“I can feel your interest.”
“’Tis rather arrogant of you to think I am interested in you. What if you are only imagining it?”
“Am I?” He shifted just slightly so he was pointing directly at the tree.
I’d always counted myself truthful but couldn’t admit how fascinated I was by him. So I remained silent, likely giving him the answer he sought.
He thumped his axe against his palm several times before he lifted the blade and poised it above his shoulder. “Have no doubt, my lady. I am interested in you. Very much so.” As the last word left his mouth, he swung his axe behind him and then brought it swiftly forward, releasing it and letting it fly end over end.
It landed with a thwack, embedding into the trunk right at the spot where the limb was attached, hacking it off in one quick blow. I wasn’t surprised at his ability or accuracy, not after seeing his calluses. But I was surprised at the swift swelling of my admiration.
As the branch crackled through the others and fell to the ground, Kresten tugged off the blindfold and watched the limb make the last of its descent. When it landed, he jogged over, retrieved it along with his axe, and returned to me, dropping to his knees and holding the branch out as if it were a laurel I’d won.
“My lady, your wish is my command.”
“Is it?” I took the limb.
He bowed his head. “Whatever you wish, I shall be your servant and do it.”
“Then you will go on your way, never come back, and tell no one of my presence here.” That was what I wanted, wasn’t it?
He remained motionless for a heartbeat, and I half-hoped he’d protest. “Very well, my lady.” He looked up, meeting my gaze, his blue eyes so bottomless I wished I could retract my words.
“I shall do as you bid,” he said. “But first, will you allow me one dance?”
One dance? My heart thudded with the sudden desire to have a real dance with a real man instead of the imaginary partners I’d always used. But as before, I could hear Chester cautioning me, telling me to be on my way.
My whole life I’d been careful, living within the boundaries Sir William and Chester placed upon me. Straying a little farther from home once in a while for my berry picking was as bold as I’d ever gotten.
Did I dare do something as adventurous as accepting a dance in the woods with this handsome stranger?
He stretched his hand out. “One dance, and I promise I shall never return here or reveal your whereabouts if that is what you truly wish.”
I wanted this. Wanted to learn the dance. Wanted to be with him. Wanted freedom, even if only for a few minutes. Without giving myself the chance to think further, I thrust my hand into his.
At his smile, I couldn’t stop from smiling in return. A thrill wound through me, drowning out the warning that I was making a mistake.
He led me to the center of the clearing and bowed, still smiling his pleasure at my acceptance of his offer. I curtsied, not caring that my smile radiated my pleasure.
Keeping hold of one of my hands, he situated the other on his shoulder. Then he rested his hand upon my hip. The contact seared through my skirt so that for a moment, I forgot to breathe. And even though he maintained a proper arm’s length distance from me, I was keenly aware of his presence so near.
“Shall we both hum the music?”
I wasn’t sure I could concentrate on anything but his touch and was afraid I’d make a fool of myself by mumbling or tripping over my feet. But I nodded. And as he hummed, I somehow managed to join in.
When we reached the part of the dance I didn’t yet know, he paused and patiently talked me through the steps. We practiced it several times before I caught on. Even then I fumbled through the final quarter of the dance.
Upon reaching the end, I couldn’t say no when he suggested we do it once more. And when we finished a second time, I was the one to propose doing it over. By the time we completed our fifth attempt, I could perform the steps almost as flawlessly as Kresten and laughed at myself when I tripped and nearly fell.
He steadied me. “You’re a quick learner and will be an expert in no time.”
“And you are a very good teacher. Much better than my aunts.”
“Your aunts?”
The moment he repeated me, I realized I’d said too much, and I tugged away from him. “I must be on my way.” I couldn’t allow him to touch me again, or I would be helpless but to continue dancing. If it were possible, I would dance with him all day long.
He angled his head, almost as if he were reading my thoughts. “If you’d like, we could meet and dance again on the morrow.”
I could think of nothing I wanted to do more. In fact, waiting until the morrow would seem like an eternity. Even so, I hesitated.
“I shall teach you another dance.”
“I cannot.”
I expected him to try to convince me otherwise. Instead, he backed up, letting his gaze sweep over me. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.”
My heartbeat stilled at his high praise, only to start tapping again at double speed with the pleasure of knowing he found me beautiful. “I still cannot meet again.” I spoke the words Chester would want me to.
Kresten nodded. “Very well. I did promise that if you danced with me, I would do as you wished and go away and never come back.”
“And tell no one of my presence.”
“I would never do that, for I would keep you to myself.”
“You would?”
“Very much so.”
I forced myself to retreat one step, then two. He remained in his spot, unmoving, without pursuing me. When I bumped into my basket and shoes, I realized he truly intended to keep his promise and let me go. If I departed now, I’d never see him again. And that thought filled me with a strange emptiness.
I grabbed my belongings and hurried to the path that would lead me home. I couldn’t resist a glance over my shoulder. Kresten stood where I’d left him, solemnly watching my departure.
What harm could come of meeting him one more time? After all, I hadn’t even told him my name. “I might return to this clearing on the morrow to pick more berries.”
His smile broke free like a burst of sunbeams. “And I might just happen to be fishing near here again.”
I tucked my chin and hurried onward. But I couldn’t contain a smile of my own.
Chapter
3
Aurora
“There you are, my sweeting.” Aunt Elspeth didn’t pause in her weaving as I entered the cottage. While her feet were pressing both pedals of the loom, her fingers flew between alternating threads, slipping the shuttle with its bobbin in and out.
Her plump frame spilled over a three-legged stool. Even with the cushion she’d fashioned for the stout little chair, I couldn’t imagine sitting on it for hours a day as Aunt Elspeth did. I had a hard enough time staying still for just an hour or two focusing on my myriad of lessons.
I crossed to her and looped the wild cyclamen garland over her head so that it hung like a necklace. The silvery-pink flowers grew in profusion in the shade on the forest floor and were amongst Aunt Elspeth’s favorites.
“Oh my!” She stopped her weaving and lifted the floral necklace to her nose, breathing in the delicate scent. “Just what I was hoping you’d bring me.”