Chapter
4
Lady Olivia would be the death of me.
At the scuffle from behind, I didn’t have to swivel in my saddle to know she was causing trouble. Again.
I glanced at the position of the sun in the sky and reined my mount. I had to laud her for her determination. In addition to her plot of the previous night, she’d managed four other slips this day—two times while supposedly relieving herself, once at the noon meal, and then another when we’d dismounted to ford a stream.
The delays had cost me hours of crucial travel time. Our progress was already encumbered by the wagonloads of goods we were hauling away from Ludlow Castle. With each of Lady Olivia’s escapades, we lagged even further behind schedule.
I had no doubt that as soon as word reached the Earl of Ulster regarding the ransacking of his estate along with the seizure of his daughters, he’d send a well-armed war party after us. I suspected now Lady Olivia was purposefully making excuses to stop, so her rescuers would have time to catch up to us. Although our efforts against Ludlow hadn’t been taxing and my men were still relatively strong and fit for battle, we were in no position to defend ourselves, especially out in the open heathland.
I’d hoped to reach the wooded area on the western borders of Pitt’s land where we would be within a day’s ride of Bevins of Lowdown, in familiar territory as well as close to reinforcements. But with dusk only a couple hours’ ride away, and at the rate we were going, we’d be lucky to make it to the next watering hole.
As our entourage came to a halt, I backtracked to the center of our party where Lady Olivia and Lady Isabelle were surrounded by my strongest and most trusted warriors.
The summer sun was still hot upon my chain mail, sweltering me under the layers. My mouth was parched. And I had little patience for the pampered noblewomen in my care. But I made myself approach calmly.
Lady Olivia’s sharp commands to one of the knights punctuated the dry air. She’d dismounted and was in the process of helping her sister down from her horse. Darien stood next to her and was attempting to stop her without touching her. I’d warned my men not to lay a hand on the women unless I explicitly gave them permission as I had last night with Perceval when he’d captured Lady Isabelle.
Of course, I hadn’t expected Lady Olivia to stab Perceval or to lash out at me. Even if her efforts had been weak and the wounds superficial, I’d realized in that moment I’d severely underestimated her. I touched my cheek where her cut still stung.
“You cannot expect us to continue on endlessly without giving us the opportunity to relieve ourselves.” Olivia reached for Isabelle’s hand and beckoned her down.
“But my lady.” Darien spoke forcefully as he attempted to tug Isabelle’s horse away from Olivia. “We stopped less than an hour ago—”
“Nature has no regard for the passing of time.” She sidestepped him.
Darien caught sight of me, and the relief that came over his countenance would have been comical if I were in a laughing mood.
I’d attempted to treat her as any lady deserved. But at every turn she abused the privileges and courtesy I bestowed upon her. Even now, her expression told me she’d figured out she had an advantage over my knights, that they were too polite to lay a hand on her to stop her whims.
I nudged my horse closer, my ire flaring into flame as it had last night after she’d slashed my face. I hadn’t meant to cause her so much pain when I’d disarmed her, and I’d rebuked myself sternly the rest of the night for it. I’d decided I would apologize and had almost worked up the nerve, until she’d attempted another escape and my remorse had fled as quickly as the dawn.
“My lady,” I said. “Since you are experiencing so much discomfort with your mount and are needing to stop so frequently, I have devised a new strategy to ensure swifter traveling.”
She didn’t spare me a glance over her shoulder as she began to help Isabelle from her mare. The younger girl slid down into Olivia’s waiting arms, clearly weary and having no energy to resist Olivia’s ploys, although I suspected she was accustomed to her older sister’s scheming.
I hopped down from my mount, aware the attention was squarely upon me, that I would set the tone for my men in their treatment of our prisoners. As much as I wanted to toss Lady Olivia back upon her steed, if I resorted to rudeness and manhandling, my men would soon follow suit.
As Olivia slipped an arm around Isabelle’s waist, the red-haired beauty cast accusing eyes upon me, rebuking me for Isabelle’s weariness. I wanted to remind Olivia she was to blame for Isabelle’s lack of sleep last night. If she’d slumbered instead of so foolishly trying to escape, then Isabelle wouldn’t be as tired.
Instead of reminding her, I forced myself to react with the cool detachment that would show her I was in command and that she didn’t have the power to anger me, even though she had. “As Lady Isabelle is taxed beyond endurance, she will ride with Sir Darien.”
I nodded at Darien. His eyes widened in surprise. But when I glanced pointedly at Lady Isabelle and then at his horse, he jumped into action to obey my directive.
“No,” Olivia protested as Darien reached for Lady Isabelle. “She will share my mount.”
“That won’t be possible, my lady.” I closed the gap between myself and Olivia. “Since you will be riding with me.” Before she could figure out her next move, I encircled her waist with my hands. In one rapid move, I lifted her upward onto my waiting horse, giving her no choice but to grab onto the pommel.
Immediately I swung up behind her.
In spite of her long skirt and chemise tangling in her legs, she did her best to scramble down the other side of the horse away from me. But I wound my arm around her middle and held her firmly in the saddle, which wasn’t roomy enough to hold both of us without squeezing us tightly together.
“I insist that you put me down at once,” she said even as she struggled to twist out of my grip.
Conscious of our audience, I maintained my composure. “My lady, since your own horse has given you such trouble and has wearied you, I am certain you will find this new arrangement more to your liking.”
“You are entirely wrong, sir.” She attempted to pry my gloved hand loose from her hip.
I clicked my tongue and my horse lurched forward, forcing Olivia into my chest. I used the opportunity to pin her even tighter, giving her no room at all to wiggle away.
She stiffened and gave an unladylike huff. But I only urged my mount to a trot. I could sense she had too much pride to thrash and claw at my hold, though her rigid posture told me she clearly wanted to fight her way free.
As I resumed my place at the front of my men, her fingers wrapped around mine, attempting to pry my hold loose. She dug her nails into my arm where my mail and gloves met.
Of course, I didn’t budge. She could endeavor to free herself and hurt me all she wanted, but I wouldn’t relent. She’d learn it soon enough.
After some time, she stilled. Although she didn’t speak, her loathing was evident in every hard muscle. We rode in silence, which was fine with me. I had no desire to spar words. My job was simply to deliver her to Pitt unharmed, and I’d do it even if I had to make her ride on my horse with me the rest of the way.
As the hour passed, her body gradually relaxed. Although I didn’t let my guard down, it was clear she was tired and couldn’t stay angry forever. When she finally allowed her head to rest against my chest, I chanced a glance down to see her long lashes fall to her pale cheeks. She was struggling to stay awake.
Perhaps sensing my glance, her eyes flew open. She cast me a sideways look. I stared straight ahead and pretended I hadn’t noticed her. Next time I looked, her eyes were closed again. And this time they didn’t open.
While she slept, I gave in to the temptation to study her profile, noting as I had when I’d yanked off her helmet just how beautiful she was. Her features were elegant, her skin like fine rare pearls, and her red hair thick and lustrous.
In slumber, her perpetual glare and scowl had softened, and I felt almost sorry for her. She hadn’t asked for all this—being captured, forced to leave her home, and made to ride long hours in the summer heat. Even though I was frustrated by all the trouble she’d caused me during our journey, I couldn’t blame her for trying to free herself and her sister whose freedom she clearly cared about more than her own.
She was only doing what I would have if our roles had been reversed.
Nevertheless, I must fulfill my duty to Pitt and the king. They needed to bring the Earl of Ulster into submission, and apparently holding his daughters ransom was the way they planned to do it.
When twilight began to fall, I pushed the troops onward, even though my stomach ached with the pangs of hunger. I sensed when Olivia awoke by the sudden stiffening in her body, as though she’d forgotten where she was while she slept and had just remembered.
For a time, she attempted to hold herself aloof. But eventually, as earlier, she succumbed to the ease of leaning against my chest and resting in my hold. Although I’d loosened my grip, I kept one arm firmly locked around her middle while guiding the horse with my other. And while we were squeezed tightly into the saddle, I didn’t feel cramped, especially when she melded into me and simply rode with the motion of the horse.
We traveled late, until we finally reached a wellspring where our horses could be replenished. We hadn’t gone as far as I’d originally planned, but I’d pushed as hard as I could for the day.
When I assisted Olivia from the horse, she swayed, unsteady on her feet. I rapidly reached for her, my hands going to her waist.
However, the moment I touched her, she recoiled as if I’d bitten her, as if the past several hours of our close proximity had never occurred, as if I hadn’t just been holding her against my chest with my arms wrapped around her.
She started to stagger away from me. But I’d learned enough about her to realize she would try to escape again the first chance she had, and that the only way to stop her from running away was to keep her at my side.
I snagged her arm before she could go far.
“What?” she asked, all traces of slumber gone from her face, replaced with sharp alertness. “Will you prevent me a moment of privacy even now?”
I knew I needed to command one of my men to take over guarding her. Other matters needed my attention, and someone else could play nursemaid to this young woman. Nevertheless, the thought of handing her over to my men sent a strange patter of trepidation through me.
She’d proven to be too difficult for them. If I released her, she’d only cause more trouble, perhaps burn down the camp or take someone hostage or worse. My thoughts returned to the knife she’d plunged into Perceval last night. Even if the wound wasn’t deep or serious, and he was none the worse for it, I had no doubt she’d do it again if she got her hands on a weapon of any kind.
“You surely do not intend to chain me to your person.” Her voice was laced with irritation.
“As a matter of fact, that’s exactly what I was planning.” I hadn’t considered it, but something in her tone stoked my own ire. Perhaps the greatest way to annoy her in return was to make her do the thing she loathed the most—spend time with me.
“Since you are quite determined to make trouble for me any way you can conceive, you’ve given me no choice but to keep you by my side at all times.”
Around us, with torches now lit, my men had begun setting up camp, attending to the various duties I’d assigned to them at the outset of the campaign. Some would see to the horses, others would stand guard, and still others would oversee and assist the servants in preparing the evening meal.
Sir Darien approached with Lady Isabelle. He led her carefully as though she might break at any moment. Although Isabelle was wrinkled and dusty with travel, she smiled sweetly at Darien and complied with his directives. She behaved as a noblewoman should—docilely, kindly, and gratefully.
Unlike Olivia.
I leveled a censuring glare at the strong-willed woman, hoping she could read my admonition to act more like her younger sister.
“There you are, my lady,” Darien said stopping in front of Olivia. At Olivia’s slicing glare, he released Isabelle’s arm and stepped away from her.
“I thank you, sir,” Isabelle said demurely. “You have been most kind.”
Darien bowed his head, the silver links of his mail hood glistening against the torchlight. Even as he lowered his head, he couldn’t hide his admiration for the young noblewoman. While Isabelle lacked Olivia’s sharp, stunning beauty, she was still pretty in a soft, luminous way.
Seeing Darien’s infatuation, Olivia’s scowl deepened. He was a good-looking young man, and at eighteen years he was the youngest in the group, having recently been knighted for his brave deeds. He’d lived with Pitt for many years as a page and squire long before my arrival. He was from a wealthy family in the north, a second son, without inheritance, who would someday need to make his own fortune.
For now, however, I could give him a small measure of enjoyment and at the same time irk Olivia further.
“Sir Darien, you will guard Lady Isabelle the rest of the trip,” I said without swerving my attention from Olivia’s face.
She sucked in a breath and swung icy eyes upon me. “She has no need of a guard.”
“Perhaps not quite as much as you, my lady.” I held in a satisfied smile. “But Sir Darien will keep your sister company since she’ll no longer have the pleasure of being with you.”
Darien’s head had snapped up, and he looked between Olivia and me, confusion in his guileless eyes.
“I shall not allow it.” Olivia jerked her arm, trying to break free of my grasp, but I didn’t relent.
“Sir Darien, before you assist Lady Isabelle to her tent, you must do one thing.”
“Yes, Captain?” He cast a sideways glance at Isabelle, his face alight with the excitement of his new duty.
“Find a chain and bind Lady Olivia to me.”