His gaze turned dull at that. “I have no people,” he said solemnly.
She paused, and her gaze dipped to his chest where English knights wore their family or lord’s arms. His was bare and suddenly she understood why. “If you don’t owe your allegiance to the English, then let?—”
“I owe my allegiance to Henry, and Henry wants you to stay.”
She went rigid in frustration. “Fine. But I won’t stop trying.”
The edge of his lips quirked as if he wanted to smile, but wouldn’t let himself. “And I won’t stop catching you.”
Callie crossed her arms over her chest as she tried her best not to touch any part of him. But it was difficult. Especially since his arms surrounded her like bands of steel, keeping her locked onto his saddle.
The scent of elderberries and sandalwood clung to him. It was a warm, intoxicating smell. She could feel his strong heart thumping against her shoulder blade as they made their way back into the inner bailey of the castle.
He was so handsome, this stranger, and though he denied it repeatedly and others constantly assured her otherwise, she suspected he was not the devil he pretended to be. If he were the monster of legend, he wouldn’t be capable of such kindness. Nor would he have cared what happened to her or her brother.
As they drew near the stable, she saw the English king waiting with two of his guards standing behind him. There was also a small group of noblemen and women who eyed them and the king curiously. No doubt, they were seeking gossip fodder.
The look on King Henry’s face was not a happy one.
“What happened?” the king demanded as they stopped before him. “I was just told of her disappearance and was preparing a search party.”
Lord Sin helped her down, then slung one long leg over his horse and dismounted.
“Nothing,” he said, then added belatedly, “Sire. The lady merely felt the need to get a breath of fresh air. I had my eye on her the entire time.”
Henry narrowed his gaze on her suspiciously while Simon and Jamie dismounted from their horse. Simon held her brother back with a gentle hand. For once Jamie remained silent while awed by the presence of the English king their uncle had made out to be the devil incarnate. No doubt the lad feared to move lest Henry make his next supper from the lad’s flesh.
When the king glanced back to Lord Sin, she noted the way his gaze softened ever so slightly. “Well, ‘tis glad we are to see you two together. ‘Tis our hope to see the two of you well suited.”
Callie frowned as an uneasy feeling came over her. “I beg your pardon, Majesty?”
Henry ignored her as he took a step toward Sin and said in a tone for only the two of them to hear. “I have found that priest, Sin, and on the morrow I shall see the two of you wed.”
Four
“I beg your pardon?” Callie repeated, her heart stopping. “What did you say?”
Sin paid her no heed as the king’s eyes turned sly, devious.
“Have we been remiss?” Henry asked in a tone that feigned innocence. He knew she had no knowledge of what he spoke and it angered her for him to toy with her like this. “Caledonia of the MacNeelys, meet your soon-to-be husband, Sin.”
She saw the fury smoldering in Sin’s black eyes. Fury that sparked and built at the mention of her name. “What is her name?”
“Caledonia of the MacNeelys,” Henry repeated.
Sin cursed, though why her name should cause him such distress, she couldn’t imagine. Not that it mattered to her, she wasn’t about to be married to an Englishman.
“I will not marry him.”
Henry arched a brow in warning of her tone. “If you wish to return home, you will.”
“My people will kill him.”
Henry laughed. “They might try but we assure you, they won’t succeed.”
She turned her gaze to Sin. “You knew of this?”
“I have yet to consent.”
