Page 11 of Love Me Forever

“You speak with wisdom for one so young.”

“I am not young.” Her smile faded. “I am old from my experiences.”

“Like a warrior?”

She nodded slowly. “Aye, a warrior who faced a different type of battle.”

She suddenly seemed uncomfortable and attempted to move.

His arms instantly locked her in place, preventing her from making the slightest movement. “Do not. You will only cause yourself pain. I will move you.”

She looked about to object, but he would not have it.

He was firm and adamant. “I will move you until you are well enough to move yourself, is that understood?”

A flash of concern crossed her face.

He was glad he saw no fear there, and he hurried to ease her concerns. “I will not harm you. I do not wish to see you in pain. In time you will be able to do for yourself, but until then allow me the honor of seeing to your care.”

She did not understand what it was about, this man who made her trust him. She only knew instinctively that she could, and that puzzled her. Why did he seem different to her? She knew nothing about him, and yet she felt safe and protected by this stranger.

“You wonder over the truth of my words.”

“Nay,” she said softly. “I wonder why I believe you.”

“My charm?” He grinned.

Her smile bordered on a laugh, but then a laugh would have caused her pain. “I think it more your caring soul.”

He would not deny her the safety of her thoughts. If she assumed him a caring soul, then so be it. The truth would only upset her, and while he was not without a caring soul, he was also a man who abandoned his soul when necessary.

“Then it is set; I will care for you, and you will do nothing until I determine you well enough.”

She was quick to speak. “I think not. It is necessary that I rely on you for my care, and for that I am grateful, but I will determine what I can and cannot do.”

“We shall see,” he said, sounding as though he ignored her words, and gently slipped his arm beneath her back.

Before she could protest, he easily moved her to rest more comfortably on the pillows he added behind her back and neck. “Now for supper.”

She thought to admonish him, but then wondered over the wisdom of it. He would ignore her and do as he felt. Her only course of action was to grow strong and independent, and then she would have her way. She would see to that, most certainly she would. She would not have another man dictate to her and most certainly not a stranger.

He stood and walked over to the hearth.

Royce could see that she was annoyed, but she refrained from objecting. Was her marriage one of strict obedience? Was her husband’s every word a command meant to be obeyed regardless of her own desires? He went about preparing the meal with many questions haunting him.

“You eat first,” she said to him when he sat on the bed beside her ready to feed her the delicious-smelling stew.

He placed a clean cloth beneath her neck and over her chest, guarding her and the blanket from spills. “I thought we would share it, if you don’t mind?”

It did not disturb her to eat from the same spoon as he. “Nay, I have no objections. I just do not wish to see you go hungry while feeding me.”

“You barely eat a mouthful,” he teased. “It is not I who will go hungry.”

He offered her half a spoonful and she eagerly took it.

“It is delicious,” she said with a lick of her lips after finishing the small portion.

He had a mouthful, having helped himself to a spoonful.