Forever Knight: Thornton Brothers Time Travel (A Thornton Brothers Time Travel Romance Book 2) (17 page)

She placed a hand on his chest. “You’re safe. No one will harm you.” He tensed and she brushed the black hair back from his face. “I’m here. Let go of the nightmare. I won’t leave you.”

At the sound of her voice, he stilled. Over and over she dipped the cloth into the water, gently running it over his face and chest, staying close, talking to him in a low voice. Telling him of her life before. How much she missed Darla and Sunshine. Words that meant nothing to him, but the tone was soft and soothing, and that was all that would matter in his fevered dreams.
 

Sunshine would have been drooling. He was an incredible specimen of a man. Easily over six feet tall, heavily muscled, with long hair and dark lashes. But was she attracted to him? Nope. Not one tiny bit. Elizabeth appreciated him as she would a sculpture in a gallery, but that was it. She blew a strand of hair out of her face. Was she some kind of glutton for punishment? Her traitorous heart belonged to the little boy who pulled pigtails and told her she looked like a horse or a cow. Elizabeth imagined Robert as a child. Running around, charming all he met. Brandishing a sword. She’d fallen hard. Too bad he couldn’t stand her.

As she chewed on her lip, a cough made her jump. Dark blue eyes looked up at her.

“What are ye, then? Angel or devil?” He groaned. “If it’s all the same, I’d rather not end up in hell. Too many enemies waiting.”

She snatched her hand from his chest, heat flooding her face. He cracked an eye open, and a dimple appeared in the side of his face.

“I’m neither angel nor devil. My name is Elizabeth.” She gestured to the door. “I’m sorry about coming in without knocking, but I heard you call out. The fever…”

“Connor. Pleased to meet ye, lady.” He looked to the pitcher. “Might I have a drink?”

She blinked at him. “You drink the water? I thought it wasn’t good.”

“Nay, the water at Highworth is clear and sweet…like you, lady.”

“Flatterer.” She poured him a cup, licking her lips.

“The well is deep and clear.” The man chuckled. “Drink your fill, lassie.”

Elizabeth hadn’t had water since they’d been on the road. It was cool and delicious, reminding her of the well water at Darla’s horse farm back in Kentucky.

“Oh, that’s good. I’m so glad you told me. I’ve drunk more wine since I’ve been here than I have in my whole life.”

“You have a strange way of speaking, lass.”

“I’m not a faerie or a witch. I’m from…far away.”

“I dinna say you were. But you have an odd manner of speech.”

“Well, so do you.” His laugh gave way to a wet-sounding cough. She pressed a hand to his forehead. “You should rest.”

He sat up in bed, the sheet falling to his waist, providing her with a glimpse of an impressive six-pack, deep enough she could probably run her fingers in the ridges. Did Robert have the same six-pack from all the fighting? She’d been so angry when he’d groped her that she couldn’t remember, and it was dark in the chamber. Best not to think about what she couldn’t have.

“I am a Scot. A mere fever will not keep me abed.”

She handed him more water. “Whatever you say. If you don’t mind me asking, why are you here? I thought England and Scotland were at war?”

The man turned his head to the door and settled back in bed, a smirk on his face. This couldn’t be good.

Robert barged into the room. “Elizabeth. You should not be here.”
 

“She couldn’t resist my charming self.” Connor touched her hand. “I think I’ll keep her.”

“I’m sorry. It sounded like someone needed help, so I came in. The door wasn’t locked.”

Robert gritted his teeth. “Remove your hand or lose it, Connor.”

The man winked at her but removed his hand.

Oh, so now he was jealous. Didn’t it figure? “Connor was telling me why he’s here.”

Robert made a noise in the back of his throat. “The dolt was injured. I took him in so he wouldn’t die on my steps or bleed on the carpets.”

“He owed me a debt.”

“’Tis true.” Robert touched her shoulder. “You must not tell anyone he is here.”

“Aye. I am a wanted man,” Connor said. “There is a price on my head if you’re in need of gold.”

“No. If I need any, I’ll just steal Robert’s.” She touched Robert’s arm. “You have my word. I won’t say anything. You’ve been hiding him since I arrived, haven’t you?”

“He arrived in the dead of night. Other than Thomas…” He looked over his shoulder. “Come in, imp.”

Gavin circled the room, his eyes never leaving Connor. “He’s big.”

Elizabeth bit her cheek. If she laughed, Robert would pout.

“No one else knows he is here. We must keep it that way.” Robert caught Gavin by his tunic. “That means no telling Rabbie or Joan or anyone else.”

“I won’t tell.” Gavin tentatively approached the bed. Elizabeth watched as he looked Connor over, noticing the interest as the boy took in the man’s muscled chest and abs. Robert caught her looking and made a face.

“You should not be undressed in the presence of a lady.”

Connor arched a brow. “I find her company most pleasing. Perhaps she prefers me to you.”

Robert snorted. “Do not drool on her.”

“I have imposed on you overlong. I should go.” Connor shifted in the bed.

Elizabeth looked to Robert and shook her head. “He can’t. He has a fever.”

“’Tis nothing.”

Robert looked out the window. “You cannot leave. It’s snowing. Likely to continue for a while.”

Connor made a sound in the back of his throat. “I am tired of these four walls, pretty as they may be.”

“We cannot take the risk.” Robert pursed his lips. “Elizabeth or Gavin may escort you to the battlements.” Then he poked Connor in the stomach. “You have grown fat and soft lazing about. No doubt you will freeze your arse off, tumble over the walls, and leave us in peace.”

“This is how he shows affection,” Connor told her, looking insulted. “We Scots are a hardy bunch, and if anyone has run to fat, ’tis you.”

Elizabeth stood. “That’s it. I’m leaving before the two of you end up brawling on the floor.”

Robert left Connor, telling Gavin to stand guard until one of the men came to relieve him. He cursed, knowing he was the one who’d left the door unlocked. He’d been distracted by Elizabeth. The Scot had looked much too interested in her. He felt something within call out,
Mine
.
 

Now she knew about Connor, Robert could make her understand why he had treated her thus. He went in search of her, finding her in the ladies’ solar, looking like she belonged. His heart broke open. She was his. No matter the cost.

They sat on the floor sorting through thread. He stood in the doorway watching. One day perchance they would have a daughter. Janet was showing her how to embroider.

“It’s no use. I’m hopeless.” Elizabeth held out a piece of fabric for the girl to see. Janet pointed and shook her head.

“Easy for you to say—look at your perfect stitches. Mine look like a hedgehog ran all over the fabric.”

The girl grinned. Robert watched as Elizabeth talked to Janet as if the girl spoke back to her. He crossed one booted foot over the other, arms crossed, as he listened to Elizabeth talk.

A big orange striped cat strolled into the room as if he owned the place. The cat went to Janet and curled up in the girl’s lap.

“What did you name him?” Elizabeth paused. “I think he looks like a Tom. What about you?” The child nodded. A small hand tugged at Robert’s arm. He put a finger to his lips.

“I’m spying.”

Gavin peered into the room and turned bright red. So it was like that, was it?

“Where did Janet get a cat? I thought you said no animals in the castle?” The boy scowled. “Other than the rats.”

“Shh, listen and we will find out.”

“How many rats has he caught this week?”

Robert leaned forward to see Janet hold up four fingers.

Elizabeth sounded suitably impressed. “Four. Already? He’s a prodigious killer, isn’t he?”

The girl shook her head, her hair bouncing. The grin stretched across Robert’s face. Both women had their hair in—what did Anna call it? A horse’s tail? No, a ponytail.

Then the traitorous woman leaned close to the girl. “Don’t tell Robert about Tom. We’ll wait until he has dispatched a pile of rats. Then we show him how wonderful Tom is, and of course he’ll let you keep him.”

The cat purred as the girl stroked the fur.

“But you might not want to tell him we give Tom a bit of milk for bringing us the bodies.” Elizabeth pursed her lips. “I know: we’ll tell him it’s Tom’s payment.”

Gavin rolled his eyes at the same time as Robert.

The two ladies giggled. “You might as well come in, instead of standing in the doorway gaping like a fish on the bank.”

Gavin ran away, leaving Robert alone. The coward. So he made them both a bow. “I did not know we had a new position at Highworth.”

Janet turned her face up to him.

“Head rat catcher.” He pretended not to notice the cat, whom he suspected might be part dog, as large as the beast was. How much milk were they giving him?

“Would you know of anyone for the job?”

Janet pointed to the cat.

“Ah. Tom, is it?”
 

She bobbed her head.

“May he serve Highworth for many years.” Robert squatted down to look the cat in the eyes. One green eye opened. “I better not see loads of kittens come spring.”

The cat yawned and closed the eye. So much for Robert being the lord of Highworth.

Elizabeth had a hand over her mouth to keep from giggling.

“Perhaps I should acquire a few more cows. Tom looks like he drinks a great deal of milk.”

That did it—his lady laughed out loud. And the most wondrous thing happened. A tiny gurgle escaped from Janet’s mouth. Elizabeth’s eyes widened.

“You laughed. Can you say anything?”

The child screwed up her face in concentration, opened her mouth, and nothing came out. Her face fell.

Elizabeth leaned over to hug the child, mindful of the cat. “Don’t worry. I know you’ll be talking soon.”

Tom’s tail twitched and he bolted off the girl’s lap. They heard a squeak, and a fat, dead rat was deposited at Robert’s feet.

He reached down to stroke the beast. “How about a fish for dinner?”

The cat rubbed against his legs and stalked out of the room, the child close behind.

“Can you believe Janet laughed?” Elizabeth’s cheeks were pink, her eyes sparkled, and he thought he’d never seen such a beautiful woman in all his score and five years.

“Where did the cat come from?”

“I’ve no idea. He just showed up, following Janet around. We’ve been finding corpses ever since. I’m hoping the rats get the message and leave.”

“Elizabeth?” He sat on the carpet next to her, stretching his legs out.

She’d gone still. “Yes?”

“Connor is wanted by my king. To have him at Highworth is treason. I would end up in the tower. My title, lands, and gold would be confiscated by the crown, and I would be hanged.” He idly fingered the threads Janet left behind. “You would have been left alone with no one to aid you. My brothers would be in the same danger; ’tis why I have refused to see them…why I have treated you ill.”

“Wait. Connor has been here since I arrived. How did you know I have no one?”

He did not want to reveal he’d known from the start she was from the future. Not yet. She would be furious, and he liked her happy.

“You did not ask for your sire and had no servants or clothes with you. I assumed.”

She searched his face then nodded. “Connor is getting better. Will he just sneak out in the middle of the night?”

“There is a tunnel under the castle. He will leave and make his way back to Scotland. My debt will be fulfilled.” Robert explained the debt he owed the Scot.

“I think the risk you take is worth it. But I wish you would have trusted me enough to tell me.”

“I am sorry.”

“That’s why you sold me to Radford? Because you thought I couldn’t take care of myself? He could have raped me.”

“At the time it was my best idea.”

“Your idea sucked.” She waved a hand. “Never mind. I’m not going to explain it.”

He grinned. “I think I understand.” He tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “You are most beautiful.”

“Like a cow?” she said, smiling sweetly.

“I will beg your pardon the rest of my days.”

She held up a hand. “Like I said before, actions speak louder than words, so let’s see how it goes.”

With his most charming smile, Robert took her hand in his, kissing each finger. “I will woo you until you believe I care for you my breathtaking lady.”

Over the next several days, Robert took Elizabeth with him to meet those he was responsible for. He had neglected his duties far too long.

“She is good for you.” Featherton sniffed.

Robert was already up, surprising his steward that morning. “Aye. I have been a fool.”

Wisely, Featherton did not reply.
 

Following the sound of voices, Robert found Elizabeth in the kitchen packing a basket. Janet was helping her. Gavin leaned against the wall, the dagger at his hip, and Robert suppressed a grin.
 

“Ready?”

Gavin straightened up. “Aye.” The boy cast a longing look at Janet before following them out of the hall. In a few years Robert would wager Rabbie and Gavin would be married to their lasses. Now if he could convince Elizabeth she was the one for him…

Ever since he’d found her with Connor, his fear had left him and he wondered why he’d been such a dolt. If only he’d told her before, he might have saved them all trouble. If only he’d been honest with her, told her about the other future girls. If. A small word that wielded such great power.

His people had accepted Elizabeth as their lady. He spoke quietly to them then watched her. How kind she was to every person. She truly wanted to know about their daily lives. Part of him knew ’twas because she had a need to right the wrongs of the world. A woman held up her babe for Elizabeth.

“She is beautiful. Is there anything else you need?”