healed.”
But Robert shook his head in denial.
“It matters not,” he insisted. “Gisborne is a threat, and I will tolerate his presence not one moment longer.”
“But Father…”
“We will not discuss it!”
Dropping her eyes to the ground, she felt the burn of tears. She knew why he wished Guy away, and she could not find it in her heart to think ill of him for it. As much as she loved Gisborne, she loved her Father even more. When his voice became soft and kind, her tears spilled forth. He reached out with a gentle hand to grasp her shoulder.
“I lost your dear mother in childbed, and your younger brother with her. I lost your brother Stephen to the pilgrimage. I will not lose my only daughter as well.”
With a lump in her throat she could hardly speak, except to whisper a few short words. “What will you do about him?”
“You need not concern yourself with that, daughter. Just know that when he is removed from our lives, it will be for the better.”
How ? She wanted to ask. How can it be better if I lose the man I love?
But she did not ask it. To protest further would be a gesture of disrespect. And in truth, she knew that her Father spoke wisely. Guy of Gisborne was indeed a dangerous secret to keep. Not only because of his volatile personality, nor his powerful position as a nobleman…but because he had her heart, and it did not matter to him in the slightest. She loved him and wanted him more than ever, but deep inside she knew that he couldn’t return those feelings. If he felt anything for her, it was only a passing interest spurred on by the power of lust. There was no love in his heart. And if she was foolish enough to give in to him, despite their powerful attraction to one another, she knew it would only lead to her own ruin.
“I must see to the milking,” Robert said. “You will finish your work as well. Dark comes soon.”
She did not raise her head as he left her. It was several long minutes more before she turned to go back inside. And when she did, she did not at first see Guy as he stood in a shadowed corner. It wasn’t until he spoke from the darkness that she realized he was there.
“So your Father thinks to be rid of me, does he?
She spun around quickly, startled by the broken quiet of the room. But taking a calming breath, she turned away from him to return to her bread making.
“He is right. We can keep you here no longer. You know as well as I that you have no further need of us.”
His steps grew slowly closer…and his voice became soft.
“What we need and what we want are two different things, are they not?”
He paused, and she could feel his eyes upon her. He was just a few steps away, so close she coud almost feel him. Breathing deep, she tried her best to be calm, even under the heated scrutiny of his gaze.
“What we want is of little concern in this life. Now please leave me. I have to finish my work.”
Even as she spoke, she knew he would not go. A moment later she felt him moving again, drawing close to her side. She could feel his warmth, just as before. Her heart trembled as she felt him beside her, his eyes looking down on her. He was so close she could hear his breathing. And yet she refused to look at him, knowing that if she met his eyes, she would lose herself to him all over again. She turned away from him, even as he lowered his head to murmur a question close to her ear.
“Have you considered my offer?”
She moved a small step away, seeking distance from him, squaring her shoulders firmly. “There is nothing to consider. My only concern is for my father, and I will not shame him by becoming your mistress.” Even as she declared her words, she felt his hand reaching out to twirl a lock of her hair around his finger. He continued to speak in that low, velvet tone.
“You could profit quite handsomely if you were mine. Fine clothing, jewels. Maids and valets to see to your needs. You would not need to serve anyone.”
“Except
But Robert shook his head in denial.
“It matters not,” he insisted. “Gisborne is a threat, and I will tolerate his presence not one moment longer.”
“But Father…”
“We will not discuss it!”
Dropping her eyes to the ground, she felt the burn of tears. She knew why he wished Guy away, and she could not find it in her heart to think ill of him for it. As much as she loved Gisborne, she loved her Father even more. When his voice became soft and kind, her tears spilled forth. He reached out with a gentle hand to grasp her shoulder.
“I lost your dear mother in childbed, and your younger brother with her. I lost your brother Stephen to the pilgrimage. I will not lose my only daughter as well.”
With a lump in her throat she could hardly speak, except to whisper a few short words. “What will you do about him?”
“You need not concern yourself with that, daughter. Just know that when he is removed from our lives, it will be for the better.”
How ? She wanted to ask. How can it be better if I lose the man I love?
But she did not ask it. To protest further would be a gesture of disrespect. And in truth, she knew that her Father spoke wisely. Guy of Gisborne was indeed a dangerous secret to keep. Not only because of his volatile personality, nor his powerful position as a nobleman…but because he had her heart, and it did not matter to him in the slightest. She loved him and wanted him more than ever, but deep inside she knew that he couldn’t return those feelings. If he felt anything for her, it was only a passing interest spurred on by the power of lust. There was no love in his heart. And if she was foolish enough to give in to him, despite their powerful attraction to one another, she knew it would only lead to her own ruin.
“I must see to the milking,” Robert said. “You will finish your work as well. Dark comes soon.”
She did not raise her head as he left her. It was several long minutes more before she turned to go back inside. And when she did, she did not at first see Guy as he stood in a shadowed corner. It wasn’t until he spoke from the darkness that she realized he was there.
“So your Father thinks to be rid of me, does he?
She spun around quickly, startled by the broken quiet of the room. But taking a calming breath, she turned away from him to return to her bread making.
“He is right. We can keep you here no longer. You know as well as I that you have no further need of us.”
His steps grew slowly closer…and his voice became soft.
“What we need and what we want are two different things, are they not?”
He paused, and she could feel his eyes upon her. He was just a few steps away, so close she coud almost feel him. Breathing deep, she tried her best to be calm, even under the heated scrutiny of his gaze.
“What we want is of little concern in this life. Now please leave me. I have to finish my work.”
Even as she spoke, she knew he would not go. A moment later she felt him moving again, drawing close to her side. She could feel his warmth, just as before. Her heart trembled as she felt him beside her, his eyes looking down on her. He was so close she could hear his breathing. And yet she refused to look at him, knowing that if she met his eyes, she would lose herself to him all over again. She turned away from him, even as he lowered his head to murmur a question close to her ear.
“Have you considered my offer?”
She moved a small step away, seeking distance from him, squaring her shoulders firmly. “There is nothing to consider. My only concern is for my father, and I will not shame him by becoming your mistress.” Even as she declared her words, she felt his hand reaching out to twirl a lock of her hair around his finger. He continued to speak in that low, velvet tone.
“You could profit quite handsomely if you were mine. Fine clothing, jewels. Maids and valets to see to your needs. You would not need to serve anyone.”
“Except
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