Page 20 of Waking Roslyn

I did as he asked, a little surprised that he was doing more than just showing me where to hide. Once we had set the sheet behind the couch, I let myself sit down on it, expecting that he’d sit with me.

He didn’t.

“I will leave the lamp with you,” he said and gave a little bow before turning back toward the door.

“Wait,” I said.

He turned back, expectant, but I didn’t know what to say. I just wasn’t prepared for him to leave yet. Then it occurred to me that I could ask him about his training. “I watched you, the other day.”

His brow rose and I realized how odd that sounded.

“When you and the others were training. At Sutton,” I clarified.

John

So she was admitting to spying. I had to wonder why. “Yes, I saw you.”

She blushed and dropped her gaze to her lap, making me instantly regret my words. I hadn’t meant to embarrass her. “Not that I minded,” I quickly amended as I stepped closer to her, back into the bright circle of light. “But I am curious why our training drew your attention.”

Her hands fisted in her skirts again, rumpling them. The nervous gesture surprised me. Why would a lady who allowed me to escort her into a dark and deserted portion of the house be nervous about observing something as public as our training sessions?

“It was the girls,” she finally admitted.

That was…disappointing. I supposed I had enough pride in my abilities and my physique that I’d hoped her interest had something to do with me. “The girls?”

“You train girls to fight. To defend themselves.”

“When they’re interested, yes.”

“I just…” She stood and paced away for a moment before turning back. “I never considered that was something a young girl could do.”

I couldn’t help the snort of laughter that escaped me. “Don’t let my sister hear you say that.”

“Your sister?” she asked.

“Gretchen. She and Lindy were the ones you saw training with us. She’s been training with Falstone almost as long as I have and she’s only twelve.”

“Ah, yes,” she said, one corner of her mouth curving up. “I saw you take her on with your staff, but you were on your knees. And…” Her eyes raked up and down my body and I resisted the urge to fidget. “I’m guessing she was the one with you that first night I bumped into you.”

I had no doubt my shock was clearly written across my face. “That was you.”

She nodded. “Of course. Who did you think it was?”

I gave a rather dramatic shrug. “I had no idea. Yes, I thought it might have been you or perhaps one of the new maids, but the encounter was so short and the idea of running into you in the dark woods was so strange… I’m sorry if I frightened you.”

Her smile was sweet. “Only a little.”

So I had frightened her. I shoved a hand through my hair. “I’m sorry. I know I can be…intimidating. Especially in the dark.”

For some reason, my apology made her bite her lips together to keep from smiling more before she said, “It’s fine. You startled me, yes. But I’d heard you speaking with your sister and the other young man, and you seemed quite harmless.”

I snorted. “Should I be insulted by that?” I teased.

She rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean,” she said as she wandered back to the couch and sat down, slumping against the back of it.

I couldn’t help the way my brow lifted in surprise. She’d sat on the ground to watch our training, but that was when she was trying to hide. Humming and dancing among the trees was surprising enough, but watching her sit in such a relaxed way when it was only the two of us was…alluring. Who was this woman?

“I suppose I can’t be expected to be intimidating when my little sister is teasing me,” I conceded.