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“We could not have expected the danger we found. How many packs of mad, wild dogs have you encountered in your journeys?” she demanded. “Wild boars, mayhap—and Piall could easily have evaded those lumbering creatures. But wild dogs? And a whole pack?”
“Not a one but for today,” he admitted. “But one must remember that dangers are never expected, Lady Judith. That is why they are called dangers. ”
She hmphed, jolting in her seat. Then she turned back around toward the front.
Mal had hardly relaxed when she twisted to face him once more. This time, her breast came even more dangerously close to bumping his arm. And he was not going to think about where the pressure of her hip and bottom was. How close it was to hi—
“How did you come to find me? How did you even know I was in distress?”
“Your mare,” he said, his voice thick. He swallowed, put the dangerous thoughts firmly from his mind. “Somehow she knew to return to Clarendon. She was recognized and we gathered our search party together. ’Twas mostly luck that I found you so quickly, but the birds of prey circling above the trees helped. ”
She was silent for a moment, then said, “Oh, no. Crusty. She was attacked—surely bit and scratched by the dogs. ”
Mal knew what she was asking without precisely doing so, and he also knew she was aware of the answer. “’Tis a shame when one loses a horse,” was all he said. “And I’m sorry for that. ”
“But ’tis a greater shame when one loses a man,” she replied.
“I cannot argue with that. ”
To his relief, Judith seemed willing to lapse into silence after that exchange. She turned back around and not long afterward, Mal felt her slump against him. Dead asleep, her negligible weight sagging against his chest and arm…all sweet-smelling, curvy, soft, blessedly quiet Judith. He closed his eyes briefly, allowing himself the luxury of holding her even as he berated himself for being so foolish as to even consider the thought of taking her to wife.
But, by God, the woman was lovely. And, apparently, she was intelligent and brave—if the events of the day were any indication. The cuts and scrapes on her hand and cheek from sliding down the tree trunk must hurt, but she’d not mentioned them once. Yet she was too loud and talkative for his taste. Too demanding. He could only imagine what it would be like to bed her. Would she have a running conversation, peppering him with questions about his day even as they coupled? She would want to know everything, she would want to have her fingers stirring up every part of his life, and surely—having been at court for so long—she’d want visitors at table all of the time.
Nay, Judith of Kentworth would not be a suitable wife for him.
Shortly after that, the rain promised by Nevril came. As they rode along, Mal reached behind to gather his cloak, then draped it over the front of him to cover his charge. By now, she’d turned to huddle against him and he helped her move sleepily, lifting her so both legs hung over one side.
She didn’t awaken until they clattered across the drawbridge, rattling its heavy metal chains. Then she shifted and emerged from the cloak, her hair matted down and her eyes dull and sleepy. The rain had all but ceased, yet some drizzle still chilled the air. “We’re home,” she said, her voice rusty. “I slept. ”
“Indeed you did,” he replied, aware that in a few precious moments, she’d be sliding away from him…forever. “You must see to the scrape on your cheek. And your arms as well. You slipped some distance on the tree. ”
She blinked as Alpha trotted across the bailey. “You saw me fall?”
“Aye. ”
“I climbed up and down seven times,” she grumbled, pushing the cloak away. “And the one time I lose my footing is when it must be witnessed. ”
Mal nearly laughed, charmed by her irritation—and surprised at how easy it was becoming to converse with her. But…seven times? The woman must be as agile as the monkeys he’d seen once at court, many years ago. “Why did you climb up and down so many times?” he asked, his voice still light with humor.
“I was in the tree for more than four hours,” she replied as they approached the stables. “Do you not think I tried to come down more than once? But the dogs were there every time I came into view, and so back up I went. Hoping they would lose sight of me and leave. ”
“You climbed the tree in order to capture a raptor for the king,” Mal said grimly. They were at the stables now and he reluctantly turned Alpha to greet the grooms. He was dripping from the rain, but not at all chilled. “’Twas good fortune you were in the tree to begin with, my lady, else the dogs may have done more than tree you for hours. ”
“Aye,” she replied, her voice quieting again. Surely she was remembering the cost of her folly.
Mal dismounted and handed his reins to the marshal, who gestured for help from a groom in case Alpha was still full of spirit. Then he turned to look up at Judith, meeting her eyes for a moment in the gray, drizzly light. “’Tis my hope, Lady Judith, that whatever becomes of your gift to the king and his queen, ’twas worth the sad events of this day. ” He lifted her from the saddle, setting her none too gently on the ground as the courtyard filled with the rest of their party.
“I do not think that is possible,” she replied sadly. “Thank you, Malcolm. ”
“My lady!” Tabby greeted Judith with a relieved shriek when she came into her chamber. The maid flew into her mistress’s arms as if she’d been the one lost and then found. “You are returned! I was so afeared for you, my lady, when Crusty returned and you did not!”
Judith embraced her in return, then extricated herself carefully, wincing at the pain in her arms and legs. “I am sore tired and—”
“And your face! And arms! What has befallen you?”
“I will tell you all of it, but I must have a bath. And some of your salve for my hurts. I’ve already ordered the water to be brought up. ” She stopped when the expected knock came at her chamber door.
Tabby rushed over to open it. “My lord!” she squeaked in shock.
