Page 28 of Besotted
“But I heard Aunt Idony say you must rest for at least a fortnight, that you will tear your wound open if you attempt to walk before that.”
“Then you will not object to my presence?”
Her gaze flew to mine, and I found myself captivated by her endless violet-blue eyes. Though I couldn’t deny I wanted to spend the next two weeks with her as much as her family would allow, I also didn’t want my presence to be a burden. Especially after the way we’d parted when she said we must go our separate ways and never see each other again.
She cast a glance toward the door, then lowered her voice. “I admit I am glad to see you once more.”
“I admit to the same.”
A flush rose into her cheeks the same way it had oft during our dance lessons. “Are you in much pain?”
“’Tis growing more tolerable by the day.”
She looked first at Jorg and then Chester before biting her lower lip as though she wanted to say something but didn’t want our audience to hear. As a prince, I was accustomed to having people around me at all times. Even when in my private chambers, I’d always had servants along with knights and their squires lingering nearby. I’d long since learned to carry on as if they weren’t present. But of course, Rory wouldn’t be used to being a public figure and having minimal privacy.
She leaned in slightly. “Perhaps I can find ways to amuse you and take your mind off the pain.”
“Your presence alone is all I could need or wish for. But if the amusements afford me more time with you, then I shall not object.”
Chester snorted even louder this time.
“Chester, please.” Rory cast pleading eyes upon him. The technique worked better than anger, for his eyes softened with what I could only describe as affection. Did Chester have feelings for Rory? Though she’d referred to him as being like a brother, perhaps Chester saw her as much more than a sister. Maybe that’s one reason why he disliked me so much.
“Do you like chess?” she asked.
“I do play, although I’ve been told I lack strategy.”
“Then I shall teach you.”
My thoughts returned to when I teased her about teaching me to braid flowers in exchange for dance lessons. “I suppose you do owe me—”
She cut me off with a rapid shake of her head and the darting of her gaze toward Chester. She didn’t want him to know about our dancing?
As if hearing my unasked question, she shook her head again in warning. “What about reading? I can read to you, if you would be agreeable.”
“I would be very agreeable.” Was she able to read? I didn’t know of many women who had any learning, much less a peasant woman. Perhaps Aunt Idony was educated and had passed her knowledge along to Rory.
Whatever the case, it was becoming clearer with each day that this was no ordinary peasant’s home, at least not like any others we’d visited during our time in Inglewood Forest. The furnishings, the food, and even the atmosphere had the feel of nobility. Perhaps once they’d been wealthy but had fallen onto hard times.
I shifted so I could see her better and held back a wince at the pain that shot through my leg. “Perhaps I shall teach you Tafl.”
“And what exactly is Tafl?” She studied my face, her attention drifting to my brow, nose, cheeks, chin, and then my mouth. The innocence in her expression told me she didn’t realize she was observing me so openly.
I couldn’t hold back a pleased smile. “Tafl is a game like chess, with a king and army and war strategy.”
“Very well. But I must warn you, I am a competitive game player and rarely lose.”
“And I must warn you, I’m not in the least competitive but somehow manage to almost always win.”
The hint of a smile graced her lips. “Then we shall be evenly matched.”
Evenly matched? We were far from evenly matched, but I couldn’t tell her that. Not now. Not after the way we’d parted that day in the woods. If she hadn’t thought we had any hope before, she’d think so even less if she knew I was a prince. She’d likely run from the chamber and never return.
“Time is up.” Chester stepped into the room.
She lifted her chin almost defiantly. “A few more minutes.”
“I’m passing along Aunt Idony’s instruction.” Chester’s gaze connected with mine for an instant, but it was long enough to let me know he’d listened carefully to our every word and still didn’t like me. Not one bit.
