The woman checked on Elizabeth’s hair. The mixture was surprisingly warm and a bit tingly on her scalp.
“I brought ye some ale. Your husband knows you’re getting ready.”
“But won’t he wonder what’s taking so long?”
The woman eyed her. “You haven’t been married long, have ye? Women take their time and men wait. ’Tis the way of the world.”
Elizabeth laughed, and they clinked cups. Knowing Robert would have to wait as the mixture did its job, she propped an elbow on the table and relaxed, pondering the mystery of the Scot and the man with dark blue eyes who made her want to scream and smile at the same time.
“I’ll be back in a bit to wash it all out, and then we’ll have you right as rain.”
“Your color is so pretty. No one would ever know you had any gray.”
The woman touched a hand to her wet hair. “Thank ye. The dye will last until your hair grows out.” She squinted at Elizabeth’s head. “Don’t suppose any more colors will show up?”
“Nope.” She grinned at the woman.
Gavin skidded to a stop, gaping. “Wot are ye doin’, lady?” He leaned over her, sniffing. “Stinks.”
“I rather like the smell. Thought it was time for a change.” She pointed to the innkeeper’s wife out in the main room. “She was kind enough to make my hair brown again.”
He looked disappointed. “Guess you’re not a witch.”
“Nope.”
Gavin looked hopeful. “A faerie, then?”
Elizabeth winked at him. “Afraid not. Just a plain, normal girl.”
He stood there, rocking back on his heels, hands on his hips, and she suppressed a laugh. Talk about a serious case of hero worship. He’d obviously been studying Robert. Gavin looked just like the man when he was thinking about something or trying not to shout at her, especially as he stroked his chin.
“My lady, there is nothing plain about you.”
He was going to be a total heartbreaker when he grew up. She wanted to pull him close and hug him, but was afraid of getting dye on him, so instead she touched Gavin’s cheek. “It’s a lovely compliment. Thank you.”
He cocked an ear toward the door. “I hear the horses. I will go and see if my lord is ready to depart.” He turned back and looked at her. “When do you wash it out?”
The innkeeper bustled in. “Right now, laddie. Tell your lord his lady wife will be out soon.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Robert had sent Gavin to check on Elizabeth while the men readied the horses. He’d gone upstairs to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything in the room. As soon as they returned to Highworth, he would gift her with a new cloak, for he hated seeing her wearing Radford’s. Featherton had offered to pack for Elizabeth, but Robert wanted to do it himself. Like a dolt, he thought to bring clothing, but no cloak. Busy making sure she had not left a hair ribbon behind, he knelt down to pick up one of the buttons from her dress. A sound made him reach for his sword, but ’twas not in time, as pain lanced through him and everything went dark.
Rough timbers came into view as Robert blinked. Reaching up to touch his aching head, his fingers came away red. With a grunt, he sat up, the pouch at his waist missing. No wonder his head pained him so. The pitcher was shattered on the floor next to him. Who had hit him over the head and why? Elizabeth.
He bolted to his feet, stumbled, and raced down the stairs, bellowing for his men. “Where is Elizabeth?”
As he ran into the courtyard, three men rode away. “Whoresons.” As much as he wanted to go after them, he could not afford to send his men, nor tarry any longer. Radford would have men after them, and they needed to get back to Highworth before the storm hit. He did not want to travel in snow and muck.
When he didn’t think life could get any worse, he checked the saddlebags of his horse. The bag of gold was missing.
“What were you dolts doing? I have been robbed.”
One of the men looked sheepish. “He said he was feeding the animals, my lord. We did not know he had stolen your gold.”
Another man shrugged. “Who leaves gold in the stables?”
And, of course, none of the men had any gold with them to pay the bill.
Elizabeth ran out, her hair wet. “What’s wrong? I heard you yelling.”
Gavin danced around her, embellishing the tale. “The bandits could have killed my lord. They smashed the pitcher down on his head. He is lucky his head was not smashed open like a melon. And they’ve stolen all his gold. He can’t pay the bill.”
“Off with their heads,” she shouted, then caught his startled look. “Sorry, I’ve been dying to say that since I arrived. How do you not abuse the power? I’d be terribly tempted.”
A smile tugged at the corner of his face.
“’Tis a great burden to bear.” Robert was only half teasing.
She raised a brow at him. “So we have no money? Are we to stay and work off the charges?”
Robert frowned. “I will speak to the innkeeper. When he hears I am Lord Highworth, my word will be enough.”
“I’m sure they need the money.” Elizabeth rummaged around in her cloak and came up with a pouch. “This ought to do it.” She tossed the pouch to him. He caught it with one hand. It was heavy, and when Robert opened it, he saw the gold.
“How?”
She grinned. “I stole it from Froggy.”
Robert blew out his cheeks and opened his eyes wide as he made a croaking noise in the back of his throat. Her mouth twitched. She put a hand up to her lips, then turned away, shaking. Snorts of laughter escaped. He joined in.
“Oh my gosh, you looked just like him when you made that face.”
“I will settle our account and we will be off. It smells like snow.”
One of the men spoke up. “I told him a storm is coming, lady. My shoulder always aches when a storm approaches.”
Robert explained to her, “He was wounded in battle several years ago, and since then we always know when bad weather is coming. His shoulder is never wrong.”
He paid the innkeeper and his wife, adding a few extra coins for their trouble and the damage. In the courtyard, Elizabeth was settled on her own horse, Gavin in front of her.
“You are able to ride?”
“A friend of mine has a farm with many horses. I learned years ago. Are we ready to go?”
He held the pouch up for her.
“No, you keep it. We might need it on the way. I only took it in case I needed to secure lodging for Gavin and I as we made our way back to Highworth.”
He turned in the saddle. “You were coming back?”
“You didn’t want me to?”
“I did—” The wind blew the hood of her cloak back and he blinked. “Your hair. I thought it looked darker. What have you done?”
She touched the dark strands. “You don’t like it?”
He spoke without thinking. “It’s a rather solid brown. Like the earth in the garden.” Robert stared at her face. “Your nose is overlong and your teeth are big for your mouth. With your hair, you remind me of my favorite horse.”
Fury turned her emerald eyes the color of a stormy sea. Too late, he realized his error. What was it about her? With all the women before, he paid them compliments, and they swooned. But Elizabeth? Robert opened his mouth and spoke utter nonsense. He was witless around her. In truth, he hadn’t meant to insult her; he loved his horse and he liked her nose and teeth.
The color rose up in her cheeks as she fisted her cloak, yet all he could think of was hauling her off the horse and into his arms, kissing her senseless, begging her pardon. But that would be ridiculous, wouldn’t it?
“I am not a horse. I don’t understand why you’re nice to everyone else and so mean to me.” She turned away from him.
“Horses are valuable. ’Twas a compliment.”
“I give you gold to pay our bill and this is how you treat me.” She sneered at him. “I have heard all about the women you bed. How you are the
most charming of all the Thornton brothers. Yet you compare me to a horse. I don’t think so.”
Robert knew when he was bested. “’Twill be hard riding to Highworth. We should be on our way. We will only stop to rest the horses. Can you keep up?”
She huffed. “I think you’ve insulted me enough for one day.” And as she turned away, he thought he heard her mumble, “I’m going to hate you until my last breath.”
The men jeered, teasing Elizabeth as they rode. They compared each other to their horses until finally she laughed. Told one of the men his horse was much better looking than he. No matter how Robert tried, she would not speak to him.
He decided he would let her remain angry for the day. Tomorrow. Tomorrow he would apologize. Explain he was paying her a compliment. Tell her how he found her more beautiful than all others. That none before her mattered. And tell her why he could not keep her. Why he kept pushing her away.
Tomorrow.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Elizabeth kept up the silent treatment for two days. The only time she and Sunshine had ever gotten in a fight, Elizabeth didn’t speak to her for a week. Sunshine would call, and Elizabeth would answer the phone but not say a word. Funny thing; she couldn’t even remember now what she was angry about. But with Robert? What wasn’t she angry about? The guy had been a jerk from the moment she woke up to find him snuggling her. In all fairness, she supposed he was just as surprised to find her in the bed as she was to find him, but still…then he’d do something nice like ride to her rescue, taking out bad guys who had rape on their minds. He’d sent for a bath. And he brought her clothes, knowing she wouldn’t want anything of Radford’s touching her skin.
All the riding had made Elizabeth tired and cranky. All day and part of the night they rode, only stopping to let the horses rest. Would her thighs ever stop aching? Each time she dismounted, she still felt the gentle movement of being on the back of a horse. When sailors came back from a long journey at sea, she imagined they felt the same, the rolling of the ship under their feet while they were on land.
They all slept next to the fire. One of Robert’s men ended up so close to the flames, he woke to find half his hair singed off. Gavin slept curled up against her, like Elizabeth’s own personal heater.
With no sign of Radford’s men, Elizabeth hoped he’d decided she and Gavin weren’t worth bothering about…but he didn’t seem like a man who accepted losing gracefully. Maybe he was waiting until the weather broke, then he would show up all puffed up and self-important, demanding them back. Then what? Would Robert hand them over? No way she was going back. The uncertainty of the woods and the road would be a better choice. Though she still had to figure out how to help the serving girls, and wanted to talk to little Janet and see if she was speaking yet. Would she mess up history if she tried to start a women’s rights movement?
On the third day, she could tell by the men’s moods and the way the horses picked up the pace they must be getting close to Highworth. Time to let up on the silent treatment. Robert had tried to make her laugh. He’d even whispered in her ear in Norman French, words that sounded nice but probably were him telling her she looked like a pig and a cow. She’d pretended he wasn’t there.
Gavin and Robert’s knights found the whole thing hysterical. Elizabeth wasn’t mad at them, so at least she had plenty of people to talk to during the trip. But whenever Robert asked a question or spoke, she acted like she didn’t hear him or see him, even going as far to bump into him on her way to wash. It was immature, but it sure made her feel better. It would go under “finding the fun in any situation.” Robert grumbled but took it well, which earned him a check in the plus column on her “hate him or like him” list.
Sunshine would have reminded her about the boy who pulled her pigtails when they were in first grade. Little boys thought being mean to little girls was a good way to let them know they liked them. Could Robert be the same? Was his treatment of her a mask for how he really felt?
While they rested, a few of the men talked about the wenches from the night before.
“Nothing like ending a fine meal with a fine woman.” The knight with blond hair and dimples laughed.
Robert smirked. “You should be grateful I only have eyes for Elizabeth, otherwise I would have taken them all for myself.”
The tall knight slapped Robert’s shoulder. “The church says we should not be greedy.”
“And deprive the ladies of my charming self?”
Elizabeth snorted. “Oh please. You and your big ego. I’m surprised your head can fit through the doors of the castle. Give it a rest. Everyone knows you’re hot. But pretty on the outside isn’t pretty on the inside. You’re uglier than Radford on the inside.”
The men hooted and hollered. Gavin sat on a fallen log, laughing silently, shaking so hard pieces of the log broke off and fell into the snow.
Robert placed a hand over his heart, pretending to swoon. “Oh, my lady. How you wound me.”
She stuck her tongue out at him.
“Finally. She speaks. And smiles. It only took three days.” Then his face grew serious as he leaned in close so the others wouldn’t hear. “Truly, I am sorry. I’ve been an utter arse. You’re beautiful and kind.”
Gavin was leaning so far forward, straining to listen, that he tumbled off the log into the snow. He popped up. “I’m unharmed.”
Robert’s knights pretended to ready the horses, but they were completely silent, listening to what she’d say. Elizabeth knew she’d caused discord in the group, but she was tired of the way he behaved. Time to throw him a bone. She poked him in the chest and put on her I’m here to fight the big, bad coal company look. It usually intimidated pretty well.
“It’s all fine and good to say you’re sorry. But you have to earn forgiveness. With actions, not words. So we shall see. Perhaps in time I will believe you.”
Gavin glared at Robert. “’Tis not the behavior of a chivalrous knight, my lord.”
Robert ruffled the boy’s hair. “You are correct, Gavin. I have not been kind to our lady. I will endeavor do better, starting this moment, in front of all these witnesses.” He looked the boy up and down, then reached into his boot, pulling out a dagger.
“I’m giving you one of my daggers so you can protect your lady. Do you accept this duty, Gavin?”
His whole face lit up. “I do. Will you teach me to fight?”
The tall knight who was scary good with a sword picked up Gavin, throwing him over his shoulder. “Aye, I will teach you to take a man down with one blow.”
How easily little boys could be bought. But Elizabeth didn’t say anything, not wanting to ruin Gavin’s happiness.
“’Tis a most wondrous gift, my lord. I will treasure it.” He knelt in the snow at her feet, holding the dagger out, across the palms of his hands. “I vow to defend you with my life, lady. I swear it.”
“Thank you, Gavin.” She touched him on the cheek. Moments like this made her want to stay in the past. Create a life here and find out what adventures awaited. But how would she make a living? Where would she live? Gavin and some of the others she’d met were quickly becoming friends. If not for Robert and his ability to get under her skin, she’d have no doubts at all.
Then she had to turn away. There was dirt or something in her eye. Of course that’s all it was.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
As they rode toward home, Robert was happier than he’d been in days. He’d finally gotten Elizabeth to speak to him. In worrying for her safety, he’d been a dolt. Never in his life had he treated a woman as poorly as he’d treated her. The choice to treat her thus to protect her was a difficult one.
If Connor was discovered, she would have no one to turn to. Her family wasn’t born yet. The thought gave him pause. For weeks he’d looked for a way to protect her. He’d considered sending her to a convent. Even his gold would not save her if they called her witch. She cared so much about others that she gave herself away as odd. Ofttimes she watch
ed his men and the people they encountered for the way to speak, to behave. She tried to fit in. Though he ached to tell her not to try.
He cared for her as she was. Wait until she met Anna and his brother Henry’s bride, Charlotte. Robert wanted to see the expression on her exquisite face when she came face to face with others like her. ’Twas one thing to hear there were other future girls and another to meet them.
Thank the heavens she had changed the color of her hair. It would help her fit in. Though he would not admit it, Robert had grown used to the pretty, pale colors. With her hair darker, the freckles across her nose stood out. He ached to reach up and touch each one, connecting them to each other like stars in the heavens.
He considered sending her to Edward or one of his other brothers. But if he did, he would have to explain about Connor. And there was the other part. How did he tell John he was to blame for so much death?
He’d been brooding until she’d spoken to him today. It was like the storm clouds cleared and the sun came out. One smile from her and he wanted nothing more than to make her smile again. To see her happy.
They made one last stop to rest the horses. As he made his way back from a stream, he heard shrieking. Sword drawn, he ran…and skidded to a stop in the snow. They were not under attack. As he stood there gaping, a ball of snow hit him in the face.
Brushing the cold away, he watched as Elizabeth bent down, cupping snow in her gloves and forming a small ball. Then she threw it at Gavin. It hit the boy in the arm, and he yelped before quickly bending down to return the volley.
She hit one of his men, and soon it was a melee. Unable to resist, Robert threw a ball of snow, hitting one of his men in the shoulder. They ran to and fro, laughing, throwing snow at each other. At last, Elizabeth threw her hands up.
“I’m done. You guys win.” She sat by the fire, breathing heavily. “Remind me to start spending time in the lists. Not only do I need to know how to use a sword, it seems my aim could use some work as well.”
Forever Knight: Thornton Brothers Time Travel (A Thornton Brothers Time Travel Romance Book 2) Page 12