“I usually keep to the sand,” he told her, trying not to pay attention either. “This is why.” Walking against the tide made his head spin a little. He reached out for her when he almost lost his footing next.
“We will go down together,” she declared with a slight giggle.
“Nonsense,” he challenged. “We will not be taken down by one foot of water.”
“The trick is not to keep your gaze pointed downward.”
“Where shall I keep it then?” He knew where he wanted to keep it.
“On me,” she said after a pensive moment. “I will keep you on your feet.”
“I do not doubt it.”
Her gaze on him made him feel drunk on wine. Her promise, coupled with the slightest, bold tilt of her chin, convinced him that there was more to her than sewing and learning how to look like a decorative bird the way all the other delicate ladies did to find a husband. She looked like the kind of woman who might come from the future.
“What about you?”
He was already looking at her, so he raised his brows not understanding what she wanted him to tell her.
“How did you come to be King’s Richard’s knight?”
Nicholas turned his eyes toward the distant waves. He never shared his life. Oh, Elia knew of it because she was there for much of it. Edward had known him well. No one else. He didn’t fancy talking about himself. But she wanted to know. She was waiting to listen and, for some reason, he wanted to tell her.
“I was Edward’s first in command. I brought him many victories. As had my father before he was killed, and his father before him. The de Marres have always fought on the side of the House of York. And they rarely lost.”
“If I remember this part of history correctly, then you’re right,” she told him. “The Yorks were always victorious.”
“Aye, because of my family.”
“Who taught you to fight?” she asked and rubbed her arms.
She was cold. What should he do?
He wasn’t a child. Why was he behaving like a peach-faced squire? He grinded his jaw and yanked her into his side. He put his arm around her and held her there. “I should have taken a cloak for you.”
“It’s…ok. This is…um…fine.”
“You are freezing,” he pointed out. “We should head back.”
“Not yet,” she pleaded softly. “I want to talk to you.”
His mistake was to look down into her eyes. “Why do you not fear me after what you saw me do today?” He had no idea why hearing his words made his throat tighten.
“You did it for me,” she answered softly, her breath warming his chin. “They were coming to kill me. Why didn’tyou tryto kill me, too?”
“Why should I?” he asked. “You are not my enemy.”
“I wasn’t theirs.”
“They likely believed you a witch.”
“And you don’t?”
He shrugged his shoulders and walked her to the shore. “I don’t know what I believe about you.”
“I wish there was a way to prove my words.”
“To what end?” he asked. “What would you have me do? I’m going back to the field in a few of weeks.”