Rhys turned to Pitt as they stopped not far from her. “Bring me those two fools who were supposed to be sure she remained in her room.”
Pitt nodded and went to do as Rhys bid.
“It was not their fault,” Heather said as she approached her husband.”
“You escaped them. They should have stopped you and that means they did not do as ordered,” Rhys said. His brow arched as his eyes went to her feet. “You are barefoot.”
“You took my boots and shoes.”
“And I see it was for naught.”
Heather stopped in front of him, holding out her wrists. “I would rather be shackled to you than confined to our bedchamber all day.”
He pushed her wrists down and brought his face close to hers. “And I would rather be confined to our bedchamber all day with you shackled to me.” He paused before saying, “You took a sharp blow to your head last night. You need time to heal.”
She heard the sincerity in his strong voice and saw the concern in his dark eyes and her heart swelled with joy once again. This was Quinn. Her Quinn. She was certain of it, though she would give no clue that she knew. “I am attending to my healing the best way I know how. The sun and its warmth would do far more to heal me than the confines of our bedchamber.”
“You disobey me again, wife?” he whispered close to her lips.
Heather brought her lips to where they were almost touching his. “I missed you.”
Her soft, sincere words punched at his heart and damn if he did not want to reach out and slam her against him while he devoured her lips in a kiss. She aroused him much too easily and with her still needing to heal, he took no chances...he stepped away from her. “You will remain by my side without question.” He realized then what he had done. He had committed himself to a day of torture.
She felt his absence as soon as he stepped away from her, though he was not that far a distance from her, and she said quickly. “I will.”
Rhys turned, seeing Pitt approach with the two warriors in tow. He cast a quick look to his wife. “Wait here.” He walked to meet Pitt.
“It would seem your wife had some help,” Pitt said as the two warriors stood off to the side until summoned.
“Nessa,” Rhys said. “Have you befriended her yet?”
“She pays me no heed and keeps her distance as if I was diseased.”
A smile played at Rhys’ lips. “A woman who does not fancy you...that is unusual.”
“And something I intend to rectify. I will have her talking with me soon enough.”
“See that you do. We need to find who among us does not belong.” He gave a nod to the two warriors, and they stepped forward, neither offering a word.
He had chosen the two because they had been with him since almost the beginning, and heknew their history. They were good, worthy men and he could see that they were upset over their failure to see successfully to their task.
“You both will be assigned a month’s extra perimeter duty.”
Both men appeared surprised by the light punishment.
“It would seem my wife has learned some of the ghost warriors’ skills.”
“Lady Heather is light and fast on her feet like us,” the tall, slim one said with admiration.
“See that this does not happen again,” Rhys said in a tone that had both men bowing their heads.
He dismissed them and saw that Pitt was staring at his wife who had gone to sit on a stump near the edge of the woods and appeared to be talking to a squirrel a short distance from her.
“She has much courage,” Pitt said.
“She will need it for what she will face being my wife.”
“I believe Lady Heather is up to the task,” Pitt said, “And I should be up to mine. I go to speak with Nessa.”
