Page 22 of Warrior’s Lady

They lay there together. Her soft body pressed against his war-seasoned chest. She smelled of lavender and lemons, as soft as a light summer breeze.

"What have I done to anger you?" Her breathing was sharp. Her gaze upon him sharper.

"You were about to murder my niece," he growled, disgusted at his body's reaction to her nearness. How could he still find her appealing despite this heinous deed?

Her face clouded with confusion. "I what?"

He thrust her away from him. "You aimed your bow—"

"At a target, you ninny." She sat up and scooted away, dragging her skirts in the dirt as she moved.

Violet stood to the side of them, her eyes wide, her face pale. A miniature bow and a quiver of arrows were clutched in her little hands.

Camden frowned. He hadn't noticed his niece also held a weapon.

Rhiannon stood and dusted herself off with angry swipes. "If you had stopped before barreling me down, you would have noticed that I am trying to teach her how to protect herself."

His frown deepened. "As her nursemaid you should be teaching her the things a lady needs to know." She stared at him without speaking, and Camden suddenly found himself uneasy.

Fury turned her tawny eyes to a deep, unreadable brown. "Lady Violet has more need for protection right now." Rhiannon bent down to retrieve the bow he had knocked out of her hands. "With all she has been through, she needs to feel as if she can defend herself against an assailant."

Regret knifed through him. "Why use a bow and arrow?"

She picked up one of the arrows that had fallen from her quiver. "That is the skill I know." With a quick, fluid motion, she nocked the arrow, turned toward the post, and fired. Before he had time to register what had happened, her arrow hit its mark, not an inch from its twin. Her gaze returned to his, unflinching. "I can defend myself. I can teach Lady Violet the same skill."

He glanced away from her to Violet. The girl trembled violently, her shoulders quaking, her gaze cast to the packed earth beneath her tiny feet. So small, so innocent.

He scooped up Violet with one arm and cradled her to his side. "Uncle Camden will see that you are safe. Women do not need to know how to shoot." The little girl buried her face in his neck and a pang of tenderness stirred within him. "You are both under my protection."

Violet nodded against his neck, but Rhiannon turned away and gathered the rest of her fallen arrows. At the target post, she plucked her arrows from the wood. Anger reddened her cheeks.

She had no idea of the danger she was in. But she could never know the truth.

She marched past him without saying a word. Her dusty gray skirts swayed as she bent to retrieve the blanket and embroidery frames that had gone unused.

Then she turned to Violet. "Lady Violet, would you enjoy spending time with your Uncle Camden for the rest of the day?"

The young girl nodded eagerly.

A moment later, Rhiannon was gone.

Shock ran through him. Whatever reaction he had expected from Rhiannon, it wasn't this. What woman didn't want to be cared for? He frowned down at Violet's golden curls. And what was he supposed to do with a child?