Denise Lynn - At The Warrior's Mercy

‘While that is a nice memory for you, King Henry is not here to take responsibility for you. As unworthy as I may be, I am all you have and I will see to my duty.’

Obviously he was as eager to argue as she. Turning to face him more directly, she put her hands on her hips and shook her head. ‘As a warrior for King David you are far from unworthy and I cannot have someone in such an exalted position act as a mere servant. Surely you have more important matters to attend for your King. I can find someone more suited to the position of guard. Someone of less...importance.’

He rose from his seat on the bench, not bothering to smother his laugh as he had last night. ‘Perhaps someone less apt to inform your parents of what you’ve done?’

Oh, this Wolf was quite cunning. ‘Well, yes, there is that.’

‘Since doing so would only direct their focus to me, fear not as I have no intention of informing your parents of this little...journey. And as I am more than suited to guard the safety of Warehaven’s daughter, I am...’ he paused to bow before finishing ‘...willingly at your service, my lady.’

‘I wish not to deter you from your duty to your King, as this journey would do.’

‘Since I am already on my way to Roul Keep in Normandy to visit my brother, a side-trip to Warehaven will in no way deter me from my duty.’

His statement confused her. ‘Your lands are in Normandy?’ How was it then that he served King David instead of Matilda, or her husband Geoffrey of Anjou?

‘No. My home is a small isle off the coast of Scotland.’ Gregor shook his head. ‘It came as a surprise for me to have recently learned that my older brother Elrik has been granted the Norman earldom of Roul and I plan on finding out how that came about in person. So you see, you are in no way keeping me from any service to my King.’

She’d known full well before embarking on this verbal chess game she wasn’t going to win. However, his dogged determination to see her to Warehaven was beginning to bring her worries to the fore once again.

‘You travel all the way from King David’s court to Normandy alone?’ Granted, Matilda was in control of the lands south from Oxford and east of the Thames, but there was much of Stephen’s land to cross between Carlisle and Oxford. It would be risky for him to do so alone even if he had a writ of safe passage.

He opened the door to the chamber, letting the sound of men talking flow more freely into the room. ‘My men are below.’

‘Yet mere hours ago you were alone.’

‘No. Like you I had escaped.’ He shrugged, then explained, ‘I have a penchant for desiring time alone when I need to think or to plan.’

His response set her heart racing. What was this Wolf up to that required such secretive planning on his part?

Before she could ask, he said, ‘I am but a lowly shipbuilder by trade. None of my men would be of any use in the planning phase of my projects. In truth they would prove more of a hindrance, so on occasion I slip away to do nothing more than dwell on my own projects.’ One expressive eyebrow rose and he asked, ‘Can you now understand my willingness to visit Warehaven?’

Beatrice studied him. A warrior and a shipbuilder. No wonder his muscles were so well honed and his hands calloused. While he could be telling the truth about his reason for wanting to visit Warehaven—it was, after all, a very valid one for someone who built ships—a nagging worry in the pit of her stomach cautioned her to be wary.

He’d told her that her expression would give away any lie she might attempt to tell. However, his expression rarely changed—other than a winging of a brow, or the twitch of amusement teasing at his lips, she couldn’t determine whether he spoke the truth or not. And after her experience with Charles, she had no business trying to judge any man’s honesty. Since he’d done nothing thus far to cause alarm, the only thing she could do was to take his words at face value—for now.

‘I grant you leave to escort me to the coast. But I think your visit to Warehaven would be better suited for a time when my father was present. He could more ably discuss ships better than anyone else there.’

He only nodded, then headed towards the door. ‘I will give you a few moments to ready yourself for the day.’ A frown creased his brow. ‘I’m sure you are able, but I must ask to be certain, can you ride a horse?’

‘Of course I can.’ Even if she’d never ridden a horse before she’d not have said so. After being confined inside a mule-drawn cart for two days she would welcome the change. When they’d first set out from Montreau, she’d believed Charles when he’d explained that he’d procured the cart for her comfort. Now she realised he’d not been thinking about her comfort at all, but of her ability to more easily escape on horseback.

‘Good. Then I will await you below.’

Before he left, she asked, ‘Might I obtain some food before we leave?’

He pointed at the small table. ‘This is at your disposal.’

‘Oh.’ She hadn’t noticed the food-laden plate, pitcher or mug before. When she looked back in his direction to thank him for his thoughtfulness, she found nothing but an empty doorway.

Her rumbling stomach begged her to set aside her surprise at his silent, near-instantaneous departure and to focus on the food instead. A plea she readily fulfilled since she’d not eaten since early yesterday evening before she’d escaped from Charles.

One whiff of the waiting food set her mouth to watering. How on earth had she missed these aromas upon waking? The only explanation she had at hand was that she’d been distracted by arguing with Gregor. Not a bad distraction, but still a distraction none the less.

It took all of her willpower to eat like a lady and not shovel the pieces of fish, cheese and bread into her mouth.

The baked fish could have used an additional dusting of spices, but it was good. The bread was like heaven—soft inside with a crust baked to perfection. It would have been welcome at her father’s table.

She washed it all down with milk from the pitcher before taking a bite of the apple. Fruit in hand, she walked over to the narrow window. The breeze coming in let her know that the day would be mild. Thankfully the sun was unobscured by clouds and would lend warmth to the ride.

A knock on the door frame caught her attention. Beatrice turned to see the barmaid from last night standing in the doorway and waved her into the room.

The woman gathered the dishes from the table. ‘I am relieved to see the food did suit you after all.’

Beatrice blinked. ‘Why would you think otherwise?’

‘His lordship brought stew up with him last night and it came back untouched earlier this morning.’

‘Oh.’ As the woman’s words set fully in her mind, Beatrice repeated, ‘Oh! I was asleep when he returned, so I knew nothing about the stew.’

‘Martha will be relieved to hear that. She takes great pride in her cooking.’

‘As well she should.’ Even though Beatrice agreed with the maid, her mind wasn’t on the quality of the food.

Instead one thought ran round and round in her head. He had thought to bring her something to eat. The ruthless, heartless Wolf had taken the time...no, he had actually considered the needs of someone he barely knew. This supposedly cruel henchman of King David had taken her needs into consideration and acted upon them.

It was such a small thing, but it gave her pause. This was the type of action that defined a worthy man. Not his face, his form, his looks, or even his kindly spoken words. Because as she was well aware, even the kindest of words held little weight if they were nothing more than lies, or spoken merely for the purpose of manipulating her.