today I saw the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,” he said
quietly. “I came to Erith because I wanted to bask in her presence. I came
because of you, my lady, and for no other reason than that. I wanted more than
just a fleeting glimpse of you.”
Gray
stared at him. The swimming in her head was easing, but now her heart was
coming to thump strangely.
“Me?”
“You.”
She
was momentarily stumped. Could it be another untruth? Was he simply trying to
divert her from the reality? Looking into his handsome face, she couldn’t
imagine that he was insincere. But the internal struggle was tremendous.
“How
do I know this is not a lie?” she hated sounding so fearful. “How do I know
that you are not plotting to gain my fortress even as we speak?”
The
corner of his mouth twitched. “I gave you my vow as a knight, my lady. I
suppose only time will tell if I was honest or not. When my men and I leave
your fortress tomorrow in far better repair than we found it, then perhaps you
will trust me, just a little.”
She
was gradually aware that his grip on her hand had eased and his fingers
caressed her flesh gently. The touch was sending jolts of excitement up her
arm. “I… I do not know,” she spluttered.
His
gaze was steady on her, as if trying to read what she was thinking. He finally
shook his head. “Who has done such terrible things to you that you would be so
suspicious?”
Gray
averted her gaze, trying to pull her hand away, but he held her fast. “Nay, my
lady, I’ll not let you run away. Not this time. I have come to this forsaken
place to slake my curiosity of you and I will not leave until I have done so.
Who has so horribly mistreated you that you would be so defensive? Tell me his
name so that I may seek him out and champion you.”
Her
eyes riveted back to him again, wide with surprise. She yanked her hand hard,
finally pulling free of his grip. But she was still on her buttocks and a quick
getaway was unlikely.
“You
know not what you ask,” she said quietly.
“You
are correct; I do not know. But I would ask just the same.”
“Why?”
“I
told you why.”
Frustration
blossomed. “Do not toy with me, my lord. If you only think to amuse yourself
with my misery, then you may look elsewhere for entertainment. I shall not
respond to your attempts to probe me. My life is my own and I do not know you.
I will be glad to have you on your way tomorrow if only to be left in peace.”
She
probably meant it, too. “I am not a clever man, my lady,” he did not rise to
her irritation. “I have never, nor would I ever, toy with a woman. I have not
the patience. What I tell you is the truth. I saw a beautiful lady today and
simply wished to know her.”
She
did not reply. He finally stood up, towering over her as she sat at his feet.
Without another word, he turned and descended the stairs along the wall,
crossing the dark bailey for the warmth of the keep. Though his body had left
her, his mind had not. It was still upon the wall walk, wondering why such a
beautiful woman was so embittered and mistrustful. If she did not believe him
by now, she never would. He realized he felt a good deal of disappointment
about it.
He
was just mounting the steps to the keep when movement caught his attention.
Glancing over, he could see Gray descending the stairs, clutching the stone
walls as she lowered herself one step at a time. She was struggling, that much
was clear. She seemed to be particularly weak and not simply because he had
startled her by ripping a sword out of her hand. He paused half way up the
stairs, watching her labor with every stair. He couldn’t just leave her.
Slowly, he retraced his steps.
He
met her at the bottom of the wall stairs. Gray looked at him, all of the fight
gone out of her. Braxton stood there a moment, gazing back at her. He was
still trying to figure her out, though he did not completely understand why.
He’d never had a woman intrigue
quietly. “I came to Erith because I wanted to bask in her presence. I came
because of you, my lady, and for no other reason than that. I wanted more than
just a fleeting glimpse of you.”
Gray
stared at him. The swimming in her head was easing, but now her heart was
coming to thump strangely.
“Me?”
“You.”
She
was momentarily stumped. Could it be another untruth? Was he simply trying to
divert her from the reality? Looking into his handsome face, she couldn’t
imagine that he was insincere. But the internal struggle was tremendous.
“How
do I know this is not a lie?” she hated sounding so fearful. “How do I know
that you are not plotting to gain my fortress even as we speak?”
The
corner of his mouth twitched. “I gave you my vow as a knight, my lady. I
suppose only time will tell if I was honest or not. When my men and I leave
your fortress tomorrow in far better repair than we found it, then perhaps you
will trust me, just a little.”
She
was gradually aware that his grip on her hand had eased and his fingers
caressed her flesh gently. The touch was sending jolts of excitement up her
arm. “I… I do not know,” she spluttered.
His
gaze was steady on her, as if trying to read what she was thinking. He finally
shook his head. “Who has done such terrible things to you that you would be so
suspicious?”
Gray
averted her gaze, trying to pull her hand away, but he held her fast. “Nay, my
lady, I’ll not let you run away. Not this time. I have come to this forsaken
place to slake my curiosity of you and I will not leave until I have done so.
Who has so horribly mistreated you that you would be so defensive? Tell me his
name so that I may seek him out and champion you.”
Her
eyes riveted back to him again, wide with surprise. She yanked her hand hard,
finally pulling free of his grip. But she was still on her buttocks and a quick
getaway was unlikely.
“You
know not what you ask,” she said quietly.
“You
are correct; I do not know. But I would ask just the same.”
“Why?”
“I
told you why.”
Frustration
blossomed. “Do not toy with me, my lord. If you only think to amuse yourself
with my misery, then you may look elsewhere for entertainment. I shall not
respond to your attempts to probe me. My life is my own and I do not know you.
I will be glad to have you on your way tomorrow if only to be left in peace.”
She
probably meant it, too. “I am not a clever man, my lady,” he did not rise to
her irritation. “I have never, nor would I ever, toy with a woman. I have not
the patience. What I tell you is the truth. I saw a beautiful lady today and
simply wished to know her.”
She
did not reply. He finally stood up, towering over her as she sat at his feet.
Without another word, he turned and descended the stairs along the wall,
crossing the dark bailey for the warmth of the keep. Though his body had left
her, his mind had not. It was still upon the wall walk, wondering why such a
beautiful woman was so embittered and mistrustful. If she did not believe him
by now, she never would. He realized he felt a good deal of disappointment
about it.
He
was just mounting the steps to the keep when movement caught his attention.
Glancing over, he could see Gray descending the stairs, clutching the stone
walls as she lowered herself one step at a time. She was struggling, that much
was clear. She seemed to be particularly weak and not simply because he had
startled her by ripping a sword out of her hand. He paused half way up the
stairs, watching her labor with every stair. He couldn’t just leave her.
Slowly, he retraced his steps.
He
met her at the bottom of the wall stairs. Gray looked at him, all of the fight
gone out of her. Braxton stood there a moment, gazing back at her. He was
still trying to figure her out, though he did not completely understand why.
He’d never had a woman intrigue
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