Page 20 of Dancing On Air

“And you don’t deserve the treatment you get, either. I won’t let you walk to wherever it is you are going. Now get in. I won’t hear another word about it.”

“Nay, Eleanor. Don’t ask me to—”

“Do it!” she commanded, seeming to surprise him so much that he didn’t object again.

“All right,” he said, climbing up to the bench seat and sitting next to her. “But when you approach your peasants’ cottage or town, I will get out and stay in the shadows until you are finished with your visits.”

“So be it,” she said, traveling down the road again. They rode for a while without talking, and finally she broke the awkward silence between them. “Where are you headed on foot?”

“I am going to town to try to find some food for my family.”

“Your family? Are you… married?”

“Nay,” he said looking at her from the corners of his eyes. “No one would marry a hangman. I speak of my siblings and father only.”

“Oh.” More silence. “Aren’t you going to ask if I’m married?”

“You’re not,” he said, sounding so sure of himself.

“What makes you think that?”

He chuckled. “Two reasons. First of all, no nobleman worth his salt would let a beautiful wife like you travel unescorted.” He looked over at her, and she felt as if her tongue were too big for her mouth. She couldn’t even respond to that. He’d called her beautiful. The last time she heard that from any male was when she was twelve and betrothed to Connor. He’d told her that once or twice when they were children, but it never meant anything up until that point. Now, since they were both adults, it meant even more.

“What is the second reason?” she asked, wanting to know how he knew about her when she knew basically nothing about him anymore.

“I saw you with nuns and you wear an ornate golden cross on a chain around your neck. That brings me to believe you either are training to be a nun, or spend a lot of time at the abbey.”

“What makes you think I’m not already a nun?”

“Dressed like that? You are wearing the gown of a noble, not a habit. Nay, I don’t think so, sweetheart.”

Why in heaven’s name did his simple endearment of calling her sweetheart make her feel so warm?

“You’re right. I’m not married.” Eleanor felt like a fool for asking him that last question. For some reason, just being around him made it hard for her to think or speak properly.

“Why not?” he asked her.

“Why not what?” she replied.

“Why didn’t you ever get married? You are a beautiful, smart woman who seems to care for others. Your family has money, your father is Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, and you are of childbearing age.”

“I’m only nineteen, Connor.”

“Most girls have several children by now.”

“True. But I am not most girls.”

“Nay, I guess not.”

When she looked back at him, his intense eyes were drinking her in and it felt a little dangerous. Then again, she was sitting all alone next to a man whose occupation was to kill people, so why should she feel any differently?

“If you must know, I decided to dedicate myself to helping orphaned children find homes. Families to live with. I’ve been living at the abbey for a while now.”

“You sound as if you’re hiding from something. Are you?”

“I’m not hiding,” she said softly, feeling very sad.

“Bid the devil, Eleanor, you’re not waiting for me, are you? Please tell me that is not so.”