Shattered Vows(80)

‘It’s not that-’ Her voice broke.

‘What then? My love?’

She felt him trying to turn her in his arms but she held her ground and stared at the tumbling water as it frothed and thundered into the pool. She couldn’t face him. He sounded so tender and it was agony. He was mocking her with false concern.

‘Rosamund?’

She took a deep breath, and faced him. Beads of spray were shining in his hair. ‘Don’t mock me, Oliver. Don’t make a game of me.’ She spoke so softly he had to stoop to catch her words.

He took her by the chin and his eyes darkened. For a heady moment she thought he would tell her how wrong she was, and that he’d never use her as a toy. Instead, he simply grinned. ‘You have a halo, love, an angel’s halo.’ He ran his fingers over the top of her head. ‘The water droplets look like pearls.’

Even as disappointment curled through her, she warmed at his touch. Long fingers found her ear and caressed it; they traced a path lightly across her cheeks to her mouth. She ached with longing, with loss. I’m free, can you love me?

His eyes were alight – with mockery? She twisted away. ‘I think I hate you.’

‘I don’t believe you.’ His voice was warm, it held promise. ‘You like it when I touch you.’ He kissed her forehead and she put her palm on his chest to ward him off. To her shame, her fingers clutched at his tunic. ‘You like it when I kiss you.’ Catching her hand he lifted it to his lips. He shifted closer and before she could evade him, his mouth was on hers.

She abandoned any attempt to twist away and lost herself in the kiss. His lips burned. She felt him teasing her mouth open. He tasted achingly sweet. The moment her tongue tangled with his, the kiss changed. He gripped her shoulders and kissed her hard. He was ruthless. Hot. Inescapable. This was a searing, branding kiss – it felt as though he were marking her for his own.

He lifted his head, and cloudy grey eyes stared into hers. They were both breathless. ‘You like my touch.’

‘That’s why I hate you,’ she said, with a shy smile.

He smiled back and she caught sight of that chipped tooth.

‘You are an arrogant swine.’ She touched her mouth. ‘You bruised me,’ she said, though she knew her expression betrayed her. She’d needed that kiss.

His fingers were weaving in and out of her hair. ‘Your halo’s reappeared. It’s beautiful, like a rainbow.’

‘A halo, that’s very apt – do you know what this waterfall is called?’

‘If you recall, my love, there’s not much I do know at the moment.’ His eyes were bleak.

She stroked his cheek. ‘You will remember.’

‘I pray so.’

‘Oliver, you will. You remembered the castle, the rest will come in time.’

‘And what am I supposed to do while I wait? I must be mad to think I can bluff my way through this with addled wits.’

‘You’ve got me, I’ll help. You can trust me.’

‘Can I?’

His voice was so dry, she felt herself flush. ‘Of course you can. I’m not deceiving you.’

He gave her a penetrating look. ‘I hope not, but it’s entirely possible that when I awoke and stopped Alfwold taking you back to the mill, you decided it was in your interests to be honest with me. You know I heard much of what was said. I wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t overheard you...and if Alfwold hadn’t arrived at the shepherd’s hut? It’s interesting to speculate, don’t you think?’

She tore herself out of his arms. The breeze pulled on her hair and she looped it back over her ear. ‘I wouldn’t have deceived you. It wouldn’t have been right.’

‘Why not?’ he asked, eyes watchful.

‘Because...because I want...Sweet Mother, I can’t tell you,’ she muttered. ‘Don’t press me on this, I beg you, for I cannot say.’ She hunched her shoulder on him and stared into the foaming water.

‘Very well.’

She thought she heard a sigh, although his next words were prosaic enough to dispel the idea that he cared enough to be interested in her answer. ‘Come, my angel, lead me to that encampment. We’ve rested enough.’

She didn’t want to leave the falls. Once they reached the castle, Oliver’s old life would rush back at him – his oath to Baron Geoffrey, Lady Cecily – and Rosamund would be shoved aside.

‘I like it here. Don’t you?’

‘It’s very beautiful, but I have to redeem myself at the castle if I want to keep my position.’

‘It’s known as Angel Falls.’

‘Lead on, if you please,’ he said, taking her hand. He was looking downstream, assessing the lie of the land, she’d lost his attention.