Out of the corner of her eye, Elaine saw Jerome look up at the sky, which had turned from light gray to sooty charcoal as evening approached.

“We’ll stop for the night.”

Elaine had to sink her teeth into her lip to keep from sighing in relief. Gertie, too, seemed more than eager to halt. Though the spirited mare was good for galloping, she’d never been made to walk an entire day.

Nor had Elaine ever ridden so long. It was yet another reminder that her life at Trellham had been limited to only the tamest activities.

Even though she nearly groaned as she eased out of the saddle, she managed to stifle the noise. They were only one day’s ride from Trellham, yet it was the farthest she’d ever been from home. But how could she complain when she was on her way to meet the King of Scotland himself?

Finn and Jerome both dismounted smoothly. Without speaking, Jerome took Gertie’s reins along with his big stallion’s and walked the two animals to a nearby tree to begin hobbling them for the evening.

Finn had decided not to take any of Trellham’s guards with them, saying he’d rather leave them at the keep to watch over Rosamond, Rand, and her father. Jerome had agreed, for they’d move faster without a large retinue.

Though Elaine felt safe enough with both her brother-in-law and Jerome, she couldn’t help but notice an air of tension hanging around them as they’d traveled today. Finn seemed torn between allowing Elaine to ride between him and Jerome so that they flanked her, and wedging himself between the two of them, all the while casting Jerome narrowed looks.

For his part, Jerome had acted as though she weren’t even there. His coldness after the kiss they’d shared stung, yet part of her was relieved. She wanted no mistake made—she wasn’t coming along to moon after Jerome. Nay, this meant far more to her than that. Still, she couldn’t help her gaze from sliding to him, sitting strong and straight in the saddle as they’d ridden throughout the cool, damp day.

Finn went about building a fire as Jerome saw to the horses. Elaine stood in the little clearing between the newly leafing trees, feeling useless.

After a silent meal of dried meat, cheese, and cold oat cakes, Finn rose from the fire.

“I’ll take the first watch,” he said, leveling Jerome with a look. “Dinnae forget what I said back at the keep.”

With that, he stalked off into the darkening woods. Jerome remained quiet, idly throwing sticks into the fire.

Silently cursing the mysterious strain that had stolen over the two mulish Highlanders, Elaine rose and gingerly walked to Gertie. She returned to the fire with a woolen blanket Rosamond had thoughtfully packed in her saddlebags.

Jerome didn’t look up from the flickering flames, but when she settled with a muffled grunt of discomfort, he spoke.

“There isnae shame in hurting after the day of riding we had.”

“Ah, so you didn’t leave your tongue at Trellham after all.”

Elaine clamped her teeth shut, but the tart response was already out. Aye, she was tired and sore, but she’d been so determined not to draw attention to either—or to let Jerome know just how much his taciturn distance smarted.

And why did she have to mention his tongue? The word reminded her of just what he’d done with that tongue in the shadows back at the keep. Gracious.

“Ye arenae used to such conditions,” he went on, ignoring her barb, “but I did warn ye this wouldnae be pleasant.”

Was his coolness, his silence, meant to be part of the unpleasantness, then? Elaine bristled at the thought that he was laying some sort of challenge for her, yet part of her longed to rise to it. All her life she’d been cosseted. This was the first real chance she’d gotten to prove herself—thanks to her sister speaking on her behalf. She wouldn’t fall short now.

“I am fine,” she replied evenly, notching her chin. “It is you and Finn who seem most…uncomfortable.” Her curiosity at her brother-in-law’s comment got the better of her. “What did he say to you at the keep?”

Jerome lifted his gaze from the fire. His chestnut eyes were unreadable as they reflected the dancing flames.

“He told me no’ to touch ye again.”

Her breath seemed to freeze in her lungs and stick in her throat. “What?”

Jerome’s dark gaze was unwavering. “He didnae like that I kissed ye. He told me I had better no’ harm ye in any way.”

Elaine’s thoughts scattered in a hundred different directions. Finn had threatened Jerome? Was that why Jerome had been so distant all day? And what had Finn meant, warning Jerome not to harm her?

She grasped at the first thread of reason that scuttled past. “I didn’t ask to come with you because you kissed me.”

Even as she spoke, she felt her cheeks burn, and it had naught to do with the fire. She’d thought that in letting her travel to Scone, her family finally saw her as a woman grown. But in truth, they imagined she was so harebrained that she’d chase after some man because of one kiss.

“I ken that,” he said quickly, easing at least some of her embarrassment. “After only a few minutes speaking with ye, I understand yer reasons for wanting to leave. All the same, Finn wishes to protect ye.”

A second wave of shame hit her. She’d believed she had finally managed to make an inroad with her family, yet it seemed they would forever think of her as a girl in need of sheltering, not a woman with hopes and dreams of her own.

“To tell ye the truth, lass, I agree with Finn.” Jerome dropped his gaze to the fire once more, his mouth set in a hard line. “Ye are a rare treasure. Ye shouldnae be out here in the elements, sleeping on the ground and eating cold bannocks. If it were up to me, ye’d never want for aught.”

Something stirred low in her belly at his words. Yet at the same time, frustration burned through her veins.

“You think I am the same as Judith and Julia, the twins who cornered you last eve, don’t you?”

“Nay, I—”

“Interested only in ribbons and lace, and flouncing about like peacocks looking for a mate.”

“Elaine.”

His voice held a warning, but she barreled on.

“Well, the truth is…” A lump rose in her throat. “The truth is…I was like them.”

Surprise flickered across his hard-set features.

“When I was fourteen, there was naught in the world more important to me than Judith and Julia’s opinion. And then Rosamond was kidnapped.”

“What?”

“That is why the Bruce sent Finn to us—to protect Rosamond. She was taken one night from the keep, and God knows what would have happened to her if Finn hadn’t rescued her.”

She swallowed around the emotion clogging her throat.

“You cannot imagine how frightened I was—and Niall and our father, as well. But we realized we couldn’t just be scared. We had to do something, had to become strong enough to defend against those who would harm us. Father had already thrown his support behind the Bruce to protect our people. Niall decided to join the Bruce’s Bodyguard Corps, like Finn—and you. And Finn and Rosamond have all but taken over the running of Trellham in the name of the Bruce and his cause.”

Jerome’s dark, keen eyes searched her. “And ye feel as though ye dinnae have a place in yer family’s dedication to the King.”

“The lives of everyone in my family changed four years past,” she replied softly. “Yet in their eyes, naught has changed for me. But in my heart, everything changed. I’m not the helpless, silly girl I used to be—or at least I don’t want to be anymore. So don’t tell me I shouldn’t be here. I want naught else in the world more than this.”

He assessed her for a long moment before speaking. “The Bruce should have sent ye to read his declaration and collect seals,” he said, his low voice tinged with admiration. “Ye could stir a stone with yer spirit, lass.”

A new warmth swept her as he stared at her, his jaw working for a moment.

“Ye should ken why I spoke against ye coming. It isnae because I thought ye as harebrained as Judith and Julia. I willnae deny that I still dinnae think this is a place for a lady, but it isnae because I doubt yer conviction or yer desire to represent yer family before the Bruce.”

“Then…why?”

A muscle in his cheek clenched and the only sound for a moment was the popping of the fire. “Because I thought ye’d be a distraction from my mission. Because…I wasnae sure I would be able to think of aught else with ye near.”

Elaine pulled in a breath. Ever since they’d kissed, she wasn’t sure she’d been thinking clearly either. Something about Jerome hypnotized her. It wasn’t just his dark, handsome features or his powerful build. Some inner fire burned within him, some tangle of fierceness, loyalty, and another, shadowed emotion she couldn’t put her finger on that lay just below his gruff surface.

She hadn’t wanted to contemplate it. Like Jerome, she’d feared that allowing her fascination for him to rule her would mean sacrificing all she’d longed for these past few years. And he bore the same fear? The same desire?

He dragged his gaze back to the fire. “This mission is everything. I’ve worked so hard to prove myself, first to my Laird and now the King. I cannae fail.”

Curiosity flickered through her. “Prove yourself? Why?”

A shadow dropped over his features, turning them hard and cold. “I dinnae wish to speak on it. Ye should—”

A twig snapped in the distance. Jerome moved so fast that before she could blink, he’d bolted around the fire, yanking his sword free as he went. She jerked to her feet, clutching the blanket around her shoulders and staring wide-eyed into the surrounding darkness.

Jerome wedged her between the fire and his broad back, one arm snaking behind him to rest on her hip, steadying her.

Cautiously, he pursed his lips and made an owl call, yet the cadence was just slightly altered. It would be a signal to an alert ear, yet go unnoticed by anyone who wasn’t honed in on the sound.

After a long pause, an answering call echoed from the forest, in the same modified cadence Jerome had used. He let a slow breath go, but kept his sword raised and Elaine in place behind him.

“I thought I told ye no’ to touch her.” Finn materialized from the trees, a fiercer scowl than usual on his face.

Jerome dropped his hand and his sword in the same instant.

“Ye also said ye were on watch,” he snapped.

Finn glared at him. “Aye, well, I spooked a rabbit from its hidey hole, so I imagined ye’d be wondering what the rustling was about. That is, assuming ye were paying attention to yer surroundings.”

Jerome made no comment as he re-sheathed his sword.

“Why dinnae ye take a turn at watch,” Finn said evenly, stepping to the fire. He cast a stern look at Elaine, which she met with her chin held steady.

As Jerome stalked off into the night, she lowered herself once more, preparing for one of Finn’s lectures. He surprised her by remaining silent for a long time as he crouched on his haunches before the fire, watching the flames.

“I ken ye fancy him,” he said at last.

Elaine’s mouth fell open, but Finn went on.

“There are things I would tell ye about him, to warn ye to be careful, but I am no’ yer father. It isnae my place.”

The words she’d summoned to defend herself—she was a woman, and if she took a fancy to a man, it was nobody’s business but hers—died on her tongue. What things did Finn know about Jerome that she didn’t? Apprehension rippled through her. Did this have to do with the shadow that had fallen over Jerome’s features earlier, and his comment about needing to prove himself?

“All the same, we are family, and I dinnae want to see ye hurt,” Finn continued. “So I will say this. Remember that when we reach Scone in a handful of days, Jerome Munro will continue on to Avignon to deliver the King’s declaration to the Pope, whereas we will return to Trellham.”

Where she would be wed, as per her father’s wish. Finn didn’t need to speak the last bit, for the knowledge hung in the air between them.

Dread and sadness twined together in the pit of her stomach. Aye, Jerome bore secrets behind his dark façade, yet they would never be Elaine’s to learn. They only had another sennight before fate drew them apart—forever.

That cold thought settled into her chest as she lowered herself to the hard ground and prayed for sleep to numb the pain.