He moved away and she sensed her words had upset him.
She closed the gap between them. “I didn’t mean to—” She gasped as her foot caught against something, and she stumbled.
Suddenly, strong arms surrounded her as she collided with his hard body. Once more, she remembered the night before. His bold caresses.
Fire danced in her stomach.
Would he ever again seek her out, or would she forever be forced to go to him?
“Thank you,” she whispered, reaching up to touch his face.
“Here.” His voice was gruff as he lowered her to the straw-lined floor, and took her hand away from his cheek.
When he started to move away, Ariel grabbed his arm and pulled him to sit beside her. “Nay, Valteri. I would have you speak with me, not flee into the darkness like a demon afraid of light.”
“And what if I were just that?”
Again, she wished she could see his face. But then, perhaps he found comfort in the shadows that he claimed as home.
Perhaps he needed that in order to confide in her.
Aye, since he couldn’t see her, maybe he’d finally open the chains that he kept sealed around his heart and thoughts.
“We both know what you are, milord.”
He snorted. “I know what you think me to be and I know truthfully what I am. You, dearest Ariel, delude yourself with a fanciful image of some kind and noble man, who will rescue you from the clutches of your foul brother.”
She frowned in confusion. “Is that not what you did?”
“Aye.” His gruff voice was full of bitterness. “But in my haste I worsened your situation. Before, you were a treasure any lord would gladly take. Now that you’ve bound yourself to me, you’ll know scorn the likes of which you cannot imagine.”
“Like the Saxon in the hall this night?”
He released his breath in a rush, and for a moment she thought he’d leave.
Then he drew a ragged breath. “His words were mild. Your people are defeated and they fear us now. Even drunk, he didn’t plow the truly callous field of stinging insults that you’ll come to know soon. He knew only too well what crop awaited him, should he sow that discontent and harvest my wrath.”
Biting her lip against the sudden swell of sympathetic pain, she thought over the Saxon man and his remarks. If only she could have prevented them from ever being spoken.
But the real question was how many years had Valteri been subjected to such?
A painful knot closed her throat and she drew a deep breath. Would she ever find a way to touch the heart inside him?
More to the point, would she ever be able to show him what she saw? That he not only had one, but held the kind, gentle heart all men should have.
“Come.” He held his hand out for her. “I must return you to the hall.”
“I’d rather stay with you.”
He shook his head. “You cannot, Ariel. You don’t belong in my world. It would destroy you.”
Ariel started to argue, but was too weary. Valteri was a stubborn man and it would take more than mere words to persuade him to her cause. Perhaps in time she might find a way to reach him, but would he give her that time?
Sighing, she took his hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet.
Tired and weary, she followed him through the stable with only the sound of crunching straw and falling rain breaking the tense silence between them.
He pushed open the door so that they could head back to the hall, and paused. Loud thunder clapped and a new burst of rain broke. Winds howled in her ears.
