Page 168 of Historical Hotties
“That is ridiculous,” she snapped. “Nothing agin’ Sir Burle, but I dunna want him to be my escort. Who made this absurd decision? Was it yer brother?”
He looked up at her calmly. “Why do you not want him to be your escort?”
She stopped waving her arms. “What do ye mean?”
“Just that; tell me why you do not want him.”
All of the fire seemed to drain out of her as she gazed down at him. Her beautiful emerald eyes were fixed on him and her rosebud mouth worked slightly as she thought of an answer. It seemed like a struggle. Finally, she just shook her head.
“Do ye not know, English?” she whispered.
His voice was hoarse. “Tell me.”
Her answer was to reach out and touch his hair, running her small fingers through the inky strands. Creed caught her hand, turning to kiss the palm as she caressed his bristly cheek.
“Because,” she whispered. “I dunna want ye away from me, not even for a minute.”
His eyes were closed, his mouth against the palm of her hand. “Tell me why.”
She sat back down, watching him kiss her palm as if it was the most precious thing in the world. It made her heart flutter wildly, her limbs to go weak. It also loosened her tongue.
“Because I fancy ye, English,” she murmured, both hands moving to his cheeks as he reached out and pulled her against his armored chest. Her emerald gaze moved across his handsome face as if memorizing each and every line. “I have never felt this way about anyone. I dunna know exactly what it means but I would suspect that it is something very strong and very wonderful.”
“Strong enough to never want to be parted from me?”
“Aye,” she insisted. “I will kill anyone who would try it, including yer beloved brother.”
His answer was to kiss her, long and hard. But the sane portion of his mind that was not consumed with these wonderful blossoming feelings reminded him that they were in a common room for all to see and he let her go, kissing both hands before putting them back in her lap.
“You cannot know how happy you have made me,” he whispered. “To hear that from your lips means more to me than you can know.”
Her face was flushed with emotion. “Truly?”
He nodded. “Truly.”
It was extremely difficult for him not to reach out and grab her again so he put distance between them, running a nervous hand through his hair once more. When their eyes met again, he chuckled in an edgy burst of energy and she giggled like a child. As he continued to gaze at her, his smile began to fade. There was something in his eyes that should have forewarned her of the words to come but she was too naïve to see it. Therefore, his next question was a shock.
“What would you say if I told you that I wanted to marry you?”
She stopped giggling and her eyes widened to the point of popping from her skull. As he watched, her face screwed into tears.
“Oh, English,” she wept. “Why… why…?”
He went to her, concerned. “I am sorry, honey,” in spite of his attempt to stay away from her, he took her hands again and kissed them gently. “I did not mean to upset you. I only meant to….”
She responded by throwing her arms around his armored neck, knocking him off balance. “Ye dinna upset me,” she sobbed. “I just never thought… I dinna know ye felt that way.”
He righted himself and wrapped his arms around her slender body, burying his face in the side of her head. “Of course I do,” he murmured. “I cannot explain it better than that, but I do.”
She wept. “But I thought… I’ve been so rotten since the moment we met. I’ve run from ye, yelled at ye and have made yer duty miserable. How can ye want to marry someone who has been so difficult?”
He laughed softly, kissing the side of her head and pulling back to look at her. “You are not difficult in the least,” he winked at her, “once I figured out how to handle you.”
She squeaked and wept and he laughed again, kissing her cheeks and gently shushing her. “You must cease your tears, honey,” he kissed the end of her nose. “Lady Anne and Lord Richard will be here shortly and they will wonder what horrible things I have said to you to make you cry.”
She sniffled and wiped her nose, struggling to stop her tears. “Will ye tell them?”
“Tell them what? You have not yet given me an answer.”
