If Not For The Knight, Debbie Boek [electronic reader TXT] 📗

He watched as she slowly opened her eyes and gazed into his. She did not seem at all scared, or even surprised, to see him as she sat up and leaned against the trunk of the tree.

“I was dreaming of you,” she said softly, raising her hand to touch his face. Running her finger along the scar on his cheek, making sure, this time, that she was awake and that he was really here with her.

He smiled at her with wide, full lips. ‘Was the dream as good as what we shared together the other night?”

She blushed and lowered her eyes without answering him.

He took a long, tapered finger and placed it under her chin, forcing her to look back up at him.

“Why did you turn and give yourself to me?”

“I thought I was dreaming,” she said hesitantly, her face flaming bright red now, afraid he wouldn't believe her and would think she had just thrown herself at him like a common trollop. “When I finally realized I wasn't, it was too late.”

"Do you make love with strangers often in your dreams?" he asked in a low, smooth voice. His lips were curved in a slight smile and she could see the devilish twinkle in his eyes.
“Of course not,” she responded. “I don’t understand it myself.”

He was unable to look away from her face, her eyes appeared almost luminous and her soft lips were slightly parted, begging to be kissed. “Do you mind if I sit here with you for a few minutes?”

“As you wish, Milord,” she answered primly, when he leaned back against the same tree. His arm grazed hers and his long legs ran the length of her own and beyond. She could not help noticing how heavily muscled his thighs and calves were under his hose as his leg rested against her own.

She found it a little easier to breathe normally when he was sitting next to her and she did not have to look into his piercing blue eyes, but it was still discomfiting to be so close to him.

“What are you doing out here?” he asked. “It could be dangerous for a woman alone.”

“Oh, no, Milord, I love the forest and come here often when I want some time to myself. It is a good place to collect one's thoughts.”

“Yes, I feel the same way myself,” he said honestly. “But men prey on women they find alone.”

“No one bothers me.” She hesitated, afraid to tell him her thoughts, but feeling the need to do so. “Or at least they never have. I do worry what could happen now that you Normans are here.”

She looked at him out of the corner of her eye to see if she had made him angry. He had his head back against the tree with his eyes closed and a lazy grin on his face.

“Why are you afraid of the Normans? We are decent people, here to take back lands that rightfully belong to King William.”

“Well, that is a question for some debate, I would say.”

He opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow at her. “You would debate me on my right to claim this land for the King?” he asked dryly.

“Oh, no,” she said hastily, realizing how dangerous it was for her to have made such a comment. “I only meant that I've heard stories, you know, about the evil that the Normans have done. I've heard you are a very violent people. We are just peace-loving farmers here and are not used to such things.”

“Why then, were there enough weapons, and men to use them, to fight against us when we arrived? What would peace loving men need with all those weapons?”

She had laid her own trap with her words and he had been quick to pounce on them, but she was not willing to give up so easily. Considering for a moment, she turned toward him, trying not to get flustered as his brilliant blue eyes fixed on her.

“Even a peace-loving man must take up arms when the situation calls for it, else how could he protect his home and family from rabble? How can a man keep his peaceful existence, if he is not willing to fight for it? A peaceful man does not go looking for a fight, he just does not back down when he is threatened.”

She felt very pleased with her explanation and had started to relax, until Calder spoke. “So now you call me and my knights rabble? You should tread lightly with your insults, Regan.”

She flushed and began to make a nervous apology until she saw one corner of his mouth lift into a roguish smile.

“Are you teasing me, Milord? Or do the words of an innocent young woman cause your blood to run hot with the need for vengeance?”

Their eyes met and held. “A little of both, I think, but my blood is not running hot because of any need for vengeance.”

She finally managed to look away from his magnetic eyes and fumbled nervously with her tunic, trying to keep her hands from shaking. She stared at his chest, so that she would not become immersed in his gaze again.

“With your leave, Milord, I should go now. I am supposed to be picking flowers for my bridal headpiece and have not yet begun.”

He grabbed her hand as she started to rise, forcing her back to the ground beside him.

“You may go, but not yet,” Calder said gruffly, irritated for some reason at the mention of her impending wedding. Finally releasing her hand, he removed a gold medallion from around his neck.

“I want you to take this.”

“It's beautiful.” Regan admired the face of it, which depicted a rising sun with a rainbow above it.

“But, I cannot accept it,” she stated quietly but firmly, handing it back over to him.

He took it from her hand and placed the heavy gold chain around her neck. The medallion nestled snugly between her breasts. He picked it up and rubbed it with his thumb. His voice was very soft as he spoke.

“My father gave this to me when I was young. It is a symbol of hope and rising good fortune. He told me it would bring me luck and that, if ever I was away from home and found myself in trouble, I could send this to him and he would come to help.” He lifted his eyes to hers, not releasing the medallion from his hold on it. She could see the sorrow in his eyes.

“This medallion means a great deal to you, Milord. I could not possibly accept it.”

“My father is dead now and I have no further need for his assistance. I want you to keep it. These are troubled times and there is much to fear. If you find yourself in danger, or need protection, from anyone, give this to my brother and ask him to see that I get it. I will come to your aid, no matter where I am.”

He felt unsure about forcing this marriage between Edgar and Regan. Even after he had been threatened, Edgar may still feel the need to vent his anger on someone. If he chose to make that someone Regan, Calder hoped she would have the courage to ask for his help in the matter. It was the best he could do for her.

Not knowing the true reason for the gift, tears swam in her eyes at his thoughtfulness. “Thank you, I will treasure it always.”

Again she started to get up to leave and he held her back. “Before you go, you must answer me a question.”

“Yes?”

“Why were you out here crying today?”

She looked at him in confusion. How could he know she had been crying?

As if reading her thoughts, he trailed a finger down her cheek. “I saw the dried tears on your face while you slept.”

“Oh,” she said, relieved that he had not been in the woods spying on her. She looked down at his strong hand, browned by the sun, his long fingers entwined with hers, wondering whether or not she could be honest with this unusual man. Perhaps, if she was, he would not force Edgar to marry her against his will.

“I was crying about everything and about nothing,” she began hesitantly, then winced in pain as he squeezed her hand.

“No riddles, girl, I want the truth.”

“The truth is that I'm not sure. I'm not sure if I want to marry Edgar. I'm not sure if Edgar wants to marry me anymore. I'm not sure how I will explain to him why I am no longer a virgin, and,” she said, raising her tear-filled eyes and staring directly into the endless depths of his, “I am not sure that he will ever be able to make me feel like I did when I was with you.”

With a sob she pulled her hand out of his grasp, jumped up and ran away into the forest.

Calder sat alone for a while longer, focusing on his hatred of Edgar, the man who would get this exceptional woman as a bride, when all he deserved was a sharp dagger through his heart.

CHAPTER 3

Calder and Draco went hunting while the wedding festivities took place the following day. Calder knew that he should stay in the event there was any trouble, but could not bring himself to witness the ceremony.