laboratory with no friends or loved ones by her side. She did not live life, if Amelia's words were to be believed. She merely existed.
But it didn't matter what she did with her life upon her return, he argued with himself. All that mattered was her safety now, and his determination to keep away from the woman. She was a lady. Out of his reach. Although recognized by his father, he was a bastard with no prospects. A lady would never venture so low. Not even one from the future.
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Chapter Five
Riding for an hour, talking little along the way, they stopped to rest for a few minutes before moving on to Tobor Morar, a port from where they would take a boat across to the mainland.
Ian bit the inside of his cheek, knowing full well he would have to help the woman down from her mount. She not only couldn't see, she had no real knowledge of what she was doing. A few hours on a horse being led around the bailey did not make her a rider. He could ask Michael to do it, he supposed, but refused to let his desires, however unbelievable, get the better of him.
"We shall rest for a few minutes,” he announced, and slid from his horse.
Michael nodded and dismounted. The lad held Jenny's horse steady as Ian slid his hands around her waist. The simple style of her gown, now quite fetching with the alterations, distracted him a moment as he lowered her to the ground. Aye, she was a shapely woman for one so small.
Her hands rested on his forearms while his remained secure around her waist. “Thank you,” she said, her voice a bit shaky.
He could only nod, his tongue too thick to speak. ‘Twould take but the slightest dipping of his head to kiss her, he thought.
"If you've a need tae some privacy, Jenny, there be a bit of trees over there,” Michael said, wrenching Ian from his frozen state.
"Oh, um, thanks. I think that might be a good idea.” Her face flushed pink, and Ian was struck once again by her beauty.
How could a woman such as her be alone? And of all the women in the world why did he have to lust after one that was so wrong for him?
She walked slowly, picking her way carefully across the small bit of road to the trees. Once there, he called out to her not to go too far. She waved and slipped into the thicket.
"I'll be taking tae the other side of the road,” Michael muttered. But Ian could not take his eyes from the spot where Jenny had disappeared.
Something nagged at him, but he could not place the feeling. He'd thought all morn that ‘twas nothing but his misguided lust and admiration for her bravery. He knew, although she sat prettily in the saddle, a sweet grin on her face, that she was frightened. But that was not what niggled at the back of his mind. There was something different about her. Different since the night they'd met, but he couldn't fathom what it was.
Shaking his head, he tended to his own business then found a half rotted log to rest upon while waiting for her to re-appear. Whatever the change, ‘twould come to him eventually. After all, he was stuck with the woman for the next sennight.
* * * *
Jenny felt silly squatting in the woods, but knew there was little choice in the matter. Several times she looked over her shoulder trying to determine if she was concealed enough, and several times she ran into a blasted tree.
The last one was rather large, so she decided that if she wasn't concealed enough behind it then she'd just have to trust Michael and Ian not to watch.
She took care of business as quickly as possible, then slowly turned back the way she came, her hands out in front of her so as not to run into yet another branch or tree. But unfortunately, the blurry leaves all looked the same and she wasn't sure which way led back to the road.
Feeling like a helpless twit, she opened her mouth to call out to Ian, then paused. She really didn't need this embarrassment. Oh, he'd never say a word, and neither would Michael, but it was so humiliating.
Standing
But it didn't matter what she did with her life upon her return, he argued with himself. All that mattered was her safety now, and his determination to keep away from the woman. She was a lady. Out of his reach. Although recognized by his father, he was a bastard with no prospects. A lady would never venture so low. Not even one from the future.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Five
Riding for an hour, talking little along the way, they stopped to rest for a few minutes before moving on to Tobor Morar, a port from where they would take a boat across to the mainland.
Ian bit the inside of his cheek, knowing full well he would have to help the woman down from her mount. She not only couldn't see, she had no real knowledge of what she was doing. A few hours on a horse being led around the bailey did not make her a rider. He could ask Michael to do it, he supposed, but refused to let his desires, however unbelievable, get the better of him.
"We shall rest for a few minutes,” he announced, and slid from his horse.
Michael nodded and dismounted. The lad held Jenny's horse steady as Ian slid his hands around her waist. The simple style of her gown, now quite fetching with the alterations, distracted him a moment as he lowered her to the ground. Aye, she was a shapely woman for one so small.
Her hands rested on his forearms while his remained secure around her waist. “Thank you,” she said, her voice a bit shaky.
He could only nod, his tongue too thick to speak. ‘Twould take but the slightest dipping of his head to kiss her, he thought.
"If you've a need tae some privacy, Jenny, there be a bit of trees over there,” Michael said, wrenching Ian from his frozen state.
"Oh, um, thanks. I think that might be a good idea.” Her face flushed pink, and Ian was struck once again by her beauty.
How could a woman such as her be alone? And of all the women in the world why did he have to lust after one that was so wrong for him?
She walked slowly, picking her way carefully across the small bit of road to the trees. Once there, he called out to her not to go too far. She waved and slipped into the thicket.
"I'll be taking tae the other side of the road,” Michael muttered. But Ian could not take his eyes from the spot where Jenny had disappeared.
Something nagged at him, but he could not place the feeling. He'd thought all morn that ‘twas nothing but his misguided lust and admiration for her bravery. He knew, although she sat prettily in the saddle, a sweet grin on her face, that she was frightened. But that was not what niggled at the back of his mind. There was something different about her. Different since the night they'd met, but he couldn't fathom what it was.
Shaking his head, he tended to his own business then found a half rotted log to rest upon while waiting for her to re-appear. Whatever the change, ‘twould come to him eventually. After all, he was stuck with the woman for the next sennight.
* * * *
Jenny felt silly squatting in the woods, but knew there was little choice in the matter. Several times she looked over her shoulder trying to determine if she was concealed enough, and several times she ran into a blasted tree.
The last one was rather large, so she decided that if she wasn't concealed enough behind it then she'd just have to trust Michael and Ian not to watch.
She took care of business as quickly as possible, then slowly turned back the way she came, her hands out in front of her so as not to run into yet another branch or tree. But unfortunately, the blurry leaves all looked the same and she wasn't sure which way led back to the road.
Feeling like a helpless twit, she opened her mouth to call out to Ian, then paused. She really didn't need this embarrassment. Oh, he'd never say a word, and neither would Michael, but it was so humiliating.
Standing
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