you’ll not give me yours, then allow me to give you mine. Please call me Klyde.” He took her hand and brushed his soft lips over her knuckles. His breath tickled her skin, eliciting tingles along her arm. “If I’m so blessed, may you whisper it to the stars when you think of me.”
A rush of heat rose to Lucenna’s cheeks, and she snatched her hand away. “If I may say so,Captain,” she said, her tone scalding. “Should I ever recall your name, it would be to remember the man who found enjoyment in exaggerated flattery and forward behavior.”
Eagon folded his lips inward, muffling a snort.
Another grin broke on Klyde’s face, this one more genuine. He opened his mouth, but the gallop of incoming horses interrupted whatever he planned to say. Three armed men in the same blue coats rode toward them.
One with a mop of ginger hair nodded as he approached. “Captain, we have a lead.”
Before her eyes, Klyde’s face completely changed. Gone was the playful man, and in his place appeared a sharpened soldier. She realized that’s what he was when she inspected his uniform, the metal-plated leather armor, and the weapons peeking out of his coat. Past his shoulders, she glimpsed the skull-shaped pommels of his short swords.
Klyde’s gaze lost all warmth as the churning blue frosted over. He nodded and tugged on the reins, leading his horse away. But he paused and glanced back at her, the edges of his mouth softening for the barest of moments. “It was a pleasure, lass. If the fates are so kind, may we meet again.”
Then he signaled his men, and they galloped away. She watched him go, their coats flaring with the garish sigil on their backs. Klyde turned on a street corner and disappeared from her life as quickly as he entered it.
“Lady Lucenna?”
She jumped.
Rawn frowned at her, his sudden presence snapping her back to reality. “Your disguise.”
“Oh!” She waved her hand, slipping the glamor back into place. “Did you send your letters?”
He sighed. “Unfortunately, mail to Greenwood will be sent tomorrow. I must return in the morning.”
She mumbled some empathetic reply, her mind too scattered to offer anything else.
“Did Fair behave?”
Lucenna petted his head. “Oh yes, he was a good boy.”
The willful stallion gave a short neigh that sounded like a complaint.
Rawn raised his brows. “And did Lady Lucenna behave?”
Fair snorted and stomped his hooves. He was definitely complaining.
She chuckled nervously and gave Lord Norrlen a sheepish grin. “I may have asked him to escort me on a stroll. Nothing more.”
Fair jerked on the reins, shaking his head.
“Hmm.”
“He’s so silly.” Lucenna hugged the horse’s neck and discreetly whispered in his ear, “Hush or I’ll braid your mane with frilly bows.”
Fair settled with the tiny threat, and they continued on their way to the Cobalt Tavern. Due to embarrassment, she rather not to tell Rawn about her foolish detour—or about the rugged captain who had eyes the color of the sky.
Chapter 40
