Elspet struggled to catch her breath. Merciful saints,she loved him!
With the meager time they’d known the other, it should be unfathomable, but with every beat of her heart, and however much she’d tried to control her growing feelings before, she could no longer deny something that resonated straight down to her soul.
The joy of the realization faded beneath the memory of everything that stood in their path. More so as they had many hurdles to overcome before their mission was successful. And though he cared for her, would he ever want more?
Once he seized Tiran Castle, he would regain his rightful position as Earl of Dalkirk, while she had naught but the clothes on her back. Aye, he’d offered her shelter and had kissed her with passion, both a far cry from a promise of love.
Elspet shook her head at herself for mulling over her feelings like an empty-headed lass. Though she loved Cailin, if he never wanted more than what they had, however much it would hurt, she’d go on, find something that mattered to immerseherself into.
But it couldn’tbe in Dalkirk.
In time he would be required to find a woman of noble stature to bear him an heir, but thoughts of him with another broke her heart.
Mayhap she would—
“I see movement on the northern outskirts of camp,” a man called adistance away.
Smothering her dismal thoughts, Elspet focused on the barren oaks, their limbs rattling in the wind like bony fingers reaching skyward, with a few stubborn leaves clinging to errant branches, long since faded toa dreary brown.
Between the weathered trunks, flashes of riderscame into view.
Heart pounding, she nocked her bow, prayed it was Cailinand the others.
Masked within the shadows, a horse and rider came into view, followed by a large man slumped over his mount’s hindquarters.
They rode into the sunlight, and she lowered the bow and sheathed her arrow. “’Tis Sir Cailin, Sir James, and Sir Petrus!”
Cheers rose and the men surrounded the small party as theyrode into camp.
Face weary, Cailin halted his destrier, swung down, and reached upfor Sir Petrus.
“Let me help you,” Taog said as he stepped next to him.
The master-at-arms grunted as he was lifted down, then he slumped over.
“He has passed out,” Taog said.
Cailin grimaced. “With how badly he had been beaten, ’tis a miracle he is still alive.” He turned, and hiseyes met hers.
Beyond the exhaustion, the tenderness in his gaze had Elspet wanting to run to him, needing his touch and, however foolish, filled with hope that a future for them existed. Though before the warriors, she refused to offer him less than the respect he deserved.
Worry had her glancing toward the forest before moving to his side. “Thank God you have returned safely. Taog warned us that you had seen Sir Malcolm.”
Cailin nodded. “We were unsure if you knew that the knight had betrayed us.”
“They knew,” the Romani leader said as he joined them. “I met my men halfway back, and during the ride to camp they told me what had happened. While we awaited your return, I used our combined forces to set up a defense around the camp. Also, I positioned runners a distance away to keep watch for any sign ofDalkirk’s men.”
A shiver swept through Elspet. “You believe the earl will attack this day?”
Cailin gave a somber nod. “Now that my uncle knows where I am, he wants to kill me and my loyal supporters before I can raise a significant force.”
Nausea welledin her throat.
“One of our scouts is returning!” a perimeterguard shouted.
A rider broke through the brush. A layer of froth covered his steed as he drew him to a halt. “The earl leads at least three hundred armed men and they are headed this way!”
Cailin muttered a soft curse. They were outnumbered by at least seven to one. “How faraway are they?”
