The nights were cold, even in spring. Against her, Oliver’s warrior’s body felt warm. She felt herself begin to relax and steeled herself against it. What was he doing?
Gradually, she absorbed his heat. The hand which had been clamped over her mouth lifted and came to rest on her neck. When his thumb shifted in a subtle caress, she stiffened and the thumb stilled.
Waves were breaking softly on the shore. She could hear the rattle of shingle as it was sucked this way and that. Another wave broke, and another, the eternal beat of the sea. It was very relaxing. Calming. She could hear Oliver’s heartbeat and that was calming too. She gave a small sigh and before she knew it her hand was around his waist, and once again his thumb was stroking the side of her neck. The length of his legs lay against hers. It was a poignant reminder of how it had felt to awaken and find their bodies entangled in the aftermath of love.
She turned her face into his side so she could breathe him in. Oliver. She loved his scent. She placed a secret kiss on his tunic. Long fingers found her chin, angling her so that she would look at him.
‘What are you thinking?’ he asked. His voice was husky.
She was thankful the night spared her blushes. ‘N...nothing much. You’re very warm.’
‘Liar,’ he murmured, eyes hooded.
She watched him, waiting for a kiss, but those long fingers simply trailed over her face and traced the fullness of her lower lip. Her skin heated. She almost pressed her mouth to his wrist, but squashed the impulse just in time. She wanted to kiss him. She wanted him to kiss her. She ached. She waited. Nothing happened. ‘Oliver?’
Their gazes locked. When he exhaled sharply, she realised they had both been holding their breath.
‘You see, angel, when left to ourselves we do not quarrel.’ He was smiling, she could see his broken tooth in the moonlight. His voice was gently mocking. ‘We might even like each other.’
‘Of course, but what are you saying?’
He shook his head, still smiling. ‘Your position in the castle was turning you into a shrew – and it’s no use glowering at me. Every time we meet, you turn on me. I’ll not have it.’
A cold suspicion curled in her vitals.
‘I grant that you are as pretty a girl as a man could want, but is it worth it? I’ll not have you turning into a nag. There are plenty of other girls – willing ones – at Ingerthorpe.’
‘Why, you conceited-’
He gave her a quick shake. ‘Hear me out. We met on the beach. I brought you here to see if we could hear an echo of that day. And I think we have. For a while I think you managed to forget your resentments.’
‘I did.’ She couldn’t deny it. A moment in his arms and she had been imagining, wishing, dreaming...
Oliver pillowed his head with one arm – the other remained firmly about her waist. He was staring up at the stars and his expression gave nothing away. ‘I have decided to give you the choice you say no-one has ever given you. You may choose to stay at Ingerthorpe Castle as my lover, or you may go back to your husband at the mill.’
She felt the blood drain from her face. The sea went on playing with the shingle and shells.
He swallowed. ‘I won’t force you either way, it will be entirely your decision. But, Rosamund, I tell you this, if you choose to stay, I’ll stand no more shrewishness. These are the terms – I am to marry Lady Cecily. I can’t love you but I can take care of you. I won’t allow anyone to insult you, nor will I cast you into a ditch when I am done with you. On all these things you have my word. You will be my woman, mine alone. What do you say?’
She looked thoughtfully at him. ‘Is this a real choice?’
‘Of course!’
‘And what about Baron Fitz Neal? He’s the one who gave me to you. I’m his vassal, and he threatened my father with loss of the mill if I don’t stay at the castle. If I decide to go back to the mill, will Sir Geoffrey permit it? I am part of your agreement with him. I feel like a pawn in a game of chess where a squire is determined to become a knight.’
Oliver’s eyes were pinned firmly on the stars, she saw his lips twitch. ‘What do you know of chess?’
‘What, an ignorant peasant like me, you mean?’ She swallowed down a surge of anger and struggled to focus on what really mattered. ‘If I choose to go back to the mill, are you saying that you’re prepared to risk losing the game for a worthless pawn like me?’
‘If you want to go back to the mill, I won’t stop you.’ Oliver turned his head and looked at her. ‘I can deal with Geoffrey, he only made you part of the deal because he thought I desired you.’