Page 31

Unbidden, he envisioned Cait sitting in his bed, holding a babe, their babe.

He could go to her now, but Conrad knew it would make it near impossible to keep the vow he’d made to Terric. He’d been alone with her for mere moments earlier, and he’d kissed her in a way no man should kiss a noblewoman, other than her husband.

Please come back.

He was not punishing her for the pain she’d caused him. Staying away was the honorable thing to do.

Though I am not glad for how it happened, nothing pleases me more than your friendship with my brother. He speaks so often of you and the others that it sometimes angers my brother. Rory and Terric may be twin brothers, but they are so very different. But you. More than any of the others, you are most like him. Honorable, decisive. Though Terric will admit he is more even-tempered than you. Someday I would like to see it, these legendary Licheford outbursts. Did your father truly threaten the king with two hundred lanced knights if he harmed your cousin?

He smiled, remembering his response, a missive telling Cait that, aye, indeed, the story was true. And that he never wished her to see his outbursts, though they were, inarguably, milder than his father’s. In truth, he’d learned to control them better for that very reason.

Conrad had become a better man. For Cait.

But she’d never known, because she had never come to see him. Until now.

Do not do it. Do not tempt yourself this way.

Conrad had gotten to his feet without realizing he intended to do so, and he could no sooner sit back down than he could watch his country, his people, suffer for the injustices of a cruel and corrupt king. He moved toward the tent even as he told his legs to stop.

He opened the flap and stared down at the slight figure lying atop his bedroll, a blanket tossed over her.

Leave. Now.

But he did not. And when she turned toward him, enough moonlight shone through the opening in the canvas tent for Conrad to see her more clearly than he had in days.

He still loved Cait Kennaugh. Had, in fact, never stopped loving her.

And she was here in his tent. Alone.

God save him, for he would most certainly need saving after this night.