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She ended by throwing up her arms and spinning away from him, feeling the exasperation all over again. Before he could say a word she swung around again; she wasn’t finished quite yet.

“If ye truly are my friend as ye say ye are, English, then do one thing for me,” she demanded. “Dunna play games with my feeble mind and dunna lie to me. If ye hate me, then get on with it. I would much rather know with what I am dealing with than this constant confusion I am dealing with.”

William looked at her. She was so damn beautiful when she was flushed with anger. Her pale green eyes were like huge open pools of light. He could see her point of view, but she did not understand the circumstances in the least. With a few exceptions, his actions had been well planned and calculated and he did not regret anything he had done.

“My lady,” he began softly. “I am sorry you have been so disturbed, truly I am, but there are certain rules of conduct that I must adhere to. When we are in front of my men, I must treat you as the future Countess of Teviot. That means that I am respectful at all times but not overtly friendly. How my men see how I treat you will shape the way they perceive you. As for when we are alone, like this, there are no rules and I can act toward you as I would like to. I want to show you kindness and friendship, so I do.”

Now it was time for her to feel like a fool. True, she had been glad when she had voiced her feelings, but now she felt so small she would have liked nothing better than to crawl under a rock and hide.

Jordan had no idea what to say. She didn’t want to make things worse. He had explained himself and she understood, but he had not apologized nor had he had any response to her mention of the past two nights.

Ashamed, she would not let him see what she was feeling. She took a risk and in as much brought it on herself. The only thing left to do was to gather what was left of her dignity and face him.

“Then I thank ye for taking the time to explain everything to me,” she said formally. “I am not as worldly or as refined as most ladies and dinna realize what you were doing. I should have. I apologize for my outbursts. It wunna happen again.”

Sweet Jesu,’ how she wanted to run away from him and hide until he forgot this whole conversation. She turned away from him and quickly gathered the remainder of her meal. Her hands were shaking and she prayed that he did not notice. Without looking at him, she gathered her skirts with her one hand and attempted to walk past him as regally as she could manage.

“Jordan,” his voice was gritty.

She stopped but did not turn around. “Sir knight?”

“Look at me,” he commanded softly.

She did, hesitantly. She did not want to see what was in his eyes. But once her green orbs locked onto the hazel-gold, she could not tear herself away.

“I…I have enjoyed the nights, too,” he almost whispered it. Her eyes widened. It was a secret they shared now and she felt her knees go weak. Even if it could never be, it was still wonderful to know that he felt it, too.

“ ’Tis most sinful that I feel that way,” she admitted with a half-smile. “I shouldna have even told ye. I dinna mean to embarrass ye.”

He returned her smile. “You did not,” he said. She was calmer now, easier to talk to. “I truly am sorry that I have made you daft, as you said. That was never my intention. In fact, I probably should not be standing here alone with you at all. Should the earl hear rumors from the men, it ’twould be delicate to explain.

“Why should I care what they say?” she said. “Ye have been nothing but a perfect knight.”

He inclined his head. “Thank you,” he said.

They walked out of the trees together, a couple of feet between them. Jordan felt much better than she had just moments earlier. In truth, his few words had explained quite a bit and she was glad to know his behavior towards her had not been personal. And the fact that he had acknowledged her most personal statement was more satisfying than he could ever know. Her mood was rapidly lightening.

“Tell me, English, were ye angry at me when I stopped to pick the flowers?” she was half teasing.

“Furious,” he told her.

“Not to mention that ’twas most humiliating for yer knights,” she smiled mischievously.

He cocked an eyebrow at her, seeing that she had realized what she had been doing all along. The little scamp. He had wondered, but God’s truth, she had acted the innocent.

“Not to mention,” he agreed. “There is an evil child underneath that beautiful facade, my lady. And I wonder who it was that taught Kieran to call Deinwald a ‘son-of-a-Scot dog’ in Gaelic?”

She laughed, twirling away from him. The dress belled up when she spun and he caught a glimpse of her shapely legs. When she stopped, her hand was over her mouth and she was still giggling. He came to a halt and put his hands on his hips, feigning irritation with her.

“Why are you laughing like that?” he demanded as sternly as he could. “Deinwald did not think it the least bit funny.”

She tried to straighten up. “Nay, he wouldna, but Sir Kieran and I thought it was a hysterical joke.” A strange gleam suddenly caught her eye and she began to laugh aloud all over again. “Speaking of jokes….”

Her laughter was infectious. He was smiling and trying to be reproachful at the same time. “Good God, now what are you talking about?”

She skipped over to him, her eyes alive with laughter and mischief. God’s truth, she could melt him to the core with those eyes and her charm was unequaled. He had the sudden urge to take her into his arms and kiss her until she fainted.

She put her hand on his arm. “Do ye want to see something funny, English?”