Chapter Twelve
Castle Questing
She’d seen him across the bailey.
Annaleigh spied War as he was in conversation with Christian, a man who was amiable and strangely chatty in a world where knights seemed to be more action than words.
But not Christian; he could talk the ear off a magpie.
Between him and James de Wolfe, they were quite entertaining at evening meals when everyone was gathered.
James would sing, Christian would sing but also tell stories, and they were usually great fun until they’d had too much to drink and resorted to dirty songs and dirty stories.
That had happened more than once.
But Annaleigh liked Christian a great deal. In fact, as she saw him and War speaking, she thought it would be the perfect excuse to talk to War. All she had to do was pretend she was looking for Christian because Uncle William wanted to speak to him and off Christian would go.
Leaving her alone with War.
She thought it was a rather convenient plan.
Therefore, she headed in their direction as they entered the small yard where the knights’ quarters and a few other outbuildings were located.
War couldn’t see her from the way he was standing and Christian seemed to be intently focused on him because the conversation seemed serious.
That made her question whether she should interrupt at all so she slowed her pace, moving into the shadows of the keep and watching the pair converse.
But they didn’t converse for much longer.
Suddenly, Christian was moving away from War, heading off towards the kitchens.
Still in the shadows of the keep, Annaleigh watched him until he went into the kitchen yard before returning her attention to War.
He was still standing there, only this time his back was to her as he spoke to the knight from Vilnius.
No longer with the excuse she was hunting for Christian, Annaleigh debated what to do.
Could she simply walk in there and greet the man?
A smile tugged at her lips.
She knew what to do.
The knight from Vilnius was the first one to catch sight of her.
He said something to War, who quickly turned around to see Annaleigh on the approach.
Their eyes met and, for a moment, she swore she saw a look of pleasure cross his face.
Or perhaps she was imagining it. Where War was concerned, it was easy to imagine things she wanted to see.
“Good day, m’lord,” she greeted pleasantly.
War smiled, an expression that seemed to come quite easily. “Good day, my lady,” he said. “It is a fine day today, made finer by your appearance.”
Annaleigh was already feeling giddy, basking in the man’s presence as if he were the sun and she a mere worshipper. So completely unworthy of him. But she gave him a coy expression.
“Flattery, m’lord?” she teased. “If ye say much more like that, my head will be too swollen tae enter the keep.”
War chuckled and even Alexei grinned. “Not to worry, my lady,” War said. “A couple of hammers and we can widen the door. There is no need to cease the flattery.”
Annaleigh giggled. “I think William might have something tae say about a man taking a hammer tae his door.”
“Then we’ll figure out another way.”
Annaleigh’s cheeks were beginning to flush. “I appreciate yer willingness tae help me,” she said. “But I came for another reason.”
“What is that?”
“Lady de Wolfe’s request tae see if ye required anything. Did ye sleep well?”
War nodded. “Very well,” he said. “God’s Bones, Castle Questing is the most hospitable place I’ve ever stayed at.”
“What do ye mean?”
“Because Christian was sent by Lady de Wolfe also,” he said. “He asked me the same questions.”
Annaleigh immediately felt as if she’d been caught in her lie.
Her eagerness to speak to the man was coming back to haunt her.
Before she could reply, however, someone caught Alexei’s attention and he politely excused himself.
Leaving War and Annaleigh alone now, Annaleigh didn’t want to look like a fool in front of War.
Perhaps he was already figuring out that something was strangely off with both Christian and Annaleigh inquiring on his health and sleep habits.
She was making them all look like idiots.
“I have a confession,” she said with some hesitance.
He cocked his head with interest. “Oh?”
She nodded. “Lady de Wolfe dinna send me here.”
“She didn’t?”
Annaleigh sighed heavily. “Ye may as well know that I’m a liar of the worst sort,” she said. “I told ye that Lady de Wolfe sent me because I thought it might look forward of me tae greet ye without a reason. If ye want tae laugh at me, go ahead. I deserve it.”
He chuckled and she hung her head. But he quickly realized he’d hurt her feelings so he reached out and took her hand in his, gently.
“I wasn’t laughing at you, I promise,” he said, holding her soft, warm hand in his callused mitt. “I laughed because… well, that is about the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. No one goes out of their way to bid me a good morn. But you did. I cannot tell you how honored I am.”
She dared to glance up at him. “Truly?”
“Truly.”
“Then good morn tae ye,” she said, her eyes twinkling with mirth. “And I have no reason tae come here, where ye’re clearly busy, other than to bid ye a good morn.”
He grinned, his eyes glittering at her. “Good morn, my lady,” he said in his soft, deep voice. “Has your morning been pleasant so far?”
Annaleigh thought she was going to sweat right through her dress. War’s expression set her senses on fire, as if everything about him was searing her and she was melting before the flame. He was the sun god again and she was before him, humbly, but oh-so-gratefully basking in his glory.
And he was holding her hand.
It was the most amazing moment she’d ever experienced.
“I’ve had tae contend with Penny the Tyrant,” she said. “The lass tries tae turn her da against me if she doesna get her way, but William is a sensible man. He doesna believe a four year old.”
War’s brow furrowed. “Then I must avenge you,” he said. “Where is that little tormentor?”
Annaleigh giggled. “With her father, the last I saw,” she said. “Ye’ll have tae fight William tae get tae her and I dunna think ye want tae do that.”
He released her hand with a smile. “Probably not.”
She continued to giggle. “Then it is best tae forget yer vengeance for now.” Annaleigh noticed that, behind him, Monty and Clement were pulling out possessions and weaponry and beginning to organize them. She pointed. “Are yer men leaving?”
War glanced at them before returning his attention to her. “We all are,” he said. “De Wolfe wants to take us to Wark Castle and then on to Northwood Castle. I am here on a tour, after all, so it is time to start touring.”
Annaleigh couldn’t help it; her face fell. “I see,” she said. “When are ye leaving?”
It was a gesture not missed by War. His eyes glimmered dully as he cocked his head, trying to get a better look at her lowered face. “Within the hour,” he said. “I could ask de Wolfe to delay it until tomorrow.”
She was starting to feel vastly disappointed and embarrassed that he probably sensed that. “Why would ye?” she asked. “There’s no need for ye tae remain at Castle Questing. Ye must get on with yer business.”
“I can think of a good reason to stay.”
“What’s that?”
It was his turn to be coy. He scratched his neck, seemingly awkward for the first time since Annaleigh had known him.
“I’m not entirely sure I should say,” he said. “You see, I’m not entirely certain she feels the same way and I do not wish to embarrass myself. Or her.”
Annaleigh looked at him, then, thinking she understood what he had implied.
“There is someone here that…?” Realization dawned, or at least she thought it did, and her disappointment returned tenfold.
“Then ye should ask her, of course. I willna take anymore of yer time, m’lord. I’m sure ye have tae…”
She was starting to back up and he reached out, quickly taking her hand and preventing her from getting away.
“You have no idea who I mean, do you?” he asked.
Annaleigh was trying to pull her hand away but she didn’t want to yank. “’Tis none of my affair,” she said. “I wouldna pry. But I wish ye well. I…”
He cut her off again, though it was gently done. “I meant you,” he said quietly. “Did you truly not know that?”
She paused, her eyes wide. “Me?”
He nodded, a smile tugging at his lips as he dropped her hand again. “May I return to Castle Questing to call upon you?”
“Me?” she said, astonished.
“That is not an answer.”
“But… why?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“If it was, I wouldna ask ye.”
He snorted. “I suppose you wouldn’t,” he said.
Then, he took a deep breath as he summoned his courage.
“Let me be clear – I would like to return to Castle Questing to call upon you. That means I would like to come here just to visit you. When you found me near the river those months ago and healed me, that bound us together in a way that is difficult to understand if you’ve not faced death before.
You saved my life, Annaleigh. That means something to me. ”
She was starting to overcome her shock, listening seriously to what he had to say. “Is that why ye want tae return?” she said. “Because ye feel some obligation tae me? Because if that is the only reason, it’s not a good one. It should have nothing tae do with ye wanting tae call upon me.”
He was nodding even before she finished speaking.
“I know,” he said. “I did not mean I feel obligation. It has nothing to do with that and everything to do with a bond I feel with the woman who saved my life. You did not have to do what you did, but you risked much to do it. That speaks of bravery and selflessness that few people have. You’re warm and humorous and beautiful…
you’re a rare woman, Annaleigh. That is why I want to return to call upon you. I want to see you again.”