Page 13 of Beholden
“What enemy?”
“I cannot speak the name. Nonetheless, ’tis an enemy I must face in less than two months’ time, and if I do not know how to kill him, I shall die at his hands.”
“I don’t understand.” His forehead wrinkled. “I have been in the mine but a fortnight, and already ’tis evident everyone here loves you. No one would dare harm a hair on your head, much less kill you.”
“I have not spoken of this enemy to anyone else. But when I saw your knife yesterday, I knew you were the one who could help train me.”
He glanced around again. “Then you are at risk even now?”
“No. I have two months.”
His attention came to rest upon me, and he studied my face as though seeking answers there. I couldn’t share the truth of my plans, lest anyone attempt to stop me.
“If someone sees you with the knife, you could be flogged.” He threw out what seemed to be a last weak protest.
“Likewise, for you.”
“I am willing to take the risk.”
“So am I.”
He pursed his lips.
“Please.” I infused my voice with as much pleading as I could muster. “You are my only hope.”
Seconds ticked by, and the town began to awaken around us—the clank of a cooking pot, ragged coughing, and low murmuring voices.
Finally, Vilmar released a short, tense breath. “The only way we can spend time together without rousing suspicion is if we pretend to be”—he paused as though searching for the right words—“enamoredwith each other.”
A strange flush rose into my cheeks. I knew exactly what he was referring to. Down in the mine pits, couples who wanted time alone would sneak off for short periods. Of course, they never wandered beyond the glimmer of torchlight and never stayed away for long. But no one questioned the need for the couple to have a few moments to themselves once in a while.
Even so, I hesitated at using such a ruse. It was one thing to sneak away undetected. It was another thing entirely to flaunt our leaving and allow people to believe we were courting.
In the world I’d come from, noble young ladies did not court without the benefit of a chaperone. I had no doubt Alice or Benedict would insist on accompanying me, and then they would know of my training and ask me all sorts of unwanted questions.
“I cannot lie to Alice or Benedict.”
“Then you shall have to work hastily at becoming enamored with me to prevent a lie.”
“One cannot force oneself to become enamored.”
His smile broke free. “No woman has ever had to force herself to like me.”
I could only imagine how true his statement was. He was not only good-looking, but he exuded a blatantly masculine aura that had drawn me in during our brief interaction, making me like him more, not less.
The truth was, his plan would allow for more training time. In fact, we would have much more freedom to be together if everyone assumed we were a couple.
“I must confess, I shall not find it disagreeable to become enamored with you.” His low whisper contained a note of intimacy that made my stomach flutter. “But first, you must inform Curly you are attracted to me and wish to spend time with me.”
“You expect me to deceive Curly as well?” My tone rose, and I quickly dropped it to a whisper. “You ask too much, my lord.” I straightened my shoulders and lifted my chin, needing to prove both to him and myself I had no attraction whatsoever. I simply admired him for his good and brave deeds. That was all.
He raised a hand as though to caress my cheek, but then apparently thought better of it and crossed his arms over his chest. “My lady, if what you say is true, that you really are in such peril, then allowing yourself to become enamored with me is the least of your problems.”
Without waiting for my response, he spun and disappeared as quietly as he came.
I could only stand and watch the early dawn mist swallow him. What harm could come of allowing some innocent attraction to develop between us? As he boasted, he would be an easy man to like. Even if I had to fabricate some of the feelings, surely God would forgive me for my deception, especially because as a result, I would finally be able to put an end to the most dreaded custom in the land.
Chapter
