Chapter Twenty-Seven

A nother log was thrown onto the campfire and sparks of red embers floated upwards, disappearing into the dark night sky. There was a low hum of male voices and laughter in the distant encampment as the men began settling down for the eve. Richard crossed his outstretched legs at his ankles in an attempt to get more comfortable. ’Twould not be the first time he’d slept without the comforts of his tent, and this night would certainly not be his last before they reached Meregate and whatever fate awaited them at Annora’s home.

The lilt of soft laughter that was clearly feminine sounded out of place amidst all his knights, but it still caused a shiver of desire to rush through his entire body knowing Annora was so close. Richard could not deny himself the pleasure of staring across the fire to the lady who had all but consumed his thoughts since they first encountered one another. Months of yearning for a woman he barely knew had caused him much anguish. To now have her this near without having leave to touch her was almost unbearable. His deepest desire was to take her into his embrace and kiss her senseless, but he would never do such a thing without her consent, and she had been anything but welcoming since her capture. He would have thought he had imagined their brief connection whilst at Oxford had it not been for her whispered words whilst she lay slumbering in his tent.

Aye… when he had first heard his name called out to him in the dead of night from across his tent, he had jerked up from his own slumber to see what had been amiss. But there had been nothing to be alarmed about other than the restless tossing and turning of the woman who had woken him from his own troubled dreams and nightmares. How many nights had he stood over her wishing she would admit they had some sort of connection? He supposed he could not blame her for being wary of his motives given he had been forced to abduct her against her will again . Once had been bad enough. To have to have done so a second time caused everything within Richard to revolt. He had lived his entire life by a code of chivalry that he continued to break where Annora de Maris was concerned.

And yet what choice had he had when she had refused to see reason? He supposed he could have handled the situation differently, but once he had witnessed her almost getting herself killed at Wilton, his only thought had been to get the lady as far away from the battlefield as he could by any means necessary. He had thought by spending some time together, Annora might finally let her guard down where their relationship was concerned. He might as well have wished to be given wings so he could fly up to the heavens. Thus far, every attempt he had made had failed. She was just as stubborn as she had always been and nothing had changed for the better. In fact, now that she had her two knights with her again, she appeared to distance herself even further from him.

He threw another log on the fire before his gaze traveled to her once more as she again laughed with her men. Even Blake and Kingsley joined in with her merriment and Richard could only ponder what part of their conversation he had missed while he had been deep in thought and not attending to their words. He had never been one to be jealous of another man and yet that green-eyed monster had recently begun to rear its ugly head the more Annora ignored him and gave her attention and her smiles to others.

He decided that mayhap trying to find his slumber might be preferable to being miserable watching her amusement with others that he was no part of. He reached behind the log he was leaning against for his bed roll. The hour was growing late and the morn would be upon them sooner than he would have liked. Whilst he was busy unrolling his bedding for the night, the other knights took this as a sign that their relaxing conversations should come to an end. Blake and Kingsley disappeared beyond the light of the fire. Manfred and Percival did the same although Percival told Annora that they would be close in case she had need of them.

She bid the men a good night and she stated she would see them on the morrow before she, too, began preparing herself for her slumber. Once she and Richard had both settled themselves down, the silence stretched uncomfortably between them. Although they were not that far away from one another, Richard felt the distance might as well have been like the whole length of England. He rolled over on his side and took note that Annora had also placed her bedding so she could see Richard beyond the ring of the campfire. Perchance this was a good sign that she wished to know he was near.

He took notice that her green eyes were wide open whilst she intently watched him. Her face took on a rosy hue from the reflection of the flames of the fire as the logs were consumed down to a reddish glow of dying embers.

“You are in a most foul mood, Richard,” she said softly placing one hand under her cheek. “What is troubling you?”

“’Tis nothing,” he managed to mutter knowing this was far from the truth.

A light laugh escaped her and the sound caused his heart to beat a rapid staccato. “If ’tis nothing, I would hate to think how you will appear when something of great import is at hand.”

He leaned up on one elbow before he finally voiced his thoughts aloud, all the while knowing that he should remain silent on the matter. “What are those two men to you?”

“Percival and Manfred?” she asked whilst she also raised up on one arm. A frown marred her otherwise lovely brow.

“Of course, I meant Ford and Crump,” he mocked in frustration. “I do not think you had time to form any sort of a relationship with my men Kennarde or Goodee.”

Her lips silently moved as though trying to form a response before she sat up fully, crossing her legs beneath her. Her frown deepened before her mouth opened in an O of surprise as though a revelation of great import had been revealed to her. “I cannot believe it,” she declared with a slight grin. “You are jealous of them!”

“I said no such thing.” He rolled over onto his back, crossing his arms over his chest to stare up at the midnight sky.

“You are!” She clapped her hands and Richard heard her muffled laugh.

By Saint Michael’s wings ! How would he ever live down this embarrassment was beyond him. “I am not jealous,” he stated again hoping she would let the matter rest. Given his past conversations with this lady, he should have known she would never let it go that easily. He was so lost in his own self-made agony that he had not realized she had come over to him until she sat next to him.

She placed her hand on his arm and those same tingling currents raced up his body at her touch. “You have nothing to be jealous of, Richard. They mean no more to me than any other knight.” Her voice had an underlying tone that pulled at his heartstrings. Could he dare to hope that mayhap she would at last admit there was something between them?

He was tired of feeling as though he was nothing but a barbarian whenever she was around. And yet she had a hold on him as no other woman in his past could ever claim. Mayhap that was why he was still drawn to her. She was different than the grasping women of court who were only interested in his wealth and title he would one day inherit once his father passed on from this world. He was beginning to feel that all of his defenses had tumbled down where this lady was concerned. She made him vulnerable in many ways, and perchance this was why she stood out.

He came to a sitting position next to her and hesitantly reached out to tuck a stray lock of her tawny hair behind her ear. “If you say this is the case, then I will assume you speak no falsehood,” he declared. He would not let the emotion of jealousy get the better of him, not when Annora had taken this first important step.

“I may say many things that are unpleasant during the heat of the moment when we argue but I would never lie to you,” she said whilst a small smile of encouragement lit across her visage.

A short chuckle left him. “Perchance you have spoken a falsehood or two when we spar,” he replied whilst watching her carefully as he tried to find a way to pull down the rest of her defenses.

“Perchance. A woman does need to keep a few secrets to herself, my lord,” she purred sweetly and his heart lurched inside his chest at how she teased him.

“There may be many things you use in your attempts to remain indifferent to me, Annora, but I can see past them. Your emotions play across your face as if they are clearly inscribed upon parchment,” he declared quietly. He took hold of her hand and since she did not pull, he held tight.

She lowered her green eyes and he could see for himself she was embarrassed. “I suppose since you already mentioned you heard me whispering your name in the night that there is not much I can keep to myself any longer.”

He ran his thumb across the top of her hand. “Surely you must know I care for you, my lady. I made a vow to you back at Oxford and I held true to my declaration to do everything within my power to see you safe when we met again. Surely you cannot fault me for that.”

She at last raised her head to look upon him and he swore there was a hint of love shining in those depths. “You did hold true to your word, Richard. Aye, I cannot fault you for your chivalrous vow but yanking me from the battlefield might have cost me all I hold dear. Certainly, you cannot find fault in me for fighting to stay true to the vow I made to my son and Meregate’s people.”

“Nay. I can only admire you more which is why I pleaded your cause to the earl. Taking back Meregate fits in with the Empress’s plans to retake as many castles as possible. It did not take much to convince him to move in that direction.”

“I am thankful for your support,” she whispered whilst a tear ran down her cheek, “and the earl’s.”

He raised his hand to brush the tear aside. “I promise I will do all in my power to free your son, Annora.”

“Because taking back Meregate fits in with the Empress’s plans?” she asked quietly. He heard the catch in her voice, betraying her fear that this was the only reason why he had pleaded her cause.

“Because I care for you,” he repeated. “I would have thought you would know this by now but I suppose ’twill take time to prove myself to you,” he replied. He could not hide the brief bit of disappointment he felt at her ongoing doubts.

He was surprised when she reached out her hand to cup his cheek. She searched his face as though she sought the truthfulness of his words. She rose up on her knees and Richard understood that the time had come for her to return to her pallet. But before she did so, she leaned forward and ever so gently placed her lips on his own. It took everything in his power not to take hold of her and take more.

“I care for you, too, Richard.”

She quickly rose to her feet and went back to her own space by the fire. This time she turned away from him. Mayhap this was for the best. If he had to stare at her again for any longer, he just might forget the vow he had made to himself to give her time so they might come to a common accord.

But Richard now had hope. This eve had been a good beginning to their journey together.