Chapter Twenty-Nine

T he days that followed as they continued moving forward toward Meregate merged one into the other. Richard was accustomed to spending hours in the saddle. What he was not used to was being distracted by a tawny-haired, green-eyed vixen whose smile continued to leave him flustered. His mind should be on what the upcoming demands of the castle’s siege would entail. Yet his mind continually wandered to an early morn in a river with Annora’s legs wrapped around his waist whilst he made her his in every way.

He had been surprised to see her at the river’s edge and remembered fondly when she began to strip her clothes from her luscious body. She had the strong, well-formed body of a Viking shield maiden but was still soft in all the right places. His mouth watered in remembrance of the moment when he had lowered her onto his more than ready manhood. Aye… she had been a perfect fit once she had become accustomed to his size.

During the past several days, Richard had only wanted her more but the occasion to be together did not come again, forcing them to stay at a distance. Her two knights seemed to hover over her more than ever, much to his dismay. Or mayhap now that he and the lady had found a common accord, he just noticed their protectiveness more than usual. But even if they had withdrawn, Richard knew that he would have struggled to find time to lie in her arms, given how busy he was kept by other concerns. He cursed the duties that had kept him so unendingly occupied.

He hoped he would convince her to stay with him in his tent once they set up camp on the outskirts of Meregate. ’Twould be her choice for he had made a promise to himself that he would in no way force her into anything anymore. If she did not wish to be with him of her own accord, Richard would simply need to learn to find a bit of patience. How he prayed that that would not be necessary, though. His longing for her was so deep that he was not sure how much more he could take.

“Something has changed in you,” Blake mumbled riding next to him.

Richard slid a quick glance at his friend before returning his attention back to the road ahead of them. “I am the same as I always have been,” he replied sounding more sullen than convincing. God’s wounds ! Richard swore. He was beginning to think he was becoming soft. His feelings for Annora had become clearer by the day, but he would not have those feelings be easily read from his countenance. Not when he needed the men who served under him to see him as a fierce warrior rather than a soft-hearted lover. He could not let his feelings for the lady overcome his responsibilities. If Blake could see the difference, then so could the rest of the men. ’Twould not be good to lose face with those he commanded.

Blake sniggered. “You cater to the lady as though she is your lady wife. You do not think someone who has ridden and fought besides you all these years would see the change that is happening in front of me?” Blake inquired as he shifted in his saddle.

“She is a woman and ’tis my responsibilities to see to her comfort,” Richard retorted hotly as he turned a scowling glare toward the annoying knight.

Blake raised his hand as though in surrender. “You do not have to take out your frustration on me, Grancourt. I only stated I noticed something different in you. ’Tis clear to anyone with eyes that you favor her.”

Richard huffed. “Aye, I suppose I do. Lady de Maris has gone through many trials in her short life. I only seek to ensure she does not tire during our journey.”

Blake chuckled. “That lady has been defending herself for many a year and from what I have heard, is a very capable swordswoman. I highly doubt she will tire easily whilst marching to save her people. She can take care of herself and her own needs.”

A snort of disdain left Richard. “Then what good am I to her if I cannot protect her?” he mumbled, only half aware that he was voicing his thoughts aloud.

Blake’s laughter erupted. “’Tis worse than I thought. You love her!”

Richard was about to say Blake spoke a falsehood but to deny his feelings for Annora felt like a betrayal to the love they had come to realize between them. “Quiet, you dolt,” Richard scolded with a menacing glare of warning. “Do you have to alert everyone within hearing that a mere girl has brought me to this state of weakness?”

“The Norwood brothers would be amused to see that you, too, have finally fallen for the charms of a beautiful woman,” Blake jested with him until he grew serious. “Honestly though, Richard… she is a fine woman of noble character. You will not find a better lady to take as your wife.”

A huff left him. ’Twas not that Richard disagreed with anything his friend had said, but rather that the consequences of those feelings unsettled him. “She makes me… lose awareness of what I should be doing when she is near,” he confessed honestly.

“I have heard the emotion of love can be… distracting. Your secret is safe with me,” Blake said with a wink.

Richard glanced again at the knight riding beside him. He had the notion Blake would ride as fast as he could to find Kingsley and tell the other man such startling news. When Richard heard Annora’s bubbly laughter echoing behind him, his heart lurched in his chest just from knowing she was near. She was going to drive him mad with wanting her. In that moment, he decided he was done in his attempts to keep himself from her company.

“Keep the men moving forward but scout out an area to sleep for the night. We should reach Meregate by mid-morn if we are lucky,” Richard ordered before pulling on Noble’s reins and moving his steed to the side of the road to await a certain someone. His whole day brightened when he finally saw his lady riding around the bend in the road.

When she moved her horse abreast of his own, she pulled on the reins and then stretched out her arm. He easily reached over to grasp her hand, barely restraining himself from pulling her from her saddle into his lap. But such a public display might only prove to the men he had other things on his mind than an upcoming siege.

“I have not had to chance to have speech with you all day, Richard,” she admitted with eyes sparkling in delight. Clearly she was pleased he had taken a moment to spend with her.

He watched her intently wondering when, and more importantly how, had he fallen so completely in love with this woman. He had never been one to believe in love at first sight but if Richard thought long and hard about the matter, he may have indeed fallen to the emotion of love when he first espied Annora fighting at Winchester. He had admired her swordsmanship both then and when he had found her again during the battle at the city of Oxford.

“Richard?” she whispered softly whilst doing her own search of what was possibly troubling him. “Is there something amiss?”

He shook himself out of his own thoughts, not wishing to allow his emotions to get the better of him.

“Nay. I only wished to ensure that you were doing well. We will be making camp for the night shortly,” Richard said before he leaned over in his saddle. When she also bent toward him, he placed a kiss upon her lips. Her subtle sigh of contentment made him smile.

Laughter from the men who saw their display as they rode by caused Richard and Annora to break off their brief kiss. She appeared disappointed that they were interrupted and Richard could not agree more. They had no privacy riding with an army this size.

“We should reach Meregate on the morrow,” Annora mentioned confirming what Richard had already said to Blake. “Do you think Tashe will surrender easily if he is still in charge?”

Richard scowled thinking about the little Annora had told him of the man who had killed her husband and starved her people. “I do not hold much hope that Stephen kept his word to replace the man. But you know the scoundrel better than I. What do you think?”

She seemed pleased he had asked her opinion but soon her face fell in despair. “’Twas hopeful thinking on my part that he might be gone but nay, I do not think it likely. He will do all in his power to keep Meregate from me.”

“Well, we shall find out the fate of your home soon enough. Ride with me until we make camp… that is if your men can manage without your company,” he teased trying to lighten their mood.

Annora giggled. “I am certain Manfred and Percival will be happy to not watch over me for a spell. They have been trying to keep me amused whilst we travel but to be honest, I have missed your company and do not like that we have not had a chance to… well…” She blushed a becoming shade of pink and he knew for certain she was remembering their coupling.

Richard reached over and placed his hand on her arm. His thumb made circular motions until he noticed her shiver. He wondered if mayhap she also felt those tiny electric currents racing up her arm whenever they touched.

“I have missed your company as well, my lady, which is why I pulled Noble over to wait for you.”

“Then let us spend the rest of the ride with one another. Tell me more of your sister Beatrix and her wedding to your friend Oswin. Was their union a love match?” she asked as they continued forward, following after the other knights.

The rest of the afternoon was pleasant as he told Annora tales of his sister, Oswin, and other antics with the Norwood brothers back when they were children. When her laughter rang out in the afternoon air, he wished he could keep such a pleasant expression on her face and keep her constantly happy and at her ease. But Meregate was only a day away and when they finally reached her home, the real ordeal would begin. He had the notion that the fight ahead of them would not be an easy one.