Loving Lies. Tina Donahue

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СКАЧАТЬ hurry so our wedding is not unduly delayed. Allow me to assist you.” He cupped the back of her head, bent her at the waist, and unceremoniously pushed her head into the water.

      Startled, she flailed her arms. When Fernando pulled her back up, she coughed and shouted, “What are you doing?”

      “What you will not. You seem incapable of washing yourself, señorita.”

      Isabella yanked away and had to right herself quickly so she wouldn’t fall in the stream. Clawing wet hair off her face, she glared. “I am most capable, señor.”

      “Prove it by promptly finishing the task, understand?”

      “I do, my lord, as I have no desire to have you drown me.”

      He stepped toward her. “Why are you delaying our journey?”

      Heat rose to her throat and cheeks.

      He frowned. “You refuse to answer me?”

      She refused to speak the truth. “I was abducted and taken to the slave market, Fernando. I fear what others might think of me.”

      “They will think only the best or face my sword. You have my protection. It should suffice. Or do you still doubt my honor and fidelity?”

      How could she after what he’d done for her in Granada and continued to do here?

      Ashamed of her behavior and giving him even a moment of doubt, she pressed the back of his hand to her cheek. “Never. Forgive me.”

      Fernando’s anger receded as quickly as hers had. He curled his fingers around hers. “We need to be on our way. You have only a moment to finish bathing.”

      Her shoulders sagged. She unbraided her hair and washed. Once they were both finished, Fernando helped her from the stream and back to their garments.

      She made a face. “I have to clean my robe.”

      “Wear my shirt until we reach our supplies.” He tossed the garment to her.

      Isabella clenched her teeth as she pulled the linen over her scraped elbows. Once she had the shirt on, she regarded her calves, exposed to anyone she might encounter. “I need only a moment to wash my robe.”

      “No. Leave the thing here.”

      Fernando dressed quickly. Taking her hand, he led her toward the wild wheat.

      * * * *

      They reached the crop within the hour. To Isabella’s relief, the plants came to her waist, concealing her partial nudity. Sadly, countless insects buzzed about, dank earth squished beneath her toes, and stalks whipped, flaying her scraped knees, making the rest of her skin itch.

      She paused repeatedly to scratch her legs. Fernando sighed. “You keep making it worse.”

      “Scratching relieves the maddening itch.”

      “It delays us even more.” He tightened his fingers around hers and set a swift pace.

      She was soon panting. “Do the garments awaiting me include shoes?”

      “Boots. And all else to disguise you as a boy.”

      Isabella held back. “You were unable to secure female clothing?”

      “I was unwilling to do so.” He pulled her forward. “The journey to your papá’s castle is fraught with more danger than I care to think about, especially if you dress as a woman.” He looked over. “I have one sword, one dagger, and little chance of protecting you from a gang of men intent on thievery or worse.”

      “You were splendid in Granada.”

      His proud smile crinkled the corners of his eyes. “I had the advantage of surprise. Others use the same means to accomplish their goals.”

      “You felt no fear in the bazaar? You expected success?”

      As he directed them to the right, several birds took noisy flight from the wheat. “Success is never assured. I feared greatly for you.”

      “Not for yourself? How can you be so brave?”

      “A man can die but once, no?”

      Her stomach fell. She squeezed his hand.

      “All is well.” He regarded their surroundings as he always did, surely searching for possible threats. “What happened before is best forgotten.”

      “What might have happened if you had failed to rescue me?”

      His attention remained on the left before returning to the right, a stand of trees in the distance. “I suppose you would have escaped as you claimed earlier, no?” He looked at her.

      She lifted one eyebrow.

      He smiled. “At the time I had no idea how difficult you would be. Had I known, I might have refused to rescue you.”

      “I am disagreeable, my lord. Not difficult.”

      “Is that so?” He tugged her forward, forcing her to match his pace. “You refuse to lie with me until our union is sanctioned by God. I find your resolve most difficult.”

      “We had our moment in the stream. Have you forgotten it?”

      “Have you?”

      “I may need to be reminded.”

      Fernando smiled. “You will be once we rest.”

      “When will we?”

      He laughed. “You are bold.”

      She was in need of pleasure only he could give and a means to somehow delay or forsake their journey. “Only with you, my lord, and I will prove myself once you allow us rest.”

      He turned to her. Although his expression was naked with need, he shook his head. “Not until the sun goes down.” He regarded her breasts, bouncing with each of her steps. “When it does, you had better keep your promise.”

      “And change your mind on rescuing such a disagreeable, difficult, and disobedient woman?”

      He again scanned the area. “I would have risked my life to spare any woman the harem whether she was Christian or not, betrothed to me or not, difficult or not.”

      “So you also know what goes on in the Sultan’s harem.”

      “Also?”

      She swatted at insects buzzing around her face. “When others spoke of it I made certain to listen.”

      “You made certain to eavesdrop, and no Spaniard will ever know what goes on in such a barbaric place.”

      “Yet you would risk your life to save even a Moorish woman from it?”

      He slid his gaze to her before СКАЧАТЬ