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Chapter 7
The sun was already starting to set and still, Lady Maira had not shown. Jacob held on to his sword, staring out at the woods that led to the road leading to the castle. Most of the villagers had gone back to their homes and there were only a dozen men left that would spend the night and watch over the camp.
“My lord, the roasted pheasant is ready. Do have something to eat,” said Will, coming to join him.
“Nay, I’m not hungry.” Jacob shoved his sword into the scabbard at his waist.
“She’s not coming, is she?”
“I thought for sure she would.” Jacob ran his hand through his tangled hair. He had worked hard training his men today, only taking a break to go to the castle. When he saw Maira again, all common sense left his head.
“Well, at least you were able to get your dagger returned, that’s the main reason you went there,” said Will, gnawing on a piece of meat.
“About that . . . things didn’t work out the way I planned.”
“You saw her, and yet you walked away without your dagger?” asked Will in confusion. “Oh, she didn’t have the blade on her, did she?”
“Clenched in her hand and aimed right at me,” he muttered, turning and walking back to the fire. The smell of roasted pheasant filled the air.
“And you let her keep it and then invited her to our secret camp?” asked Will. “I’m not understanding what you were thinking, my lord.”
“Hell, I don’t know what I was thinking either. Once I saw her, all I wanted was to pull her in my arms again and kiss her and never let her go.”
“You are acting . . . quite strange,” remarked Will. “Almost like you’re lovesick, the way you were with Lady Catherine.”
“That’s nonsense. I don’t even know the girl.”
Will looked over Jacob’s shoulder and nodded. “Then, this might be the time to change all that. I do believe I see her coming through the woods right now.”
Jacob spun around, smiling when he saw the petite woman atop her horse making her way slowly through the brush.
“Jacob?”Maira called out nervously, having snuck out of the castle nearly getting caught by the High Sheriff in the process. She had started having second thoughts when the sun began to set and she found herself lost in the forest looking for the thief. Then she heard voices and saw the rowan tree and headed in that direction. This could be the biggest mistake of her life. How she wished she had her cousins at her side right now. This wasn’t the same as sneaking out of Castle Rothbury and to Imanie’s secret garden. Now, Maira was in a strange place and all alone. Every decision she made could cost her her life.
“Lady Maira.” Jacob rushed over to greet her with the young man who had called him lord right behind him. “I didn’t think you were going to show.”
Maira surveyed the area from atop her horse. There was a fire with roasted meat on a spit, and tents dotting the small clearing. Half a dozen men looked up, sitting on the ground eating their meal and drinking from bottles. She wasn’t sure just what she’d rode into the middle of, or if she should turn right around and leave.
“Come, let me help you dismount.” He raised his hands to her but she hesitated. Was this some sort of trap? What would happen to her if she got off the horse? She would be vulnerable and unable to flee on foot.
“I’m not sure,” she said, weighing out the options.
“Trust me.” He continued to hold out his hands for her.
“Trust you? You’re a thief.”
“But he’s a good thief,” said the other man with a smile.
“You. I saw you in the armory,” she said with a nod of her head, still holding tightly to the reins of the horse getting ready for a fast escape. “You were one of them who stole weapons from Castle Rothbury.
“Aye, that’s me,” said the young man with a proud smile. “My name is Will. So glad to finally meet you, Lady Maira. I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Really.” Her eyes darted over to Jacob. “And what did you hear?”
“Lady Maira, perhaps we can finish this conversation over a mug of ale and some roasted pheasant.”
The food smelled good and Maira was very hungry. She had faked being ill and left the meal in the great hall early in order to sneak away. “Mayhap, I’ll stay just for a moment. But don’t anyone get any ideas because I’ve got my weapons and I’m not afraid to use them.”
“Nay, you’re not. I can vouch for that,” said Jacob with a chuckle. “Now let me help you dismount.”
