Page 71 of Peregrine's Call
She rested her head on his shoulder.
He laid another kiss on her hair. “You deserve so much more.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. No matter what she did in her life, however cultured or brave or learned she might become, she’d be bound by her humble birth. She depended on the charity of the de Vere family. Her virgin status was her only path to a worthy marriage, and thus the chance to rise out of her origins.
Tav was being kind by denying her the one thing she wanted—him. Perhaps one day she’d be grateful, but now she was miserable.
Thank God he didn’t know anything of what she was thinking. He’d risen off the bed and poured some water onto a cloth. He washed her clean, and then himself, all without any fuss. Then he lay back down and pulled her into his arms.
Robin took his hand and raised it to her lips. She kissed his palm gently and heard him inhale.
“Did I ever tell you how much I like your hands?” she asked.
Tav actually laughed, the sound low, partly muffled by the bedclothes. “My hands are a wreck. Blistered, cold-cracked, and ugly.”
“No.” She kissed the pads of his fingers, one by one. “Your hands are so beautiful. All the times you stayed at Cleobury, I would always notice them, no matter what you were doing. Training with a sword, riding, even at prayer. I love your hands. Strong.” She laid her own hand up against his palm to palm. Her fingers barely reached halfway up his.
He laced his fingers through hers, her pale skin sharp against the dark brown back of his hand. “You expect me to believe that you were attracted to my hands,” he said, his voice warm.
“It’s true. Perhaps because it’s all I could see of you, aside from your face—also beautiful, I should add.” She especially loved his cheekbones.
“You need to see more faces,” he suggested. “My face is plain.”
“No,” said Robin. “I’m the plain one. Please remember how I once passed for a boy.”
“Remember that no matter how you dressed, you never fooled me,” he reminded her. “That very first time you came to Cleobury, I knew exactly what you were. A most unusual young woman, who was more comfortable with archery than weaving. Wear what you like. Crop your hair as short as you can. I’ll still see Lady Robin of Ardenwood.”
“Don’t say that name,” she whispered.
“It suits you. You are a lady in all the ways that matter, and who knows the Ardenwood better?”
“But the Ardenwood is wild. There’s no honor in it, no title attached to it.”
“So? All the more reason to claim the mantle for yourself, then.”
“And do what with it?” she asked. “Embroider offerings for the deer? Forests have no need of ladies.”
“What’s wrong?” Tav looked over at her, his brow wrinkling in concern.
She shook her head. “Nothing. I just don’t want to discuss this topic.”
“I didn’t mean to upset you.” Tav reached out to pull her close to him. “Forgive me?”
“I’m not angry with you,” she said. Indeed, it was difficult to be angry when she was in his warm embrace, in a soft bed, on a peaceful night.
“Good,” he said quietly. “I aim to keep it that way.”
Before she could ask what he meant, Robin drifted to sleep, truly content for the first time in years.
Chapter 27
Octavian knew the exact momentthat Robin fell asleep, her body easing into slumber as she rolled onto her side, her head resting on his chest, her arm draped over his torso. He couldn’t understand how she could be so comfortable with him no matter what situation they were in. Robin seemed to be equally content to trek through a forest with him, or sleep naked next to him. She drew no distinctions, and instead told him silly, sweet things like how much she loved his hands.
Just lying with her, with a blanket and the low fire to keep away the chill, felt like an indulgence, and he wasn’t quite ready to give that up. He brought up one arm to curl her in a half embrace. He closed his eyes. An uninterrupted night was a gift in itself. To spend it with Robin was bliss.
He kissed her forehead before he realized he might wake her, but she only gave a sleepy sigh, her eyes remaining closed.
Looking at her, he knew he had to decide what to do next.
