Page 14 of Sweet Mead for Lady Martine

“Mmm” he moaned, drinking her in with his eyes. “If only you could read my mind, you’d know that what I was thinking when you did that was far from appropriate for a lady like you.”

She looked confused. “What do you mean? What were you imagining in your head?”

“You don’t want to know.”

“Oh, but I do.” Her fingers trailed down his arm. This woman was either very playful or a big tease.

“I was imagining something that only whores do for a man, but something that a man thoroughly enjoys.”

“A whore?” She looked hurt.

“I’m not saying you’re a whore. God’s breath, that wasn’t at all what I meant.”

“I hope you don’t think that, David. I’m sorry if I’ve been a bit too playful and given you the wrong impression. I guess I’m just ready for a relationship with a man after having watched most of my family marry lately.”

“Have you had many? Relationships? With men.”

“No,” she said, shocking him even further since she seemed experienced. “I don’t usually act this way around men, but I feel so comfortable around you that I’m afraid I got carried away. Forgive me.” She pouted and looked away.

“There is nothing at all to forgive, my lady. Now please, don’t turn away.” He took her hands in his.

“I like you, David. A lot. But I’m afraid I’ve made a fool of myself.”

“Nay, nay you didn’t. I like you a lot, too. I am only pulling back because I might do something we’d both regret.”

“I could never regret doing anything with you.”

“I don’t regret anything we’ve done so far.” He stroked her cheek and was about to kiss her again when he heard someone shouting.

“David? David, are you out here? Who are you with and what are you doing out here in the near dark?”

The sound of his cousin, Dirk, from the tavern brought him back to his senses. He pulled away, his head snapping around to see the big lunk standing in the doorway rubbing his eyes. “My father said you left here with someone. David? Are you out here?”

“Go back to sleep. Everything’s fine,” he called out. When he turned back to Martine, she was gone. He looked up to see her holding up the hem of her skirt and running across the road instead of heading back to the tavern or even toward the stables. He groaned. “Damn it, you’re going to get me killed,” he mumbled, grabbing his cloak, and taking off at a dash after her. He knew the area better than she, and had to stop her because there was a creek up ahead. In the semi-darkness, she was going to end up in the water if she wasn’t careful. “Lady Martine, wait! Please, stop. You’re going to get hurt.”

“Just go back to the inn and leave me be,” came her command. If he wasn’t mistaken, her voice trembled.

“I’ll not leave you be. I feel responsible for your safety. Now, stop running away from me or you’re going to end up in the–”

Too late. He heard the splash and muttered another curse as he headed toward the noise. He found Lady Martine pulling herself out of the water, soaking wet. Her teeth chattered, clicking together from the cold.

“Here, my lady. Take my cloak before you freeze to death.” He wrapped his cloak around her and she let him do it. His hands rested on her shoulders. In the lightening sky he could see her face and the wet ends of her long hair. Her body shook. It took all his restraint not to pull her back up against him to warm her, but he wouldn’t. After all, touching her is what got him into this situation in the first place.

“Thank you,” she said, sounding truly grateful.

“Why did you run away?” he asked her. “It’s not light yet. That was such a dangerous thing to do.”

“I felt embarrassed by my actions. Why did you follow?” was her reply.

“I was trying to protect you, my lady.”

They gazed into each other’s eyes for a minute without either of them saying another word. For a moment, time stood still. David found himself lost in the depths of her hazel orbs. He also couldn’t forget the passion she showed kissing him. It was as if she had enjoyed it. Or mayhap she just enjoyed doing things a lady should never do. He wasn’t sure. After all, he’d heard stories about her and the risks she liked to take. Word traveled fast when a noble did something forbidden.

Actually, he’d heard from the wagging tongues that the entire Blake family had been acting improperly lately. It seemed that many of the Blakes were marrying from below the salt. Mayhap it was that thought that consoled him enough to try kissing her in the first place. He took one last look at her beautiful face before their time together was naught but a memory. Soon, she would return with the other nobles to the castle and forget all about him. He, on the other hand, would never forget Lady Martine.

“There, over by the creek. I see someone,” came the sound of one of the guards who had been part of Lady Martine’s entourage.

“Martine!” yelled out another man. There was no mistaking the deep voice of Lord Gar. The men ran toward them with their swords drawn. “Release her,” commanded Gar. “Do it immediately or I will be forced to stop you by striking you down.”