“I wanted to make sure I was here when you came out. I did not want to miss you.”
She smiled, feeling gladdened by his words. They warmed her. But she just as quickly realized that even at this moment they might be watched, so she grabbed his arm and scooted back into the shadows from whence he came. She pressed herself against the arc where the turret met the straight building wall, a small corner in which to hide. Brogan was right next to her, his massive body blocking out everything else.
“We should hurry if you still intend to take in the entertainment,” he said, his voice low and quiet. “The hour grows late.”
She looked up at him; standing up against his enormous frame, she was eye level with his chest. To look him in the face meant she had to practically lay her head back horizontally.
“I still want to go, but I am not sure if it would be wise for you to go with me,” she said softly.
He was very, very close to her, gazing down into her sweet face. “Why not?”
She sighed, trying to glance around his big body to see if they were indeed being watched. “You saw what happened today,” she said. “My uncle’s knights might not be so forgiving if they find you with me again.”
“I am not afraid of them.”
“Aye, but I am afraid for you. They’re warring men; they would more than likely strike first and ask questions later. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you because of my foolishness.”
He didn’t say anything for a moment; he just looked at her. Then, very slowly, she felt his big fingers clasp her own. His hand was warm and strong. She gripped him in return and he lifted her hand to his lips, depositing a very soft kiss on her knuckles.
Avalyn had the same reaction she had had earlier when he had kissed both of her cheeks; lightning slammed through her and her entire body shuddered. Though she lost her breath and almost her balance, it was the most wonderful sensation she had ever experienced.
“I would take the risk,” he said quietly. “For the chance to be with you, for only a moment, I would risk the entire de Neville army.”
It was a lovely thing to say. Her heart began thumping madly against her ribs and she could not help the flush that came to hercheeks. Though it was cold in the shadows of the White Tower, she was quite warm. As much as she wanted to linger in that very tender moment, she knew that she could not. Reality was an ugly thing and she’d had more of her share of it throughout her life. She hated her reality at the moment.
“I must confess something,” she said. “My aunt and uncle told me to stay away from you and I disobeyed them. Oh, my intentions were good when I returned the dress this morning and I should have let that be the end of it. But I didn’t. I went with you to your mother’s shop and shared a wonderful morning with you. It was the most wonderful morning I can remember.”
“For me as well. I did not want it to end.”
“I’m sorry that it ended so abruptly, but I hope you understand it was not by my choice. I had to go, or the knights would have been quite unkind to you.”
He brought her hand to his lips again. “I know.”
She smiled, feeling the bolts run through her again, his lips on her flesh. Some wonder of magic was working deep within her, something that Brogan could conjure up with a look or a touch. It was thrilling and almost enough to make her forget about all else. But she could not. If Brogan was to remain safe, she could not forget.
“My aunt and uncle punished me for disobeying them,” she murmured.
He froze, his deep blue eyes widening. “What did they do? Are you injured?”
She shook her head. “Nay, nothing like that. They would never touch me.” She sighed heavily, unsure how to tell him. It was difficult because she did not want to lose this moment, and she knew when she told him, everything warm and wonderful that was developing would end. “They must feel that my disobedience is some kind of rebellion, though it has nothing to do with treachery or deceit. It was simply… simply that I wantedto become better acquainted with the man who saved my life. In any case, they took swift action. Tonight, when I entered the feast, my uncle announced the betrothal of my cousin as I suspected. But he announced another betrothal as well.”
He wasn’t following her. “Whose?”
She fixed him in the eye, spitting it out before she lost her courage. “Mine.”
He didn’t react for a moment as the news sank in. Then, his expression went slack as confusion, outrage, disappointment all crossed his face in the same split second. “You?”
She nodded, lowering her gaze. She couldn’t stomach to look at him. “To Lord Charles Aubrey, a baron and great supporter of the Duke of Clarence.”
Brogan didn’t say anything for a moment. He continued to stand there, very close to her, with her hand at his lips. She could feel his hot, even breath on her flesh as the painful seconds ticked by.
“Do you know him?”
She shook her head. “Only by name and reputation.”
“Is this something you wish?”
She looked at him with a scowl. “Of course not. I have no desire to marry him. My aunt and uncle betrothed me to punish me for disobedience. I am sure it is their hope that a husband, a master, will keep me in my place.”
