Ranulf strolled closer to Kiernan’s horse. “Since it is not yet that time, allow me to help you dismount, my lady.”
Given the smile she saw lurking in his hazel eyes, and especially since he held up his arms to help her, it no longer seemed a totally terrible thing to have been brought home on Kiernan’s horse.
Beatrice duly placed her hands on Ranulf’s broad shoulders as he put his around her waist. Jumping down, she delighted in the feel of her body so close to his, although she had to wince as her palms rubbed against his tunic.
Ranulf immediately took her hands in his and turned them over. “Next time you ought to wear gloves,” he said as he studied them.
“She shouldn’t have been walking about the village without her maidanda guard, either,” Kiernan said as he slipped from his horse to stand beside her.
Still holding Beatrice’s hands in his callused ones, Ranulf turned his cool-eyed gaze onto Kiernan. “My lady’s maidservant was otherwise engaged.
“Maloren’s in the kitchen and likely to be engaged there for some time,” he said to Beatrice. “Tecca will help you dress for the evening meal.”
Although she was glad she wouldn’t have to hear Maloren grumble as she changed, Beatrice couldn’t help feeling that she’d been dismissed, until Ranulf tucked her arm in his.
He ordered the groomsmen who’d come out of the stable to take charge of the mounts and summoned the garrison commander to look after Kiernan’s escort. Then he called for another servant to take care of their guest’s baggage.
“I didn’t bring any,” Kiernan frostily replied, “since I won’t be staying.”
“Oh? What a pity,” Ranulf replied with a complete absence of sincerity. “However, I’m sure you don’t intend to ride back tonight. You would be benighted on the moor. So you’re welcome to my hall and allow me to offer you some wine while I tend to Lady Beatrice’s wounds.”
“You’lltend to them?” Kiernan replied with both surprise and obvious disapproval.
Beatrice’s heart, however, began to beat with delighted excitement. She didn’t enjoy being hurt, but if it meant some time alone with Ranulf, she couldn’t be sorry.
“Of course,” Ranulf replied in answer to Kiernan’s query. “In my many years of tourneying and battle, I’ve often had occasion to tend to minor injuries. Shall we, my lady?”
Preventing any further objections from Kiernan, they turned and started toward the hall, leaving the young knight to follow.
Those terrible stories about Ranulf had to be lies, Beatrice told herself as she walked beside him. He couldn’t possibly have callously murdered his brother, or seduced those women.
They entered the hall, to discover Lady Celeste enthroned on the dais, garbed like an empress. She wore a lovely gown of rich scarlet velvet trimmed with golden threads. She rose like an empress, too, when she saw them approach, making Beatrice feel woefully underdressed and muddy and disheveled.
“Lady Celeste,” Ranulf said as they reached her, “may I present Sir Kiernan of Penderston, a noble neighbor of the lord and lady of Tregellas.”
Celeste gracefully bowed her head. “Greetings, Sir Kiernan.”
“I’m delighted to meet you, my lady,” Kiernan replied with an even deeper bow as he stepped forward. Staring up at her face like one in a daze, he took her hand and kissed the back of it.
Perhaps, Beatrice thought, she had no more need to worry about Kiernan making her an unwelcome offer of marriage.
“I believe I can leave you safely in Lady Celeste’s care while I tend to Lady Beatrice’s wounds, Sir Kiernan,” Ranulf said with the merest hint of a smirk. “She fell and cut her hands. I have some ointment that should help their healing and take away the pain. Come along, Lady Beatrice.”
Although she was delighted by the opportunity to be alone with him, Beatrice couldn’t resist teasing him a little. “Come along, indeed!” she whispered as they crossed the hall toward the stairs. “You make me sound like an errant child.”
Ranulf gave her a look that made her heart race. “I assure you, Bea, I’ve never thought of you as a child.”
Her heartbeat quickened and hot desire seemed to bubble in her veins. “My lord, didn’t you once say to me I should never be alone in a room with a man, and especially with you?” she asked with merry insolence, the memory of that other time she’d been alone with him as fresh in her mind as if it had happened yesterday.
“I did, and I was quite right to do so,” he replied. “This time, however, I’m acting as your physician. I assure you, I shall conduct myself with proper propriety.”
“How disappointing.”
“Expect nothing else, Bea,” he cautioned.
She blushed with embarrassment, wondering if she’d been too forward. Well, she knew she had, but she’d hoped…wanted…
Once in his chamber, Ranulf went to his wooden chest and drew out a small clay vessel covered with a waxed cloth. “Sit on this stool,” he said as he uncovered the jar.
