“It’s the truth! I’ve even thought of something else that might convince you. Look! Look at this.” She took a step toward him and opened her mouth, pointing to bits of silver in her teeth. “Have you ever seen someone with fillings in their teeth before? And that scar on my back that you noticed before—it’s a bullet wound. A bullet. A small piece of metal, shot from a weapon called a gun. How can you possibly explain that?”
“As you said before, the scar is from an injury suffered in an accident. And mayhap your convent in Aragon has strange customs such as painting the teeth with silver. Religious orders are known for eccentric behavior—”
“But that’s not it! I’m from the future! You’ve got to believe me!”
He crossed his arms over his chest and gave her a cynical smile. “Your teeth and your scar tell me naught, milady. Is there aught else you would show me to convince me?” His gaze lowered suggestively to the fabric clinging wetly to her breasts. “I believe I prefer the persuasive methods you tried before.”
She gave him a furious glare. “Is everything sex with you? Please try and listen to me for one second. I’m telling you the truth! An eclipse of the moon caused a ripple in time that pulled me from my family’s chateau and landed me here on New Year’s Eve. That’s how I ended up in your room. I’m from 1993. That’s why I have a strange accent. That’s why I have short hair. That’s why I didn’t understand any of the medieval servant-things you wanted me to do. That’s why I was able to make all the different foods and ‘strange devices’ for your people. What do I have to do to convince you?”
Gaston turned on his heel and started to walk away. “The cold water has addled your brain, Christiane. Strip out of those wet clothes.”
“What?”
He whirled on her, eyes piercing. “You heard me, ma dame. Even riding Pharaon, we will not be able to return to the castle for hours—and you will catch your death in this freezing air long before then. I will at least have you warm and dry before we begin the journey back.”
“But what about what I’ve just been telling you? You aren’t listening. You’ve got to believe—”
“I will never believe such insane lies. If you insist on your stubborn loyalty to Tourelle, you will at least spare me the feigned madness. Disrobe before you freeze to death.”
“Damn you!” she shouted back. “What would you care if I did die? You’d probably celebrate. You’d be free of your unwanted wife. You don’t care half a damn what happens to me.”
Gaston was suddenly shaking, not with cold, but with helpless rage at the knowledge that her accusation was utterly untrue. The idea of anything happening to his beautiful, spirited, headstrong ... wife ... Sweet Jesus, the way his heart had nearly stopped when she had tumbled over the edge of that knoll ....
“Nay, wife, I do not care,” he snapped. “But unfortunately for me, the King does. If aught ill befalls you, I will forfeit all I own, and you are not worth that price.” He turned on his heel again, tossing back a single growled word: “Disrobe.”
Chapter 10
Gaston stalked off through the trees, muttering oaths under his breath, cursing himself, his wife, Tourelle, the King, everyone responsible for placing him in this impossible situation. A situation that was getting worse by the moment.
From the future, she claimed. The moon had caused a ripple in time. What madness!
He would like naught better than to haul his lying little wife straight back to the castle, toss her into the dungeon on her shapely derriere, and let her stay there until she decided to tell the truth—the real truth about what she was doing out here in the forest and where Tourelle was hiding.
But he could not do that. If she fell ill because of her reckless river escapade tonight, he would be blamed. And the King would happily feed him to his royal hounds. In small pieces.
He had to at least get her warm and dry before the two of them took to the road, though it was the last thing he wanted to do.
Being near her, being alone with her, he had decided, was what made these intolerable, unwanted feelings creep over him. The more time he spent with her, the tighter they seemed to twine around him: a vexing melee of desire, concern for her safety, grudging admiration for her tenacity and strength of will, and an attraction beyond any he had ever felt.
God’s breath, he had to get this woman out of his life. As quickly as possible.
Making his way through the darkness to the road, he found Pharaon where he had left him. The destrier had been trained not to move once the reins were on the ground. Gaston snatched them up and led the stallion into the forest thickets.