Page 68 of Ella’s Desire

A rumble of thunder sounded with such depth that the ground shuddered beneath them. The impending storm would be violent.

The group had begun to move onward in their haste to complete their search of the countryside. The search that would be fruitless while they remained on the English side of the border.

“We are falling behind.” Bronson nodded for her to proceed ahead of him.

Ella fisted her hands at her reins to hide her immense irritation at his courtly ways. If he led the way, she could disappear into the nearby forest. But with her in front, he would easily see her if she left the party.

The wind snapped the cloaks of the soldiers before her and sent a billow of leaves rolling across the grass. Ella encouraged Kipper to walk slowly forward. Bronson did, likewise, following at her side.

There had to be some way to get him to leave her be. She bit her lip in contemplation. If she was too placating, he would know she was lying. If she was too curt, he might try to allay her concern and then she would never be free.

“I know you do not wish me to travel at your side,” he confessed.

She slid him a slow glance. Could it be this easy? Could she simply ask him to leave?

“Then you needn’t remain at my side.” She said the words softly, so as to remove as much sting from their meaning as possible. After all, she did not wish to be cruel. She merely wanted to be free, now and for the rest of her life.

He gazed at the group of Werrick’s soldiers who continued to get farther ahead. “You do realize if you turn me down, there will be another suitor. The king will want you wed to an Englishman, regardless.”

Ella gritted her teeth. He was right, of course. Except she had already given her maidenhead to Bronson, as well as her word to her father.

A lock of stubborn hair slipped from the plait down her back. Before she could brush it aside, Bronson reached out and tucked the strand of wild blonde hair over her shoulder.

It was a romantic gesture, delicate in its quiet intimacy. Exactly the kind of thing she would have written into one of her stories. Exactly the kind of thing he would have read and assumed she wanted in a man.

He shifted his hand closer to her face and let his gauntlets caress her cheek. “Not all men will care if they make you happy, Ella.” His eyes were a darker shade, the same as when he was aroused.

Her body reacted in spite of her anger and warmth hummed through her.

“And you would?” she asked. “Care to make me happy?”

“Aye.” He slid his hand away and took his reins once more. “I want nothing more than to make you happy.”

He said it so earnestly, Ella wished to believe him. Just as she wished to believe everything that he’d told her in the time they’d known one another.

Lies. They were all lies. A courtier with honey dripping from his lips and into her ears. Into her heart.

Tears burned in her eyes. She hated the freshness of her wounded heart and how fiercely such cuts still stung.

His brows lowered in his helm and furrowed over his handsome green gaze. “Ella.”

“Please, leave me be.” It was the excuse she had been looking for to make him go. Only she had not anticipated having to sacrifice so much of herself to get it.

Bronson hesitated, as though he meant to try to discourage her request. Instead, he politely inclined his head. “As my lady wishes.”

And then he was gone. As simply as that. He trotted toward her father’s soldiers to join in the search and leave her blessedly alone.

Thunder cracked once more overhead, so loud and sudden it caused many of the men to leap in surprise.

Now. The time was now.

While the men rushed onward to get out of the storm, Ella steered Kipper toward the nearby forest they had searched earlier. There had not been any reivers within, but there had been a cave sufficient for hiding.

With a final glance behind her, she slipped between the tightly spaced trees and was gone.

Bronson had not been startled by the crack of thunder overhead. After the constant rain and storms of his journey to Werrick Castle, no amount of weather could frighten him.

He turned behind him to ensure Ella was well. After all, he had promised her father he would keep her safe. He’d promised himself as much too.