Part 11 (2/2)
She tsked at him. ”Come, my lord. For one moment, be free.”
He glanced to Bracken, who watched them curiously. ”Nay, Catarina.”
Rolling her eyes at him, she went to Bracken, who took up her invitation with the same abandon.
A part of him hated the man in that instant. But the truth was he hated himself most of all. He could just as easily have danced, too. Only he was stopping himself.
You'll look like a fool, boy. Men don't dance. Only women, geldings, and jesters. If you want a woman to mock you, have at it. Trust me, they only care how a man battles on the field and how he performs in their bed.
His father was right. Besides, the one time he'd danced, the woman he'd loved had gone to bed with someone else...
Lochlan flinched at the harsh reminder. To please Maire, he'd belittled himself and it hadn't been enough. He would never again stoop to such a level. People could take him as he was and if he wasn't good enough for them, then he was better off without them.
So he contented himself with watching the others dance.
Until he realized the hares were burning.
Cursing, he ran to the spit to turn it, but it was too late. One side was already blackened.
Breathless, Catarina joined. ”Oh no!”
”You see what such foolery gets you, don't you?” he snapped.
She didn't even react to it other than to laugh. ”Aye, blackened hare and a smile. I'll take that over morbidity any day.”
He wanted to argue, but the twinkle in her eye won him over and he returned her smile.
”One day, Lochlan, I will have you dance.”
”That will never happen, la.s.s.”
”Are you challenging me?”
”Nay, I only speak the truth.”
Still her eyes were merry. ”As do I and I will have my way with you. Mark my words.”
The only problem was at this moment, he wanted to have his own way with her in an entirely different kind of dance. He could feel the heat from her body and was desperate to taste her lips, among other parts of her.
”You'd best let me take that,” Julia said as she jostled him aside and took over roasting the hares. ”We can't afford for any more of the hares to burn; otherwise, you'll have to be hunting again.”
He nodded even though he wasn't quite sure what the girl said. He was too fixated on Catarina's mouth.
Her dark eyes glistened mischievously before she stood up on her tiptoes and placed a quick kiss to his cheek. ”One dance,” she whispered in his ear.
Chills spread over him, but they were quickly squelched by the knowledge that he would never yield to her charms.
And he would never dance.
Chapter 7.
Even though they were all a bit nervous about the ones chasing them, the road to Rouen was uneventful. Not that their stress was alleviated by their arrival at the fair. Here there were king's men all over, some of whom could easily ident.i.ty Bracken or Cat.
She only hoped none of them knew that her father was currently seeking her.
Julia's face brightened at the sight of the multicolored tents and competing music that surrounded them. It'd been a while since Cat had been to a fair this large. There were people all around them. Spectators, entertainers, and knights rus.h.i.+ng to and from. There was a liveliness here that made her spirits soar.
”Jugglers!” Julia said, twisting in her saddle to watch them as they rode past. ”Now there's a talent I'd dearly love to have.”
Bryce scoffed at his sister's interest. ”Think you the jousts are still going on?” he asked Lochlan.
”Most likely,” Lochlan said. ”They usually run to the very end.”
”I can't wait until I'm old enough to compete.”
Bracken scoffed. ”Spoken like a boy who has yet to be knocked off a horse, onto his backside. I think you'll change your mind once you've tasted a piece of lance.”
”It never stopped you.”
Julia smirked. ”That's because he took such a blow to his head in his first match that it addled his brains and they haven't worked properly since.”
”Ow!” Bracken snapped. ”I'm being attacked by both of you snipes at once. Where is chivalry?”
”Certainly not here, Lord Grump,” Julia said an instant before she set her heels to her horse and rode on ahead of them.
Bryce frowned. ”Does she know where we're going?”
”I would say not.”
The boy let out a sound of disgust before he went after her.
”Where are we headed?” Bracken asked.
Lochlan reined his horse before he handed his money to Bracken. ”You find us tents to rent and I'll see about finding this Stryder.” He dismounted and handed his reins to Bracken. ”I'll catch up to you later.”
Bracken inclined his head to him.
Before Lochlan could take so much as a single step, Cat slid from her horse and joined him. ”I'll come, too.”
He wasn't so sure that was the wisest course of action. ”You'd do better to stay with Bracken.”
”Nay. I would rather help you search.”
Lochlan started to argue, but he knew better. There was never winning a verbal argument with this woman. Unwilling to waste time or breath, he headed for the nearest gathering of n.o.bles.
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