Page 19 of Dancing On Air

He instantly put her on her feet.

“I saw you were having trouble and only wanted to help.” He held up his hands and backed away. “I am sorry that I touched you.”

“Nay, don’t be,” she said, tears filling her eyes as she shook her head. “Thank you for your help.” She looked down to see her muddy gown. “I think I lost my shoe in the rut.”

“I’ll retrieve it for you, my lady.” He was back in a second with her muddy shoe. Down on his knees, he reached out for her foot, then suddenly stopped and looked up at her. “If I may?” His dark eyes stared up at her as he waited for her permission.

Eleanor studied his face this close up, drinking in his handsome looks. His long brown hair was wet, probably from the rain. It hung down to his shoulders. Strong cheekbones and the slight hook of his nose led to a short beard and mustache. She found herself wondering if he was trying to hide the burn mark on his cheek that had scarred him and pointed out the fact that he was an executioner.

With one shaky hand, she reached out, not able to stop herself from gently running her fingers along his cheek, tracing the mark that branded him as a man to be feared and avoided at all costs. The jagged line was raised and held a silvery tint. It felt leathery and not at all as soft as the rest of his cheek. She saw his eyes close when she touched him. He seemed to hold his breath and pressed his lips together hard. She swore she felt his body trembling.

“I’m so sorry, Connor,” she whispered, and when she did, his eyes popped back open.

“Your foot, my lady,” he said, quickly lowering his face to the ground.

She gave him her foot and he put the muddy shoe onto it. It didn’t feel good but it also didn’t matter. Her discomfort, she was sure, was nothing compared to what this poor man had been through.

Before she could say more, he jumped up and trudged through the mud, putting his hands on the back of the wagon. “I’m sure I can free this but I’ll need you to walk the horse forward while I push.”

“Oh, of course.” She hurried to the front of the wagon.

“Take the reins from inside the wagon so you won’t have to walk in the mud anymore.”

She did as he instructed. With Connor pushing, the wheel was easily freed from the mud.

“It worked! Thank you,” she said, looking over her shoulder at him.

“You shouldn’t be out without an escort,” he told her, sounding as if he were truly concerned. “These roads aren’t safe. What were you thinking?”

“I travel by myself all the time,” she told him, as he walked up to the side of the cart. “I just wasn’t expecting to get stuck in the mud, that’s all. I suppose it was a bad decision to come alone after all.”

“Where are you going?” he asked, curiously.

“I’m stopping by a peasants’ home to drop off apples from the abbey’s orchard. I’ve just placed two of the orphans there as their new home,” she told him. “Then I’m going to town to check on another orphan who seems to be causing trouble.”

“Nay.” He looked down the road and shook his head. “You can’t go to town by yourself. You’ll need to find an escort.”

“Well, I don’t have an escort, and I am not about to go back to the abbey to find a monk. I’ll waste too much time. It will be dark before I finish.”

“Then I’ll escort you myself,” he told her.

“You?” Her heart jumped into her throat.

“Don’t worry, no one will know I’m with you.” He pulled his hood up to cover his head. “I’ll walk behind the wagon, and be here if you should encounter any trouble.”

“Nay. I won’t hear of it,” she told him adamantly.

“I understand,” he said, lowering his face and shaking his head. “Then I suppose I’ll be on my way. I’m sorry to have disturbed you.” He started down the road.

“Nay, Connor, wait,” she called out, directing the horse and catching up with him. “I meant, I won’t have you following behind me like a dog. I want you to escort me, but I want you to ride inside the wagon. Not walk behind me. I want you to ride up on the bench seat with me.”

He stopped and looked up in surprise. She stopped the horse as well.

“I-I can’t do that and you know it.”

“No one needs to know it is you. They’ll just think you are my escort.”

“You realize that if anyone realizes who I am, you’ll be shunned and chastised. I can’t risk that happening. You don’t deserve it.”