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“Oh, we’re going to ride there.” She still didn’t feel comfortable about leaving her sword. She looked over her shoulder for it but when she did, she saw his smiling face up close.
“Don’t worry. Will is there and will look out for it.”
“But what about Ricker? I shouldn’t leave him.”
“The boy is busy playing with his new toy. Besides, he is safe with Will.”
“You put a lot of trust in Will, don’t you?”
“A knight trusts his squire with his life.”
“And you trust Will?” She turned forward, feeling the slight stubble of his cheek against hers when he leaned closer, pressing up against her to grab the reins.
“Aye,” he answered, so close to her that it sent a shudder of delight right through her. The scent of pine and a freshness like morning dew drifted from his body, filling her senses. In Jacob’s arms, she felt safe and secure. And it oddly felt right, instead of wrong. She never thought she needed a man, but his presence in her life right now seemed to fill a dark void with light.
“You are very good with children,” she said to make conversation as they rode.
“I have a brother who is quite a bit younger than me,” he told her. “He idolized me and I looked after him all the time since my mother was often ill.”
“What was the matter with your mother?” asked Maira.
“She always became deathly sick whenever she was pregnant.”
“How often was that?”
“She was pregnant four times. My sister died when she was only two. My mother died birthing another daughter. The baby didn’t make it either.”
“I am so sorry,” she told him as they got to a creek and he slid off the horse.
“It’s part of life, and I had no choice but to accept it,” said Jacob, holding out his arms for her to dismount. “It’s never easy to get used to death. My father died in battle before I was old enough to fight alongside him. What about your family, Maira?”
“Well, you know about my father, and my mother is a noblewoman named Cordelia. She was a widow when she married my father and thought she couldn’t have children. But that proved to be wrong. I am the eldest and I have four brothers, William, Philip, Theodore and my ten-year-old brother, Michael.”
“It must be nice to have so many siblings.”
“What about your brother? What happened to him?” Maira let him guide her to the ground.
“Frank decided to join the church. His life turned to prayer. He’s a priest now in Hartlepool. So, you see, I am the last chance to carry on the family name since my brother is worthless.”
“Worthless? Is that really how you see him?” It surprised her that he would say such a thing.
“It is.”
“Do you ever talk with your brother?”
“Nay. I became angry with him when he left to join the priesthood. I wanted him to learn to fight and be a knight like me. We haven’t spoken in years.”
“Fighting isn’t right for everyone, Jacob. Mayhap, you need to let your bygones go.”
“I admire anyone who can handle a blade. You are a woman and yet you can fight like a man. My brother is weak and could never protect himself or anyone else. He’ll never amount to anything. My father wanted both of us to be warriors, and he’d stir in his grave to know that Frank let him down.”
“He’s a priest!” she reminded him. “How is that letting anyone down? He is doing the work of God. Besides, you’re no longer a knight. The way I see it, you’re naught but a thief. So, mayhap, you let your father down as well.”
“Don’t say that. It’s not the truth. I told you I was framed.” His jaw ticked in aggravation.
“I’m sorry, Jacob. I didn’t mean that. Shall we visit the knoll now?”
Jacob guidedMaira to the knoll of soft grass, feeling shaken by their conversation. He had wanted to bring her here to possibly spend a little intimate time with her. But now, disturbing thoughts filled his head, ruining the moment.
