“How do I know I can trust you?” she demanded.
“How do I know I can trustyou?” he countered.
Fair question.
“I mean you no harm,” he continued. “I’ve been riding for a few days. I just want to rest.”
She certainly understood that. “I’ve been riding for a few days, too. I want to rest, too.”
“Then we understand each other.” He took a step up on the porch.
“Stay where you are,” she snapped, clutching the poker tighter.
He halted, his hands still held in surrender.
“Remove your weapon,” she demanded.
He removed his sword belt and dropped it on the porch at his feet. Then he removed a dagger at his waist and dropped it next to his sword.
“I’m unarmed, my lady. Does that make you feel better?” There was a smile in his voice.
“I’m not unarmed. How does that makeyoufeel?” she said.
“Safe.”
Despite herself, she snickered. She dropped the poker to her side.
“Do you have matches?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said.
“Come in and light the lantern by the door. When I see your face, then I will decide if you can stay.”
He emitted a low chuckle. “As you say, my lady.”
He moved inside the door, his hand in his pocket. A moment later, she heard the strike of a match followed by the flare of the flame. His face was illuminated by the yellow-orange flickering fire. He lit the lantern hanging by the door, then removed it from the bracket and held it aloft close to his face, brightening his features.
Her breath caught as she got her first glimpse of him. As soon as their eyes met, something happened between them she could not explain. As though a silvery thread connected them, pulling them together in a way she did not understand. She felt drawn to him.
He was handsome. The light from the lantern glinted off gold strands of his dark hair. His face was chiseled to perfection with a strong jaw. She wasn’t sure of the color of his eyes. From what she could tell by the light, they were a rich honey color. He wore a cloak clasped at the throat with a silver pin. Beyond that, she couldn’t see much else about his clothes.
“Does my face please you, my lady?”
His jest would have been funny if it hadn’t been so close to the truth.
“You seem harmless enough,” she said at last.
“Do I?” He smirked.
“You’re a stranger to me,” she said.
“True. However, that can be remedied with a simple introduction.” Holding the lantern aloft, he asked, “What’s your name, my lady?”
A good question. She wasn’t prepared to give up her true identity. What if he were one of the castle guards in disguise? She wasn’t ready to return.
“Rose,” she said at last, shortening her name. No one had ever called her that.
“Well, Rose. It’s lovely to make your acquaintance.”
