Page 33 of Dancing On Air

“You have always watched over me, Connor. You know as well as I that if you hadn’t saved me when I fell into the lake, I would have drowned.”

“At least I taught you to swim, so something good came out of it.” He smiled and squeezed her hand in his.

“It’ll take a few days for the guard to get the missive to Rose and for her to return,” said Eleanor as they filled the bushel with apples. “In the meantime, I am going to make sure that your father and your entire family have enough food to eat. Mayhap some chicken soup will help your father’s condition. I can bring some over.”

“You don’t even know where I live,” he told her.

“Nay, but I bet I can find it if I tried.”

“I don’t want you coming into the woods looking for me, Eleanor. The creek has been flooding lately from all the rain and it’s too slippery and dangerous.”

“Ah, so you live by the creek in the woods, that tells me.”

“I don’t want you seeking me out. You might step on one of the snares I use to hunt.”

“And you’re in Lord Sampson’s woods hunting so that means I know exactly where to find you.”

“Eleanor,” he said, looking at her from the sides of his eyes as he filled up the basket. “Promise me you won’t try to find my home.”

“The new Eleanor is inquisitive and doesn’t make promises she doesn’t intend to keep.”

“Well, the new Connor isn’t as carefree as the old one. This one is warning you to stay away from me and my family if you know what is good for you.”

“Oh, I see Raven and Lark down by the abbey gate with the guard. You’d better go now, so the guard doesn’t see you. Hurry.”

“Thank you,” said Connor, picking up the bushel of apples and boldly kissing her once more on the mouth. “For everything.”

With that, he turned and left, wondering if kissing Eleanor hadn’t been the best decision after all. Or the fact that they professed their love for each other.

After all, nothing could ever come of it.

She was a noblewoman.

He was an executioner.

And if there is one thing he knew about the lives of nobles it was that they were not allowed to marry anyone from below the salt.