Page 75 of Forbidden

“You may retire now, Alfred,” Erik said.

“Thank you, lord.”

Alfred vanished with the alacrity of a man fleeing demons.

“Egbert.”

Erik’s voice was like the flick of a whip. The boy jumped.

“Yes, lord?” he said hurriedly.

“As you slept the afternoon away, you will have guard duty tonight. Go to it. Now.”

“Aye, lord!”

Egbert left with impressive speed.

“I believe,” Erik said thoughtfully, “that I’ve never seen the boy move so quickly.”

Amber made a sound that could have meant anything or nothing at all. She was still absorbing the fact that Erik knew Egbert had spent much of his time asleep.

She wondered if Erik also knew that she and Duncan had ridden off alone.

“He is frightened of you,” Amber said.

“Then he is smarter than I guessed. Smarter than you, certainly.”

Amber flinched.

Duncan took a step forward, only to stop when Amber grasped his wrist in an unspoken plea.

“How was your ride?” Erik asked silkily. “Chilly?”

“Not at first,” Duncan said.

“The day was beautiful,” Amber said quickly.

“And how was your special place, Learned maid? Was it beautiful, too?”

“How did you know?” she asked in a strained voice.

Erik’s smile was that of a wolf just before it leaps.

Abruptly Duncan wished he were wearing a sword or carrying the hammer. But he had neither weapon. He had only the certainty that Erik, for all his moments of charm and laughter, could be a deadly enemy.

With careful movements, Duncan took off his mantle and draped it on a trestle table to dry.

“May I?” he asked, reaching for Amber’s mantle.

“No. I—that is, I’m—”

“Afraid your laces aren’t fully tied?” Erik finished gently.

She gave him a fearful look.

The expression that came over Erik’s face didn’t make Amber feel any more easy. He was in a savage humor.

“What, no protestations of innocence?” Erik asked in a soft voice. “No reassurances that you didn’t leave Egbert sleeping in a field while two horses cropped grass nearby?”