Chapter Eleven
Carice breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Raine approaching. He drew his horse to a halt and said, “Tell the woman the soldiers won’t bother her any more. I’ve sent them away.”
She translated for him, but Aoife appeared uncertain of whether or not Raine was telling the truth. She clenched her hands together, looking exhausted and afraid.
Carice wanted to ask questions, but the look in his eyes warned her to say nothing. She guessed that he knew the Normans and had used that influence.
“This is Aoife,” she said to him, introducing Raine in turn. “Her escorts are about a mile from here, maybe less.”
“You are one of the Normans,” Aoife accused. To Carice, she demanded, “Why would you trust this man?”
“He is a Norman, yes. But he has earned my trust, and I swear to you, he will only protect us. I hired him to escort me to the west.”
The woman rested her hands upon her swollen belly, and she looked uneasy. “I need to return to my men. They were taking me home to my husband.”
Carice translated for Raine, and he spoke in Irish, “We will take you to them.” Although he’d spoken clearly, his discomfort with the language was obvious. She questioned how much Raine had understood of what Aoife had said.
“Can you ride?” he asked the woman gently. He spoke in the Irish language, but his Norman accent was strong.
She nodded. “I think so.”
He dismounted from his horse and easily lifted Aoife atop his mount. Though it was awkward, the woman managed to hold on to the reins. Carice worried about Aoife keeping her balance. “I don’t want her to fall.”
“She won’t.” Raine helped her to mount her own horse and then swung up behind her. Carice leaned back against him while he drew their horse alongside the young pregnant woman.
As they made their way through the woods, Carice translated Raine’s questions.
They learned that the woman lived in the north and was traveling home from her father’s dwelling.
A sadness crossed her face, and she admitted, “He died last year, and I went to visit the home of my childhood. It lies a few miles east of here.”
“Would you rather return there?” Carice suggested. To her surprise, Aoife refused.
“No. There is no reason to go back, and my husband is expecting me to join him.”
Though she questioned whether the young woman could reach Leinster, given her pregnancy, it was not her place to interfere. Carice questioned her on Raine’s behalf. “Have you enough supplies?”
Aoife lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “They took gold, but I don’t think they stole our food. We can manage until we are home again.”
“I spoke with their commander,” Raine said, speaking slowly to give Carice time to translate. “They will not trouble you again. I promise you that.”
And Carice believed that he would keep that vow. Raine had behaved honorably toward her, and he’d given her no reason to distrust him. He had the physical strength she lacked, and with this man, she felt protected.
As they rode east, she leaned back against him, enjoying the feeling of his arms around her.
His male scent allured her, and she grew distracted with thoughts of him kissing and touching her.
God forgive her, but she wanted this man.
She wanted to forget about her body’s weakness and lose herself in his embrace.
She was aware of every hardened line of his body, his powerful thighs surrounding her, and the chainmail armor he wore.
When they found Aoife’s escorts, there were two men present, one of whom was badly wounded. Their leader appeared visibly relieved. “My lady, I am so glad to see you unharmed. The other two men are still searching for you.”
Aoife’s face hardened. “They did a poor job of it. But thankfully, I was found by Lady Carice and this Norman soldier.” She motioned for her guard to help her down.
Then she turned back to them, returning the horse to Raine.
“I owe you my thanks for bringing me back. My husband will see to it that you’re rewarded for this. ”
Carice translated for Raine, as well as his reply, “There is no need for that.” He dismounted from their horse and took back the other mount. “I am only sorry that the soldiers took what was yours.”
Aoife leaned down from her horse and twisted off a ring. “You will need shelter for the night. If you ride toward the east, you may stay at my father’s house. Take this, and one of my soldiers will accompany you, to ensure that you are treated as a guest.”
If they journeyed toward the east, it meant they would be backtracking. Carice told Raine of Aoife’s offer, but started to argue that it wasn’t needed.
Raine ignored her protest and spoke slowly, “That would be...kind. We accept your offer.” He took the ring and slid it onto his smallest finger.
What was he doing? “We’re traveling west, Raine. I don’t think—”
“You need to regain your strength,” he argued back. “I don’t want you sleeping out of doors another night. Not when you’ve been so ill.”
Though she knew it was only concern, her greater worry was being found by her father. And traveling east made that a true danger. “I’ll be fine. I can manage.”
He ignored her and directed his attention back to Aoife. To Carice, he ordered, “Translate for me.”
She didn’t want to, but obeyed, repeating his words. “If one of your men would guide us to your father’s house, we would appreciate it.”
Aoife offered a smile. “I am thankful for your kindness. And please tell my father’s steward that I am in need of more escorts.” She gave instructions to one of her men to lead the way while the others began burying the fallen soldiers.
The guard chosen to accompany them said, “We must travel south and then east.”
Raine didn’t argue with the man, but Carice thought this was a terrible idea.
Not only would it bring them toward her father’s men, but there was no need for it.
She drew her horse alongside his and said, “Why would you have us go the wrong direction, Raine? I am not so weak that I cannot sleep outside.”
He stiffened in the saddle, but eyed her. “You could barely move only a little while ago. If I push you too hard, you’ll collapse.”
“I can manage the journey,” she insisted. “Really, there’s no need for this.”
He eyed her, and in his gaze, she saw the gravity of his concern. “What does one more day matter, Carice?”
“What about the soldiers you spoke with? Won’t they recognize you and tell your commander what you’ve done? I don’t want you to be punished on my behalf.”
There was a hint of unrest in his eyes. “They care not what I do during these next few days, so long as I return to my duties within a sennight.”
He was lying; she was certain of that. She started to argue again, but then understanding dawned within her. “You bribed them, didn’t you? And if it seems that you are traveling east, they will think you are obeying.”
He neither agreed with nor denied her prediction. It did make sense, however. She supposed another day wouldn’t matter too much, if it meant protecting him from the ire of his Norman commander.
But as they traveled, it bothered her to realize that they were not retracing their path.
It made her wonder exactly where Raine had taken them.
In fact, it seemed that they were moving forward instead of backwards.
The uneasy suspicions were hard to silence, but she told herself that she had never been to this part of éireann before. One meadow looked the same as the next.
But she was beginning to wonder if there was a reason for her misgivings.
They arrived at the settlement in the late afternoon.
Raine hardly spoke to Carice at all, for fear that he would reveal too much.
They were only two days’ journey from Tara, and his misgivings heightened.
He didn’t want to see Carice’s eyes fill up with hatred toward him—not after he had fought so hard to take care of her.
You’ve grown too close.
His commander’s words were true enough. Raine had intended to distance himself, to be her escort and nothing else.
But when she’d raced him on the ice, when she’d slept in his arms, some of the emptiness had abated.
Being with Carice had softened the rage he’d held within him during the past few years.
She brought a sense of peace that took away the loneliness.
With each moment, he found himself wanting to remain at her side.
You will never have a woman like her. Not after what you’ve done.
The knowledge filled him with regret. He followed the guard inside the gates, trying to shut out the voices of guilt. His sisters were depending on him. Their lives rested upon the decisions he was about to make. He had no right to put one woman’s needs before his family’s.
“I feel as if I know this place,” Carice said. “It seems familiar somehow.” Her expression grew discerning, almost thoughtful as she studied their surroundings. Then a moment later, she seemed to dismiss the idea.
He only shrugged. “I have not been here before.” Although it was a smaller property, it boasted a large stone donjon and several outbuildings. Thatched roundhouses encircled the space, and he guessed that the outer walls were twelve feet tall and two feet thick.
The guard introduced them to the steward, and they showed the man Aoife’s ring.
Carice explained what had happened, and her words were verified by the guard who had accompanied them.
All the while, Raine grew aware of how pale she appeared, as if each step was an effort.
Although Carice was putting on a brave front, she needed to rest.