And before he had time to push himself off the floor, a man dashed out from the shadows and ran through the open portal.
Chapter 11
A split second later, Derrik scramble up off the floor, throwing a quick glance over at Amelie before launching after the assailant.
Amelie struggled and pulled at the rope that was tied around her until finally she felt the rope slacken. With one final jerk, the rope loosened further, and she managed to free first one hand and then the other. It was a fortunate thing that her assailant wasn’t very good at tying knots. She raised her eyes heavenward, giving silent thanks. And then making quick work, she untangled herself from the rope, and pulled the dirty rag out from her mouth.
Jumping up, she ran to the door in time to see Derrik disappear into the trees that grew past the large garden.
Amelie leaned on the door frame and slammed a fist against the wood. She let out a shaky breath. Two warnings she received already. And the last warning was to harm her. She was furious that Derrik had followed her to the cottage, but she was even angrier that the assailant had tied her up. But what would have happened if Derrik hadn’t come along when he did? She shook the nagging question away, not wanting to think about it.
Suddenly her eyes caught sight of the blade sticking out of the wooden door. Using both hands she grabbed the handle, and with some effort, she yanked it out. Turning it over in her hand, she studied the craftsmanship. Even through her inexperienced eyes, she could tell that the blade was not one that was well crafted, although its sharp edge was enough to cause damage. She ran her finger along the side of the cool blade, down to the very tip, knowing full well that it was meant to injure or even kill. Would she feel any remorse if the knife struck true and Derrik was wounded? Perhaps with his sudden appearance, he saved her from having the knife being used on her.
It seemed that someone was trying to prevent her from finding her father, and he was getting desperate. Could this mean that she was getting closer to the truth? She furrowed her brows as more questions entered her consciousness. How did the attacker know that she was going to the Healer’s cottage? The herald didn’t announce her plan to visit here.
Unfortunately she didn’t have more time to mull over the disturbing questions that formed in her mind. Inhaling swiftly, she saw Derrik making his way back toward the cottage. His face was unsmiling, and it was obvious that the attacker had slipped away from him. He was coming for her! Quickly, she pulled back from the door. She still hadn’t figured out how he knew where to find her. Only a small handful of people were aware of her intentions, yet two men knew exactly where she was. Ester had to be right, she thought grimly. The castle had spies, and Derrik was someone who was privy to their secret counsel. Pressing herself against the wall, she let out a sharp breath, the air passing through her teeth. She had tarried too long in this cottage.
“The bastard has esc —” Derrik began as he walked through the threshold, wiping at his brow.
Amelie was partially hidden in the shadows, and as he passed her, she jumped out from her hiding spot and held the dagger to his back.
“Do not move, or I may be tempted to stick this dagger into your body.”
Derrik stiffened and he raised both palms up into the air.
“Tell me what you are doing here,” she demanded in her most authoritative tone, although to her own ears, she detected a slight tremor in her voice.
Drawing in a breath, she finally got her heart rate to return to normal. Her grip on the dagger tightened just as the weapon lent her a strange sense of courage.
“Well?” She allowed her voice to harden. “Are you going to tell me what you are doing here or what?”
“If I was in your position, I would be asking who it was that attacked me,” he shrugged carelessly and twisted his neck to look at her briefly. “But perhaps that’s just how I am.”
She glared at him.
“And one other thing I would do,” he continued, ignoring the knife at his back, “I would thank the person who saved my life. However we’re different people with different upbringings and priorities.”
“You were following me.”
“I don’t deny it,” he said, his tone detached and casual. “If you would take the dagger away from my back, perhaps we can have a civil discussion.”
The polite quality of his voice made her hesitate. The frustrating and blood thirsty thoughts that initially overwhelmed her had passed, and now the idea of twisting the dagger and driving it through his flesh caused her stomach to turn over. After all, he didn’t appear to be connected to the attacker. Her grip on the dagger slackened. “You were tracking me like a common thief I —”
Even though the blade was withdrawn from him, he continued to speak with his back to her.
“Actually, if you want to know the truth — you were the one who stole out of the castle like a thief. I saw the commotion that your friend created, quite cleaver I must say. I would have fallen for your little charade had the heavens not intervened, and blown your hood off to reveal your identity.”
Amelie frowned, trying to remember the incident. “My hood did not —” But as she recalled the details of that exact moment, her mind only responded with a foggy recollection of images. So many things had happened over the last few days that everything seemed blurred. But he was only trying to confuse her further with his accusations. Stepping back, she raised the knife, waving it threateningly at him. “I know what you are trying to do.”
“What am I trying to do?” he asked with a cool calmness that seemed as though he had complete control over the situation.
She swallowed, well aware that he was larger than her, and that his brute strength alone could overpower her in an instant. She held the blade out further, but he still backed her, and was oblivious to her feigned threats.
“You have not told me why you followed me.” She glared at him. “For all I know, you could —”
Her sentence cut off abruptly as he spun around and lunged at her, making a grab for the weapon.
In surprised desperation, she slashed at him, nicking him on the forearm. When she glanced down, she was horrified to see bright, red blood on the sharp steel. But before she could get over her shock, or even to consider doing more damage to him, Derrik slammed her against the wall, knocking the air out from her lungs.
He was breathing hard, his chest heaving. “I hate it when I’m being threatened by a blade,” he said, a dangerous glint in his eyes. He tightened his grip on her hand, and she winced slightly at the pressure. “I hate it even more when someone tries to attack me from behind.”
The dagger fell harmlessly to the ground.
“Let me go!” She strained to release her hand from his grasp, pushing against his hard frame. But his body blocked her movements and pressed her more firmly to the wall. “A king’s man be damned!” she spat. “You have come here to spread false rumors about my father. I should kill you right now before you spread more lies about him.”
One thick brow arched and Derrik looked pointedly at his broad chest flattening her against the wall. “You seem to forget who has the upper hand right now.”
She blew out a small puff of air, showing him what she thought about his upper hand.
“I have nothing against your father,” he said, ignoring her show of contempt. “I don’t believe or disbelieve the charges placed upon his head. And despite what you think, I didn’t come here to harass you and your family. I came here to find answers for the king.” He stared into her eyes, his gaze piercing. “Now can I expect you to behave?”
Amelie stopped her movements, watching him warily. There was no way she could escape from his strong hold unless he let her go. And to do that, her only chance was to make him think that she submitted to his demands. He waited for her response, and she gave him the barest of nods.
He moved back, taking his body heat away with him. When there was enough space between them, she seized the opportunity, and using all her might, she shove
d him away from her. The sudden, unexpected force caused Derrik to stagger back in surprise.
She dove for the knife on the ground and just as her fingers touched the base of the dagger, his hand tore the knife away from her grip, throwing it aside. And then in one smooth motion, he grabbed her by the waist, twisted her around and lay her on the ground. He pinned her hands over her head, while his large body covered hers. Struggling underneath him, she tried to push him off, although her movements ceased when she heard him speak.
“Didn’t I tell you that I don’t like being threatened by a knife?” he said, his voice low and menacing.
“I wished that instead of cutting your arm, I had slit your throat instead,” she snarled.
Derrik cocked one eyebrow at her, almost as if he disbelieved what he had heard. “My, you are the vicious viper, aren’t you? You gave me an altogether different impression back at the castle.”
He looked down at her face. As he continued to study her, the hard expression on his handsome visage softened, and something unreadable showed on his face.
“Do you really think that slashing a king’s man is going to convince anyone of your father’s innocence?” he said as he touched the bloody cut on his forearm. “I really don’t have a reason to trust you, but I’m going to give you one more chance.”
Amelie watched his lips move, although she barely heard what he said, since the sound of her erratic heartbeats drowned out any outside noise. And all that she was aware of was the acute feel of his solid strength on top of her.
“Are you even listening to me?”
The allure of his intense heat caused her body to betray her. A strange, unfamiliar feeling washed over her, a feeling that left her breathless, aroused and wanting something that she couldn’t comprehend.
“Do I have any choice?” Amelie blurted out, trying to focus her thoughts. Her mind fought to squelch the odd sensations stirring involuntarily in her core. “I am sorry I attacked you. My intent was not to harm you.”
His eyes started to darken and something flickered in their warm depths. He leaned forward, his eyes locked with hers. Unable to handle his intoxicating gaze, she broke away from the contact, and studied the rest of his face. This was the first time she really had an opportunity to look this closely at him. His face was an inexplicable mix of boyish features and rugged, stark masculinity. Amelie could feel a raw energy emanating from him, an energy that reached out to her, connecting deep to her center.
She tried to push the odd feeling away, but as Derrik lowered his face closer to hers, unconsciously her mouth parted, and she drew in a slow breath, waiting for his lips to touch hers. He searched her countenance, and then as if released from a trance, he reached over and brushed aside a strand of hair that fell over her face.
She was startled by his gentle touch, although he didn’t seem to notice the quiver that shot through her body. As he rolled off of her, she felt a vague sense of disappointment and fought to hide it.
Taking in a staggering breath, Derrik raised his hand and ran it through his thick golden mane. It was the only indication that he was affected as much as she.
“Who lives here?” he asked, looking around.
Amelie slowly sat up, unsure exactly what had transpired between them. “’Tis the home of Mistress May, the Healer.” She glanced at the dozen bronze amulets hanging along the wall. “I have never been here,” she continued. “But many people come here to obtain cures for their ailments. They believe that her potions and cures work.”
“Including you?”
For a moment, she seemed shocked by the question. But then she looked down at her hands and shook her head regretfully. “Herbal remedies work only to a certain extent,” she said. “My nursemaid makes most of our herbal concoctions. Sometimes they are effective, while other times they are not.” She regarded the dried plants hanging from the rafters, and then swept her gaze over to the bottles lined up against the wall. Twisting her lips, she continued doubtfully, “’Tis said that the Healer’s remedies are very powerful though. I cannot know for certain, since I have only asked for her assistance once for my mother. And in that case, the Healer’s most potent medicine seemed unable to cure her lingering sickness.”
“But then why are you at the herbalist’s residence if you don’t believe in her works?” he asked.
She looked up, astonished that she had revealed so much. Aside from Clarisse and Margery, Amelie never spoke about her mother’s illness to anyone. What was it about this man who either caused her temper to flare, or who triggered her heart to open? She usually had full control over her emotions, although these new feelings he ignited in her made her feel self-conscious and uncomfortable.
When she didn’t answer his question, Derrik let out a small gust of air, the soft sound coming out from his nose, and he dropped the subject. Taking her arm, he pulled her up from the ground.
“We best come another day when the herbalist is home,” he said. “It doesn’t look like any of the potions have been labeled, so ‘twould be unwise for us to pick a random cure.”
Amelie opened her mouth to tell him that she wasn’t here to obtain medicine, but she promptly closed it again. He could think whatever he wanted, she decided. Once again, she almost fell for his engaging ruse. She had to be more careful next time. Derrik was a man not to be trusted. In fact, his presence here, at this very moment, was suspicious. He worked under the king’s service, and he also admitted to following her. For all she knew, he was spying on her. And no matter what he said about her father, she knew Derrik’s real purpose was to arrest him, whether he was innocent or not.
The realization that Derrik might be a spy was like a bucket of cold water over her head, dousing the flames that his nearness ignited in her body. Amelie gave herself a mental shake, remembering all too well her own purpose of visiting here.
“We have gone through much today,” Derrik said, unaware of her dark turn of thoughts. “You may call me by my given name.” The corners of his lips quirked up into a winsome smile. “Come, my lady, I will take you back to the castle.”
She moved away from him and brushed away the stand of hair that fell over her eye. “I can manage from here. You may return to the castle, and wait for my father, Sir Derrik. ‘Tis dangerous for you to be in my presence.”
“I would not advise that you remain here alone after your attack,” he said, frowning. “I cannot guarantee that the assailant won’t return for you.”
Amelie took another step back. “I will not be going with you; I prefer to ride alone. However I suggest that you take care when you make your way back to Stanbury Castle. I do not want to be held responsible if a royal knight came to harm.”
“Your concern for me is quite endearing,” he grunted, “however you’re clearly the target, not I. As you are without protection, I feel that ‘tis my duty to escort you.” He paused and peered into her brown eyes. “For one so young and who has yet to live a full life, I would hate to see you dead.”
She swallowed at the truth of his words.
“But I don’t think the man intended to kill you,” he said, his tone softening as he sensed her fear. “I believe his presence here was only meant to alarm.”
“Well, he did a good job at that,” she muttered under her breath.
“Did you say something, my lady?”
“’Twas nothing important,” she shook her head.
“Then we should go,” he said, nodding his head slightly, indicating for her to leave the room ahead of him. But when she didn’t budge, he lifted one flaxen eyebrow. “Do you realize ‘tis a dangerous game that you play, my lady? I cannot comprehend why your lady mother would allow you to embark on this quest alone.”
“’Tis really not your concern,” she said shortly.
He let out an exaggerated sigh and threw his hands up in the air. “Your pig-headedness reminds me so much of someone I once knew,” he said finally, thinking of Rowena de Belleville, the woman who he had grown up with, and who had
tormented him for much of his youth. He shook his head in disbelief. “But I think you may be ten times worse. Still, I’ll allow that today’s events have left you in a state of shock, and has likely muddled your thinking,” he added. “And as a royal knight, I feel that I must escort you back to your castle where ‘tis safe. You’re lucky that no harm befell you when you made your journey here. Nevertheless, we cannot rely on luck as Lady Fortune may not smile upon you a second time.” He looked up at the dark clouds overhead. “Let’s go before it rains.”
Amelie crossed her arms over her chest. “I do not recall asking for your help,” she said, her eyes glinting with stubbornness.
The sky rumbled, and he looked up again.
“My lady, putting off from making your decision won’t prevent the rain from falling. If we leave now, we can get back to the castle before it storms.” He paused and gave her a lopsided grin. “On second thought, if you really insist on staying in this empty cottage,” he said, waving to the small house behind them. He turned his gaze on her and allowed it to slowly rove over her body. When he raised his eyes to hers, he winked. “We can brave the danger and find some way to occupy our time here.”
Her face colored at the suggestion.
“Nay,” she said. “We shall go.”
Chapter 12
Amelie cast a sidelong glance at Derrik. She still didn’t know what to make of the knight. He had inadvertently saved her from an attacker, but then again, he might be just as dangerous as the assailant. Was it right to trust him, and allow him to ride by her side? As she already concluded, he was here to arrest her father. And if she was close to finding answers about where he might be, was it wise to lead the king’s knight to him?
She walked with Derrik to the two horses that were tied to the fence. If the man was determined to stick to her side, then it was next to impossible for her to escape from him and get to Wykeham without his notice. Many people thought that her father was involved in high treason, but if she could somehow find proof of his innocence, then everyone would be forced to recant their beliefs. Unfortunately having Derrik trailing her all the while would impede her from her quest.
A Knight's Duty (The Knights of Honor Trilogy, Book 2) Page 7
