Hunted(44)

A big sigh. “This is utterly ridiculous, I say.”

He grinned. “I have to go.”

She sat up, nearly bumping their noses together. “Leaving? How long will you be gone? You can’t leave me here alone.” On second thought, she quieted, a devious plan forming. If he left, she could dance around the house for all he knew. What a glorious idea. She smiled at him kindly. “Oh, that’s such a swell idea and where are you going?”

Something in the way he watched her said he knew what she was up to. “I have to meet with the king and take care of some other business. Military work. The trial for Lysse Karmine begins tomorrow. I’ll be testifying. You’ll have to give your deposition the following day. You should be mostly healed by then.”

Penelope’s happiness deflated. “I see.”

“Also, since I have to leave for a few hours, I’ve invited your sisters over.”

The knock came at the first floor door. “And that would be them, I suppose?”

“You don’t have to look glum about it. They are your sisters. Thought you might like a break from me being your caretaker.”

“Ah, yes, exchanging one prison guard for another.” She didn’t like her bitter attitude; it stank of petulance, she knew. But she’d been in this bedroom for three, very, very long days.

Chuckling, he gave her another kiss. This time she turned her chin away from and his lips landed her cheek. Leave it to him to continue laughing while he kissed a path up her jaw to behind her ear. Chills swept over her and tingles of pleasure grew where he kissed the skin of her neck.

“I do love your sense of humor, Pen.”

She grabbed onto his shoulders as he nuzzled her neck. How easy he could take her breath away, she thought.

“And I like you well enough.”

“Is that all?” he asked, still laughing. Obviously, he didn’t believe her.

“I suppose I might love you…some.” The words felt right to say to him. To think she’d pushed him away all this time. How silly it all looked now that she’d opened herself to him.

Stomping at the staircase indicated her sisters were near.

“When will you be back?” she asked.

“Tonight, late evening most likely. Don’t get into trouble while I’m gone, yes?”

One corner of her mouth popped up—that sounded like a challenge. He spotted her grin and sent her a reprimanding look—one a parent saved for a child about to steal an extra cookie.

She could see he wasn’t going to let up unless she eased his fears. “Fine. I agree not to do anything. I’ll remain ever invalid for you, my love.”

He bit back his laughter as her sisters came into the room. Priscila held a large pot with what Penelope smelled was her mother’s delicious chicken soup. Penelope’s favorite dish. Her stomach rumbled at the aroma.

Priscilla set the soup down on the table. “See, I told you, Phoebe. She’d love some soup about now. Who knows what this beast of a man has been feeding her the past few days? Jerky and raw meat, probably.”

Ryon looked like he was deciding whether to respond or not. Neither he nor Penelope corrected her sister to say he had, in fact, had been feeding her nothing but healthy, delicious meals since he’d come to her house to take care of her.

Phoebe had brought a vase of yellow daffodils. The room looked instantly brighter with them in the room. Daffodils were Penelope’s favorite flower and they always made her smile when she looked at him. “Phoebe, they are so beautiful. Thank you!”

Her youngest sibling, Phoebe, set the vase on the table near the bed. Phoebe never would admit it, she was too shy, but she was an incredible gardener. She kept a flower and vegetable garden at her house. When she wasn’t off at work teaching archery for the military, she could be found knee deep in soil in the backyard. Maybe shy wasn’t the best term to describe her sister. Phoebe never did take stock of her accomplishments; she could never see how talented she was. She assumed she was average, or below, when that was not the case at all.

“I’m going to get going,” Ryon said, leaning over Penelope to give her a sweet kiss. “I’ll see you tonight.”

She stared into his lovely eyes and smiled back. “Tonight,” she agreed.

After the front door slammed closed and she heard his horse trotting off, Penelope flung the covers off her body and sat up.

“Thank goodness!”

“Whoa there, sis!” Priscilla called, coming to halt her. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Penelope shrugged. “I’m perfectly fine. He’s being overprotective. I need to walk around. I’ve been cramped in this bed for three day. Three days!”