Borderland Betrayal (7 page)

“Aye, thank you. I came to beg an escort. I have a need to visit the woods. I hear tell there are some herbs that I may be able to replant and I need to gather some moss too.”

He glanced around, his brow furrowing further. “The woods can be dangerous. I think it better you send someone else in your stead.”

“Someone else will not know what to look for. I must go. ‘Tis imperative I have everything I need if I am to help Lucy bring these babes into the world safely.” She planted both hands on her hips and glared, daring him to deny her.

His jaw worked as he glared back. “Fine,” he bit out. “I will escort you.”

“Oh, ‘tis not necessary, I intended not to take you away from your duties.” Or to spend more time alone with him. The very thought made her heart flutter.

“Ack, as much as I am loath to admit, the men can manage without me for an afternoon. I think the walls of Thornewall will still be standing upon my return.”

Ellise failed to resist a smile. “I am gladdened to hear you admit as much.” She glanced around at the Great Hall behind her, flanked by two giant turrets. What must it be like to have so much responsibility? “And here I thought the great towers of Thornewall rested upon your shoulders.”

“Ellise, its seems you have me marked as a man of great self-importance.”

“Nay, not at all. Just one who knows not how to share responsibility.”

“I am a captain, lass. ‘Tis not intended for me to share responsibility.” He gave her a tilted half-smile. “Give me but a moment and I will play your escort for the afternoon.”

Dipping her head in thanks, she observed as he strode toward the gatehouse, ducking inside the shadows of the doorway. Ellise allowed herself a small sigh as she stepped aside to let a watchman past. He bowed briefly, reminding her of how different her life in Thornewall was. Here she was treated as a lady, but then even the servants and peasant folk were treated well.

She leaned against the stone wall and watched the movement of people across the bailey and the way they greeted one another. A lump knotted in her throat as she considered leaving Thornewall. Already she had grown attached to the quietly strong Lucy and the charming Dominic. And James…

She would miss him most of all. But to stay was impossible. Eventually Edmund would find her again. And if he did, would he use his knowledge to have her accused of witchcraft? He’d threatened it once before when she’d run away with her son, when he found her and beat her. She winced as she remembered the pain he’d inflicted.

But while her heart ached to be reunited with Arias, at least she knew he was safe. Edmund would never harm the only male heir to the earldom. That did not stop her from wanting her son back, though. Her best bet was to snatch Arias and flee to the coast. She hoped some of her mother’s family still remained in Spain.

A light touch to her shoulder drew her from her thoughts, and she jolted as James’ handsome face bore down on her.

“Is all well?”

“Aye, aye of course.” Ellise straightened and tugged her skirts back into place. “Are we to away now?”

“Aye.” James offered his hand and helped her down the stone steps that led into the courtyard.

She tried to remind herself that it was just the behaviour of a gentleman, but her body thought otherwise. Sharp shocks of sensation lingered wherever his large, rough hand touched and images of those hands on her skin rocked her. It left her chest tight with need so that by the time they reached the stables, she was almost breathless.

 A stable hand brought out a sweet-looking pale palfrey for her and Ellise brushed a hand over its muzzle, grinning as it pressed into her hand. James took the reins of his own mount from the boy and paused before mounting. “Do you need some aid?”

“Nay, I thank you.”

Ellise sucked in a breath and hooked her foot into the stirrup. It had been many years since she had ridden so she hoped she could still manage it. She would certainly not admit as much to James, who watched her closely as she mounted and settled her skirts about her. He gave her a knowing look and she merely raised a brow with a smile. If only he did not read her so well. If was frightening how quickly the man had come to recognise her emotions. Admittedly she had always been too open with them but his shrewd gaze still disconcerted her.

“Ready?”

Ellise nodded and gripped the reins, digging her heels gently into its flanks and following James out under the large gatehouse. The sound of hooves echoed as they crossed the wooden drawbridge that spanned the dry moat and peasants moved out of the way to let them through, bowing their heads in acknowledgement.

The obvious respect the people of Thornewall had for James made Ellise smile. Aye, it was clear her initial impressions of him on that first night had been correct. Duty and chivalry drove him. What a shame she could not stay and learn more.

They reached the bottom of the mound and Ellise glanced up at the great castle that dominated the landscape. Though intended to be intimidating, to Ellise it appeared comforting. Behind those walls, she could almost imagine being perfectly safe. The temptation to stay already warred inside her, helped along by the beautiful knight in front of her. Would it be possible for her and her son to seek sanctuary here?

They travelled in silence, bypassing the busy streets, and followed the edge of the mound until they reached a lake. Ellise hadn’t seen it before and she admired the way the reeds lined the edges as sunlight glinted off the surface. In the heat of the summer sun, the water looked extremely inviting in spite of its murkiness.

James’ gaze trailed over her several times, concern etched into his expression. The purple flocked moors were empty with no sign of danger, but she saw the rigid tension in his posture as if awaiting an attack. If she could do one thing before she left, she wanted to teach James how to relax.

When they reached the outskirts of the woods, they dismounted and tethered their horses to a tree. Ellise’s throat was dry from apprehension and watching his easy movements.

Alone again with James.

Their camaraderie seemed sapped by the journey and Ellise knew her words had been stolen by desire. Why did she want the man so badly? Aye, they spent one wonderful night together, but she still barely knew him. It felt like more than a need for physical connection. If it was
just
that, then she could easily brush it aside.

His deep voice broke through her thoughts. “I shall lead the way. Tell me should you wish to stop.”

“Aye.” Clasping the pouch that hung from her leather girdle, she hitched up her skirts and followed as he stepped into the shadows of the forest. The leafy canopy provided some relief from the summer heat and Ellise took a moment to inhale the earthy scent of the woods.

“What are we looking for?” he asked over his shoulder.

“Do you know aught of herbs?”

“Nay,” he admitted.

Ellise laughed. “
I
shall do the looking,
you
may continue to act the noble knight here for my protection.”

“Aye, that I can do.”

Ellise didn’t doubt it. She knew well of the muscular physique beneath that armour. It plagued her thoughts even in sleep.

They strolled through the woods, following the natural tracks that snaked between the trees as gnarled roots crawled across the landscape. Their silence ceased to be uncomfortable but she couldn’t decide when it became companionable. The steady beat of his boots on the earth soothed her, but after several moments of peaceful walking, curiosity got the better of her. She yearned to know more about the man with whom she’d spent one magical night.

“Have you been a captain long?”

“Aye.”

Ellise shook her head at his taciturn response. “How came you to be captain of such a great demesne? And at a young age too?”

James paused, his eyes lighting with amusement before pressing aside a branch and ushering her through. “I fostered at Thornewall. Lord Dominic and I grew up together. When I went off to fight in France, his father died and upon my return Dominic made me captain.”

“And you enjoy the role?”

“Aye.”

“And your family is proud of you?”

He remained slightly behind her so she couldn’t see his expression but his voice sounded tense. “Why do you ask?”

“Because I am curious, James. I wish to know more about you.”

“You would be wise to remember that ‘tis not always sensible to bow to curiosity.”

“Why? Have you some dark secrets you wish to keep hidden?”

“No more than you, I suspect.”

She paused and tried to relax her stiff body. Was it obvious she kept secrets? She did not wish to, but her past had no place at Thornewall and she certainly did not want to share her problems with James. He would likely try to take them all upon those great shoulders of his.

“But we are not talking of me.” She kept her voice light.

“A trade,” he said abruptly.

Ellise turned with a frown. “What is your meaning?”

“I offer you a trade.” His mouth quirked. “A secret for a secret.”

Swallowing, she pondered this. Few people knew of her foresight and she knew well how women like her were treated. She could hardly risk revealing such a thing to James. Who knew how he would react?

“You are scared?” James prompted.

“Nay!” She pushed aside a protruding branch and continued forward. “I just do not believe any of your secrets are worth much.”

“Aye, my life holds little mystery, that is true.” He fell into step beside her. “I hold no deep, dark secrets, so why should you wish to know any of it?”

“As I said, James, I would like to know more of you.”

“You are a curious creature, are you not?”

“I am indeed. So will you tell me more of yourself? What of your family? And your lands? Have you sisters and brothers?”

James chuckled. “Aye, a younger brother and a sister. My brother is in the church and my sister lives in the south. I see little of her for she spends much time at court.”

“And your mother and father?”

“Dead.”

“I am sorry. Was it long ago?” She peeked at him, noting the muscles working in his jaw.

“Aye.”

“James!” she exclaimed, exasperated. Would the man tell her nothing?

“Ack, must you be so inquisitive?” He sighed with a shake of his head and grinned as she fixed him with a glare. “Fine. My mother died giving birth to my sister and my father died whilst I fought in France. ‘Twas no surprise. He was much older than my mother.”

The coldness in his voice sent a shiver through her. She only remembered her parents with fondness but it seemed James did not.

“I am sorry,” she said again.

He shrugged. “‘Twas a long time ago.”

Fighting the urge to push further, Ellise opened her mouth and clamped it shut again. Their companionable silence has turned uncomfortable once more and it was all her doing. Curse her unthinking tongue. The strong warrior likely never shared tales of his past and she had pushed further than he would go. And for what? Once her job at Thornewall was done, she would be gone. She resolved to stem her prying where James was concerned. Knowing more of him would only increase her attachment and she could not afford to be attached to anyone. Her son had to remain her priority.

“What of you, Ellise?” His deep voice broke through her thoughts. “Will you not tell me your secret?”

Astute green eyes met hers, deep and intrusive and her throat tightened. From longing or from fear? She was unsure, because both assailed her. How did he see so easily through her?

She brought her chin up. “Yours was no secret—Oh, a willow tree. We must stop.” She scurried up to the tree and pressed aside the leaves, stepping underneath them.

James followed, ducked under and stood close behind, the green vines enclosing them in a shady world of their own. “I will not be distracted that easily. You still owe me my due.”

The tightness in her throat increased as she glanced over her shoulder at him. His eyes took on a dark quality and she wondered what kind of ‘due’ he meant. The wanting look in his gaze heated her skin. How easy it would be to give into desire again. But it was only ever meant to be one night, nothing more.

She turned and smoothed a hand over the bark, willing her pulse to calm. “W-willow bark tea is good for pain. ‘Twill help Lucy when the babes comes. Have you a knife?”

When he failed to respond, she held out her palm and peered at him expectantly. He blinked and nodded, handing over his blade with a gruff ‘aye.’ Gripping the handle, her fingertips brushed against his warm callused ones, making the skin on her arm tingle. Her lips twisted. How was it so tiny a touch could create such an effect when they had shared so much before?

Notching the blade into the bark, she carved a thin slice and stuffed it into her pouch. She sliced several more pieces from it while James watched silently. As she propped a hand against the tree trunk and dug out one last strip, the knife slipped and she cried out as it cut across her palm, sending a sharp sting through her.

“
Maldito!”
Ellise dropped the knife and clutched her hand as blood dripped from between her fingers.

James cursed and snatched her hand as she yelped in protest. “Ack, foolish lass. I should never have let you handle a blade.” He peeled her other hand away to examine the damage and cursed again.

“‘Tis naught,” she insisted in spite of the throbbing pain in her hand.

“Naught?” he scoffed. “‘Tis deep, you daft lass.”

“Aye, well, insulting me won’t make it any better!”

“Hold it tight,” he ordered and pressed her other hand back over it, “and sit down.”

The discomfort stole the stiffness from her spine and she sagged to the ground and rested her back against the willow tree. James plucked the knife from the forest floor and used it to cut a jagged piece of linen from the bottom of his shirt. Kneeling, he coaxed open her hand once more and began binding the laceration with the fabric. The press of the material against the gash brought tears to her eyes and she bit her lip. What a fool she was. She could curse her own idiocy.