It was perhaps half an hour later when she heard the sound of leather on stone somewhere off to her right. Immediately her hand tightened on the butt of her pistol. Casting a swift look around she saw a dark figure emerge from the trees onto the shoreline some fifty yards away. As he stepped from the shadows into the moonlight she recognised Harry at once. For a moment she wondered what he was doing there but when he removed his coat the intention became clear. He sat down to tug off his boots. Then the rest of his clothing followed to reveal the lithe, hard-muscled form beneath. It might have been threatening but it wasn’t. Unable to look away now she watched him wade out into the water. Just as she had done earlier he scrubbed himself thoroughly from head to foot. Having done so, he soused himself and repeated the exercise. She thought he would climb out then but it seemed that was not his intention. Instead he swam away from shore, cleaving the moonlit water in long, clean strokes. He swam like a fish, the light lending a silvery sheen to the flesh of arm and shoulder and buttocks and for a moment she had the fanciful notion that she had unwittingly found a merman. It was undoubtedly voyeuristic but she could not have looked away if her life had depended on it.
He swam perhaps a hundred yards and then returned. This time he did wade ashore. Elena caught her breath. She had not thought until now that a man’s body could be beautiful. It was also virile and dangerous but it was not in any way repellent, awakening thoughts that were both alarming and exciting and creating pooling warmth in the region of her pelvis. The sensation sent another flush of heat along her neck and into her face.
Unaware of the sensations he was causing, Harry dried himself on a linen towel and then, unhurriedly, began to dress himself again. Elena relaxed a little. As she did so her foot dislodged a small stone. It rolled over the edge of the rock, striking the one below it. The sound seemed horribly loud in the stillness. Horrified, she froze. Had he heard it? If so, he would investigate and discover her present position. Then he would realise that she must have been observing him all this time. The ramifications turned her hot all over. However, he gave no sign of having heard anything and with a sense of relief she saw him continue dressing. When he had done so, he bent to retrieve the soap and towel before heading back towards the campsite. She let out the breath she had been holding.
As he reached edge of the trees he paused and turned her way. ‘Goodnight, Elena.’
The words, though quietly spoken, carried with ease in the silence. Moreover, she was certain that she heard a note of laughter too. Mortified by the implications, she could only be glad of the darkness which hid her burning cheeks.
Harry did not advert to the incident next morning and Elena took care to avoid his eye as they struck camp. In some ways the thought that he had found it amusing was worse than anger would have been. It was also difficult to look at him now and not remember what she had seen, or that he had wanted her to know he was aware of the fact. Perhaps there were limits to pretence, after all. And that had other implications.
These thoughts occupied her as they rode on. She was only distracted when her horse cast a shoe some ten miles further on.
‘We’ll find a farrier in the next town,’ said Harry. ‘Fortunately it isn’t too far. We’ll lead your horse with the others. You can get up behind me in the meantime.’
It was on the tip of her tongue to say that she could just as well ride with Concha, but the words withered and died there. As Jack secured her horse to the pack saddle of one of the lead animals, Harry offered Elena his near-side stirrup. As she slid her foot into the iron he reached down a hand. She took it. An arm like steel propelled her effortlessly onto the horse’s back. He glanced over his shoulder.
‘All right?’
Elena assumed an expression of casual ease. ‘Yes, I thank you.’
Harry nudged the horse with his heels and they set off. Since there was no other option she let her hands rest lightly on his waist, immediately aware of his warmth through the fabric of the jacket. Her vision strayed from the broad shoulders to his neck and the dark hair above his collar and thence to the strong line of his jaw.
‘I’ll check all the horses’ feet when we get to town,’ he said. ‘It’ll be as good an opportunity as any to replace any worn shoes.’
With an effort she found her voice. ‘Good idea.’
‘While the farrier is sorting that out, we can all have a decent meal.’
‘It will be most welcome.’
His lips quirked. ‘Yes. Cheese and chorizo are all very well but a change won’t come amiss.’
‘Were you thinking about a large beefsteak by any chance?’