Thom felt his face flush and jaw clench, but he took her verbal lashing and didn’t try to defend himself. She had a right to her anger, and by most standards she was probably correct.
A cold, calculated gleam appeared in her slitted eyes. “Am I to be told the reason for this sudden change of heart?”
“It would not be fair to you. I do not care for you in the way that you deserve.”
She looked at him as if waiting for him to finish a joke. After a long pause, she laughed. “By God, you are serious? Love isn’t what I wanted from you.” Her eyes slid over his body in a way that could not be misunderstood. She wanted him in her bed. He flushed again in anger, feeling not unlike a stallion at market. “You really are a peasant, aren’t you? Only peasants think of love as a reason for marriage.”
The disparagement struck surprisingly hard. Thomstood, his jaw as hard as a block of ice. “Again, I apologize for any trouble I might have caused you. But I think it better if I take my leave now.”
Before he said something they both regretted.
She stepped to the side to block him. “You are a fool. She’ll never marry you.” His gaze shot to hers. “Aye, you didn’t think I noticed the way you stared at James Douglas’s precious little sister every time she turned away? I noticed, but I didn’t give it a second thought. Do you know why? Because there was no reason. There is no way in Hades the illustrious Lady Elizabeth Douglas would consider marrying someone so beneath her—and even if she was inclined to lower herself, her ambitious brother would never allow it. By God, she’s rumored to be almost betrothed to the Earl of Moray!”
He felt the muscle below his jaw start to tic. “You are wrong.”
He didn’t specify about what, hoping she would take his answer and let it go.
Instead it only seemed to increase her amusement. “I almost feel sorry for you. When you realize what you gave up... all fornothing.” She shook her head, her smile telling him she was relishing the thought. “You could have been a knight, living in a castle, ruling over substantial lands, and instead you will be lucky to still be carrying that sword if Sir James gets wind of your intentions. He’ll probably see that Bruce kicks you out of his army and sends you right back where you came from.”
Thom wished he could say she was wrong about that, too. But she wasn’t. Douglas’s reaction wasn’t something he hadn’t considered—he just hoped to be in a better position with the Guard and have help from Jo and Elizabeth when the time came.
Finally, she stood back to let him pass. “Go. We are done here. And do not bother coming to find me when you realize she will not have you. I wouldn’t take you if you came crawling on your knees naked and begging—not that I wouldn’t appreciate the view.” Her eyes scanned him again. “What a waste.”
What a narrow escape.
Wanting to put the unpleasant exchange behind him, Thom was only too eager to do as she bade. But her words stayed with him longer than he wanted them to.
20
IT WAS LATEafternoon before the opportunity arose for Elizabeth to sneak away. Jamie had been uncharacteristically slow in leaving them to return to his duties after the midday meal. He was supposed to accompany the king on a hunt, and for a while, she feared he might beg off to stay at the abbey with them.
“Go,” Joanna said a few minutes after he finally left. “Take this.” She handed her a small but heavy bag containing the stones and gold that could be melted down to use on the sword. “I will cover for you if James returns while you are gone.”
Elizabeth looked at her uneasily. “Are you sure? I don’t want to cause any trouble between you.”
Jamie had been asking a lot of questions about their plans for later today. It could be nothing, or it could be he suspected something. Elizabeth didn’t want to put Joanna in an awkward position or force her to lie to her husband.
“Let me worry about James. I know you are anxious to see that Thom has everything he needs.”
They both knew that wasn’t the reason for her anxiousness, but Elizabeth appreciated the pretense.
After leaving the guesthouse, she met Simon, the same young warrior who’d taken her last time, in the stables and made the short walk to the forge.
This time Thom heard her when she entered. He looked up but didn’t stop what he was doing right away, finishing hammering out the metal while it was hot before sticking it in a barrel of sand to cool. He was already working on the tang.
He stared at her, obviously waiting. Remembering the reason for her visit, she pulled the bag with the gold and jewels and handed it to him. “Here. Jo was able to purchase everything that you requested.”
He didn’t bother looking inside, but nodded and put the bag on the workbench. “Thanks.” They stared at each other in silence for a few moments. “If there is nothing else, I should get back to work.”
Thatwas all he had to say? He wasn’t going to explain...anything? Her hands fisted in the wool fold of her cloak. In her flustered state, she blurted, “I saw you with Lady Marjorie.”
One brow arched in mild surprise. “Aye.”
Elizabeth gaped at him. “Aye? That is all you have to say?”
“What else am I supposed to say?”
She marched across the room toward him, stopping a few feet away with her hands on her hips. “She’s the widow you were planning to marry.”
