Page 25 of A Knight To Call My Own
“A baby? Then your marriage has been consummated.”
“I said no such thing, nor do I feel I must needs justify my actions to a woman I barely know,” Ian said with a grimace.
“Well, justify them to me, or validate them to Lynet’s family. One way or the other, you will still have to confront Dristan. I won’t even mention what Amiria has said of you.”
He flinched. How could he not? “I would think it more prudent to find out who has taken Lynet, than to worry about how our marriage came about,” Ian rose and found his sword lying on a nearby table. Strapping the blade to his side, he turned again towards the strangest woman he had ever met. She was a bold one. He did not know how Riorden put up with her queer ways. “What have I missed?”
Katherine stood, as well, and retrieved her sewing. She squinted whilst she scrutinized her work. “Damn, I’ll have to start again. The seam isn’t straight. Ugh! I’d rather clean toilets.”
“My lady?”
“Huh?”
Ian ran a hand through his hair. “What…have…I…missed?” he reiterated and enunciated each word slowly, as if speaking to a child.
Her brow rose at his tone. “Don’t speak to me like that. I’m not dimwitted, you know.”
“My apologies, madam. I but wish to find my wife as quickly as possible so I can take her home.”
“Her family may have something to say about that. Besides, Berwyck is her home,” Katherine stated calmly.
“Not any longer. Her place is with her husband and at Urquhart. If you do not know what has happened since I’ve been put here, then I will find someone who can inform me of the circumstances surrounding my wife’s disappearance,” he bellowed, storming towards the door.
“For God’s sake, get your head out of your ass, you dope! I’m tired of men with their testosterone levels off the charts. Always ready to go off to war and leave us women behind. It’s really very irritating.”
Ian was aghast, hearing her words, but had to admit he did not hear most of what she hollered, other than where he should take his head from! “I beg your pardon?”
“As well, you should. I accept your apology.” Ian scowled at her, since he was not aware he had offered a request for her forgiveness. She smiled at him, put down her sewing, and took hold of his hand. They went to sit by the fire, and he used every bit of patience he had left to wait to hear what she needed to tell him.
“You’ll have to excuse me, Ian,” Katherine began demurely with a soft voice. ’Twas a complete contrast to the woman who had raised the hackles on the back of his neck, but moments afore. He just could not figure her out. “Sometimes, I forget myself, and where I am.”
His brow rose. At least she admitted she was not from these parts. “Is there word about my wife?”
“I’m afraid not. It’s hectic and crazy as hell out there with a multitude of people packing up their camps and heading in too many different directions, if you were to ask my opinion. Dristan has cancelled the remaining games, for obvious reasons. He has already searched the tents of those who are still here and sent off several groups of knights on various routes to find her. So far, they’ve turned up no sign of her.”
“She could be with any one of those who have already left Berwyck,” he grumbled.
“That’s precisely my point. We just need to be a little patient to see what turns up.”
Ian stood abruptly. “You canna expect me to just sit here whilst my wife is at the hands of someone desperate enough to take her from beneath Dristan’s very nose. What kind of coward sits back and does nothing?” he shouted.
Katherine stood up and poked her finger into his chest. “Well, you don’t want to be running around the countryside in circles, chasing your tail, like someone else we know, do you?” she yelled right back. Her eyes widened from the words that came rushing from her lips. “Umm…I didn’t mean to-”
“By Saint Michael’s wings! Are you saying Rolf is even now out there, looking for Lynet, whilst I have been for the most part reluctantly napping?” He strode furiously to the door. Reaching for the handle, he halted when a gentle hand was placed on his arm. Worried eyes met his as he tried to calm the anger threatening to erupt inside him.
“Please Ian, just be careful, would you? I have every bit of faith you will find Lynet. Just don’t do anything rash if you come across Rolf. He loves her, too.”
“I never said I loved her, Lady Katherine…although, I do care for her.” She got such a sad look in her eyes. Ian instantly regretted his words. “I do not wish to cause you distress, but I barely know the lady she has become. I needed a wife. She was someone I remembered from my past. ’Twill take some time with each other for affection to grow into something to be called love, if such an emotion even exists.”
“Then, maybe it’s best if Rolf finds her first. At least, he has no qualms facing the truth he is in love with her.” He watched her whilst she tried to think of something else to say, but she must not have come up with anything, since her lips shut closed in a firm line of disappointment.
Opening the door, he stood in the passageway waiting for…something…but he knew not what. He turned back to Riorden’s lady and gave her a bow. She returned it with a nod of her own. “I pray our paths shall cross again someday, Lady Katherine. Mayhap, then you shall trust me with your tale.”
She gave him a very lovely smile that reached her eyes and began to laugh. “Oh, I’m sure we’ll see each other again, Ian. After all, we’re practically family, in a really long distance kind of way.”
Ian shook his head in puzzlement at her strange words, the meaning of which only she knew. “Then, I bid you farewell ’til we one day meet again,” he said politely.
“Take care of yourself, Ian,” she whispered. “I hope someday you realize exactly what you’ve found with Lynet, before it’s too late. I promise, if you let love into your heart, you’ll never regret marrying her. Trust me, it’ll be worth it.”
