“And feeling me up as you did?” she accused, rubbing her wrist.

“I owe you no explanation.”

“Wrong. If I am to help you, I need to trust you.” That was a lie. She would never trust any man.

Knox dropped down to hover over her, his arm muscles bulging as they kept him elevated above her. “I doubt either of us will trust each other during our quest. But know one thing—I will never harm you and never will I touch you intimately.”

“You got that right,” she said, keeping the fear out of her voice.

“Then we will get this done and be free of each other.”

“Right again. Now get off me,” she ordered.

He glared at her, not moving, and she returned his glare, her heart pounding, praying he would honor his word.

Knox dropped to her side, the size of him almost knocking her out of bed, if it wasn’t for his arm snagging her around the waist and tucking her against him.

“Sleep,” he ordered. “Tomorrow comes soon enough.”

Not soon enough for me, Dru thought.

“Where to?”Knox asked as they rode away from the Cramond Abbey.

Dru hadn’t been happy about riding on his mare with him, but he hadn’t left her any choice. He had swooped her up and onto his horse before she could protest. She had only met him yesterday and had spent a good portion of that time nearly on top of him. She wanted to do her best to avoid that from happening again, but so far, she hadn’t been successful.

“There’s a village not far from here where I might be able to learn something about Autumn,” Dru said. “Take the path up ahead to the right. It will take us straight there.”

“You need new garments. Those are threadbare and, though washed, they don’t have a pleasant odor. New footwear as well especially with winter drawing near.”

“They serve me well enough, and winter is almost two moon cycles away.”

“Or sooner if winter decides otherwise.”

He was right about that. Winter arrived when it pleased and left when it pleased. She would need better boots and a heavy wool cloak to survive it and that meant thieving it. Not something she was proud of doing. It was wrong, but she was left with little choice, just like her marriage.

What was more important now was to find out as much as she could about her husband. She also needed to make sure she didn’t get used to the warmth and comfort of being tucked in the crook of his arm, like in bed last night and now riding on his horse with him.

She would keep it in mind, but for now, she asked, “You fought for Lord Torrance?”

“That does not concern you.”

“That you won’t answer tells me that I can trust you even less than I already do.”

“Question me and expect the same,” he warned.

“I have nothing to hide.”

His brow wrinkled. “I doubt that.”

He was right about that. She had secrets that she would never reveal to anyone.

“I fought for the mercenary group Lord Torrance hired.”

Dru went to ask another question, but he wasn’t finished.

“You have no family?”

She shook her head. “There is no one. My parents are dead, and I have no siblings.” She hurried to ask him, “And what of you? Do you have family?”