Page 19 of Lady Tamsyn and the Pixie's Curse
Chapter4
She hustledhim along with a hand on his arm, making him feel as exquisitely alive as a struck tuning fork, thrumming withanticipation.
“I’m grateful for the chance at a few moments alone,” he told her. “I wanted the chance to tell you . . .” He stopped walking abruptly, interrupting her headlong pace and pulling her around to face him. “I wanted to tell you that I amsorry.”
Her chin went up. “Aboutwhat?”
“I was wrong. I shouldn’t have judged you so quickly orharshly.”
“Well, that’s true enough.” She pulled her hand away. “Yes, I am a lady, but I am also a woman. I am far more than just a fragile piece of porcelain.” She leaned toward him, her expression fierce. “I amnuanced.”
A gust of wind blew, as if in accompaniment with her words. It carried a few raindrops from the nearest tree and scattered them across her brow and cheeks, marking her like the dew on a petal. Her brave statement summoned a well of curiosity in him. He stepped closer. “Yes, I can believe that.” Reaching out, he brushed a drop from near the corner of her mouth. “Nuances. I’d like to get to knowthemall.”
“Well.” She swallowed. He was thrilled to see that she was as affected by their proximity as he. Her hand reached up to stroke a lock of his loose hair—even as she stared at her fingers, bemused, as if they acted on their own volition. “That is good news,” shewhispered.
They stood there, the air between them alive with heat and promise—until she abruptly withdrew, taking astepback.
“Oh! Well, lovely as that thought is . . .” She shot him a saucy look. “And as much I would like to return to it, we must talk first. Let me tell you what’s happenedtoday.”
She pulled him on, speaking as they went through the gardens. He listened, growing more irate and concerned, until she brought him to a bench near the entrance to the maze and pushed him down upon it. He almost laughed. It was too adorable, he felt like a great hound being led and pushed about by a kitten. But his smile faded when she sat nexttohim.
Rather closer than strict proprietydictated.
His blood startedtoheat.
“Tell me more about what your Rowancourt looked like,” shedemanded.
Well, that cooled him off. He thought back. “Tall, blonde, dressed in the height of fashion.” He shrugged. “Good-looking enough to set the maids to tittering.” He frowned, suddenly struck. “Is that not whatyousee?”
“No! I see an old, old man, so withered and decrepit, it seems a miracle that he moves,still.”
Realization dawned. “So I see what the rest of the world sees and you see the truth of him.” He hated to gloat, but . . . “So that Second Sight has come in handy?” He grinned, but it faded quickly and he shook his head. “But what does ittellus?”
“That Rowancourt is not a normal man,” sheanswered.
They looked at each other, each wondering the samething.
What then,washe?
A loud cry startled them both. Suddenly a large bird swooped over the tall hedge wall of the maze. Tamsyn shrank back into Gryff even as he realized it was a peregrine falcon, a big one—and it was struggling. The mighty wings flapped madly and the animal fell lower before climbing higher than the hedge again. He shaded his eyes, the bettertosee.
“It’s got something,” he said, registering the delicious feel of her against him with part of his brain. “And it’sfightingback.”
The bird screamed again. It was close now and he put an arm around Tamsyn—even as the falcon dropped its prey. It fell to ground not far from where theystood.
“Sweet saints in heaven—” Tamsyn leaned forward, peering at the thing, then drew back with a cry as the falcon made another runforit.
The intended victim, a large white hare, jumped up, its sides heaving and blood streaming from the marks left by the bird of prey. Gryff watched, stunned, as the animal didn’t run, but turned to face the oncoming bird. As the cruel talons descended, it dodged, but then it leaped and tried to sink its teeth into thefalcon’sleg.
“What in—? Get back!” He pulled Tamsyn away as an extraordinary battle ensued, the like of which he’d never seen. The bird hovered, flapping furiously, taking swipe after swipe at the hare and even coming about for another swoop at it. But the hare continued to stand its ground and fight, leaping high, out of the way, and in an effort to take thebirddown.
At last, it succeeded, sinking its teeth into the falcon’s meaty thigh. The screech was deafening and the hare dropped away with a mouthful of feathers as the falcon gave up andflewaway.
The hare waited until the bird was out of sight, then collapsed to theground.
Gryff exchanged a look with Tamsyn. Together they gingerly stepped over toexamineit.
“What under the heavens?” She sounded fascinated. “What kind of creatureisthat?”
