Chapter Nine #2
“I’ve never been so happy to meet someone.” She wanted to kiss him. “I’m Kara Dalgaard, daughter of Jarl Erik the Bald.”
Two conscripts snickered. She threw them a reproving look.
Why were they whispering like gossipy women?
By Odin, did Aaron reveal things he should have kept to himself?
Although she wanted to throw her arms around him and thank him for rescuing her, as soon as she saw him again, she’d demand answers first. Ignoring their rudeness, she settled on the ground, happy to be off her feet.
Sweat and dirt covered her body. And she smelled horrible.
She swore she would never wear chainmail again.
Every time she did, bad things happened.
She grunted and squirmed, finally pulling the hauberk over her head and left shoulder, before her long hair got snagged in the metal loops.
“Bloody, bloody hell.” She tugged again. “Ouch.”
Someone approached from behind. She didn’t need to look to know who it was. After three more failed attempts to get her hair loose, she growled in frustration. One more try. With a final tug, she ripped several tufts of hair out. Aaron’s laugh made her look up.
“I’ve heard it said on many occasions that we can be our own worst enemy.”
As arrogant and proud as ever. “Will you laugh if I’m left with a patchwork of bald spots?”
He tapped his chin as if he were seriously mulling the thought over in his head. “I would.” Then he rested his hands on her shoulders, making it even harder to think.
“Are you going to help me?”
He laughed, squatted beside her, then lifted the armor off. “I suspect this outweighs you.” He dropped it and pulled her into his arms. “What are you doing here, Kara?”
She snuggled closer to him. “I don’t want to discuss anything right now.” She exhaled, feeling peaceful for the first time in weeks. Who should she praise? The gods? Jarl McNally? Fate?
“Do my eyes deceive me?” he asked. “Are you happy I’m here?”
Her head fell against his shoulder. “Please don’t tease me.” Not now. Not after everything she’d endured. Erling Solheim was the worst kind of man any woman could meet. Cruel and coldhearted—maimed beyond healing.
Aaron pulled away just enough to look down at her. “I’m not playing. I need to know why I found you in that camp. Where are your brothers?”
She’d felt uncomfortable around Aaron since the first time they met.
Now, under his scrutiny, her insides squirmed with every sort of emotion she could possibly feel.
Should she tell the whole truth? Disclose how she’d blindly set out to visit her kinswoman with the intention of finding him first? Or leave out that one detail?
“I’m not angry, Kara.” He eyeballed her. “I’m eager to know what happened.”
Weeks had gone by without contact with her siblings. She knew so little about what was going on in the world. “I cannot speak for my family,” she informed. “Unfortunately, I left in the middle of the night—without my brother’s approval.”
He sighed, releasing her. “Stand.” He helped her to her feet.
She looked down at her braies. “I’ll need a bath and time to wash my clothes.”
“You’re avoiding my questions.”
“Only because I know how wrong I’ve been. I endangered my own life and Amelia’s. My father will never forgive me. And you . . .” Heat rushed into her cheeks. She’d never be able to tell him the truth. “Thank you for finding me.”
“You’re welcome.” He breathed out heavily. “Answer me.”
“After my father left, I grew restless. I decided to visit my cousin in the northlands.”
“Why the secrecy? Doesn’t your father allow you to travel? And why are you dressed as a lad again?”
She couldn’t keep track of all his questions. “Yes.” She shrugged. “My sire affords me the freedom to visit my kinsmen.”
“Like this?” He pointed at her breeches.
“No,” she admitted. “I believed I’d be safer riding with my armor on.”
“You’re lying to me and I don’t like it.”
“Don’t you trust me?”
He grinned. “Have you given me reason to trust you?” He regarded her carefully, circling her twice. “The last time you were dressed like this, I suffered greatly. Remember?”
“I apologized for my part in that charade. Didn’t I?”
“You did.”
“And my father made amends. I know it will take time to recover from it. Can’t you forgive me yet?”
“I’ll consider it. But until then, this will never do.”
A chill rushed through her body. His teasing tone made her unsure of herself. “Is something wrong?” Her gaze followed him.
“Indeed there is, lass. You can’t wear breeches while you’re under my protection.”
She went stiff. Retaliation? Now? In the middle of the forest? In front of his men? Although she knew she’d been wrong on many levels, she wouldn’t allow him to embarrass her. And could he possibly speak any louder? His men were gawking. “Why?”
“Are you prepared to hear the truth, Kara?” he started.
“I’ll give you the courtesy of honesty. First, this unsightly gusset on the back of your breeches .
. .” His intrusive fingers flicked their way up her arse.
“It’s unacceptable. And there’s a small hole here.
And this . . .” He twirled her around. “Look how grimy the leather is. Is this dried blood on your thigh?” He caressed her leg.
For the love of Odin. He touched her so intimately. She tried to stifle the rising heat inside her body. “Wouldn’t it be more prudent to ask me to change, instead of pointing out every flaw in my leather?”
“Yes,” he said. “But not nearly as amusing.”
She frowned. All right, she deserved a little backlash for what she’d done to him. “I’m happy to provide some entertainment for your men, Jarl McNally, but I’m very tired and hungry. Can’t we start over?”