Helena stood up, rubbing at her forehead. She was cramped from lying in her long stays and hip roll. The center of her back ached when she moved.
“Because we are to wed in the presence of the king and queen.”
“Wed? You were telling me the truth?”
Her question was insulting, but not by design. Keir frowned at her, clearly disliking the slight. The maid looked at the floor and did her best to appear invisible. Keir crossed the distance between them and her belly tightened. Her body instantly responded to his—it was immediate and uncontrollable.
“I have never lied to ye.”
And he didn’t like having his honor questioned. She heard it in his tone, but she also felt it in her heart. A little bubble of joy appeared to ease the ache she’d fallen asleep with. The tarnish on his gallant image was rubbed off in her mind.
“But Edmund told me…” She shook her head. “Of course he lied. Another scheme….” It shouldn’t hurt, but it did.
“Yer brother told ye what?”
Keir was still hiding behind an expression devoid of clues to his true mood.
“It doesn’t appear to matter.”
He stepped closer. “I disagree. I would enjoying hearing what yer brother said that sent ye out into the night if it wasnae that you and I were to wed this morning.”
She saw the hurt flicker in his eyes. It was surprising, because she’d never have guessed that anything she did might injure his emotions. He cupped her chin in a warm hand.
“Who did ye run away from, Helena?”
“Edmund said I was to wed Ronchford this morning.” Just saying it made her shiver. But Keir had another response. Pleasure lit his eyes, spilling over to cover his face. A firm look of satisfaction entered his eyes.
Jerking away from his hold, she moved several paces across the chamber. The maid took the opportunity to flee the room. A tingle went down her nape when she realized, almost keenly, that she was alone with him once again. She seemed to have no ability to control her wicked thoughts when they were close. “That does not mean I was running to you.”
Her pride fueled the comment—that and the need to hold on to some part of herself. She felt crushed beneath the weight of so many hands pushing her toward what they wanted.
“Is that so?”
Keir crossed his arms over his chest, his face returning to that unreadable mask. “Well now, I suppose ’tis a grand thing that I didna trust yer brother to keep his word, else ye would be spread out on Ronchford’s bed this morning.”
It was a blunt thing to say aloud. Helena lifted her chin in the face of it. But her cheeks colored in spite of her posture. “All that much better for ensuring that I end up in yours.”
His eyes darkened with promise. Her belly twisted in response. The desire she’d battled last night rekindled to lick across her skin.
“I’ll no’ deny it.” He stalked her, chasing her across the chamber. She stiffened when she realized that she was retreating and forced her feet to stand still. But he enjoyed the show of courage, approval glimmering in his eyes when he reached her, and all she did was tilt her head up so that their gazes remained fused.
“But ye’re nae as unhappy about the prospect of sharing my bed as yer words would like me to believe.”
He stroked her cheek and a shudder shot down her back. She felt her face turning hot beneath his fingers.
“I dinnae think I ever noticed a blush so much as I do on ye.” His fingers smoothed over her cheek, his dark eyes intent on the patch of bright skin. His face told her that he liked what he saw and she suddenly felt pretty.
“That blush tells me ye’re thinking about me, just as I’m thinking about you.”
“That does not mean we should wed.”
He crossed his arms over his chest again. The posture was a warning that his mind was not going to be changed.
“Nay, the parchment that I won from yer sniveling brother says ye’re to be my wife and I dinnae care very much about the means.”
“You won me?” She choked out the words.
“Aye, at cards.” His voice was as solemn as a mourning bell. But he offered her a kind look when her eyes widened in shock. “It doesna matter, Helena. What’s important is that ye will no’ return to yer brother’s keeping and ye won’t have to risk yer safety by running through