Under the Warrior's Protection, page 9
‘You don’t strike me as a coward.’
He stopped mid-stride and rolled his shoulders.
‘Thank you,’ he said wryly. ‘I don’t like to think of myself as a coward either, but if your daring plan went wrong then you would be alone in the forest. Do you know how to get to Ickleston, or Borwyn for that matter?’
‘No,’ she admitted after a few steps.
‘I didn’t think so.’
‘But you wouldn’t have failed, would you? You’re much stronger than you make out. I really believed you had it in you to kill that man.’
Jarin surprised her by laughing softly. ‘You, Katherine Leofric, are terrible at giving compliments. I look like a lily-livered man, but inside I’m a killer. Perhaps I’ll have the Borwyn motto changed to reflect that statement.’
‘I didn’t mean it like that,’ she said crossly. ‘You certainly don’t have the shoulders of someone lily-livered. I just didn’t think of you as someone who could take a man’s life.’
‘It’s not something I would do on a whim and without extreme provocation,’ said Jarin, all trace of humour gone from his voice. ‘I’ve only killed men during battles, when there is no other choice. It is not something I take enjoyment in and would prefer to avoid it at all costs. Give me a wide, open space and a horse and I’d be happy.’
He’d surprised her again. From the little she’d seen of him before and the rumours that had swirled around Ogmore’s fortress, she would have imagined he’d be happiest in the mix of intrigue, beautiful women trailing after him and men hanging on his every word.
She opened her mouth to ask him more, but from behind them came the distant sound of shouting.
‘I think we’ve been discovered,’ said Jarin, coming to an abrupt halt. ‘I thought we’d have more time. Those horses of theirs didn’t look up to much, but we can’t underestimate desperate men.’
He threw her up on to Eira’s saddle and vaulted up behind her.
‘Hold on,’ he said as he kicked Eira into action.
Katherine gasped as the horse began to move through the trees. She was riding faster than she ever had before and every muscle screamed in protest. Just as she thought she’d collide with another tree, Jarin used his skilled horsemanship to avoid it.
‘Move with me,’ Jarin yelled.
‘I can’t,’ she shouted back. ‘I don’t know how.’
Jarin yanked her back in the saddle until she was sitting flush against his thighs. She gasped at the contact and the strange tingly feeling she kept having every time they touched started up again. This time it swept through her whole body. She tried to pull away from him; she shouldn’t be feeling like this right now.
‘Now isn’t the time to be modest,’ he said into her ear, his breath whispering across her skin. He pulled her even tighter against him. ‘Follow my movements and we’ll ride faster.’
Katherine’s stomach fell away as Eira leapt over a fallen log, but she wasn’t jolted by the action. Her whole body was now pressed against Jarin. It was much easier to ride when he took over their movement. His strong arms surrounded her, protecting her from the world around.
They burst out of the forest and back on to the path.
‘How...?’ She wanted to ask him how he’d known where they were, but her words were lost on the wind rushing past them.
At least the light from the moon and stars could reach them and it was easier to see where they were going. She closed her eyes tightly. Actually, maybe it was best not to see the ground disappearing beneath them as Eira ate up the distance.
She couldn’t hear the sound of the men chasing them, but that didn’t mean they weren’t. She knew she should be frightened. She was expendable, not central to anyone’s plans. No one needed her to live and those men wouldn’t care if she died as they tried to get to Jarin. But she wasn’t scared and that was all because of the man sitting behind her. No matter what they’d been faced with, he’d remained practical and in control. Not once had he panicked, even when she’d thought her knees would give way in terror. Of course Jarin’s relationship with Ogmore would suffer if he lost both of the Leofric sisters on the same day, but Jarin had never given her the impression that she was an obligation. It was as if he actually cared about her as a person.
Or perhaps she was reading too much into it.
Maybe her head was being turned by his strong jaw and full lips. She’d wanted to like him from the off; it was only his harsh words about her family that had turned her against him. Now she seemed in danger of liking him too much. There was nothing to be gained from developing feelings for him—only pain lay in that direction. He’d made it abundantly clear he wasn’t interested in marrying into the Leofric family, but even if he put those prejudices to one side he still wouldn’t want the plain Leofric sister. Her heart shouldn’t hurt at that thought.
Eira’s hooves continued to pound along the track.
‘What if there are men waiting for us at Ickleston?’ she asked.
‘What was that?’ yelled Jarin.
She turned her head and her lips brushed against the stubble of his jaw. ‘I was thinking there might be an ambush in Ickleston,’ she said close to his ear.
She really should turn back away from his warmth, but this close she couldn’t seem to look away from the fullness of his mouth. What would it be like to have those lips pressed against hers? Would they be soft or firm and demanding? She shivered and this time it had nothing to do with the cold night air.
Jarin slowed Eira to a walk.
‘That’s a very good point,’ he said softly.
‘What was?’ asked Katherine, her gaze still on his mouth.
He squinted down at her, a slight frown across his forehead. ‘A possible ambush at Ickleston. I would have rushed straight into one.’
He led Eira off the track and into the darkness of the trees.
‘We can’t stay out here all night. You’ve not got a cloak.’ Katherine bit her lip. She didn’t know why she’d said something so inane. Jarin getting cold was the least of their worries.
‘We’ll approach the town from the side. I know someone who will put us up for the night.’
‘Don’t you think we should keep going?’ she asked, panic clawing at her throat. If they didn’t keep going, Linota could be lost to her forever.
‘I know you want to find your sister, but we’re riding around in the dark. We could be going in the wrong direction for all we know. We don’t know what’s going on and we have no idea if blundering on will put your sister in more danger. I think it’s best we head to Rowan’s residence and ask him to make enquiries on our behalf. We also need to sleep. We can’t help Linota if we’re half-dead with exhaustion.’
Now that he’d mentioned it, Katherine realised she was bone-numbingly tired, every muscle ached and her back throbbed from trying to sit upright. Her eyelids fluttered closed and she tried to force them back open. She slumped against Jarin and then jerked away again.
‘Don’t fight it, Katherine,’ murmured Jarin. ‘You can lean on me if you need to.’
What frightened her, more than strange men chasing them through the night, was the knowledge that she wanted to lean against him, to feel his strong chest supporting her. Her eyes fluttered shut again and her head drooped. She forced them open once again, but she very quickly lost the battle and the world became black.
* * *
She awoke briefly as she was gently lowered from Eira. She struggled as unfamiliar arms grasped her.
‘Shush, it’s all right. I’m here.’ She was lifted from the stranger by a familiar pair of strong arms and she settled against Jarin’s broad chest, his smell familiar to her now.
There was a brief rumble of male voices talking above her head and then she was moving again, still cocooned in Jarin’s arms and still half-asleep.
The creak of a door sounded, waking her slightly.
‘Is this it?’ asked Jarin as he came to a stop.
‘I don’t have as many rooms as ye, your lordship,’ came the amused response. ‘You’re lucky this room is free at all. It was full of wood until a few days ago, but I’ve been busy this last week and I’ve used up all of my supplies.’
Jarin snorted. ‘I’m not sure Mistress Leofric will want to be so close to me.’
‘I don’t know about that. The lasses seem to like that pretty face of yours.’
‘This one thinks I’m an idiot.’
‘Ah, she’s got you figured out, then. I’ll fetch ye both some blankets and then head to the inn. If anyone knows anything about all this, it will be old Terrin. Nothing goes on in this town without his knowledge.’
‘Thanks, Rowan.’
‘Don’t mention it.’
And then the creak of the door again.
Jarin slowly lowered himself to the floor, making sure he didn’t jostle her. She knew she should let him know she was awake, but it was lovely to be cosseted and cared for. No one had ever done that for her before. He settled with his back against the wall and moved her head to the crook of his arm.
She sighed. She really should move off him; she was in his arms under false pretences.
‘Where are we?’ she murmured.
‘Ah, you’re awake. Is your head hurting from where you hit it earlier?’
He didn’t seem to be releasing her even though she’d let him know she was no longer asleep. She took advantage of his lapse by snuggling closer to his warmth. He responded by tightening his grip. Maybe he was cold as well.
‘My head is a bit tender, but it’s not too bad.’
‘Good...’ He paused. ‘Rowan is a friend of mine. He was an apprentice carpenter when my father was alive. I used to enjoy watching him work when I was a child. He works for himself now. We’re in his house. He’s a gruff man, but he’s kind. He’s going to ask around for sightings of your sister while we wait here. I’m afraid...’
Katherine waited, but he didn’t go on.
‘What are you afraid of?’ she asked quietly.
Just when she thought he wouldn’t answer, he said, ‘I’m afraid there’s not a separate chamber for you to sleep in. We’ll have to stay here together. I think it’s safest for us not to be parted anyway.’
Her heart stuttered at the thought of spending the night with Jarin. Would he expect her to lie with him? No, he wouldn’t want her. Despite his assertions that she was obviously a woman, he had never given her any indication that she was an attractive one. She was far too plain for the likes of him.
A strange sensation settled around her heart. She tried to reassure herself it was relief, but it felt all too much like disappointment.
Chapter Eleven
Jarin tensed as the door creaked open again. There was little he could do if the person entering was hostile.
He relaxed as Rowan stepped back into the room. ‘I’m afraid I don’t have much in the way of spare blankets.’ He held out a small bundle of thin material and a candle with the wax almost completely gone. ‘Is the wee lass still asleep?’
‘Yes,’ said Jarin, looking down at Katherine’s face in the flickering candlelight. She was sleeping deeply now and hadn’t stirred when the door opened.
‘Ye don’t have to keep holding on to her. The wee lass won’t float away.’
‘You always were funny, Rowan,’ said Jarin wryly. ‘She had a nasty head injury today. I’m worried about her.’
‘Aye, I’m sure that’s why you’re holding on to her so tightly.’
Jarin was glad for the darkness. It would hide the heat creeping up his face at Rowan’s jest.
Rowan handed Jarin the blankets and he arranged them around Katherine, tucking them tightly around her so that no cold air could get through, not caring if Rowan saw him do it. Katherine deserved someone to take care of her for once.
‘I’ll go for ye now and see what I can find out. I’ll leave ye this.’ He set the candle down on the rough stone floor.
‘Thanks, Rowan.’
‘You’re welcome, lad. It’s a bad business, this. I can’t imagine who’d be behind such a thing against ye. It’s generally thought that ye are an improvement on the old Earl.’
Rowan closed the door on them both, leaving Jarin alone with his thoughts. How had he not noticed there was someone intent on doing him harm? What signs had he missed? His father had despised him because he wasn’t like his older brothers, but the man was long since dead. Besides, the late Earl of Borwyn had been so proud of his lineage he wouldn’t make trouble for the only surviving heir, no matter what he thought of him.
And why take Linota? Despite his words to Katherine, he didn’t think she’d been taken randomly. The riders had swept past Katherine and made straight for her sister. Unless Ogmore had talked, and that was entirely possible, then the only person who knew about his offer of a generous dowry for the two girls was Erik.
Erik had made his thoughts clear on which sister he thought the most attractive. Jarin had never shared his preference for Katherine with Erik and so his friend wouldn’t have realised that Katherine was more precious to him than Linota.
He shifted his legs, trying to find a comfortable position. He’d rather not think about Linota at all. Guilt that she’d been taken from his protection almost swamped him. He could never make amends to her family if she’d been killed because he’d failed to protect her.
If she was still alive, then his honour dictated that he make reparations. He closed his eyes tightly. Really, there was only one way to make it up to Linota and that was to offer her marriage. Becoming his Countess would protect her from a lifetime of being shunned for something that was not her fault. It would restore his honour in the eyes of her family and he would get the dowry he’d been promised and so badly needed. Linota was the practical choice if he had to pick one of the sisters. He felt no raging desire for her; he wouldn’t be driven by lust around her. He could marry her, receive the dowry and rebuild the Borwyn fortune. Unlike Viola, there would be no treachery, no screaming rows and no tortuous one-sided longing as he waited like a stray dog for a bit of attention from his wife.
He swallowed as bile rose in his throat. Could he really contemplate getting Linota pregnant? He felt no desire for her, not even a flicker, and while his mind argued that this was a good thing his body protested vociferously.
Despite his efforts to think rationally about his future, his gaze kept being pulled back to Katherine’s sleeping face. Her long lashes cast a shadow on her cheekbones and her lips looked plump and inviting. His fingers itched with the desire to unbind her hair and run his fingers through the thick tresses. In his arms he could feel how thin she was, almost painfully so. She couldn’t have had access to Ogmore’s generous tables and the thought filled him with a simmering anger. Ogmore was rich and powerful enough to have taken care of Katherine. If he had decreed she must be treated with respect, everyone would have done so in fear of falling out of his favour. She should never have been kept locked away. It wasn’t her fault her father was a traitor to the king.
He leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. He needed sleep.
* * *
Despite the cramped, uncomfortable conditions he must have fallen asleep because he was woken by a cry. His eyes snapped open, but he and Katherine were still alone in the room. The noise came again and he realised it was coming from Katherine. The candle was guttering now, nearly gone out, but he could just discern that her eyes were still closed.
She twisted and cried out, ‘No, please. I promise I won’t...’
She cringed and brought her hands to her face, ‘Please, Mother. I...’
‘Katherine, you’re dreaming,’ he said, bringing a hand to her face; her skin was soft under his callused fingers. ‘Please don’t worry, you’re safe now.’
‘No!’ she screamed and her eyes flew open. ‘Where am I?’ she panted, twisting in his arms as if to escape. ‘What’s happening?’
‘You’re safe,’ he repeated. ‘You’re with me, Jarin.’ It felt right to use his given name instead of Borwyn. Nobody else used it, only his mother, but the intimacy they found themselves in now had no precedence. He touched the skin of her forehead to check for a temperature. ‘Do you remember?’
Her eyes were wide, her breathing erratic, but she wasn’t overly hot and so he suspected she was disorientated rather than feverish.
‘Linota,’ she gasped, struggling with the blankets. ‘I need to get to her.’
He rubbed her back soothingly. ‘I know you’re desperate to see her, but it’s the early hours of the morning. There is not much we can do.’
Her breathing slowed and gradually the tension left her body. He continued to stroke her back, marvelling at how small she was under his hands.
‘What if she’s hurt? I always look after her. She’ll be frightened without me,’ Katherine’s voice cracked.
Jarin didn’t know what to say to that. The chances were that Linota was hurt and very frightened and his heart filled with shame again at not being able to protect her.
The flame gave one last frantic flicker and then guttered out, plunging them into darkness.
‘Linota’s so beautiful and kind,’ said Katherine, her voice cracking in the darkness. ‘She’d never hurt a soul. Why didn’t this happen to me instead of her?’
Jarin’s heart twisted at the thought. He would kill any man who tried to take Katherine from him.
‘It was random,’ said Jarin, even though he was starting not to believe that himself. ‘They took her because she was easiest to grab. It was not your fault. Try and remember what the man said in the woods earlier. They are under instructions not to hurt her.’
Katherine took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. ‘I hope that’s true.’
So did Jarin, but he didn’t say it. It was best Katherine believed her sister was going to come out of this well. It would help to keep Katherine going over the coming days.
