Page 47 of The Robber Knight's Love
Then the moment was over, and she lowered hergaze. “So you're still convinced you deserve compensation, areyou?” she mumbled.
“Absolutely,” Reuben stated confidently, trueto his role as the greedy merchant.
“Interesting. I still think you deserve beingthrown out of the window, ungrateful lout that you are.”
Reuben made a show of holding out his arms asif about to be picked up. “You're welcome to try, Milady.”
Her face flushed the most adorable shade ofred. “You will behave,” she said, wagging a finger in his face, “orIwilltry—with the help of threeof my guards. Understood?”
“That is hardly fair, four against one.”
“Neither is it fair to talk ill of peoplesimply because they're old,” she chided. “I want to know—what doyou have against Sir Isenbard?”
All of a sudden, Reuben's good moodevaporated. The mention of that pervert reminded him of what he hadsuccessfully managed to forget for the last few minutes: she waspledged to a man who could be her grandfather.
Yes, she is,he thought.But the real question is: Whatconcern is it of mine? She could shack up with the villagescarecrow and it shouldn't be any business of mine.
“I told you, Milady,” he couldn't helpsaying. “I think he is too old for you. You should choose someonebetter suited.”
*~*~**~*~*
Ayla stared at him quizzically. How could onebe too old to tell people how to build a barricade?
“What do you mean, I should have chosensomeone else?” she demanded. “People like Isenbard don't grow ontrees, you know. He is immensely experienced and talented. I can'tthink of anyone half as good as him. Believe me, I have seen him inaction.”
Reuben's eyes bulged, and he looked about tochoke for a moment. “Seen him... in action?” he managed.
“Yes. Reuben, what is the matter?”
“When?” he demanded. “When did you...?” Hebroke off, seemingly unable to continue.
“A few years ago. My father was having sometroubles, and he called Isenbard in to assist him.”
At that, his eyes almost popped out of hishead. “Yourfather?”
“Yes, my father.”
“And...” Reuben took a deep breath. “Did SirIsenbard deliver asatisfactoryperformance?”
“Yes, he did. So you see, you have nothing toworry about.”
“Yes, I see.” Reuben's voice was colder now.“I see that it's none of my business. I shouldn't have saidanything. Please forgive me, Lady Ayla, for my discourteousspeech.”
She looked at his face in puzzlement, nothaving the slightest clue what was the matter with him, or what hehad been rambling about just now. Maybe he already had a fever andwas starting to talk nonsense?
Without thinking, she placed her hand on hisforehead and felt the temperature. No fever. Then her thoughts, ormore precisely her memories, caught up with her actions. Sheremembered how, last night, she had snuck into his room, touchedhis face and...
Her cheeks blossomed red, and she quicklysaid: “Turn over now, will you? I haven't got all day!”
Reuben met her eyes with an unreadableexpression and turned without another word.
Ayla untied the knot in the bandages andremoved one layer after another. When she pulled away the lastpiece of linen, her breath caught and she felt dizzy all of asudden. The wounds were a bloody mess, literally. This was not howthey were supposed to look. Worst of all, the skin around thewounds was beginning to turn red.
Oh God, no,Ayla thought.Please don't let itfester.
“Reuben?” she asked, trying to keep her voicesteady. “Did you move around at all?”
“No,” was his only reply.
