“Aye, the storm,” he said. His eyes flicked up and down the wide hallway to be sure Aerity was safe before he seemed to relax.
“I think I’ll visit the library.” She walked on before he could respond. One of the doors to High Hall was ajar. As she neared the darkened room, she glanced back at the guard, who watched dutifully. Aerity walked slowly, and just as she came close to the doorway a flash of lightning lit up the vast room within. Men were laid out on cots and floor bundles, snores resounding upward in mock harmony. But one man was sitting against the wall, his arms draped over bent knees, face shrouded in waves of brown hair. Their eyes met just as the lightning flashed, and their gazes remained connected afterward in the dim streak of sconce flame. Aerity sucked in a breath as the thunder hit, shaking the castle. She could still feel Paxton’s eyes as she continued forward, out of his sight. By the tides, how could a simple look make her tremble so?
She glanced back at the guard, who was still watching, forcing her not to linger.
Beyond the entrance to the Great Hall were steps down to the lower wing—the library to the right and a trainingfacility with Aerity’s silks and an indoor archery range to the left. She was still shaking a bit as she stepped lightly down and rounded the corner to the library. Then she heard the murmur of male voices behind her at High Hall and retreated back to the corner to listen.
“Aye, it’s a nasty one.” The young guard’s voice reverberated down the stone hallway. “The archery range is down the steps to the left if you’re looking to pass time until the storm ends.”
“Very well, but my bow is in my tent.” It was Paxton’s voice.
Aerity’s heart skipped with glee—had he followed her? The men were discussing the availability of practice bows when she peeked around the corner. Neither were looking her way. In a moment of spontaneity, Aerity slipped behind the tapestry against the open wall and rushed past, running quietly the rest of the way to the training room.
Please follow me,she thought, and then nearly laughed. He wasn’t the type to follow a lass like a lovesick pup. He was a mystery, that one. A mystery she planned to solve. But time alone with him was hard to obtain.
Her nerves were alight, causing beads of sweat to break out across her skin when she heard his footsteps moving down the hall.
He’s coming!she thought excitedly. Then her limbs prickled again with nervous anticipation and she realized how foolish she appeared just standing there. She hurried to hersilks and grabbed hold with slick palms, twisting her ankle sloppily and hoisting herself up with a bit too much force. She swung wild and high, jerking her head toward the doorway at the sound of a throat clearing. Her face flamed.
Paxton’s hair was disheveled. His dark eyes took in the sight of her swaying on the silks and he turned to glance down the hall behind him before staring at her again.
“I was told that you would be at the library and was ordered to keep my distance.”
“I, um . . .” Aerity unwound one foot and reached her toe down to the floor to stop her movement. She felt utterly stupid, realizing how she must look in her night robes, swinging away like a child, her hair loose and probably a tangled mess. “I changed my mind.” He didn’t move from the doorway. The two of them locked eyes and forged a sort of silent battle.
“Like I said,” he told her in a low voice, “I was told to keep my distance.”
“Do you always follow rules so well?” It came out like a challenge. She held the silks tightly to steady herself, one foot still wound in the fabric and the other on the floor.
“Actually, no.” Without looking away from her, Paxton’s foot kicked the wooden doorstop, and he walked forward, letting the door creak closed behind him. “I saw the tapestry move . . .”
He knew she’d be here. Hehadfollowed her! Aerity had never felt more nervous in her life as he made his slow approach. She wasn’t accustomed to feeling this way, her bodyout of sorts, her thoughts scattered. She was glad to have the silks to cling to.
Paxton took his time. Aerity thought she should say something, perhaps a witty quip, but she was afraid she’d sound breathless. She didn’t want him to know how he affected her. He walked a circle around her, moving nearer, his eyes scrutinizing every element in that curious way of his. Aerity kept very still. No lad other than Harrison had dared to get this close. He stopped in front of her and looked skyward. His eyes trailed the silks to the ceiling, and he reached up, his fingers and palm wrapping around the smooth fabric, feeling his way down. When he got to her hand he let go, never touching her.
“I wonder,” he said quietly. His eyes roamed over her hair and face, her robe cinched at the waist. If he thought she looked silly he didn’t show it.
“You wonder what?” She was horrified to hear that she indeed sounded as breathless as she was. Curses.
Paxton’s hand drifted over the hair at her shoulder, his fingers gathering a mass of light red strands and winding them gently about his palm until her long tresses were a loose knot around his strong hand. She could feel the slight tug at her scalp as his fist slightly tightened. Her chest fluttered at the sight of his thumb running back and forth over the taut hair there. She suddenly wished she could feel that caress.
“I wonder what sort of queen you’ll be.”
The seriousness in his eyes and meaning of his wordsratcheted up Aerity’s spine, bringing her back to her senses in a heady rush. She let go of the silks and stood before him on her own two feet. Taking her cue that the mood had shifted, he let her hair slide from his hand.
Why would he ask such a thing? Exactly what aspect of her personality made him question the type of ruler she’d be? Did he think her immature and incapable? Could she blame him after she’d acted so transparently foolish just now? Aerity lifted her chin.
“I hope to be fair and just.”
His face bent a fraction closer, as if hungry for anything she might say.
“To whom?” he asked.
To whom? What sort of question is that?
“Toall, of course.” She realized her hands had gone to her hips and she forced them back down to her sides. A rumble of distant thunder sounded.
Paxton’s impassioned eyes narrowed and bore into her. There was something desperately needy in his gaze, and Aerity found herself wanting to fulfill that mysterious need. He opened his mouth to speak just as sounds of footsteps echoed down the hall. Aerity’s eyes widened.
