Besotted (The Fairest Maidens #3) - Jody Hedlund Page 0,12

well-being.

Even though I agreed, I couldn’t keep disappointment at bay. After the whirlwind of emotions I’d experienced while dancing with Kresten, I hoped to have more of the same in my future. But I had no guarantees.

I sat up taller and straightened my shoulders. I was the queen of Mercia and must do what was expected of me. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t meet with the handsome woodcutter again, did it? If I might not ever get to feel the deliciousness of attraction with my future husband, at least I could experience it one more time with Kresten.

Chapter

4

Kresten

She wasn’t coming. I sat back on my heels in my hiding place, worked the kink out of my neck, and tried to shrug off the dismay.

A dozen paces away, Jorg mouthed, Let’s go.

I held up a finger, indicating one more moment, and peered again through the thick foliage into the glade where I’d danced with her yesterday. She’d said she might return to pick berries, not that she definitely would. And apparently she’d decided not to.

I should have guessed so. She’d likely had too much time to think over the matter and come to the conclusion that a rendezvous in the middle of a deserted forest with a stranger wasn’t such a good idea. I didn’t blame her.

On the other hand, I had hoped she’d sensed I meant her no harm and that she could trust me. Obviously, I’d failed in that regard.

A pebble hit me in the back, and I glanced over to find Jorg nodding in the direction of the ravine, his brows furrowed with irritation. Already we’d expended valuable labor time by hiking to the river, locating the secret tunnel, and traveling to the clearing. And now we’d been waiting for over an hour for her to appear.

’Twas past time to leave.

But for some inexplicable reason, I couldn’t force myself to go. In fact, I had half a mind to locate her trail from yesterday and track it to her home. The only thing holding me back was the vow I’d made to go away and never come back if that was what she wished.

Certainly, that wasn’t what she wished. Was it?

Again dismay settled over me, chasing away the hope that had grown since yesterday’s meeting. After I’d left and made my way back to the ravine and the river, Jorg had taken one look at me and almost punched me. Even with his superior tracking skills, he hadn’t been able to locate the hidden opening and had searched for me all the while I’d been gone.

Though I hadn’t planned on telling him about the young woman, I’d needed to placate him in some way.

“She is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” I’d said after describing how I’d outmaneuvered the boar, landed in the cavern, then explored the woodland beyond, only to hear her singing.

“You think every woman is beautiful.” Jorg’s scowl could have scared away a basilisk.

“Not like this one.” I hadn’t been able to stop smiling or reliving every moment of my time with the young woman. “She was truly God’s most exquisite creation. And I must see her again.”

“We’re already behind on our labor schedule today, and we can ill afford it again.”

I gave Jorg a playful push. “Loosen your belt and live a little.”

He seemed to wage an inner war for control before he breathed deeply, relaxed his shoulders, and forced a smile. “You’re right. I’m sorry for getting upset.”

I paused long enough to study him and for an instant saw the situation as he had. He’d been given a great honor to accompany one of the three Scanian princes to the Great Isle for the Testing. But it also came with great responsibility. No doubt Jorg wanted to please the king and the Lagting with how he handled his duties. In addition, his reputation as a great knight was at stake.

With so much pressure, Jorg was bound to be worried about me now and again, especially since one of his duties was keeping me alive for the duration of my Testing.

I clamped him on the shoulder. “I was insensitive. Please forgive me for causing you undue anxiety.”

My rare apology left Jorg speechless. I shoved him and laughed, hoping to resume our usual banter. However, the rest of the day, we’d both been strangely quiet. I’d been preoccupied with thoughts of the beautiful young woman—even in my slumber—so much so that by this morning, I’d been almost desperate with the need to see