The hiccupping became louder the more Isabel tried to stop. Her face was now infused with a particularly interesting shade of pink.
‘Can I be of service, Isabel? Would you like me to fetch something that could help remedy your...ah, problem?’
‘No, thank you,’ she retorted between another fit of hiccups, as though nothing was wrong. ‘I’m...hic...absolutely...hic...fine.’
‘Try holding your breath while pinching your nose,’ he said from the side of his mouth. ‘That was always my mother’s advice.’
She looked as though she were torn between attempting his suggestion or pretending that everything was well, but eventually she relented and stood there doing as he advised.
‘It’s not working,’ she said as she held on to her nose while sucking in a gulp of air a few times.
He grinned. ‘Try again.’
She looked sceptical, but attempted it again. ‘This isn’t your...hic...idea of fun, perchance?’
He swallowed down the laughter bubbling inside and held out his hands, open palmed. ‘On my honour, it is not.’
‘I’m glad to hear it.’ She hiccupped. ‘Because I’d hate to...hic...look even more ridiculous...hic...than I already do.’
His eyes fell on jugs of local spring water on a trestle table they were passing. He poured some into a cup and pressed it into her hand.
Isabel nodded her thanks and took a couple of sips as they continued to amble along aimlessly.
They had by now drifted towards the outer edge of the area—the liveliest by far, with a different type of energy emanating from the dancing couples and rowdy music. On one side it petered out into the darkness of the woods, where the couples could stray if they were bent on more lascivious pursuits.
Isabel turned abruptly to face him. ‘Dance...hic...with me, Will?’
‘What? No, this is not the same as anything you’re used to.’
The jig was as unsuitably unrefined as it was frenetic.
‘Good, now come.’ She grabbed his hand. ‘This jumping around and flinging your partner about may be just what is...hic...required to get rid these horrid hiccups. And that’s what my mother would have advised.’
‘Isabel, this really is not a good idea.’
But it was too late. She had already pulled him into the middle, trying to drag him along to the jig while clutching his hand.
Well, now he had two choices. He could either keep pace with her or let go of her hand and watch another man claim her. Will chose the former, but knew instantly that this was a bad idea. He could feel it in his bones.
They skipped together around the circle of people, alternating and criss-crossing between each dancer until they came back around to face each other, clapping and twirling. Will placed his hands either side of Isabel’s small waist and lifted her in the air before setting her back down in front of him, trying to disregard the soft curves he could feel through the layers of clothing. God, he must not allow his mind to wander into dangerous waters like this.
He gave her a friendly smile, instead ‘Any better?’
‘I think so,’ she said, relieved, but then proceeded to hiccup again. ‘Oh, dear...hic... I spoke too soon.’
The dance repeated again and they were separated once more. Will would wager that it had become even more crowded than moments before and it was now more difficult keeping an eye on the woman. He caught glimpses of Isabel, but his vision was constantly blocked by groups of the dancers who had splintered off from the main circle.
Damn. He darted his gaze in every direction, but couldn’t see her. This was very strange.
The hairs on the back of his arm rose as he sensed that there was something not right here. He could feel it in his marrow. Will turned his head in every direction, hoping he could locate Isabel. But, no, she was no longer part of the dance. In fact, Will couldn’t see her at all.
Hell’s teeth!
He marched towards the outer edge of the area, near the woods, and nodded at a man standing by watching and cheering the dancing, his heart hammering in his chest.
‘Did you see a young woman, this height—’ he motioned with his hand ‘—with a cream-coloured veil, green woollen dress and carrying a leather satchel across her front?’
‘Possibly, friend, and possibly not.’ The man shrugged as Will clenched his teeth.
He held out a silver coin. ‘You better make sure you do know, friend, so which is it?’
The man shrugged, grabbing the coin. ‘She left with two men.’
‘Where did they go?’ he hissed through his teeth.
‘Through the woods, there.’ The man indicated to one side. ‘Mind your woman better next time. There are many wolves in these here parts.’
That, he knew...
Will broke out into a run, his senses heightened with the possibility of imminent danger. God, but he should have trusted his senses about being in a place like this. Hadn’t he, himself, been followed several times during his search for the lady? But why now, when he had found her? Probably so the obsequious rat, Rolleston, didn’t have to pay his due.
Will would have to think further about that later. All that mattered was finding Isabel and making sure she was unharmed. Anger coursed through him as he drew his sword from its scabbard. This would not have happened had he been more vigilant, more careful. This was his fault.
He prowled through the woods stealthily, looking in every direction, when he suddenly heard a high-pitched scream.
Isabel!
Will raced towards the direction the scream came from before coming to a halt and crouching low, spying three figures in the darkness. One of the men was tying Isabel’s hands together while the other was trying to gag her. Will assessed the area quickly, making sure the assailants had no other accomplices, before pouncing on one of them, catching the man off guard. Almost casually he delivered a swift punch, knocking him to the ground.
He flicked a quick glance at Isabel. ‘Are you unharmed?’
‘Yes, and I’m so happy to see you.’ She winced. ‘Watch out, Will!’ she cried as the man he had brought down was back on his feet and was about attack him with a knife from behind. The other one was still holding tightly on to Isabel.
With just a few deft moves, Will had unarmed and rendered his opponent unconscious with a sharp jab and devastating blow, while Isabel and the other attacker gawped at his skills. The man’s hold must have slackened momentarily, as Isabel swung her elbows back to hit him directly in the stomach to aid her escape. But that just emboldened the bastard to yank her back by her hair.
Will turned his attention, his gaze fixed only on the man holding on to Isabel.
‘Let her go now and I might allow you to hold on to your life.’
The man snarled. ‘See, this is what we’re going to do—you’re going turn around and go, while I take this wench to people who want her more than you.’
‘I don’t think so,’ Will said, pointing his sword at the man, the tip close to his face. ‘I am going to count to ten and you will let her go.’
The man grunted from behind Isabel, pulling her closer.
‘Five, then... One, two...’ Will moved forward, pushing the assailant back slowly, while assessing the uneven surface of the ground ‘...three, four...you’re running out of time.’
‘Wait.’ The man blustered, but it was too late. Will had astutely manoeuvred the man to where the path suddenly dipped low. Before the assailant knew what had happened, Will had spun around and was just there, by his side, the tip of the blade pressed against his neck.
‘Five,’ Will’s voice rumbled in his ear. ‘I told you to let her go. Now!’
The man complied, dropping his dagger to the ground and holding his arms up, but just as Will turned his head towards Isabel, the man lunged. This time, Isabel stumbled forward and swung her satchel, hitting him hard
across the head. He toppled over with a thud as Isabel took a few steps back and sank to the ground.
‘My thanks,’ Will panted as he dropped to his knee, looking at her with concern. So much for an uneventful and tedious journey.
‘And mine,’ she whispered lifting her head. ‘You’ll be happy to know that I no longer have the hiccups.’
‘Well, that’s a mercy.’ The corners of his lips twitched. ‘Are you hurt, my lady?’
‘I’m fine, but allow me one moment before I get to my feet.’
‘No need,’ he said, gently, as he lifted her in his arms.
‘I’m glad you came for me, Will.’
‘Always... I hope you’ll now readily believe that I won’t let anything happen to you.’
‘I do and I also admire your bold promise, Sir William...for you are a gallant knight, you know, whatever you may believe,’ she mumbled, so softly he could barely hear her. Will flushed at her unexpected compliment.
‘I’m honour-bound to protect you, Isabel.’
‘I know, but I’m grateful all the same. As I don’t know the way...home...’ Her voice faded away.
Will looked down as her eyes fluttered shut and pressed his lips softly to her forehead. ‘Neither do I, sweetheart. Neither do I.’
Chapter Six
Isabel awoke from a restless night’s sleep the following day, irascible and with what Will had predicted—an almighty headache. God, but it hurt just opening one of her eyes. She screwed them shut again and felt splinters of shooting pain. She rubbed her forehead and eyes gently, trying to coax them to open.
‘Good morning,’ the pleasant voice that could only belong to William Geraint rumbled nearby.
The back of her throat felt parched and scratchy, so when she opened her mouth to return his greeting, she croaked, instead. Well, it wasn’t as though she could embarrass herself any more than she already had.
Isabel sat up gingerly as Will passed her his flagon.
‘Drink this. It may help,’ he said with a little amusement in his voice.
She nodded her thanks, refusing to meet his gaze, before taking small sips, feeling the restorative cool water slip down her throat.
‘If you feel up to it, Lady Isabel, there is a stream, yonder, where you can wash.’
That made her turn her head, wincing as she faced him. But, of course, she was back to being Lady Isabel de Clancey, wasn’t she? And of course it was this very moment that the events from the previous evening were slowly tumbling back into her very sore head.
‘How are you feeling?’ Will’s blue eyes glittered as he stood watching her, leaning against the bark of a tree.
Mortified, disconcerted, unsettled.
Isabel felt a twinge of guilt at putting both of them in danger the previous evening, but she hadn’t anticipated that it would happen so soon after leaving St Jean de Cole. She should have known better, though. And she should also have known better than to have such humiliating notions in her head about the man standing opposite her. Thank goodness she hadn’t acted upon her impulses last night as it would have turned out to be even more embarrassing than it had.
‘I feel as though someone has taken a hammer to my head, but otherwise I’ll live—’ she grimaced ‘—thanks to you. I’m incredibly grateful to you and I am also, once again, in your debt.’
He shook his head, his lips pressed into a thin line. ‘You don’t owe me anything, my lady.’
‘Apart from my life,’ she said, meeting his eyes. ‘I need to know what those men wanted with me.’
‘I strongly suspect that they were Rolleston’s men—the man who hired me to find you—hoping to take you back to your people themselves.’
Yet Isabel did not share the same belief. Those men weren’t just trying to undercut any agreement this Rolleston had made with Will. There was much more to this and she would have to give it proper attention, but not now. Her head hurt just thinking about it.
She looked around, rubbing her eyes and drinking in the serenity of the area. They were surrounded by a couple of towering trees with long branches, populated with a mass of fluttering leaves, and the sound of the nearby stream could be heard. Her satchel lay beside her and the horses were grazing, tethered to a nearby tree. All very peaceful, all very unremarkable given the events of the previous evening.
‘Goodness me, how did you manage to bring us here?’ she asked in confusion. ‘I was...incapacitated.’
‘There are many things I have done on my own, Isabel, ever since I’ve lived in France.’
‘I see.’ Isabel wanted to ask why, but knew that it was wiser to hold her tongue. Her curiosity about William Geraint stretched to a time before his move to France, when he, possibly, wasn’t as alone as he’d alluded to. Either way, she hoped that he would one day confide in her about his past. ‘I, too, have learnt to be self-reliant, having no one but myself to depend on, even with the relative security of my adopted family.’
Isabel squirmed uncomfortably where she sat, wondering why she had disclosed such a thing to him. She had never said that to anyone before. Yet Will nodded at her as if he understood.
She sighed. ‘Although I’m glad that I’m not alone in this,’ she muttered awkwardly.
‘I’m glad, too, Isabel.’
His perceptive gaze pierced through her, making her bite her lip as she looked away.
There was a blanket that had thoughtfully been put over her and another underneath, which begged the question of where William Geraint had rested.
‘What about you?’ She snapped her head back, wanting a change of conversation from anything too personal. ‘Did you sleep well?’
‘No, but I rarely do.’
‘Do you mean to tell me you have stayed awake all night?’
He shrugged.
Oh, God! The poor man had stayed awake to keep watch by her side, hadn’t he? That was why he looked pale this morning. Well, this would not do. She could not allow her escort to compromise himself on her account, otherwise where would they be?
She stood up and tilted her head. ‘I will take your suggestion by going to the stream, but on my return, I want you take mine and rest while I keep watch.’
‘That is not such a good idea. What if others like the men last night happen upon on us while I am fast asleep? I cannot allow for anything to happen to you again.’
‘I’m not that useless, Will, and nothing is going to happen while you sleep. I’ll keep guard with a dagger in each hand. I promise.’
‘Isabel, I can’t allow anything—’
‘I am more worried about the prospect of you falling from your horse with sheer exhaustion, Will, than anything else.’ She grabbed her satchel and moved away from the makeshift pallet. ‘And there’s no use arguing with me on this, my knight. I can be just as belligerent as you when I want to be.’
His lips quirked. ‘Yes, my lady.’
* * *
Isabel marvelled at the slumbering man, who looked so much younger, so much like the boy she remembered, in his sleep, with his thick eyelashes fanned across his cheeks. A mop of brown hair had fallen over one closed eye, making her itch to drag her fingers through it, pulling it back and touching the outline of his chiselled face. She watched his breathing, shallow and deep, and sighed, not realising that she had slowly moved over him.
A hand sneaked out and grabbed her wrist as a slow smile spread across Will’s face, his eyes still closed.
‘Are you staring at me while I sleep, my lady?’
Her brows shot up. ‘How could you tell?’ She leant back, her legs tucked underneath her.
Will opened his eyes and yawned. ‘A lifetime of experience being a soldier.’ He stretched his arms out. ‘And not withstanding that, my two older sisters were always bent on making mischief while I slept, so I learnt from a young age to be ready.’
‘F
or any eventuality?’ She smirked.
‘Precisely.’
‘My brothers, too, loved nothing more than to torment me with spiders in my skirts and worms in my bedding. I was always trying to keep up with them.’ A surprising ache caught in her chest, making her smile feel forced. ‘But I was always too slow.’
Isabel caught her lip between her teeth, unable to understand why she had revealed more than she had intended. The reality was that it all still felt far too raw. This pain of losing her brothers—shadows from another life.
Will covered her hand with his and squeezed it reassuringly, pinning his gaze to hers. ‘I’m sure they would have been proud of you, Isabel, especially how you stealthily came to my rescue last night when you whacked your attacker with your sturdy satchel.’
She looked down at her hand, still covered by his much bigger and stronger one, and flushed. She wasn’t used to anyone giving her this kind of compliment, but she appreciated it all the same.
‘Thank you.’ She nodded. ‘And, yes, I’d like to think that they would have.’
They were both lost in their own contemplations for a moment, before Isabel got to her feet and turned to face Will. ‘I’ve been thinking while you were sleeping about everything that has happened and I’ll admit to being worried.’
‘What about, my lady?’
‘Many things,’ she retorted. ‘Do you think they will come back again?’
‘No, I very much doubt that.’
Her eyes widened. ‘You killed them?’
‘I probably should have, but I didn’t want any more stains on my soul than I already have.’ He looked at her, registering the shock on her face. ‘No, I tied them up and left them unconscious.’
‘That was very resourceful of you.’
‘I’d like to think so.’
She nodded absently. ‘But I do think that there may be others as we make our way back.’
‘Is that what is worrying you?’ He pushed himself to stand. ‘As I said earlier, I shall not allow anything to happen again. On my honour, my lady.’
‘Of that I am in no doubt, however—’
Her Banished Knight's Redemption--The follow-up to award-winning story the Rebel Heiress and the Knight Page 7
