heart beat faster in expectation.
‘So, the little bird has flown the nest at last,’ a deep voice said behind her.
Sibell whirled round so fast her cloak caught on a nearby branch. She wrenched it free with trembling hands and stared at Sir Roger of Langford, who had materialised behind her like a wraith out of the ground. ‘I … I …’
‘Forgive me, I didn’t mean to startle you again.’ He laughed. ‘It seems to be my misfortune to scare the wits out of you whenever we meet. I promise, that is not my intention.’
‘Where did you come from? I didn’t hear your approach.’ Sibell strove to calm herself and pulled the cloak together in front of her. Yet again he’d caught her unawares.
‘You must have been truly engrossed then. I made no secret of my presence.’
Sibell wasn’t convinced. Anyone walking in the forest was bound to step on at least the occasional twig, but she’d heard nothing. ‘You are on foot today?’ she remarked suspiciously, wondering what could have brought him so near her home in stealth. Was he spying on her father?
‘Indeed. It is too beautiful a day to ride. I prefer to observe nature at close quarters and what better way than going for a walk? Isn’t that what you’re doing yourself?’
‘I, er … I merely came to look for herbs.’
‘Ah, but of course.’ The look he gave her told her clearly that he knew she was prevaricating and Sibell thought it best to change the subject.
‘Didn’t Sir Gilbert warn you there are outlaws hereabouts?’
Sir Roger laughed again. ‘I thought we established last time we met that neither of us feared them. As you can see, I have brought my trusted sword just in case.’ He gave the weapon an affectionate pat, then grew serious. ‘However, a woman alone shouldn’t venture too far from home. It would be foolhardy, I think.’
‘I haven’t. I’m still close to the manor,’ she defended herself, although she could see now that had he been an outlaw, she would have had trouble escaping him. It occurred to her to wonder whether he was actually one of those desperate men himself. Was that why he was sneaking around in such a furtive manner? Was he on his way to a meeting with other outlaws, supporters of the Duke of York perhaps? She frowned. If he was, he was taking a huge risk, wandering about in broad daylight.
‘You’re not enjoying this fine day?’ he asked, seeing her expression. ‘Perhaps you don’t care for flowers?’
‘Of course I do, only …’ She couldn’t tell him he had spoiled her enjoyment of them. It would sound too churlish. ‘You frightened me, is all.’
‘Well, perhaps you’d allow me to make amends? Come for a walk with me and we can appreciate the beauty of spring together.’ He held out his arm for her and looked at her expectantly.
‘But I barely know you.’
‘Nonsense. I’m a guest of the Presseille family. Surely you don’t think I would jeopardise their goodwill by mistreating one of their neighbours and a former daughter-in-law of Lady Maude’s at that?’ He smiled at her to indicate how ridiculous he thought her suspicions. ‘I only wish to walk and talk with you.’
Sibell felt foolish for doubting him. He certainly didn’t look like a brigand, nor act like one. Perhaps he was the opposite – someone sent to root out and apprehend the Duke’s supporters? With a sigh she gave up thinking about it and remembered her decision to enjoy the here and now. ‘Very well,’ she said and placed a few fingers on his forearm. ‘I see no harm in walking a little way. There is a brook not far from here which is in full flow at this time of year; a lovely sight.’
‘Then let us find it.’
The smile he gave her banished all her doubts for the moment. But they soon returned.
This is all wrong! Sibell knew that to spend time with a virtual stranger, and a male one at that, went against everything she had been taught. To do so in the seclusion of the forest was even
‘So, the little bird has flown the nest at last,’ a deep voice said behind her.
Sibell whirled round so fast her cloak caught on a nearby branch. She wrenched it free with trembling hands and stared at Sir Roger of Langford, who had materialised behind her like a wraith out of the ground. ‘I … I …’
‘Forgive me, I didn’t mean to startle you again.’ He laughed. ‘It seems to be my misfortune to scare the wits out of you whenever we meet. I promise, that is not my intention.’
‘Where did you come from? I didn’t hear your approach.’ Sibell strove to calm herself and pulled the cloak together in front of her. Yet again he’d caught her unawares.
‘You must have been truly engrossed then. I made no secret of my presence.’
Sibell wasn’t convinced. Anyone walking in the forest was bound to step on at least the occasional twig, but she’d heard nothing. ‘You are on foot today?’ she remarked suspiciously, wondering what could have brought him so near her home in stealth. Was he spying on her father?
‘Indeed. It is too beautiful a day to ride. I prefer to observe nature at close quarters and what better way than going for a walk? Isn’t that what you’re doing yourself?’
‘I, er … I merely came to look for herbs.’
‘Ah, but of course.’ The look he gave her told her clearly that he knew she was prevaricating and Sibell thought it best to change the subject.
‘Didn’t Sir Gilbert warn you there are outlaws hereabouts?’
Sir Roger laughed again. ‘I thought we established last time we met that neither of us feared them. As you can see, I have brought my trusted sword just in case.’ He gave the weapon an affectionate pat, then grew serious. ‘However, a woman alone shouldn’t venture too far from home. It would be foolhardy, I think.’
‘I haven’t. I’m still close to the manor,’ she defended herself, although she could see now that had he been an outlaw, she would have had trouble escaping him. It occurred to her to wonder whether he was actually one of those desperate men himself. Was that why he was sneaking around in such a furtive manner? Was he on his way to a meeting with other outlaws, supporters of the Duke of York perhaps? She frowned. If he was, he was taking a huge risk, wandering about in broad daylight.
‘You’re not enjoying this fine day?’ he asked, seeing her expression. ‘Perhaps you don’t care for flowers?’
‘Of course I do, only …’ She couldn’t tell him he had spoiled her enjoyment of them. It would sound too churlish. ‘You frightened me, is all.’
‘Well, perhaps you’d allow me to make amends? Come for a walk with me and we can appreciate the beauty of spring together.’ He held out his arm for her and looked at her expectantly.
‘But I barely know you.’
‘Nonsense. I’m a guest of the Presseille family. Surely you don’t think I would jeopardise their goodwill by mistreating one of their neighbours and a former daughter-in-law of Lady Maude’s at that?’ He smiled at her to indicate how ridiculous he thought her suspicions. ‘I only wish to walk and talk with you.’
Sibell felt foolish for doubting him. He certainly didn’t look like a brigand, nor act like one. Perhaps he was the opposite – someone sent to root out and apprehend the Duke’s supporters? With a sigh she gave up thinking about it and remembered her decision to enjoy the here and now. ‘Very well,’ she said and placed a few fingers on his forearm. ‘I see no harm in walking a little way. There is a brook not far from here which is in full flow at this time of year; a lovely sight.’
‘Then let us find it.’
The smile he gave her banished all her doubts for the moment. But they soon returned.
This is all wrong! Sibell knew that to spend time with a virtual stranger, and a male one at that, went against everything she had been taught. To do so in the seclusion of the forest was even
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