by John Ryan
But first, he would have to tell her the truth.
How do I confess that I have been duplicitous, callous, and ungentlemanly at best…or disregarding and cruel at worst? Thayer reflected as a growing sense of dread welled within him
Verily, Elspeth would be more than prudent to refuse my suit. How can I assure her of me sincere intent and me utter love for her when I have not been genuine with her?
On the battlefield, Thayer had looked upon the face of death with unwavering fortitude, yet he faced Elspeth’s reproach with a fear he’d never known. To lose her esteem would surely be a fate far worse than death. She had only to look upon him in disfavor to wound him more grievously than any lance through his flesh.
Steeling himself and lifting his eyes heavenward, Thayer professed, Nae, I will not lose heart! I shall face Elspeth with the same tact I employ upon the battlefield. I will face her with fearless and steadfast pugnacity and verve. She will surely fall to my char--
“Oh, hello, Faolin” Elspeth greeted warmly as she peeked from behind a towering hedgerow. The hedges were thick with twists of meandering English ivy and choked with gnarled chords of spindly branches of chestnut.
Thayer froze, utterly thunderstruck by her radiant smile. His plan of approach instantly fled his mind, and he was utterly powerless to retrieve it. It would be nothing short of a miracle if he could remember his own name if she but required it.
Elspeth stood before him, smiling sweetly. Her eyes of emerald shone warmly and her crimson hair glowed as if afire. Simply, yet elegantly clad, she wore an unpretentious periwinkle dress fashioned of delicate batiste which clung to her every ambrosial curve. She curtsied, revealing the alluring swell of her breasts that peeked out just above her décolletage of creamy lace.
“M’lady, this gray day has been most favorably brightened by your lovely presence,” Thayer declared, bowing courteously in return.
“Thank ye, Faolin,” Elspeth replied, color rushing to her cheeks while the moon’s pale luminescence reflected in her eyes. As quickly as it had appeared, the moon dipped behind an ominously gray cloud and disappeared from view.
Sweet Jesu’, Elspeth appears lovelier every time I lay my eyes upon her, Thayer mused. Hers is a face I could gaze upon into eternity.
“Faolin, what the devil happened to your face?” Elspeth gestured to the flecks of blood that peppered his cheek and the swelling which appeared about his nose.
“Oh, that,” Thayer replied, flashing a winning grin. “Well, let’s just say it’s something I had coming to me.”
Elspeth lifted a curious brow as she seemed to ponder his odd reply. By the winsome smile that flashed across her lips, Thayer felt comfort that she seemed to think his injury did nothing to detract from his appearance.
“Elspeth, I ken ‘tis rather late, but if ye would permit me the pleasure of your company, there is something of urgency I wish to discuss with ye.”
His heart thumped so loudly in his chest, Thayer was certain Elspeth could hear it.
“Very well, Faolin,” Elspeth replied with a hint of uncertainty in her voice. “But may I propose that ye accompany me to the stables, as I was about to take my mare, Destiny, out for a ride to stretch her legs.”
“Ye ride, m’lady?” Thayer replied, lifting a bemused brow.
“Aye, like the very wind, they say,” Elspeth declared proudly, her eyes widening in excitement. “My father schooled me in many respects, not just in ways of the arts and refinements.”
“Ye are truly a woman full of surprises.”
“I suppose that may be true,” Elspeth conceded, “yet this day it appears that ye are the one that bears the surprise.”
“God’s wounds, ‘tis the very truth,” Thayer murmured under his breath.
“What was that ye said, Faolin?” Elspeth asked, her brows knitting.
“Forgive me, ‘twas naught, m’lady. As ye aforesaid, we will speak as we ride,” Thayer replied, grateful for the precious moments which remained before his confession.
“Very well, Faolin, but ye may speak only if ye can keep up with me,” Elspeth bantered as an impish smile crept across her lips.
“That suits me just fine, m’lady. For even if ye ride afore me, I would not be in want of a view.”
“Och, ye are truly incorrigible!” Elspeth huffed in mock indignation while playfully slapping his arm. “I have a mind to tell your brother.”
“I nigh forgot,” he chortled, “this lovely rose possesses the sharpest thorns. I ought to be careful not to get pricked.”
Elspeth smiled inwardly, reflecting on the uncanny similarity to her brother’s earlier pretension. Once again, this man had touched her heart. Though she scorned herself for her feelings, every moment she shared with him gave rise to an ever increasing desire to be by his side. Though her heart told her she was being foolish and imprudent, her body stubbornly refused to remain unaffected by his nearness. Every warm word, every laugh, every fetching smile caused a heat to rise within her. Unbridled, it crested and threatened to spew forth in torrents she would be unable to restrain.
Stupid! she admonished herself. Stay this madness! ‘Tis Thayer--not Faolin--who is your betrothed! Ye are not even married and yet your heart is already unfaithful!
Mustering her waning composure, she pondered, Mayhap I should insist that Faolin reveal what it is he wishes to speak to me about and ride off alone. Nae, I will give him his proper audience. As me future brother, he surely deserves that much.
“Elspeth, do ye ail?”
“Nae, forgive me, Faolin,” Elspeth said as they arrived at the door to the stables. “My mind just wandered for a moment is all. Please, let us retrieve our mounts and ride.”
“Of course, m’lady, as ye wish,” he replied as he grasped the heavy iron door ring and tugged it open. Placing his hand upon the small of Elspeth’s back, he gently ushered her inside. Elspeth’s head lightened as the warmth from his touch radiated from where his hand rested.
“Just wait here for a moment while I retrieve a torch from the wall yon,” he offered.
A sigh escaped Elspeth as she propped herself against the entranceway and contemplated his mysterious request for her company. Was he going to confront her regarding the deep attraction he might have noticed that he inspired within her? She feared her eyes--as well as her actions--had betrayed her. Did he desire to warrn his brother and expose her true feelings? Had he indeed determined that she favored him and was having second thoughts about allowing the match?
Startled by the sudden appearance of a strapping, befreckled young lad of some ten and seven years, Elspeth’s heart lurched in her chest, catching her breath in her throat.
“‘ello, miss!” the boy greeted with enthusiasm. A fetching, youthful grin flashed across his face.
“Oh, h-hello back, lad,” Elspeth stammered, her skittering heart slowly restoring its normal rhythm.
“Forgive me, miss, ‘twas no’ me intent to frighten ye. Me name is Patrick. I am the groom ‘ere. I’ve taken over for Kevin, as he was summoned to join the rebellion. I was just about to see to the gray mare at the end o’ the stables.”
“Well, Patrick, ‘tis very nice to make your acquaintance,” Elspeth responded politely.
Elspeth smiled and extended her hand, prompting Patrick to nervously brush a tentative buss upon the back of it. His cheeks instantly reddened the hue of one smitten.
“Well, miss, beggin’ yer pardon for askin’ but are you unescorted this fine night?” Patrick inquired, a hopeful smile curving his lips.
“Well, actually I...”
As the lad caught sight of the hulking frame of Elspeth’s escort steadily approaching, glowing torch in hand, Patrick launched into a slew of apologies.
“What the devil is the matter, lad?” Elspeth queried, her brows knitting in confusion.
“Oh, I’m... I’m…sorry, miss,” Patrick stammered in response, his voice ebbing as he warily crept backward in retreat. “I just remembered that I forgot to f
etch the feed from the silo. I’ll be taking my leave now. Good night.”
“Queer laddie,” Elspeth mused aloud as she watched Patrick scamper out of the stable door.
“I wonder what spooked him” Thayer said.
Startled by Thayer’s voice, Elspeth gasped, and then whirled round to face him.
“Ye haven’t threatened him in any way, have ye, Faolin?”
“Oh, some young rascals are intimidated more by their intentions than anything else.”
His voice held an air which was a little too smug for Elspeth’s tastes.
“That, and I suppose he must ken that ye are well squired,” he added, a wry smile tugging at his lips.
“Why, ye arrogant oaf!” Elspeth stormed. “Ye enjoy scaring the likes of young lads, then? And who says that I am well squired, anyhoo? Isn’t that me prerogative to assert? Dinna make me regret me acceptance of your invitation tonight!”
“Forgive me, Elspeth,” he implored, holding his hands in front of his body to demonstrate his sincerity.
Elspeth spied a feigned penitent expression as it crept across his handsome visage as he added, “Forsooth, I dinna mean any harm.”
“I suppose ye were never smitten by a pretty young lass when ye were wore a younger man’s plaid, eh, Faolin?” Elspeth snapped, jamming her fists on her hips.
“Aye, I was smitten. Then as now,” he murmured.
“Oh, ye are nigh impossible, Faolin MacCourt. I swear sometimes I think ye take lessons in being a cad from your brother!” Elspeth returned as a faint smile toyed with the corners of her mouth.
“Come, m’lady, let us fetch our mounts and ride now. I think we could both use the cool night air.”
With a nod, she grasped his hand and led him to the aft of the barn which housed her dappled gray mare. Her aplomb was quickly snatched as the warmth from his hand infused her entire body. Her heart began to race and her senses tingled as if nigh to shattering. She began to swoon and she feared she would soon lose the employ of her legs.
He seemed to sense her concern and lovingly slid his arm around her waist to sustain her. Grateful for his support, Elspeth summoned her remaining strength and trudged forward.
Arriving at the last stall, Elspeth leaned over the door and peered into the shadowy enclosure. Directing the orange glow of the torch deep into the carrel, Elspeth shrieked in despair. Her eyes wide with horror, she whipped open the stall door and darted inside. In an instant, she had fallen to Destiny’s side. The mare stood at the rear of the stall, whimpering and heavily favoring her left hind leg.
Thayer dashed in and knelt beside Elspeth, already busy examining the mare’s lame limb. Halfway up the leg , was a tiny row of briars-twisted and hopelessly entangled.
“Thank heavens, ‘tis only a mass of briar!” Elspeth noted with a profound sense of relief. “Faolin, just soothe her as I unwind this.”
Dutifully, Thayer slid his arm around Destiny’s neck and patted her soft gray muzzle as Elspeth took to removing the briars.
As she began to unwind the prickly growths, Destiny whinnied her disapproval. Thayer continually reassured her with gentle pats about her muzzle and withers.
“Why do ye not use the dirk ye have lashed to your thigh?” he offered.
The last word hadn’t drifted from his lips before he realized his grave miscue!
“What the devil are ye talking about, Faolin MacCourt?” Elspeth demanded, suspicion rising in her voice.
“I, uh...” he stammered. “Naturally, I assumed ye retained some means of protection whilst riding,” Thayer offered lamely. Inwardly, he chastised himself for such a pitiful attempt at an explanation.
“Ye assumed that?” Elspeth replied, lifting an incredulous brow. She studied his face to validate his sincerity.
“Aye, ye are the daughter of an earl. ‘Tis not a stretch of one’s imagination to assume as such,” Thayer offered, encouraged by the fact Elspeth hadn’t lashed out more angrily at him. Mayhap, he reflected, his secret remained unexposed for the moment.
“Well, actually, ye are correct, I do bear a dirk,” Elspeth confirmed, presenting her back to Thayer as she sought to retrieve it.
Though his vantage point behind Elspeth didn’t afford him the view he desired, Thayer’s loins tightened as he reflected upon the first time he had seen her slide the weapon from the thin leather scabbard lashed to her creamy thighs. Thayer stood on his tiptoes as Elspeth hiked her skirt upward. Unaware of Thayer’s ardent perusal, she removed the dirk from its sheath under and, with a shrug if her slender shoulders, promptly took to pruning away the briars from Destiny’s leg.
Watching the tender manner in which Elspeth sought to free her mare while lovingly reassuring her; Thayer became aware of the pleasing warmth which permeated his entire being. He began to wish he had briars coiled around his leg.
“There, it’s off!” Elspeth declared triumphantly, holding the offending vine aloft. “On the morrow, I shall ask Anne to prepare a healing salve to apply to her leg. In the meantime, since ye frightened the groom away afore he could tend to the rest of the horses, I dinna think we can ride tonight.”
“Nonsense, we can ride together astride my stallion, Ethelion,” Thayer insisted.
Before she could respond, Thayer slid his arm around Elspeth’s waist and turned her about. With a hand at the small of her back, he gently escorted her toward the fore of the stables. She acquiesced, smiling as he led her to Ethelion’s stall. Although the stall in the first row was reserved for the very largest of Dirleton’s steeds, even it was a tight fit for Thayer’s hulking black stallion. Peering inside, Elspeth stood speechless, marveling at the immense size and impressive stature of Thayer’s fine destrier.
“Ethelion is strong and well rested. He is more than capable of bearing the weight of us together. Besides, he will be pleased with the honor of riding with ye--as will I,” Thayer said.
Before she could try to prevent it, Elspeth’s cheeks heated with his proclamation. Buoyancy rising within her chest, it soon spread throughout her whole being, affording her welcome warmth against the cool night air.
Surely, this eve will not be easy to endure, she mused as a pensive frown crept across her face. No matter what this man had on his mind, Elspeth knew this was to be a true test of her will. The more she pondered it, the more she questioned whether she should be riding out with him at all.
Clearing his throat, Thayer parted his tunic to reveal a heavy chain fashioned from fine silver. At the end of the chain, a key dangled, obscuring a second pendant which lay behind it.
Elspeth gasped, instantly disarmed by the rippling muscles of his tanned chest. Seeking to keep her poise intact, she immediately averted her gaze. Nonetheless, her eyes disobeyed her, darting upward to regard his broad chest once more.
He flashed a devilish grin. Gently sliding his hand under her chin, he cupped it and delved deeply into her eyes.
“My eyes are here, m’lady. Mayhap I can be of some assistance,” he bid as his eyes of blue shone warmly.
Blushing, Elspeth playfully slapped him across his arm. The, bitterly chiding herself for permitting him to discover her distraction, let her gaze fall to her feet. She looked upon them inwonderment as they shuffled nervously, as if directed by another force. She then watched as he looped the chain over his head and, with his broad back to Elspeth, slid the key into the heavy iron lock on Ethelion’s stall. The great hasp creaked and moaned in protest as a fine layer of rust shook itself free.
Slipping inside the stall, Thayer turned to Elspeth, and offering his hand, led her to the head of his great stallion. Gently patting Ethelion’s sleek snout of ebony, he proudly pronounced, “’Tis no greater steed in the entire realm. He has served me well in battle. Verily, I would not be here this day if it were not for this fine animal.”
“He is as fine a stallion as I have ever beheld, Faolin,” Elspeth remarked with awe.
With glee, she smoothed Ethelion’s shimmery black mane and playfully patted his mu
zzle. Ethelion, his eyes of amber regarding her with trust, whinnied in acceptance.
Elspeth stood back as Ethelion’s master heaved the saddle onto the great beast’s back and lashed it securely before guiding Elspeth to its side.
“Forgive me for the want of a side saddle, Elspeth, but ‘twould be quite a hindrance charging into battle.”
Elspeth laughed at the vision it conjured before chortling, “Lack of a side saddle is not a problem, but I think I may require Jacob’s ladder to scale this great beast of yours.”
Thayer flashed a winning smile, and then offered his hand to Elspeth. Gazing at the withers which towered a full sixteen hands above the ground, she gratefully nodded her acceptance. Deftly sliding his hands around her slender waist, her escort deftly hoisted her atop the saddle with one graceful sweep. As Elspeth settled into the saddle, the great stallion whinnied and grunted in protest.
“There, there, Ethelion,” Thayer soothed, as he gently patting the steed’s shimmery muzzle. “Verily, it cannot be that this lithesome lass is too much a burden, eh?”
Ethelion reared back, grunting and snorting with renewed fervor.
Retrieving a small cube of sugar which she had concealed in her bodice, Elspeth leaned over Ethelion’s muscular neck and gingerly outstretched her palm. The great stallion greedily accepted the confectionery treat and turned his majestic head round to gently nuzzle Elspeth’s hand.
“Ye see, Faolin. ‘Tis not solely love that can subdue the savage beast,” Elspeth jested as she smoothed the lace across her bodice.
“M’lady, ye are truly a lass of many talents. Forsooth, ye tame the beasts as effortlessly as ye tame me...I mean me brother’s heart.”
“Then mayhap ye would like some sugar as well,” Elspeth suggested.
He burst forth into such raucous laughter that he almost lost his grasp on the horn of Ethelion’s saddle. Dabbing away the wayward tears from his reddened cheeks, he jerked himself upward, and threw his muscular leg over the saddle. Taking up the reins, he looked toward Elspeth.
Noting his readiness to depart, Elspeth nodded in mute acquiescence. With a gentle nudge of his heels, her riding partner prompted the great steed forward. Ethelion emitted a final grunt of protest before trotting through the great oaken door and into the chill of the dewy night air. Momentarily halting Ethelion, his master reached back and closed the great doors behind them.