Wooing Kate

Chapter 8

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The decision to not eat was one of the hardest Kate had ever made, for she was ravenous. It was necessary however, to divert suspicion for when she drugged them all. If she began a pattern of self-starvation now, it was likely he wouldn't be suspicious later at her refusal to eat.

It was extremely difficult to hang on to that when he waved food in her face. A plate was before her, piled high with savory roasted meats. Beside the plate, a large chuck of fragrant bread sat on a cloth, cheese also there, with butter in a little jar beside them. Kate's mouth watered and she had to clasp her hands firmly together in her lap to keep from taking up some tantalizing morsel. It all smelled agonizingly good.

There was a dish of fruit as well, set between her and Adhemar, apples slices and the last strawberries of the season, as well as other berries. Her stomach would not stop growling, a loud insistent sound that she imagined could be heard for miles. He heard it too. Every time it growled, he'd smile pleasantly and offer her a bite.

Torture. This was torture and she regretted the impulse to refuse nourishment. Her gaze found the man across from her. He was eating slowly, savoring each succulent bite. He'd lift some meat to his lips, place it in his mouth and chew slowly, taking an almost sensual pleasure in the act of eating. Occasionally, he'd take up a sample of the fruit. Kate could imagine him rolling the tart apple over his tongue, or the tart-sweet strawberries, just to relish the taste.

The thought brought other thoughts on its heels, half remembered moments of his mouth moving slowly over her skin. Kate crossed her arms, forcing herself to glance about the clearing. Couldn't he hurry up? Did he have to eat with such care to every bite? Her foot tapped on the ground.

"Have you no hunger at all?"

She returned her gaze to him. He was watching her, the smug little curl of a grin on his lips, indicating he was taking his time with the meal only in an effort to annoy her.

"Or are you simply being stubborn?" His words were said with the same care he was taking with the meal.

Kate remained silent, trying to keep scorn in her eyes and finding it difficult to met his probing stare. She clenched her hands tighter.

"Well," he sat back, taking a sip of wine. "Perhaps it's not food you're hungry for, hmm?" A lazy light had entered his eyes, his voice a caressing purr. Her heart beat fast in her breast. "Really, Kate, you should eat something."

"I'm not hungry for anything you offer," she said sweetly.

He got up from the chair, came around the table and crouched down beside her, picking up a strawberry. "You should try one of these. Not many left at all." Lifting it, he twirled it before her eyes.

Her stomach took that inopportune moment to growl loudly, Adhemar raising a brow.

"That answers me clearly. You're being stubborn. What is one bite, Kate? Or an entire meal? Do you think me a devil you'd be selling your soul to?" With that rakish tilt to his brow, he certainly resembled a devil. "No, I think you're afraid." The berry was run along her lower lip, slow sweeps back and forth.

"I'm not afraid. I'm just not hungry." She had to lean back to keep any of that berry from slipping between her lips.

"Liar." His arm went along the back of the chair, the warmth of his fingers sliding, caressing along her shoulder blade. Her thin dress did nothing to give the illusion the touch was neutral. He was trying to seduce and she was determined to have none of it. "You want to eat so badly, Kate. I can see the longing in your eyes. One bite." Placing the berry at his own lips, he nipped a tiny portion off the end, then returned the berry to her lips.

Strawberry juice wet her lip and Kate licked it away reflexively. Once more, her stomach growled. Why was he doing this? Why was he being nice and even-tempered instead of the horribly self-centered, vindictive man she knew him to be? "Stop."

"No. I want you to eat." Another nibble from the berry, more juice spread along her lip, his gaze lowering from hers to watch her tongue lick it away.

Kate rolled her eyes. "Haven't you gotten your way enough today?" He'd maneuvered her into bathing, into changing clothes and now he sought to maneuver her into eating as well.

"No." His free hand slid up her back to curve about her neck, fingers caressing in tiny little circles. "I'll make you a deal."

Kate was about ready to snatch that berry from him and cram it into her mouth, then start in on the plate of food that had most likely grown stone cold. "What sort of deal?" Her hands ached from how tight she had them clasped together.

"You eat this food and I'll let you ride your own horse today."

She blinked. "And if I don't?"

"I'll place you on my horse and we'll ride together. Before me, behind me, both have their benefits for me." He waited, expectantly.

Kate glanced about the camp. She could imagine what would happen if he made her ride with him. Set before him, he'd take that as license to let his hands roam and she'd likely be defending her modesty the entire ride. Likewise, he'd take her behind him as an opportunity to place her hands where he wanted. Which would she rather? Being fondled all day or food? Food. No further discussion needed.

At the next pass of the berry along her lower lip, Kate opened her mouth to take a bite of it. He teased her with it, drawing it slightly away each time she almost bit, until she grabbed his wrist and hand, holding it steady long enough to take a bite.

Adhemar relinquished the last bite of the berry to her, fingertips grazing her cheek. "Good girl."

She reached for the meat. "I'm not a girl."

"You look like one to me."

"I'm a woman."

Standing, he moved behind her, a slight improvement over him watching her face while she ate, except now she had to contend with him running his fingers through her hair. Strange, she'd not thought him a particularly affectionate man, the sort to like giving little touches here and there, but that's exactly what he seemed to be right now. His hands left her hair, trailed along her shoulder and arms, then returned to her hair, then her back. "What..." She licked her lips. "What're you doing?"

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He longed to watch her eat. He wanted to watch her tongue darting out, licking at her lips. Frustratingly, she refused to eat. Kate refused to take even one bite of nourishment into her and he thought on how to get her to. What was the thing she'd most want to avoid? Him, of course.

So, he lit upon a plan, gave her an option. She had the illusion of control and he got to watch her eat. Her haste to choose food rather than riding with him might have stung the pride of a lesser man. Adhemar wasn't hurt by the decision. Not at all. He got exactly what he wanted.

Be careful what you wish for. That was something he'd heard over and over again through his life and never given much thought to the warning. It slammed full force into him right now though, as Kate's tongue licked the strawberry juice from her lower lip and her strong fingers held his hand so she could take a bite. Strong fingers. Strange that a woman's hand could hold such strength and still be feminine.

He couldn't watch her. Not unless he wanted to scrap his plan entirely and force her, and he didn't want to do that. What he wanted, in the end, was to have her willing again, to sip of her glorious surrender and know he'd won this game they'd entered into.

So, he gave her the berry, moved behind her, frowning down at her as she worked on her meal, touching her here and there, taking advantage of her stillness. It was not only her hands that were strong, but her shoulders and arms, he could feel firm muscle there.

Adhemar chose not to answer her question, letting his actions speak for themselves. He liked her hair long, liked a woman to let her hair flow free over her shoulders. Kate's hair was still damp from her time in the water and he lifted the heavy mass in his hands, relishing the feel of it. He remembered her hair like a curtain about them....

"Stop." Kate reached back with both hands, taking her hair from him and knotting it, then bringing the ends over her shoulder.

"How old were you?" He asked, now sliding a forefinger along her exposed nape.

"Hmm?" She wiggled in the chair, turning this way and that and he was rather delighted that he'd made he squirm.

"When you married. How old were you?"

"None of your business."

"I've made it my business."

"That doesn't mean I have to answer."

The nape of her neck was a tempting spot. If he was remembering correctly, and he knew he was, she liked whisper soft kisses pressed there with just the tiniest swirl of tongue to the skin. Crouching down, he pressed his lips there. Kate's back went stiff, her hand knocking over the cup. She choked and began to cough. Amused at the response, Adhemar found the spot once more.

The response was a bit more...lively.

Kate swung her arms back, hitting at him as she scrambled from the chair. With a last cough, she drew in a deep breath. Her face was flushed, eyes wide. "Don't ever do that again!" she screeched, loud enough to cause birds in the nearby tree to take flight.

This was going to be entertaining. Even more fun than baiting Thatcher.

He stood, cocking a brow at her. "I do whatever I wish when I wish, Kate. You should know that by now."

She made no reply, crossing her arms over her breasts.

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Christiana was sorry she'd brought the cart and all of her belongings. She should have just brought a few clothes and some food and coin. Should have. There were so many things she was realizing she should have done before setting out. Telling Sir Will and Jocelyn she was going was one. It occurred to her that if something happened to her on this road, neither of them would know where to look for her.

She was proud of herself for having gotten this far alone and with a wagon nonetheless! She'd always traveled with Jocelyn or another person before, never by herself. It was daunting, but fun also. She could stop when she wanted, ride as long as she wanted. The only problem with traveling alone, was that it was, well, lonely. There was no one to talk to, to while the hours away with.

By night, she was bored, too bored to stop, so she kept riding until she was nearly falling asleep on the horse. After a quick sleep, she returned to her travel. Christiana was unable to sleep, nightmares of Kate being hurt by Adhemar surfacing and mingling with dreams of a charming Adhemar.

Jocelyn would have been shocked to find that Christiana truly found Count Adhemar attractive. It was an aesthetic attraction, a sort of appreciation for the dark good looks he'd been blessed with. She'd admit to herself a few idle daydreams where he'd ignored Jocelyn and focused on her, attempted to woo her. They were only daydreams though and she'd known his warm, teasing conversations were nothing more than attempt to make her his ally in the wooing of Jocelyn.

His praise for her discretion as a maid was false, his teasing that he'd have thought she and Jocelyn could be sisters had he not known better also false. Count Adhemar had flattered her outrageously and she'd known exactly what he was doing the entire time. It was nice to forget her station occasionally however, and she'd played that game with him, that hint of intrigue only for the excitement it offered.

She'd preferred William Thatcher, or Ulrich as he'd called himself, as a suitor for her lady, just as Jocelyn preferred him. Jocelyn and Adhemar were not suited at all. If they'd married, they'd have become tired of one another quickly.

Christiana sighed. She wondered what Roland was doing right now. Was he feeling as wretched as she? Was he missing her like she missed him? A tear trickled down her cheek and she wiped at it. She missed those kisses he used to steal when no one was looking, his beard tickling at her skin. If he was here right now....

"A lone lady traveling?"

There was something oily in that voice and she looked around, surprised to find a man in the road. He was dirty, his clothes ragged and in ill repair. Beady eyes squinted beneath overly large and bushy brows, his thin lips set in a sneer.

"Come down from there."

She shook her head. There was no way she was going to climb down. She could imagine what he had planned and wanted nothing to do with it. Unfortunately, he didn't take no for an answer. She was grabbed, dragged down by a grimy hand in her hair, the other hand slapping at her face and bringing tears. Christiana closed her eyes. This wasn't happening, it couldn't be happening.

There was a rending sound as her dress was torn, cool morning air bathing her exposed chest. She could hear a high pitched whine, realizing suddenly that it was coming from her. The man hurled her to the ground, Christiana curling into a ball, waiting for whatever he was going to do.

Nothing happened.

She heard a strangled cry, a thud and silence. A presence near her. Should she look?

"Christiana?" The voice she heard sent a rush of relief through her body, a flood of emotion. She was safe.

She pushed her tangled hair from her face and looked up. Roland crouched before her, concern on his face. She wanted to say she was okay, wanted to fall into his arms and thank him for taking care of the horrid man before he could hurt her, but she couldn't. He'd think himself forgiven and she wasn't ready to forgive him just yet. "What're you doing here?" Her voice came out sullen.

"Saving your behind it looks like." Taking off his cloak, her spread it over her with only the barest of glances at her torn clothes.

Christiana welcomed the warmth and the cover, breathing in the scent the fabric held. "I don't need saving. Kate's..."

"The one needs saving," he finished for her, dusting his hands on his pants and standing, pointing a thumb at the man who'd come to stand beside him. Germaine, Adhemar's herald. "Where do you think we're headed?"

She pushed herself up from the ground, picking leaves and weeds from her skirts, shaking them into place, trying futilely to hold her bodice together beneath Roland's cloak. No matter where she closed the fabric, something improper was exposed. "Do you have a plan?"

"Of course we have a plan. Do you?"

"Of course I have a plan." She stared at the two of them a long moment, then shrugged and glanced away. "But I'm willing to go with yours if it's a better one."

Germaine kept his gaze on her face, for which she was eternally grateful. "Perhaps, Christiana, you should find a change of clothing in your belongings. Then, we'll talk."

She nodded and, giving Roland the coolest glance she could muster, Christiana moved to the wagon to search for a dress.