Page 9 of Keeper of the Flame: Orrick

“Oh my,” she said with a giggle, her cheeks blushing as Orrick stood tall. She looked at him oddly. “Isn’t that the old sorcerer’s cloak?” she asked.

Orrick’s heart jumped into his throat. This woman was a sly one and it wouldn’t be long now before she figured out his secret. “Where is Orrick?” she asked, looking around the room.

“He – he’s not here,” said Orrick, his voice sounding a lot higher since he was choking under pressure.

“Something is odd about you,” she said, lowering her hand and taking a step back, still staring at him. “You look an awfully lot like that old sorcerer I met earlier. I think you are –”

Orrick couldn’t let her say it aloud or he’d not be able to lie and his cover would be blown. So before she could finish her sentence, he did the only thing he could to get her thinking about something else instead. He reached forward and pulled her into his arms, kissing her on the mouth. Well, one kiss only got his libido going even stronger, and he felt as if he needed one more. It had been so long since he’d held a beautiful woman in his arms and kissed her that he felt the overpowering need to take her right there. The next kiss was filled with passion as he pulled her close to him, wrapping his arms around her and letting his tongue slip into her mouth.

She stomped on his foot, causing him to release her. And when he did, she reached out and slapped him hard across the face.

“Ow,” he said, his hand going to his cheek. It was more of a surprised reaction since he didn’t really feel pain at all.

“How dare you!” she retorted, glaring at him now. My, how her opinion of him changed quickly.

Corbett cleared his throat and came to the rescue. “Lady Hope, please excuse Sir Rick for his rude behavior. I’m afraid he’s been campaigning for the king overseas so long now that he’s forgotten how to act around an Englishwoman.”

“Aye, my sincere apologies,” grumbled Orrick. “Those French women are feisty and I forgot for a moment that the English ladies are much more reserved.” He tried to reach out and kiss her hand again but she wouldn’t let him.

“So you are related to Orrick?”

“Aye,” he told her, his eyes sweeping over to Corbett for help. “That’s why I look like him. I’m even named after him.”

“But your name is Rick, not Orrick,” she said.

“Aye, Rick. It’s short for Orrick,” said Orrick, cringing inwardly since he heard his voice get higher again when he answered. Would this keep happening every time he lied? He didn’t want to be untrue to the beautiful woman, but now he had no choice but to play out the charade. “Orrick gave me his cloak before he left for . . . for . . .”

“He’s visiting a relative far up north,” said Corbett. “He won’t be back for quite some time. Sir Rick will be staying in his tower room for now.”

“Where is your home?” asked the girl. “And is Orrick visiting your parents?”

“Nay, I don’t have parents,” he answered the truth, but now wished he hadn’t. One lie led to another and he no longer knew what to tell her.

“Everyone has parents,” she said with a chuckle. “Perhaps yours have passed on? And how exactly are you related to the old sorcerer?”

Wondering how to answer, Orrick was thankful for the next distraction.

“Oh, there you are, Lady Hope,” came Lord Irwin’s voice as he pushed past the steward who still stood in the corridor and entered the room as well. “Who is this?” he asked, eyeing up Orrick.

“This is Sir Rick Pendragon. He’s the sorcerer’s . . . relative of some sort,” said Hope. She subconsciously licked her lips, or mayhap she did it purposely just to see him squirm.

“The sorcerer’s gone?” asked Irwin, sounding disappointed. “I was hoping he would help us on our mission.”

“Well, perhaps Lord Rick will be able to help us instead,” Hope suggested. When she looked up at Orrick with those big, brown eyes and batted her long, black lashes, he found himself nodding.

“Of course. I’d be happy to help you in any way I can,” said Orrick, lost in the wench’s eyes.

“Good,” she answered, turning and heading toward the door. “I’ll meet you in your tower room after the meal to tell you my thoughts on where we might look for the Infernal Flame.”

“Eternal,” Orrick corrected her, watching Lord Irwin escort Hope out of the room. They headed down the corridor with the steward following. Orrick stood frozen, just staring after them.

“Orrick?” Corbett walked up and waved his hand in front of Orrick’s face. “Or should I say Lord Rick?” Corbett chuckled. “I’ve never seen you act this way. With a woman, that is. Or with anyone for that matter,” said Corbett, bursting out into full blown laughter. “You are smitten with the girl.”

“I am?” Orrick swallowed deeply. “I swear I didn’t mean to kiss her.”

“Well, you did and I hardly think Lady Hope is ever going to forget that kiss.”

“Arrgh,” said Orrick, running a hand over his face, daring to peek out between his fingers at his reflection staring back at him from the mirror. “I can’t change back now that she’s seen me.”