Page 50 of Ladybird

Chapter 11

Regina awoke the next morning feeling happier than she had in a long, long time. She was a full-fledged woman now in every way and didn’t regret for a moment having made love with Hunter. He was the only man she had ever really wanted. Now she was his sweetheart and that made her heart soar. His Ladybird, he’d called her. She smiled and rolled over the other way, still dreaming about flying high when she found her release. She had truly felt as free as a bird. Then she heard men’s voices outside her tent. Her eyes sprang open thinking she and Hunter were about to be discovered. But when she rolled back over and reached for him, he was no longer there.

“Hunter?” she whispered, sitting up and holding the blanket to her bare chest. The fact that he wasn’t there should have relieved her since she was sure it was her brother she’d heard talking outside. Still, it made her feel lonely and empty that he just up and disappeared.

The flap to the tent was open a little and sun streamed in making a streak across the make-shift bed. Even his clothes and boots were gone. A frightening thought flitted through her mind that this is how she’d feel when Hunter caught and delivered the thief and headed back home. Without her. It wasn’t a good feeling at all. She hurriedly got dressed, needing to know what was going on.

Hera became restless on her perch. Almost as restless as Regina felt. Was it from the fact that Hunter wasn’t here? Or was it because he had been here in the first place? Confusion muddled her mind.

“Come on, Hera. Let’s go find Hunter.” She put on her glove and picked up her bird and stepped outside the tent.

Hunter tried his hardest to get the fire going again this morning, but it was too late. Robin had just emerged from his own tent, followed by his squire and the other men. If Hunter hadn’t been sleeping with Regina, mayhap he would have realized that the rain had stopped hours ago and morning was here. Thankfully, he had at least got out of Regina’s tent before anyone discovered just what happened between them last night.

“What happened to the fire, Hunter?” asked Robin. “I’m chilled from the rain last night and would like to warm up before we head for home.”

“I’m sorry, my lord. The rain was too much for it and the wood is too wet to light. I’m afraid I didn’t do my job as well as I should have.”

“I’d beg to differ about that.” Regina walked out of the tent with Hera on her arm.

Hunter felt like all hell was about to break loose. Was she perhaps talking about what happened last night between them? Was it her way of saying a job well done? God’s eyes, what had he been thinking? Bedding a noblewoman could land him in the dungeon. Or on the gallows. Taking a noblewoman’s virginity had to be even a worse offense somehow, he was sure. Now, because he’d been so enamored by her and he’d had a weak moment, the girl was ruined for life. She’d never be able to be betrothed to any nobleman or marry for an alliance in the future. His lovemaking had seen to that. If only he’d never have gone into the tent with her, none of this would be happening right now.

Once again, his sister’s judging voice swarmed his head. What did you do? What were you thinking? You just used the girl for your own needs, never thinking of her and her needs. Her future.

God’s eyes, he thought to himself. What the hell had he done?

“Regina, what are you talking about?” asked Robin.

“Brother, you left Hunter out here by himself last night in the rain without even giving him a blanket or any kind of cover. That was very insensitive of you.”

“Nay, it wasn’t. I don’t mind.” Hunter didn’t want this conversation to get back to last night and tried his hardest to push it in any other direction.

“Baldwin, take apart my sister’s tent,” ordered Robin. “Since we have no fire, we’ll be on our way as soon as the tents are packed.”

“Yes, my lord,” said his squire, going inside Regina’s tent.

“For being out in the rain all night, you’re not as wet as I would have expected you to be,” said Robin looking at Hunter’s clothes.

“Nay, my lord. I was able to…find shelter.” Hunter wasn’t lying, even if he didn’t say where that shelter might have been.

“Well, I’m glad to hear that,” said Robin with a yawn. “So how was your first hunt? Was it everything you expected?”

He looked over and his eyes locked with Regina’s. Damn, just looking at her made him go weak in the knees. “It was more than I expected, my lord. With a few surprises thrown in,” he answered. Regina smiled.

“Surprises? What kind of surprises?” asked Robin, but before anyone could answer, his squire ran out of the tent holding on to Regina’s blanket.

“My lady, are you hurt?”

“Nay, why do you ask?” she answered.

“There is blood on your blanket. I thought mayhap you’d cut yourself.” He held up the blanket, displaying the proof of Regina’s loss of virginity to every man there. Hunter groaned to himself and closed his eyes. His life was about to end right here, right now.

“Regina? What is that?” asked Robin.

“It…it’s my flux” she said softly, looking at the ground.

“Oh, I see,” said Robin clearing his throat. “Well, at least you’re not hurt.”

Hunter’s eyes popped open. He couldn’t believe what just happened. Such a stroke of luck because of Regina’s quick thinking. She may have just saved his ass from landing in the dungeon.