But it was definitely something she wished to explore at great depth and leisure. And explore it she would.
He might be a warrior unparalleled in battle, but she intended to be a warrior unparalleled for his heart. She would scale his thorny demeanor, and brave the icy glares to see if the soul beneath it all could be reached. And if it could, she would claim him or else.
“En guarde, mon seigneur,” she whispered as she watched his stiff back. “For in the battle for your affections, I will surely emerge victorious.”
Seven
To Draven’s amazement, they actually made it through the forest before nightfall. But not by much. Instead of finding a town or village where they could rest for the night, they were relegated to making camp in a small meadow.
He’d assumed the lady would complain about her accommodations, but instead she appeared delighted by the prospect of camping out in the open.
As his men prepared her tent, she walked around the area with a bright smile on her face while he tended their horses.
“‘Tis beautiful, isn’t it?” Emily asked as she drew near him holding a tiny dandelion in her hands.
Draven frowned as he unsaddled Goliath. “The camp?”
She rolled her eyes. “The woods, silly.”
Silly?
Him? His frown deepened.
She gave him a peculiar look, then laughed.
“What?”
She stroked Goliath’s forehead and mane as he reached for a brush. When he straightened up, she answered his question. “I bet you frighten small children with that glower.”
Draven paused. Should he be offended?
He wasn’t quite sure. She didn’t seem to be deliberately insulting him and yet how else should he take such a comment?
“I beg your pardon, milady?”
Cupping her arm around his horse’s neck, she leaned toward Draven as if she were about to depart a grave secret to him. “You look so stern, milord. You should learn to relax more.”
In spite of the truth she spoke, he quipped, “I would say milady doesn’t know me well enough to speculate on my nature.”
She looked askance at him. “You’ll find I’m quite intuitive about people.”
“Is that so?”
“Aye, very, point of fact.”
Draven paused in his brushing and looked at her. “Then your intuition should tell you that I am not a man to trifle with.”
“It does indeed.” She stepped back ever so slightly and patted at Goliath as the horse nuzzled her shoulder.
“Then why do you trifle with me?”
“Because it gives me great pleasure.”
He blinked at the unexpected answer. She was a bold, honest woman, he’d give her that. But he didn’t know what to do with such a person. Most people were reserved at best around him, deceptive at worst.
“You take pleasure in annoying me?” he asked.
Her smile became impish and warm. “Don’t you take pleasure in my annoying you?”
