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‘One of my men. He is resting now that I’ve returned. The early hours always trouble me. But I remembered the lake over the crest of the hill and went swimming.’
Ash’s words painted pictures in her brain of them in the lake, playing and splashing. She rapidly averted her gaze and concentrated instead on a twisted pine tree.
When she felt her heart calm, she risked a glance at him. In the dim light, she saw his eyes twinkled with mischief. He knew what pictures were in her head!
‘It is...not the right time of day for that,’ she stammered, pressing her hands against her gown.
‘A pity.’ He tilted his head, sending a soft spray of water over his shoulders and chest. ‘Let’s hope the next time I ask, it is the right time of day.’
It was never going to be the right time of day, Kara silently vowed. To go swimming with him would mean giving up her hard-won independence as she knew precisely how it would end. The memory of when he had taught her to swim invaded her brain.
Kara put her hand on her throat as the silence grew between them. She couldn’t stand here tongue-tied, thinking about touching Ash.
‘I had the food you left. Unnecessary, but welcome,’ she blurted out.
‘Good. I can’t have you feeling faint or weak. You will slow everyone else down. You need to think about others.’
‘I will get your cloak.’ Kara swallowed her quick retort. Fighting solved nothing. ‘You must have been freezing without it. There was no need to do that. I was quite comfortable with what I had. Remember for the next time.’
His eyes instantly hardened. ‘I have other cloaks. No hardship. Without rest, you are a liability. I’d do the same for any of my men if they were exhausted.’
‘Of course. I hadn’t thought.’ Kara shifted from foot to foot, feeling like a young girl again. She had once again rushed to the conclusion that Ash had done something for her benefit when it had been nothing of the kind. She ruthlessly squashed the feeling. She’d done nothing to be ashamed of except perhaps to be ungracious. How many times had she told Rurik off for doing the same? ‘Thank you all the same. I appreciated it.’
‘The water was wonderfully refreshing.’ He gestured towards the lake and it was clear the subject was closed. ‘There will be time if you would like to bathe before we depart for Jaarlshiem. It will refresh you. I promise not to peek...much.’
‘No!’ She put out a hand and slowly lowered it. Ash’s expression showed her quick refusal amused him.
‘I will be fine. I am fine,’ she said, pleating her dress through her fingers. ‘Perfectly refreshed after my night’s sleep...and the food.’
‘Indeed. I thought you might have had a disturbed night, which is why you are up so early.’
‘You are up early, as well,’ she countered, balling her fists. ‘Stop this false concern.’
‘There is nothing false about it.’
‘I will be able to keep up today. Will you?’
‘My ability to stay in the saddle has never been in doubt.’
‘You have been away for seven years so I must take your word for it,’ she said with crushing dignity.
A smile played in the corner of his mouth. ‘Put me to the test. But why won’t you swim?’
‘I’m anxious to get home and see my son. My saddle needs checking. I hardly want to be accused of holding everything up as I was yesterday morning. Swimming will have to wait until I have time to spare.’
He dipped his head. ‘You used to enjoy swimming. Every chance you had once I taught you, you went swimming. I remembered that about you when I was in the lake. Funny how simple things come flooding back once the key to memory is found. What happened to that fearless girl?’
Kara curled a fist. He only remembered now. What he meant was that he had not thought about her while he was gone. She kept back the words asking him how many times he had swum in a lake over the last few years. ‘I grew up.’
‘And forgot what fun you used to have. Does my son swim?’
Kara hesitated. Swimming had to wait until Rurik was older. She’d argued with Hring about it on the day he died. She dreaded to think how much she’d worry when Rurik finally did learn to swim. ‘He is only six. Far too young.’
Ash made an irritated noise. ‘My father made sure I could swim before then. Too many men drown for the lack of knowledge.’ His face became carved from stone. ‘Far too many men. But not me. I swam when the fire rained on the sea.’
