“I am not going to apologize for being concerned for you.”
Her response was to stick her tongue out and make a rude sound. “Pish,” she said. “Save your insincere sorrows. I am not interested.”
Cole came to an abrupt halt, grabbing her by the arm so she was forced to stop right along with him. Beneath the silver moon, he faced her.
“I am sorry if I have upset you,” he said, his voice low. “Truly sorry, Cori. I am. But this will be a brutal battle and I will not apologize for not wanting you near it. Battle is no place for a woman and especially not my woman.”
She pulled her arm out of his grip. “So you do not speak to me for two days to convey that concern? That is very petty, Cole.”
He was trying not to look too contrite. “Mayhap,” he said after a moment. “Mayhap I am petty and shallow, just as you have said. But I also happen to love you and if something happened to you, I would want to die. I lost one wife, Cori. I could not lose another, not before our life together even started. I am not displaying that concern well enough and, for that, I will again apologize, but this is all new to me. I am doing my best.”
Corisande was starting to soften, just a little. When he put it that way, perhaps she wasn’t all that angry with him, after all.
“It is new to me, too,” she said. “But becoming angry at me will not solve the problem.”
“I am not angry with you.”
“They why have you not talked to me for the past two days? Why have you simply lurked and stared at me, as if I am doing something wrong?”
He made a face, looking at his feet. “Because I was afraid to say what I was thinking, knowing you did not wish to hear it,” he said. “It was wrong of me, I know, but I did not know what else to do. I still don’t.”
He sounded a little lost. Corisande took pity on him and put her hands on his, squeezing them tightly.
“I will be safe with the wounded,” she assured him softly. “I know how to use a bow and arrow, and I know how to use a dagger. I can protect myself, I promise. I’m more concerned with how Gaia is going to do on a battle march than I am with any threat from the Scots. Truly, Gaia is going to be the biggest problem I have.”
Cole relented completely, looking around to make sure they weren’t being watched before pulling her into his arms and kissing her deeply. But it was a quick kiss because he didn’t want anyone to see them, so he released her almost as fast as he grabbed her.
“I do not envy you the situation with your sister,” he said. “You should have brought Gratiana. She seems more willing to help.”
Corisande nodded. “She is, but my father has sent her home,” he said. “She is only a ward, after all, and with these battles, he did not want her in such a volatile situation. I will miss her, but it is better for her to return to her home and be safe.”
“It is better for you to return to your home and be safe.”
She shook her head in resignation. “Cole…”
He put up his hands in surrender. “I know,” he said. “But I had to say it. Come along, now, before your father sends your brothers out to look for us. I think they are already getting suspicious.”
They started to walk again, heading for the big de Bourne tent that had been pitched in the distance. Corisande could see the red and yellow striping of the tent, even beneath the moonlight.
“What does my father want to talk to me about?” she asked.
Cole shook his head. “I do not know,” he said. “But you should know I did have a few words with him about permission to marry you before The Marshal arrived.”
She looked at him with some excitement. “And?”
“And I barely got it out of my mouth when we were interrupted. He’s not yet given me an answer.”
“I see,” she said, disappointed. “Did he seem receptive?”
“He didn’t instantly deny me. I think that’s a good sign.”
She smiled, but she wasn’t entirely enthusiastic. She was disappointed that her father hadn’t instantly approved. Discreetly, she slipped her hand into the crook of his big elbow as she collected her skirt with the other hand, using him to steady herself as she crossed a particularly muddy part of the ground. At least, that was her excuse.
It just felt good to hold him.
“There’s a tavern in town,” he said quietly as they drew closer to the tent. “I was thinking about securing a room there.”
She looked at him. “Why?” she asked. “You have a tent and a bed, do you not?”
He looked at her. “Do you?”
“Nay.”
“The room would be for you.”
She thought that was a rather sweet gesture. “I would like that.”
“I thought so,” he said. “Speak to your father while I go into town and see about a room for you.”
Corisande thought that was a smashingly good idea. She thought about suggesting bringing Gaia but thought better of it. Her lazy sister could sleep in the wagon. Perhaps she and Cole could spend a few quiet moments together if she had a room all her own.
With that thought on her mind, they drew near the de Bourne tent and Ares suddenly appeared. Before Corisande realized what was happening, he reached out and took her hand off Cole’s arm. In fact, he separated them quite obviously.
“Inside, Cori,” he said, speaking to her but keeping his eyes on Cole. “Father has something to say to you.”
He was posturing as if he wanted to throw a punch at Cole. There was an expression of hostility on his face and Cole simply backed away, turning to leave without another word. Corisande thought her brother had been exceptionally rude, glaring at him before stepping into the tent where her father and brothers were.
It was warm in the tent because of a brazier, but it smelled of dampness because of the tent being wet when packed away for travel. Mold grew in the seams, scrubbed away by servants, but the smell still lingered. Her father was seated next to the brass brazier, sharing some wine with her brothers.
Corisande looked at them curiously.
“What do you want?” she asked. “I am helping the cooks prepare the meal for the men but Gaia is sulking in the wagon and she is completely useless. Really, Papa, you should not have forced her to come. She is miserable and when the fighting starts, I fear how she will react.”
Alastor lifted his eyebrows in resignation. “She is a de Bourne and much is expected of her,” he said. “I’m only sorry I sent her away to foster at Prudhoe, although you went to the same place and you did not acquire the bad traits that Gaia has. She is a pretty lass, and a smart one, but she’s as empty-headed as a piglet. Finding a husband for her will be a challenge. But for you…”
He trailed off, looking at her as he sipped his wine, and her brow furrowed.
“What about me?” she asked.
Alastor looked away as he set his wine down on a nearby table. “I was telling your brothers that Cole has asked permission to marry you,” he said. “I have asked them what they think of him and his request.”
Corisande wasn’t surprised that her father had spoken to her brothers about it, but she was miffed. This wasn’t a group decision as far as she was concerned.