Page 51 of Ladybird

“Nay, I’m not hurt,” she said, once again looking at Hunter. What the hell did she want him to say?

“Yes. Yes, it is good you are not hurt,” he choked out. Hunter bent over to fix his boot, his tunic falling open as he did so.

“Hunter? Are those scratch marks on your chest?” Robin walked over to inspect them. Hunter’s heart stilled. He’d almost forgotten that Regina had raked her nails down his chest in the throw of their vivid lovemaking. Now, he knew he was about to die for sure.

“It was my fault,” Regina called out, making Robin stop in his tracks and slowly turn.

God’s teeth, was she really going to tell him? What the hell was the matter with her?

“Your fault, Sister? How so?” Robin slowly walked back to her. Regina’s chin rose in the air as she held her bird high atop her arm. She didn’t look at all frightened. Shouldn’t she be running for her horse by now? Hunter knew that is what he felt he should be doing.

“I was careless and put Hera too close to Hunter at the campfire last night after the rest of you had retired. He moved to stoke the fire and Hera was frightened, and scratched him. Those marks on Hunter’s chest are from the bird.”

“Is that right, Hunter?” Robin looked back at him. The only way to get out of this without being sentenced was to go along with the lie. Lies again. Damn it, he hated having to live this way.

“Honestly, I don’t even remember the bird scratching me,” he said, getting an odd look from Robin. “I think I was too tired to think straight after such a big day.”

“Is that right?” Robin’s gaze flashed from Hunter to Regina and back to Hunter again.

“He was tired, that’s true,” said Regina. “So tired that he went to bed right after the rest of you.”

“To sleep,” Hunter interjected. “I didn’t have a bed of course. I mean, my bed was here. By the fire.”

“Didn’t you wake up when it started raining on you?” Robin had to know something was going on.

“I found shelter. Like I told you,” said Hunter. “I’m sorry once again for letting the fire go out.”

“Well, it’s over now,” said Robin. “I suppose no harm has been done, so what does it matter?”

“Aye,” agreed Hunter, his gaze going back to Regina. He couldn’t stop feeling like harm was done. Harm that could not be undone. Bid the devil, he’d just ruined a lady and couldn’t do a damn thing about it.

The ride home was long and uncomfortable. Hunter did his best to ignore Regina, not wanting to talk about last night and not wanting Robin watching them like a hawk anymore either. He needed to think this over. By himself. He hated ignoring the girl, but right now he felt as if this was what he had to do to protect both of them from being exposed. Damn, life never seemed to get any easier.

Hunter, you are such a fool, came his departed sister’s voice in his head once again. What made you think you had the right to even touch a noblewoman let alone take her virginity? You ruined her now for life. Because of you, she has no chance to ever be happy.

Damn it, his dead sister kept taunting him and it was not only about his mistakes with Luke, but about his personal life now. His love life to be exact. He just couldn’t stand it anymore. He wanted his sister’s chastising out of his head forever.

“Get away from me,” he warned his sister’s ghost, but Regina had rode up next to him at that same moment and thought he was talking to her.

“Get away from you? What did I do to make you so angry, Hunter? Why are you talking to me that way?” She rode with Hera on her glove, looking regal and elegant as always. The spring air smelled fresh and crisp and it seemed everything was budding to life all around them.

“Nay, Regina. I wasn’t talking to you.”

She scowled. “Well, I hardly think you were talking to Hera.”

“Nay. Nay, I wasn’t talking to her either.”

“What is the matter with you, Hunter?” she asked, sounding more than perturbed with him. “You have been ignoring me all morning.”

“Regina, I think it might be better if we make distance between us for a while.”

“What? Why?” she asked, first sounding sad and then sounding angry. “Are you ashamed of what we did together?”

“Shhh,” he said, looking around, hoping none of the men had heard her.

“Hunter, I’m not going to hide in the shadows anymore. It is my life and I can do what I please.”

“Yes, you can, but I can’t.”