Anne Stuart - Hidden Honor

“You can let go of me now.”

“I don’t want to.” She wasn’t certain if she heard him clearly, since he released her even as he spoke and took a step back. She grabbed the horse’s reins for additional support, and ran her hand down her neck in apology before she realized she was touching her just as the prince had touched her. She pulled her hand away hastily.

“No, she’s not a wretched animal,” she agreed. “I’m just a bit…unused to riding for such a long period.”

“Indeed.” He nodded his head toward a stretch of woods. “You can go over there.”

“Why?”

“To relieve yourself,” he said bluntly. “Unless you’ve managed to control your bodily functions as well as you control your father’s household, you should be in need, and I doubt you want to join the men.”

She could feel a blush suffuse her face. Now that he mentioned it, she did need some privacy. “You could have put it more delicately,” she snapped. And then remembered to add “my lord” in a meek tone.

“You don’t strike me as particularly delicate, Lady Elizabeth.” He took the reins from her. “Go ahead.”

She’d overestimated her strength. She was fine standing still, but the moment she tried to take a step forward her knees began to buckle.

And the moment they did, his hand came under her arm, keeping her from falling.

He was closer now, much too close, as he had been the night before. “I beg pardon,” she said breathlessly. “I’ll be fine in just a moment.”

“Do you want me to carry you?”

“No!” The thought of the dark prince carrying her into the secluded woods was beyond unsettling. “I’m fine.” To prove it she pulled free from him and took a step forward.

Her body obeyed her. She managed a cool smile and headed for the patch of woods designated for her use, moving with all the grace she could muster.

Until she was out of sight, when she hobbled, groaning and moaning into the bushes.

She would have liked nothing more than to curl up in a ball and stay there, but she knew it was out of the question. If she tried it, he’d send his men after her. Or even worse, come and find her himself.

She had no choice in the matter. At least the day was more than half over. If she could just get herself onto the back of that horse one more time she’d survive the first day. Barely.

They were already mounted when she emerged from the woods. All of them, sitting on their horses, watching as she slowly made her way into the clearing.

She straightened her spine and approached the horse. No mounting block this time, and Prince William was on his own charger, holding the reins, watching her.

She never cried, and she wasn’t about to start now. Maybe if she managed to get her foot into the stirrup she could haul herself up that high…

“Give me your hand.” Prince William’s voice was peremptory. He was next to her horse, and she couldn’t quite see how he was going to get her on it from his high vantage point, but she held up her hand, anyway, blindly obedient.

It was a grave mistake. He pulled her up, effortlessly, and plopped her down in front of him.

His horse startled nervously at the added weight, but there was no question that the dark prince was an excellent rider, controlling him with seemingly no effort.

Controlling her, and she didn’t like it. Before she could squirm, protest, slide down, he’d moved forward, fast, the horse leaping ahead with restrained energy. The others followed, and any protest Elizabeth could have made was drowned out by the noise of the hooves on the dry road.

And the panicked racing of her heart.

This was not good, Adrian thought, keeping his head down to hide his doubts. There were few things he trusted in this chaotic life, but the strength and purity of Brother Peter’s vocation was one of them. He knew little of the details, only that something in Peter’s past made his need to atone all-consuming. It made no sense that he would flirt with danger like this.

In theory Peter’s plan had been eminently practical. Prince William was a man with many enemies, not the least of which were the powerful Baron Neville of Harcourt and his well-trained men. His only daughter had died at the prince’s hands, and while the king had done his best to help conceal his son’s brutality, in the end William was forced to face the consequences of his behavior. That those consequences were relatively trivial—a journey of repentance, a large tithe at the Shrine of Saint Anne, and then freedom to return to his debauchery—did not sit well with Baron Neville. If Prince William were to reach the remote shrine alive it would require more than an armed guard. It would require strategy, as well. And fortunately the monks at Saint Andrews had among their fold an excellent strategist.

Once they reached their destination they would all be safe enough. Prince William would be shriven of his sins, and no one, not even a vengeful father, would be fool enough to murder a man in a state of grace, thus ensuring his swift ascent into heaven.

No, Neville would wait until William sinned again, knowing the wait would not be long. But by then the prince would no longer be the responsibility of the monks of Saint Andrews, and if he met his bloody fate it would be no more than he deserved.

Brother Peter would admonish him for his lack of charity, Adrian thought, insisting that even the most unregenerate of sinners could be saved. Even if in his heart he knew that William had been lost to the Devil long ago, and no amount of penitence and prayer could bring him back.

Adrian looked ahead to the tall, straight back of the man leading the caravan. Brother Peter had the woman up in front of him, an arrangement that would fail to concern the others. But Adrian knew him better than anyone, and he knew what a struggle would be warring in Brother Peter’s heart.

He glanced back at the other monks, riding closely together except for Brother Matthew. He played his part well, Adrian thought critically. Anyone would be fooled by those chaste, downcast eyes and his sweet smile. Doubtless that was how he’d managed to get away with his wickedness for so long. All he’d need do was turn to his father, the king of England, and smile that dulcet smile, and all would be forgiven.

But not this time. And the only way to ensure that he stayed alive long enough to atone for his many crimes was to have him travel incognito, in the garb of a simple monk, surrounded by brothers of the strictest order in all of England.

And up front, tall and strong and commanding, rode Brother Peter, a moving target for any assassin out to end the prince’s life.

It had been Brother Peter’s plan, and the abbot had agreed with its practicality, even if he loathed the necessity. Before joining the order Brother Peter had been a knight, a trained fighter, a soldier of the Holy Crusade. He was taller than most, stronger than most. In a righteous battle there would be few who could best him.

With Brother Peter leading the caravan, the devious, charming bastard prince of England would live to sin another day. Perhaps kill another innocent. The knowledge of which would weigh heavy on Brother Peter’s soul.

But that innocent wouldn’t be Baron Osbert’s long-limbed daughter. Peter was making certain she was kept safe, as he’d pledged to protect all innocents. And it wouldn’t concern Adrian at all, if he hadn’t seen the look in Brother Peter’s eyes as they rested on the tall, skinny young woman.

They said red hair was the sign of the Devil, but Adrian didn’t believe in such nonsense. But looking at Elizabeth, he couldn’t help but wonder how such a plain girl could entice a determined ascetic like Brother Peter when he’d shown no interest in far greater beauties who’d thrown themselves in his way.