But who was he trying to harm?
Part of her urged her to go after them and speak with the friar alone, but another part warned her to stay clear until Valteri’s return.
Belial was right about that much. Valteri wouldn’t welcome finding her in the presence of clergy. Not with the way he hated them and was forever suspicious of their motives.
Heeding that warning, she returned to her chambers to wash and redress.
Valteri reined his horse to a stop. By the looks of his men, he could tell they were ready to return, yet each held his tongue. In fact, as he studied them, he realized not one man among them would even dare meet his gaze.
As soon as he cast a glance at any of them, his subject would avert his eyes.
Bitter amusement filled him. There were some advantages to being well feared. No one dared voice a complaint, but then no one ever approached him for any other purpose either.
He’d never noticed that before. Not until Ariel made him realize just how isolated he’d become. How many nights he’d spent alone without friend, without comfort.
Other than Wace, and even he kept a respectful distance. As his squire, the boy didn’t want to overstep his bounds. And Valteri had always been too suspicious of others to even trust his own squire.
That random thought disgusted him.
But Ariel was different. She sought him out even when he wanted to be left alone. Instead of angering him…
He welcomed her friendship and presence.
Thirty days. Just thirty short days since he’d first seen her and already she’d ingrained herself into his life.
And he hated himself for that weakness. He knew better than to hold tender thoughts for another, especially a woman.
So why couldn’t he block her from his mind?
Valteri winced at the pain in his chest. Never before had the prospect of taking lands appealed to him. Yet to protect and provide for Ariel, he was willing to abide by Will’s wishes.
Why was he so devoted to a woman he’d just met?
A maid who’d become his wife.
Why did he feel a need to protect a woman who should be his enemy? He’d conquered her people and had hated every part of this hellhole country.
Yet for her, he was willing to offer her a protection that he’d only ever extended to one other.
A boy who’d been abused like him.
Maybe it was the cruelty of her brother. The fact that he knew what would befall her if he left her to her own means.
With his lands and blood alliance to William, she’d never again be homeless. Never know the fear of hunger or cold.
That would extend to whatever seed he might have planted within her.
Should Valteri fall in battle, William would make sure that she’d have her choosing of any lord who met her fancy, as she’d be among the richest widows in Christendom. He could secure a promise from his brother that Ariel would have her choice and that neither her brother nor his would ever override her pick of spouse.
Aye, that would be the best for all of them.
Ignoring the part of him that screamed out he should hold on to her with everything he had, Valteri wheeled his horse about. “If there were bandits stealing from the crofters, ’twould appear they’ve fled.”
As expected, none of his men replied.
“Let us return.”
At least that finally restored their glee. They were as eager to part with his company as he was with theirs.
