Page 59 of The Warrior's Innocent Captive

Jarin looked at him for a long moment. ‘I will send a guard in to unlock the chain. They will remain stationed outside your door.’

Jarin stepped outside. Erik watched him go without comment. It seemed Jarin didn’t trust his heartfelt oath after all.

Dusk was falling as Erik let himself back into the keep by a secret entrance. Bribing his guards had been disappointingly easy. No wonder de Bevoir had been able to find out so much about Jarin; his guards had virtually no loyalty at all.

Erik had already begun planning how to fix the problem when he realised it would be nothing to do with him. His actions meant he would no longer be Jarin’s steward. He’d almost staggered under the weight of that realisation, but had forced himself to keep moving. He’d wanted to catch de Bevoir before the man realised what had happened.

In the end, his perseverance had counted for nothing. He’d returned to all the places he’d seen de Bevoir and those he’d guessed at while he’d been blindfolded, but there was no sign of him and his men. Not even the hint that they’d even been in Borwyn’s township.

Erik had lost everything for nothing.

He climbed the steps inside the keep.

Jarin would have put the Leofric sisters in one of the best chambers the fortress had to offer.

After the frustrations of his day Erik longed to see Linota. Her smile was like a balm to the soul. And she loved him. Him, a worthless bastard. It was almost impossible to imagine, but he’d seen the look in her eyes when she’d sworn to him it was true. It had to be. Clinging to that knowledge was the only thing that had got him through the long, horrible day of searching for Isabel, only for every place to be a dead end.

He’d wanted to chase after de Bevoir and head to Garbodo’s lands, but he had to see Linota first. To tell her the truth behind everything that had happened.

Besides, de Bevoir might not have returned home. Perhaps he was regrouping and, if so, it was up to Erik to tell Jarin. He owed that to his brother, as his friend and as his liege.

Up ahead there was the brief sound of someone knocking on a door, followed by the noise of it opening.

‘Mistress Leofric.’

Erik stilled as Jarin’s voice floated down to him.

‘My lord.’

Erik’s heart clenched at the flat sound of Linota’s response. It sounded so unlike her. There was no trace of her normal, gentle laughter.

‘I am sorry for the ordeal you have suffered.’

Erik couldn’t make out Linota’s response. He hoped she was saying something in defence of him. Yes, she had spent a short while with her abductors, but for the most part she had been safe and protected with him.

Jarin coughed.

‘Mistress Leofric...’

The hairs on the back of Erik’s neck stood up. Time seemed to slow down as he waited to hear what his brother would say next.

‘Mistress Leofric...’

Erik’s heart began to pound. Jarin sounded nervous! Why would he be nervous unless he was going to ask her something momentous?

After all that had happened Jarin couldn’t be about to...surely it was too soon. They’d only just arrived at Borwyn. Jarin hadn’t met Linota’s older brother; he’d barely spent any time with Linota herself.

‘As you are probably aware,’ Jarin went on, ‘the Earl of Ogmore has settled large dowries on you and Katherine.’

What was Jarin going on about? Surely this wasn’t a marriage proposal? Jarin wasn’t crass enough to discuss such a thing as dowries with a young woman.

‘There is also your situation to consider.’

Erik leaned against the wall, his legs suddenly unable to support him.

‘Your family has been through a difficult time over the last few years. An alliance with the Borwyn name will put an end to that.’

If Jarin had been talking to anyone other than Linota, Erik would have laughed. This offer of marriage, for that was what it was despite there being no mention of a wedding, was all wrong.

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