His Runaway Maiden by June Francis Page A

ashamed of herself for thinking such thoughts. He believed her to be a youth and she was wicked to even consider it. Besides, the only kisses she had experienced were those forced upon her by Edward and he had crushed her teeth against her inner lip so that it bled. Kissing was no fun and she still knew so little about this Swede.
    Rosamund locked the door so she could tend to a desperate need in the chamber pot before hurrying downstairs, thinking how much easier attending certain bodily needs were for men. She was on her way to the stables when she saw her travelling companion coming towards her. He was leading his horse and carrying what appeared to be a pillion seat in the other hand. ‘I have purchased this from the innkeeper,’ he said. ‘I will fix it on to my horse and it will be more comfortable for you. We will stop to eat after we have a good few miles behind us.’
    Her brow puckered, and reluctantly she said, ‘We will not make much speed sharing the same horse. You’ll reach London the swifter without me. Why do you not go on ahead without me?’
    Alex was annoyed by her suggestion and thought he knew what had caused it. ‘No,’ he said tersely. ‘You scarcely managed to cope with that woman last night. What if you were set upon by thieves? I reckon we will stillarrive in the city in time for the business I have to tend to there. Besides, I deem you could be of use to me when we reach London.’
    She was surprised. ‘In what way can I be of use to you?’
    ‘I will tell you when I know you better.’
    ‘You know more about me than I do you,’ she retorted. ‘Do you not think it is time I have a name by which to call you?’
    Alex studied her features. ‘Why?’
    ‘You address me as Master Wood as is polite, but you are Master No Name and that does not seem right to me.’
    He hesitated. ‘My name is Master Nilsson and my home is in Gotland, Sweden.’
    Rosamund smiled. ‘I recognise the name of the place. My father imported furs, amber and silver goods from your northern climes, although he complained about having trouble with Scottish pirates, as well as the Hanseatic League due to the latter’s monopoly of trade in the Baltic.’
    ‘Aye. I have experienced trouble with pirates myself,’ he said drily.
    ‘You have?’ She would like to know more.
    He looked thoughtful as he busied himself attaching the pillion seat to his horse. Then he seized her by the waist, causing her to squeal as he lifted her up on to the pillion seat.
    She clung to the wooden arms. ‘Why could you not have allowed me to climb into the seat myself?’ she asked in a breathless voice, aware of a pleasurable tremor that she could only believe was the result of his actions.
    ‘It was quicker my way,’ said Alex. ‘What of your stepbrother who lives in London?’
    ‘Oh, he never complains of being troubled with pirates,’ she said blandly.
    ‘How fortunate.’ And how suspicious, thought Alex.
    Rosamund thought Master Nilsson’s mouth tightened as he dragged himself into the saddle and guessed she was not going to discover any more about pirates from him. Which was vexatious—there were conversations she had overheard that could have interested him.

Chapter Four
    N ow Rosamund had the security of the pillion seat, she no longer needed to cling to Master Nilsson for safety and would be able to keep her distance from him.
    Alex was also thinking that the pillion seat was money well spent. No longer would he be disturbed by thoughts of the wench’s soft body brushing his back and those small hands holding on to him so she would not fall. Which meant he could concentrate on considering why her stepbrother had no trouble with pirates. This caused him to consider with which countries he traded. It was possible that he had no interest in his stepfather’s markets and instead did business with southern Europe and Africa, so his ships did not risk crossing the northern seas.
    Having come to that conclusion, Alex let