“I am not some nothing to be ignored and patted on the head and tolerated like a pet dog,” she continued. “‘Tis bad enough my father thinks me lack-witted but to be married to such a man... Never!”
What a bizarre concern for a woman. Who’d ever heard of such? A woman’s place was to do as she was told and to bend her will to that of her father and then to the husband her father picked for her.
* * *
He, for one, would never again help a woman defy her family’s wishes.
“For this you are willing to risk your life?” he asked.
“If someone planned to shut you away and ignore you, to listen but never hear a word you spoke, would you tolerate it?” She looked about his cave and appeared to change her mind. “Well, mayhap you would, but I will not. I have a mind and I wish to use it.”
Ewan shook his head in disbelief. “Wherever did you get these ideas?”
She ignored him. “You’ve made it quite clear that you’ve no wish to help me. So be it. I’ll trouble you no more. Now step aside and let me be on my way. I’ve a long journey ahead and?—”
“You’re not leaving.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You heard me. I’m not about to allow you to take a journey that at best would result in your ravishment, at worst your death.”
She gave a most unladylike snort. “I’m no concern of yours.”
“Lady,” he said, his voice gruff and menacing, “the moment you put my name on a piece of parchment designating me as your betrothed, you became my concern. What think you would happen if you were harmed? Your father, whoever he is, would demand my head for allowing you to be hurt. According to your own words, we are bound to each other.”
She cringed as if she hadn’t quite thought that far ahead. “They might not believe it. After all, we’ve never met before. Come to think of it, they shouldn’t believe it at all.”
“But they will.”
“How do you know?”
“Trust me, my luck would have it no other way.” Ewan growled deep in his throat again. She seemed to have that effect on a lot of men when they spoke with her.
Nora watched as he began gathering his things. “What are you doing?”
“I’m getting ready to take you to my brother’s.”
“Why?”
“Because you can’t very well stay here with me. It’s not proper and I will not sully your reputation.”
“I don’t wish to go to your brother’s. I must get to my aunt.”
“In England.”
“Aye.”
“And who, pray tell, is this precious aunt you would have me deliver you to?”
Nora hesitated. That knowledge could quite easily hurt her more than help. She always had to be careful who she told that to asthe repercussions could be quite dire.
“If I tell you, you must swear on your soul that you won’t take me back to my father.”
“Fine. I swear on whatever portion of soul I possess that I won’t take you to your father.”
She took a deep breath and hoped he would abide by those words. “My aunt is Eleanor of Aquitaine.”
Ewan laughed incredulously at her declaration.
