“And a wrong choice of guards,” he grunted. “But I did not know. I just do not take chances where you are concerned.”
Intuition told her he wouldn’t, either, that he would be this cautious of her as long as he still wanted her. She really did have no hope of escaping this place, not until he found his pleasure elsewhere.
“When do you marry, milord?”
She knew the question surprised him. She felt him tense. He would not be able to reason what this had to do with what they were discussing.
“What are you thinking, wench?”
“Does it not concern me?”
“Nay, it does not.”
“But I am curious, milord.”
“I think you are more cunning than curious. Do you try to anger me?”
Now Kristen was surprised. “Why would you think so? ’Twas a very simple question, milord, that does in fact concern me. When your lady wife lives here, there will be changes. She will share your chamber, not I.”
If she thought to appease him, she failed. “And you look forward to that!” he stormed. “Well, I must disappoint you, for ’twill not be soon. The time for the wedding has yet to be discussed.”
Without thinking, Kristen replied from the heart, “In truth, that does not disappoint me.”
Those few words did manage to appease Royce, completely. Kristen wished she could take them back when she heard him chuckle. She had not meant to let him know she still desired him. Now she was annoyed, by her loose tongue, and how it had returned him to good humor.
And she blundered further by letting him hear her annoyance when she snapped, “Your amusement is misplaced. Your betrothed can have—”
“Shush. Say no more of her,” he warned. Then, softly: “I still do not wish to return to my chamber, where Averill makes noises in his sleep like a lion. Do you come with me to the lake?”
Oh, unfair, to use that against her now! But she was not so angry that she would spite herself.
She made her tone conciliatory. “Aye, I would like to come with you.”
His own voice deepened to a husky pitch. “And will you let me make love to you there?”
Kristen gasped. “You said naught of conditions!”
Royce chuckled. “Then I will just have to take my chances.”
Chapter Thirty-one
Royce and Kristen did make love that night. They also slept the night through on the grassy banks of the lake. At least, Kristen did.
In her enjoyment of the cool water, she was so relaxed and at peace for a while, she even forgot for a time that Royce watched her from the bank. He did not swim himself. He confessed to not knowing how. But Kristen frolicked to her heart’s content. It was like being free again, like being at home, except the water was not quite as cold. And at home, she would not have a lover waiting for her on the shore.
When she did finally emerge from the water, Royce did not even give her time to dry off. He gathered her immediately into his arms and proceeded to kiss the water from her lips, her cheeks, her breasts. She had no will to deny him there in the moonlight. She could not even summon a token resistance. She wanted him, wanted too to give him back some of the pleasure he had given her in bringing her to the lake.
He could not know how much it had meant to her. But perhaps he knew now, for she had loved him thoroughly, releasing her passion until it surpassed even his own. He would not soon forget this interlude at the lake.
But he did not fall blissfully to sleep afterward as she did. She saw now, as she woke with the first stirrings of the birds in the trees that announced the dawn, that Royce was wide awake. She also saw how tired he looked.
He still held her close. She had slept wrapped against him for warmth, for neither of them had dressed and the night air was cool there by the lake. They were covered only by her thin gown.
Kristen sat up, stretching widely, then glanced behind her and shook her head at Royce, who was watching her. “You should have slept, milord.”
“With my horse at your convenience?”
“Unfair. You will not blame me for your lack of sleep. You could have taken me back and set your men to watch me.”
