Carice had just reached for the parsnip, when her door opened. In the daylight, she got a better glimpse of Raine, though he was still wearing the hood to hide his features. He was a tall man, broad-shouldered like a fighter. He wore chain mailarmor with a leather corselet and a long sword hung sheathed at his waist. Under one arm, he carried his conical helm.
Why did he continue to hide his face? She was curious about this man and the mysteries surrounding him.
“Thank you for the warm water. And for the food,” she said, speaking the Norman tongue. “I am sorry. I should have saved you some, but I fear there’s only a parsnip...” She held up the white root vegetable apologetically, but he dismissed her offer.
“It was meant for you,” he countered. “I’ve already eaten.” He crossed his arms over his chest, staring at her. Why was he looking at her? What did he want?
His gaze made her uncomfortable, and Carice finally asked, “Will you sit?”And remove your hood so that I may see your face, she thought to herself. He was clearly hiding his identity, though she could not guess why.
“Where are your escorts?” he asked. “Who was guarding you?”
She removed her feet from the basin of water and dried them with the hem of her gown before replacing her shoes. “No one. I was running away.”
“From whom?”
Carice sent him a half-smile. “My father was escorting me to my wedding. I am betrothed to the High King of Éireann.” The thought still made her shudder. She didn’t want to become a queen or the bride of such a ruthless man.
“You don’t want to marry him, I assume?”
She shook her head. “Never.”
“And you think your family will just…let you run away?”
She sighed. “Were you hoping to turn me over to them for a reward? I suppose my father would pay handsomely for my safe return.” Most men would be eager to hand her over for the promise of silver or gold. But Carice rather hoped that he would leave her alone.
Raine paused a moment before his hand moved to the hilt of his sword. “It’s more likely that your father would kill me, believing I was the one who stole you away.”
His candor revealed a man of intelligence. “That is indeed possible.” She straightened the hem of her gown and stood up from the chair. “If you would help me to disappear where they’ll never find me, I could compensate you for your assistance.”
He didn’t move as she took a step closer. Then another.
“Please consider it,” she said softly, reaching toward his hood.
His hands seized her wrists, drawing them downward. His grip was firm, almost bruising. “I have other duties more important than you,chérie.”
Carice drew back, startled by his refusal. “I don’t doubt that. But I was only asking for your help.”
She tried to pull away, but he held her wrists fast, as if he had more to say. His silence made it clear that he wasn’t going to help her escape. Her nerves took control, and she continued talking too fast.
“Trahern MacEgan was supposed to help me leave last night, but he never arrived. I had no choice but to run while we were still far away from Tara.”
Raine gave no response. Slowly, his thumbs edged the pulse point of her wrists, the heat of his touch burning through her.Why did he continue to hold her hands? Carice stilled, and the caress moved through her like a wave of yearning.
Her heartbeat quickened, and his fingers laced with hers. Never had any man touched her in this way, and her mind envisioned his hands moving over her bare flesh. Upon his forearms, she saw the evidence of scarring, the healed wounds of battle. Perhaps his face held the same. Was that why he would not reveal himself?
She took an unsteady breath, and said, “I don’t know if anyone will come for me or not.”
“I know of the MacEgans,” Raine said at last. “I will look for Trahern and bring him back if he is nearby. But soon, you must leave.” He let go of her hands, and the heat of his palms remained upon her skin.
Her heart was pounding, and she turned her back. “What if you cannot find him? Am I to go on alone?”
“My duties lie elsewhere. I cannot accompany you.”
There was another reason; she could sense it. “What duties?” she demanded. “There are no other soldiers here. You are alone.”
“For now,” he acceded. “But I am under the command of King Henry,” he said. There was a hint of darkness in his tone, and he added, “His Grace has given me his orders, and I must obey.”
In a crumbling abbey? Although he had no reason to lie to her, his words made little sense. Her thoughts drifted back to the fresh graves she had seen. Had he been ordered to burn the abbey and kill the monks? Was that why he’d been sent here?She swallowed hard, not wanting to believe it. “A king would have no interest in a place like this.”
