Chapter 10 #3
She nodded, relieved that the chest would be further away from her on the journey.
It didn’t take long for the two men to wrestle the chest out of her carriage and onto the ground. They grunted as they hefted it up and walked it back to the supply wagon. Angelet went ahead to clear a space for it.
“Move the hay aside,” Rafe grunted.
She clambered up and pushed at the loose hay meant for emergency animal feed. The men lifted the heavy chest up and slid it over, nearly pinning Angelet to the wall of the wagon in the process. She yelped in surprise when the corner of the chest hit her right ankle. “Ouch!”
“Apologies, my lady!” Simon said.
“No matter.” Without being told, Angelet started to replace the hay over the chest, helping to conceal it from casual view. When she was done, she was on her knees, with straw all over her skirts, but she felt much better.
“Well done, my lady,” Rafe said, from behind her. “Come, I’ll help you out of there.”
She edged backwards and then felt his hands on her waist as he helped lift her out and set her on the ground. She sensed the strength in his arms, and momentarily forgot what she was going to say when her gaze caught his eyes.
He looked her over from top to toe, then said, “You’re missing a shoe, my lady.”
“What?” That wasn’t what she expected to hear. She looked down. Her right slipper was gone. “Oh. I must have lost it when the chest hit my foot.”
“Do you want me to retrieve it for you?” he asked.
It was probably buried under hay. “No, thank you. I have another pair that will serve.”
“Very well. Then let me walk you back to your carriage. You can set it to rights before the others get called from inside.”
He helped her into her carriage, once again distracting her with his nearness and the simple touch of his hand in hers. She didn’t ever remember being so aware of a man, and definitely never in a way that created such a buzzing in her body.
She worked to restore the carriage to its proper order, covering the place where the chest had been with a few more boxes and cushions. “There. No one should see any change. Except Bethany. She’ll notice soon enough, since she’s traveling with me.”
Rafe said, his expression intent, “Shall I tell her she’s to go elsewhere?”
“That negates her purpose,” Angelet replied.
“No one will be able to threaten your honor while the carriage is in motion, guarded by soldiers,” Rafe pointed out. “I’ll instruct the girl to find a spot elsewhere while we are actually traveling. Then you can enjoy some solitude.”
He returned to the inn, presumably to do exactly that.
When Bethany came out a moment later she frowned, looking Angelet over with a critical eye. Angelet was painfully aware that her gown was scattered with bits of straw snared in the wool, and she was still missing a shoe. She looked very much as if she’d been, well, rolling in the hay.
“Sir Rafe informed me that you would not need companionship today.”
Angelet felt embarrassment and rage flare up inside, but she kept her face blank. “Correct.”
“You can’t just tell me where I’m to sit or walk!”
Suddenly Rafe stood near them. He said, “Lady Angelet made her wishes clear. Now, Bethany, you may walk, or ride on the back of one of the carts, or ride if there’s a spare beast for it. Don’t bother the lady until she calls for your service.”
Bethany gaped at Sir Rafe, who towered over her, his expression cool. His hand rested lightly on the pommel of his sword.
It dawned on her that there was no hope for negotiation with the black-clad knight, and she had no standing to argue. She whirled around and stalked off.
Rafe gave Angelet a little wink. “Satisfactory?”
“Quite. Thank you.”
“Just following orders, my lady. I’ll do anything you ask of me.” His tone was light and teasing, but heat shot through Angelet.
There was no way he’d chosen those words by chance. He was reminding her of his scandalous offer. If only the idea of him following her every order didn’t sound so interesting.
Rafe still stood there, apparently waiting for something. Oh, yes. He’d asked a question while she was daydreaming.
“Repeat that?” she asked.
“Did you need anything else before we depart? We’ll ride until dark, or until we find a suitable place to stay the night.”
“Oh. No, thank you. I don’t want…anything…” she trailed off. She wanted so many things, and she’d get none of them. “Wait! There is one thing.”
“Yes?”
“I forgot to tell you last night.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You remembered something?”
“No. I just meant I should have told you…thank you. For saving my life.”
He looked surprised for a moment, then gave her a half-smile. “Live to serve.”
She retreated into the carriage, sinking into the cushioned seat. She reached out only to pull the curtains closed. She needed to be alone and unobserved for a little while, so she could recover her normal calm demeanor.
Lord, someone tried to kill her last night, and here she was dreaming of Rafe as though nothing had changed. Yet, despite everything she knew about his personality, Rafe was the one person she felt she could trust.