Sighing with the thought, she led him toward the hostel. As soon as they entered, several of the workers turned a suspicious eye to them. Cat made her way to the man in an ap.r.o.n who was directing one of the maids.
"Pardon, sir? We have need of a room for the night."
His gaze narrowed heatedly on Lochlan. "You always let your woman speak for you?"
Lochlan"s nostrils flared before he took a step toward the man, who immediately squeaked and put a great distance between them.
Cat put her hand on his chest to stop Lochlan"s advance.
The man gulped before he nodded toward the stairs. "There"s one room at the top, third door on your right."
She smiled warmly. "Thank you. We"ll also be needing food."
"It"ll be ready shortly."
She inclined her head to him before she took Lochlan"s hand to lead him toward the stairs.
Lochlan"s anger melted as he felt her soft hand clutching his. Only his sisters-in-law and mother had ever done such a thing. It was a familiar touch and yet this one rocked him to the core of his being. It ignited his blood and made him acutely aware of the fact she was taking him to a room with a bed...
His c.o.c.k hardened at the thought.
She led him into the room, then closed the door behind her.
The heat in his groin was unbearable as his gaze fell to a bed that was far too tiny. "We should have gotten two rooms. This is highly improper."
"Perhaps, but what do you think they"d make of a man and woman traveling together alone? "Tis safer if they believe us married."
She had a point, but it did nothing to alleviate the fiery pain in his groin. It was fierce and hard, and made him wish he"d never gotten involved with her.
He dropped his saddlebags by the window. "I"ll sleep on the floor."
Cat was amused by his words until she heard the sound of a large group of horses outside. It sounded much like a small army had ridden into town. Moving to the window, she pushed open the shutters to see a group of soldiers. She pulled back with a gasp.
"What?" Lochlan asked as he joined her to see them below.
"They"re my father"s men."
Chapter 3.
Lochlan listened quietly as he watched the men dismount below. He didn"t think much of it until the captain stopped a man on the street.
"We"re seeking a young woman." He held his hand out to the height of his shoulder. "She"s about this tall with black hair and dark eyes and would be traveling alone. She answers to the name Catarina."
Luckily the man shook his head as Lochlan did his best to try and remember if he"d called her by name around any of the villagers.
"At least they think I"m still alone," she whispered to him.
That was something, but they were a long way from being out of the woods on this one. "Have you ever seen any of them before?"
She looked down, then shook her head. "I think not, but "tis hard to say for certain. There are a lot of people at my father"s court and it"s hard to see their faces clearly from up here."
He cursed. They could try to slip out the back and escape, but like as not that would make the soldiers suspicious. If he were smart, he"d abandon her to them. But that would be unchivalrous and he"d given her his word.
"The best course of action is to stay here, I think, and let them search the town, then leave."
Catarina looked about sheepishly. "You think they"ll search the rooms here?"
""Tis possible."
She let out a frustrated breath. "I should go to them then before they find me."
"Excuse me?"
"It would be prudent. If they find me with you, there"s no telling what they might do to you. I"m sure I can escape them again."
He cast a doubtful look at the large number of men searching the town. Granted, she was a h.e.l.lion, but their number was such that even he would have a hard time escaping them. "I promised I"d see you to your uncle, Catarina, and so I shall."
"Aye, but what of your people?"
"The guards below know nothing of me or my people. So long as you don"t tell them who I am, my people will be safe."
"You would do that for me?"
"I"m a man of my word. Always. I promised I"d take you to Bavel and so I shall."
Cat smiled up at him. "I was wrong about you, Lochlan MacAllister. You"re not as obnoxious as I thought. You"re actually quite heroic." And as she spoke, she realized exactly how handsome he was. Even though his hair was tousled and he wasn"t freshly shaven, he was extremely compelling. She couldn"t imagine any man being more attractive.
And as she looked at him, his eyes darkened as he stared at her lips with an unfathomable hunger. That gaze was so hot that she could almost feel his lips on hers. Feel his body pressing against her. She shivered, wanting to know what his kiss would feel like.
Lochlan had just dipped his head toward hers when a sharp knock caused both of them to jump.
"By the order of the king, open this door!"
Lochlan motioned her to silence before he went to open it. Cat swallowed in fear of what was going to happen.
With dark hair and a stern face, the guard took a step into the room. His gaze narrowed on Cat before he took in the size and bearing of Lochlan. His anger slipped down a notch. "Forgive me, my lord, but I was told you called the woman with you Catarina?"
"By whom?"
"A woman on the street. She said you were both foreigners."
Still Lochlan bore the arrogant stance of a man greatly perturbed by the guard"s interruption.
"What of it?"
"I"m looking for the king"s daughter, Catarina. It is imperative that we find and return her." He cast a meaningful gaze to Cat who let her face melt to the most charming expression she could muster.
"Och now, sir," Cat said, mimicking Lochlan"s Scottish brogue. "Surely you don"t be thinking me a French princess now, do you?" She took a step forward and wrapped her arm around Lochlan"s.
"I"m flattered to be sure, but unfortunately there"s only me and my husband here."
The guard frowned. "But your name is Catarina?"
"Catriona. Similar I suppose to French ears, but not the same."
He nodded as relief cut across his brow. "I understand completely. Please forgive my interruption."
Cat didn"t breathe until the man had shut the door and she heard his footsteps recede down the hallway.
Lochlan was still scowling at her. "Wherever did you get that accent?"
She wrinkled her nose at him. "Listening to you and your brothers. I tend to pick them up quite easily."
"You can say that. It sounded there for a moment as if you were born to it and Catriona...brilliant."
She curtsied to him. "I try."
She saw the fire return to his eyes before he excused himself and left her alone in the room to rest. He exited so quickly that she didn"t even have time to speak.
His actions would have amused her a lot more had she not felt the same heat around him. There was something about him so unsettling and desirable that it was all she could do not to force him to kiss her.
Don"t forget you hate him. He is everything you loathe in a man.
He was also kind to an unknown peasant boy and protective of her. Everyone had faults. He just had more than his share. But that being said, his positive factors went a long way in smoothing over those faults.
Pushing that thought away, she went to his saddlebags to see if he had anything she might nibble on until their food was ready. She"d escaped her guards earlier and hadn"t had a chance to eat a single bite all day. Truthfully, she was famished.
As she reached the windows, her attention was drawn again to the soldiers outside. And as she spied a man she knew, her heart stopped beating.
Myles D"Anjou...
She ran back to the bed, away from the window. Closing her eyes, she whispered a small prayer that he would leave before he caught sight of her. Why was he even here? Why would a n.o.bleman travel with common guards trying to find her?
To win points with her father, of course. Myles"s family had angered her father by siding with King Henry over some matter and since then her father had been suspicious of them.
She wanted to curse her luck. Myles had been the first of her father"s courtiers to make his intention to court her known. Luckily, her father had rejected his offers. He didn"t trust the man and neither did she. Myles would gladly hand her over without a moment"s hesitation.
Or worse, he would do something to try and force her father to make her marry him.
How she wished she could tell Lochlan of his presence. But if she knew her Highland lord, he wouldn"t speak to the man anyway.
You"re worrying for naught.
She hoped that was true. G.o.d help her if Myles met Lochlan and learned of her presence here.
"Excuse me?"
Lochlan paused as he left the shop and saw a man about a head shorter approaching him. "Can I help you?"
He was a n.o.bleman unless Lochlan missed his guess, but not a wealthy one. Though his boots were a finer grade of leather, they were old and worn. His dark blue tunic and hose also denoted n.o.bility, however, they had a simple trim, not the ornate ones preferred by those with coin. Even his sword was old and in need of repair. "I"m looking for a woman."
Lochlan snorted. "Well then you"re out of luck with me, lad. Last I checked, I"m definitely not female."
The man gave him a less-than-amused stare. "I heard you came to town with a woman who sounds a lot like the one I"ve been looking for."
"I"ve already had word with another of your men. She"s not the one you seek."
"Really? And I"m just to take your word on that matter?"
"Most people do."
His gaze dropped to Lochlan"s sword, which was encrusted with rubies and emeralds around the hilt. "Are you n.o.ble?"
"Aye, with blood ties to three thrones."
That gave the man pause. "Where are you from, my lord?"
"I think I"ve answered enough of your questions. My wife waits for me and I"ve no wish to keep her waiting. I"m sure as a man in search of a woman, you can understand my urgency to get back to her."
Lochlan stepped past him. From the corner of his eye, he saw the man call another guard to him.
d.a.m.n. This didn"t bode well. Grinding his teeth, he swept his gaze to the others who were questioning people and searching places where Catarina might be hiding. He"d fought such odds before, but he"d at least had another sword in hand when he"d done so and he hadn"t been dragging a woman along with him. A fight with the king"s guard could be b.l.o.o.d.y indeed.
Trying to put that thought out of his mind, he entered the hostel, where a maid was slicing roasted venison. He paused beside her and handed her coin. "Could you bring two platters and wine to our room?"
Her eyes widened as she saw the amount he"d given her. "Aye, my lord. I"ll be there posthaste."
He inclined his head to her before he headed up the stairs and into the room where Catarina was waiting in a corner with the window drawn tightly closed.
He"d never seen her so quelled. "Is something amiss?"
"Aye," she said in a low tone. "I do know one of the men below."
"Let me guess. A short, beady-eyed fellow who wreaks of garlic and sweat?"
"Myles D"Anjou. I take it you met the swine."
He nodded. "He cornered me on the street."
"What did you tell him?" she asked in a fearful tone.
"Absolutely nothing. Think you he"ll listen?"