Page 4 of The Sword and the Damsel (The De Veres #2)

L ady Alais stormed out of the castle toward the stables, sending piles of red and gold leaves swirling in her wake. Moments later, Victor came chasing after her.

“Lady Alais,” Victor yelled, jogging to catch up. “Lady Alais, I can’t let you leave without me. Lord and Lady Carenza were clear.”

“I don’t need a nursemaid,” she snapped at him. She entered the stables. “If you would be so kind as to saddle Snow and Bella?” she asked the obviously smitten groom in her sweetest voice.

“Saddle Socorro first,” Victor barked, determined not to let Lady Alais have a chance to escape on her horse before he was mounted. He glanced back at the castle to see a lady’s maid who must be Dora watching the interaction with keen interest, ambling along in no hurry to catch up with either of them.

“My lady, do I look like a nursemaid to you?”

Lady Alais glared at him and turned her back. So far, this was going even worse than he expected, which was saying something.

There was a soft pressure on his arm, and he turned to see Dora smiling up at him. “I take it you are Sir Victor? It’s nice to meet you. I’m Dora, Lady Alais’s maid. I must say having you here makes my job so much easier.”

“Dora,” Lady Alais complained, giving her a betrayed look.

“A pleasure to meet you. You can call me Sir Fly Swatter. I’m here to smash anyone who buzzes too close.” He said it loud enough for the groom to hear and was satisfied to see the man jump. “Aside from my fly-swatting duties, I plan to leave the two of you alone.”

Dora patted his cheek and looked delighted.

The groom brought out a powerful bay courser first, avoiding Lady Alais’s gaze as he handed the reins to Victor. At least the man had the good sense to know which of the three of them could break his neck.

Lady Alais gave Victor a resentful look but kept glancing surreptitiously at his horse. Finally, she gave up her pretense of disinterest and walked over.

“What’s his name?”

“Socorro.”

“ Help ?”

He nodded. “He’s saved my life more than once.”

She sauntered all the way around for a thorough look. “He’s beautiful.”

“He’s a trained war horse, and he bites.” He smiled coldly.

She cocked her head as if he’d just issued a dare. “Hello, Socorro,” she said softly and reached out her hand slowly to let him sniff before petting his nose. Socorro nuzzled her hand shamelessly. She giggled and gave him an apple she had tucked away. “You’re a sweet boy, aren’t you?”

“Socorro, since when are you a sweet boy? You’re supposed to bite my adversaries, remember?”

“Am I your adversary?” She gave him a sultry smile.

“You’re not my friend. I know that much.”

She straightened and narrowed her eyes at him. She must not be used to men resisting the effects of that smile. He wasn’t exactly immune, just wary.

“Lord Daniel asked me to keep you safe when you go out, and I gave my word of honor that I would,” he said quietly. “I’m not your nursemaid, and I’m not your friend. I’m only a guard. Pretend I’m not here.”

The groom came out with Snow and Bella and carefully avoided Lady Alais’s eyes as he handed over the reins. Soon everyone was mounted, and they were wending their way down Castle Street, past merchants and peasants going about their daily business. Eyes followed Lady Alais wherever she went. Fortunately, she ignored the attention she drew.

Lady Alais turned toward Winchelsea’s southern gate when they reached Fish Street, weaving through the dockworkers, sailors, and fishermen who openly gaped as she passed. Was he going to have to decapitate anyone before they even left the town? Fortunately, his forbidding glare seemed to be sufficient to make them keep their distance.

He breathed a sigh of relief as they passed under the stone arch of the southern gate. They ambled along the ancient Roman road with grassy hills on one side and the shore on the other. It was a clear, crisp day, perfect for a ride. The sun was shining. The birds were singing.

Victor was almost starting to enjoy himself when Lady Alais abruptly veered off the road, and broke into a gallop, darting out of sight into the nearby woods.

“Saint Agatha’s tits on a platter,” Victor grumbled under his breath and followed her, weaving through trees, and steadily catching up. She disappeared again, and for a moment, he thought he’d lost her trail. A branch whipped against his shoulder and caught in his shirt. Breaking it and throwing it to the ground, he turned around in circles, peering through the autumn leaves until he caught a glimpse of her blue gown.

There she was. She had stopped in a nearby clearing and dismounted. She stuck her hand inside a knot in a tree and then peered into a shrub. What the hell?

He dismounted and tied up Socorro before tiptoeing over to the clearing, sword drawn in case a man was hidden in the shrubbery. He edged into the clearing, keeping his back to a large tree, looking out for any suspicious movement. Lady Alais let out a little shriek upon seeing him.

“Why do you have your sword drawn?”

“So I can kill whoever it is that’s meeting you here,” he said, examining every tree and bush.

She sighed and slumped down on the grass. “Put it away. There’s no one here.”

“Then why did you run away from me?” He lowered his sword.

She looked up at the sky in silence for several moments before responding. “Carenza says I must marry because of what happened with Gilbert. I’m not in love with him, but he’s a lot better than some stuffy lord I’ve never met. I thought he might leave a message proposing we run away together, but he didn’t.” A tear dripped down her cheek. If she didn’t look so red-faced and angry, he would have been certain she was putting on a show. “He’s gone, and he’s not coming back, the coward. So I’m stuck. They plan to marry me off to a stranger by Christmas.” She sniffed and wiped her tears. “Are you going to tell my sister I ran off?”

Mentally cursing his aunt for making him come to Winchelsea, he slid his sword back into its scabbard and sat on the ground across from Lady Alais. He was a military commander for God’s sake. How was this his job? He almost wished that Gilbert had shown up so that he could detach his head from his shoulders and be done with this ridiculous assignment. He liked Lord Daniel, but this was too much to ask.

“I’m not here to spy on you for your sister,” he said through clenched teeth. “My only job is to keep Gilbert and any other men who might try to endanger your virtue away. No one was here, so as far as I’m concerned, I have nothing to report. But I would appreciate it if you didn’t try to come here again looking for secret messages. I can see my way to forgetting this happened once, but if it happened again…”

She wiped her eyes. “It won’t. You have my word.”

“Where’s your maid, by the way? You and I probably shouldn’t be sitting here alone like this.”

Lady Alais waved a dismissive hand, then wiped a few more tears. “She’ll get here eventually. Why? Are you worried I might endanger your virtue?”

He laughed incredulously, trying hard not to imagine how pleasant it would be to have Lady Alais de Vere endanger his virtue.

She sniffed and looked him in the eye. “Since we’re alone and there’s no one to hear, now would be a good time to sing me the song about the cat.”

“What?” The song about the cat? Where did that come from? “No.”

“It really would cheer me up.”

“No.” If Lady Alais de Vere ever heard the song about the cat, it wouldn’t be from him. For God’s sake, where was Dora?

They stared in opposite directions in silence, looking anywhere but at each other for several agonizing minutes.

“Do you think we should look for Dora?” he asked. “I’m starting to worry about her.” He wasn’t, but he was worried about being alone with the beautiful woman all this time, unchaperoned. He’d hate to be forced into marriage with her because of a rumor of inappropriate behavior.

“Fine,” she said, dragging herself to her feet. “Let’s get her and go home. I’m finished with my ride.”

He knew he should agree and be done with this travesty of a morning. He had no business offering her distraction or comfort. Besides, anything he might propose was bound to exacerbate his profound discomfort in her presence. Nonetheless, he heard himself saying, “I have a better idea. Let’s head down to the beach and race.”

Lady Alais gave him a dubious look. “I love Snow, but she’s no match for Socorro.”

“I’ll let you have a head start.”

“Let me ride Socorro, and you have a deal.”

“But, my lady, he’s a war horse.”

“He’s a sweet boy.”

He let out his breath slowly. “I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this. Your family will never forgive me if you get hurt.”

“I won’t,” she said with cheerful confidence as she dusted herself off. “My brother used to let me ride his destrier when I was younger.”

“Your brother? No, wait. I think I knew you had a brother. I met him once or twice when I was young. His name is…Charles, I think?”

Lady Alais nodded and looked off into the distance, blinking back a tear he sensed was real, this time. “He died in a shipwreck a few years back.”

“I’m so sorry for your loss.” Wonderful . Now he’d gone and upset her more.

She shook herself and plastered on a smile. “Can I take Socorro now?”

“I’d rather wait until we’re at the beach.” Or never. That would be fine too. Why was he doing this?

She sighed and headed over to Snow as Victor mounted Socorro. They rode back to the road and found Dora on Bella looking distressed and pacing back and forth beside the road.

“Where did you go, my lady? I couldn’t see which way you went. You know I’m too old for galloping. It isn’t nice leaving an old lady alone on the open road like this. Brigands might accost me.”

Lady Alais bowed her head repentantly. “I’m sorry, Dora. Truly, I am. I was being thoughtless and inconsiderate. Fortunately, Sir Victor found me and brought me back. We’re going to the beach now. I promise we’ll stay in sight.”

Dora looked at her for a long moment with narrowed eyes. Then Dora’s eyes flicked to Victor, and the corner of her mouth quirked into the ghost of a grin. “To the beach it is, my lady.”

Victor wasn’t sure he liked that look. Dora seemed altogether too perceptive for an old lady who could barely sit a horse.

They rode down a narrow dirt path to an empty stretch of beach just south of Winchelsea. Lady Alais helped Dora settle down on a blanket while Victor adjusted the stirrups so that they could ride each other’s horses.

“Don’t worry, Dora,” Alais said. “We won’t go farther than that rock down there. You’ll be able to see us the whole time.”

Dora looked on with an unnerving twinkle in her eye as Victor cupped his hands to help Lady Alais mount Socorro. She stepped up and leaned into him as she swung herself up onto Socorro’s back. The tantalizing shape of her lovely leg beneath her skirt pressed against his chest, and her exquisite posterior was level with his face. A tiny moan escaped him.

“Did I hurt you?” she asked, settling herself on Socorro’s broad back.

He could have sworn Dora chuckled, but when he looked back, she was gazing at a seagull, all innocence.

“It’s nothing, my lady.” He hurried to mount Snow, hoping to hide his distress. “Are you ready?”

Lady Alais smiled, and without warning set off down the beach, looking like she was floating on Socorro’s back. He watched their rhythmic motion as they pounded through the sand, hair and mane streaming in the wind. By God, she was glorious.

Remembering himself, he tore after her, pushing Snow to her limit and still falling far short of catching up. Lady Alais whooped in unladylike glee as she flew past the rock that marked their finish line. His heart threatened to pound out of his chest at the sight of her in her natural state, all artifice fallen by the wayside.

“I won, I won,” she yelled and brought his horse to a halt.

“Not a fair race,” he objected, sidling up beside her.

“He’s magnificent. I think I’m in love.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Don’t listen to her, Socorro. She’ll break your heart.”

Thank heavens he had more sense than his horse, or she would surely break his as well.

“I would never do that to a sweet boy like you,” she said, stroking Socorro’s neck.

“Race you back,” he said, taking advantage of her momentary inattention to get a head start. Needing some distance to compose himself, he pelted back down the beach as fast as the little palfrey would carry him. Lady Alais was neck and neck by the time he passed the blanket where Dora was sitting, despite his early lead. Poor Snow was lathered in sweat and breathing heavily.

Victor dismounted. “I think I’d better give Snow a rest, but if you want to keep galloping around on my war horse like a madwoman, I won’t stop you.”

He sat down cautiously with Dora and watched as Alais tore back and forth along the beach, hooting like an Amazon warrior. The sight was enthralling. He couldn’t pull his gaze away. It was a bad idea to gape at her like this, but rational thought had abandoned him. The sight of her, free and wild, tugged at something in his battle-hardened heart.

“I like you,” Dora said, patting his hand. “She needs someone who can keep up with her, someone strong and fierce. Lord knows I’m not up to the task.”

Victor laughed. “Is anyone? My horse perhaps…”

“I think you’ll do fine. But be careful. I’ve watched more than one man dash himself to pieces trying to win her. Gilbert got farther than most, but he would have failed in the end even if he wasn’t unsuitable. He couldn’t match her spirit and passion.”

“I assure you I have no designs beyond keeping her safe.” He had a job to do, and he had no intention of dashing himself to pieces for anyone’s entertainment, least of all a spoiled, spirited young woman like Lady Alais. Besides which, it was his chivalric duty to keep all men away, including himself.

She patted his hand again. “That’s nice, dear.”

“What are you two chattering about?” asked Alais, halting in front of their blanket. Both she and Socorro were breathing heavily. Her face was flushed from the exercise. She was radiant in the bright autumn sun.

Victor stood to help her down from Socorro. She slid against his chest until her face was level with his with her toes barely touching the ground, her lips so close and kissable.

No. None of that.

He released her and stepped away briskly. Oh, he was going to keep Jane busy tonight.

Lady Alais was remarkably quiet on the way back to the castle. When they got to the stables and dismounted, she put a hand on his arm, and he immediately drew back.

“I’m sorry,” she said, withdrawing her hand and blushing. “I wanted to say thank you for letting me ride Socorro. And I should apologize for my behavior earlier. I know you’re only doing your job. I shouldn’t make it hard for you.”

She turned and walked into the castle. Dora winked at him and then followed. Victor watched Lady Alais go, taking guilty pleasure in the view.

Satan’s salty roasted balls on a stick.

He was in trouble.