Page 66 of Anice’s Bargain

She made her way to the courtyard to meet James so that they might attend the market together. He did not show. After several minutes of waiting, Anice went to ask after him with the stable master, who apologetically informed her that Mr. Graham had already left for the village nearly an hour ago.

Truly strange behavior. And vexing. She twisted at her ruby ring and made up her mind on what to do.

Irritated and determined, she had the lanky man saddle her horse, and tried not to judge how he did it compared to Peter’s swift efficiency. As with all the other thoughts of her old home, she pushed them away and focused only on what lay in front her. Or at least, what she could control.

A touch to her belt confirmed the dagger Sir Richard had given her hung at the ready to be grabbed in a moment’s notice, should it be needed. She set off to the village on her own with the great wide spring sky open overhead and the green fields full of life sprawling on either side of her.

On a typical market day, people crowded vendors, snapping up pastries with honey glossed currants, eyeing buckets of nails for the straightest ones, patting at tufts of wool for spinning. All looked as Anice had expected, at least for the people of Carlisle. The Grahams, however, hung about in clumps, idly fingering wares while they engaged in quiet discussion amongst themselves.

Anice tethered her horse to a pole in front of the Flying Goose Tavern. A gust of wind swept down the row of aging cottages and sent the wooden signs swinging noisily on their rusted hinges. Were this a market day as any other, the sound would never have been heard above the din.

Anice stroked her hand over her horse’s velvety nose and left to find her husband. It was a feat easily done as James stood so much taller, so much prouder and more powerful than any other man. He glanced in her direction and then swiveled around to fully regard her properly.

She approached him with a smirk, waiting for him to apologize for having forgotten her.

“Anice, what are ye doing here?” His smile was one of delight, while his brow bespoke of genuine confusion.

She leaned closer to him and spoke in a low tone, mindful of the two men he’d been speaking to being within earshot. “I believe we were supposed to come together.”

His eyes widened.

There. Now he remembered.

“Ach, Anice.” He shook his head. “It must have slipped my mind. Forgive me, mo leannan.”

Mo leannan. That endearment was said in the intimate moments between them, when her heart did not feel tethered to her body and threatened to float away. It was not meant to be said in a moment of half-hearted apology amid people who glared their annoyance at her interruption.

She extended her hands to indicate the ground she stood upon. “I found my way.”

“So ye did.” He winked at her. His attention turned to the two men and he hesitated as though unsure what to say. “Eh, we were…that is to say I…”

“I can see to some of the items I was going to look for,” Anice said in a rush. It was a lie. She didn’t need anything, with the exception of escaping the terribly awkward scene where she had been an unwelcome participant.

If she were quick-witted like Ella, or perpetually optimistic like Catriona, she’d have had a more convincing statement to offer. As it was, she was simply the beautiful daughter whose falsehood came out sounding as flat as it was untruthful.

James rubbed the back of his neck. “That isna necessary.” He flicked his attention to the men again.

She held her smile as regret at her decision for having come soured in the pit of her stomach. She had given James an opportunity to let her flee, why was he not taking it?

Suddenly, from around the corner came a wonderfully familiar face.

“You really needn’t worry about me,” Anice said with a more convincing air. Or rather, she hoped it was a more convincing. “I can look about with Drake.”

Before James could offer a halting excuse or pathetic protest, she swept away from the messy intrusion and into the comfort of the familiar.

Drake, ever the chivalrous one, bowed and immediately offered her his arm. She accepted and allowed herself to be spirited away. But even her escape did not allay the ache in the hollow of her chest.

Not only had James not noticed the effort taken with her appearance, he didn’t appear to want her there at all.