over him while he checked de
Valdés over. Her concern simmered through the air, putting him on edge. He
stood and drew her to one side. “Your father needs proper help. If he walks on
that leg, it could do real damage and it won’t heal. I must fetch aid.” He
touched a finger to her chin, raising her gaze to his. “Can I trust you to stay
here and not attempt anything rash? If you move him, you risk making him lame.”
She nodded slowly. “I will not move him.”
“Good.”
Henry removed his finger from her chin and
curled his hand, all too aware of the tingling sensation running from his
fingertip up his arm. As he climbed onto his horse, he glanced back at her to
find her watching him. Her raven hair fluttered in the wind, wrapping around
her features, and she pushed it back. The jolt of his heart surprised him and
he tried to push down the sensation while he dug his heels into the sides of
the horse and made for the harbour.
By the time he’d returned with several men and a
cart, the image of her still hadn’t faded from his mind. Even while they loaded
her father onto the vehicle, he could not stop himself from stealing glances at
her. Low down in his gut something burned—something he hadn’t felt for a long
time. Something he didn’t think he ever really had felt. Not simple lust—he’d
burned through enough lust in his younger years—but something else. And it was
far too dangerous.
He gave instructions to his men to have de Valdés
taken to the physician and he should have simply mounted his horse to follow.
Instead, he found himself pausing to speak with Antonia. Grey shadows lingered
under her eyes.
“He will be well. You should return to the house
and rest. I will have one of my men escort you.”
“ No . I wish to be with him.”
“There is little you can do.”
She lifted her chin. How this woman went from a
trembling, crying slip of a girl to this, he knew not. Her dark eyes dared him
to argue with her. He paused to consider what his father would do. Likely have
her dragged back but on that point, Henry would not sacrifice his principles.
His father might not have thought twice about manhandling a woman but he’d
already been too harsh with her the previous night and it ate into his gut. He
couldn’t do that again.
“Very well, but we shall stay only until his leg
is set and he is resting.”
“Good.” Her hard eyes softened. “ Gracias ,
Sir Henry.”
Henry waved away her thanks and they followed the
cart on horseback. It took some time for them to make it to the smithy’s . The physician waited outside for them and Henry
helped carry the commander into the dank and smoky blacksmith’s. Antonia tugged
at his arm.
“’Twill not need amputation, will it?”
“I don’t believe so, but we must be prepared for
the worst.” If needs be, the smithy was well used to performing amputations and
helping set bones. Even if de Valdés didn’t need his leg removing, they needed
the man’s strength and experience with broken bones. He clasped her upper arm
gently and guided her out of the gloomy hut. “You don’t need to see this.”
She tried to tug from him but there was no
strength behind it, as though all the energy and fire had gone from her.
“They’re going to take his leg, are they not?” she said quietly.
“Nay, but if it needs setting
‘twill be painful.”
“I should be with him.” Dark eyes shimmering
with tears tore at his chest like a woodpecker slowly making its way through
the bark of a tree.
“Nay. He
will not thank you for it. No father wishes to be seen weak and in pain by his
daughter.”
Her throat worked and she wrapped her arms
around herself. Henry had the strangest urge to add himself to the bundle she’d
created by curling his body around her and keeping her safe and warm.
“You are probably right.” Antonia offered a weak
smile.
Hand still on her arm, he eased her away to sit on the stone wall that lined the edge of the path.
Behind
Valdés over. Her concern simmered through the air, putting him on edge. He
stood and drew her to one side. “Your father needs proper help. If he walks on
that leg, it could do real damage and it won’t heal. I must fetch aid.” He
touched a finger to her chin, raising her gaze to his. “Can I trust you to stay
here and not attempt anything rash? If you move him, you risk making him lame.”
She nodded slowly. “I will not move him.”
“Good.”
Henry removed his finger from her chin and
curled his hand, all too aware of the tingling sensation running from his
fingertip up his arm. As he climbed onto his horse, he glanced back at her to
find her watching him. Her raven hair fluttered in the wind, wrapping around
her features, and she pushed it back. The jolt of his heart surprised him and
he tried to push down the sensation while he dug his heels into the sides of
the horse and made for the harbour.
By the time he’d returned with several men and a
cart, the image of her still hadn’t faded from his mind. Even while they loaded
her father onto the vehicle, he could not stop himself from stealing glances at
her. Low down in his gut something burned—something he hadn’t felt for a long
time. Something he didn’t think he ever really had felt. Not simple lust—he’d
burned through enough lust in his younger years—but something else. And it was
far too dangerous.
He gave instructions to his men to have de Valdés
taken to the physician and he should have simply mounted his horse to follow.
Instead, he found himself pausing to speak with Antonia. Grey shadows lingered
under her eyes.
“He will be well. You should return to the house
and rest. I will have one of my men escort you.”
“ No . I wish to be with him.”
“There is little you can do.”
She lifted her chin. How this woman went from a
trembling, crying slip of a girl to this, he knew not. Her dark eyes dared him
to argue with her. He paused to consider what his father would do. Likely have
her dragged back but on that point, Henry would not sacrifice his principles.
His father might not have thought twice about manhandling a woman but he’d
already been too harsh with her the previous night and it ate into his gut. He
couldn’t do that again.
“Very well, but we shall stay only until his leg
is set and he is resting.”
“Good.” Her hard eyes softened. “ Gracias ,
Sir Henry.”
Henry waved away her thanks and they followed the
cart on horseback. It took some time for them to make it to the smithy’s . The physician waited outside for them and Henry
helped carry the commander into the dank and smoky blacksmith’s. Antonia tugged
at his arm.
“’Twill not need amputation, will it?”
“I don’t believe so, but we must be prepared for
the worst.” If needs be, the smithy was well used to performing amputations and
helping set bones. Even if de Valdés didn’t need his leg removing, they needed
the man’s strength and experience with broken bones. He clasped her upper arm
gently and guided her out of the gloomy hut. “You don’t need to see this.”
She tried to tug from him but there was no
strength behind it, as though all the energy and fire had gone from her.
“They’re going to take his leg, are they not?” she said quietly.
“Nay, but if it needs setting
‘twill be painful.”
“I should be with him.” Dark eyes shimmering
with tears tore at his chest like a woodpecker slowly making its way through
the bark of a tree.
“Nay. He
will not thank you for it. No father wishes to be seen weak and in pain by his
daughter.”
Her throat worked and she wrapped her arms
around herself. Henry had the strangest urge to add himself to the bundle she’d
created by curling his body around her and keeping her safe and warm.
“You are probably right.” Antonia offered a weak
smile.
Hand still on her arm, he eased her away to sit on the stone wall that lined the edge of the path.
Behind
Similar Books
