No. He wouldn’t want to know the future if her story was real. But…the princes in the Tower. Could she tell him anything about that?
His gaze softened on her. If her story was true, then she had indeed lost much in one moment. To be cast into a place that was likely barbaric compared to where she came from would be harrowing for anyone.
Then again, if her life right here in this century was difficult, she could have escaped through this fancy of coming from an easier time. If she kept it up, surely the cracks would begin to appear, and her story would fall apart.
Finally, he turned away and walked down the hall. She was not his concern. His moments of believing her were over. Her tale was imagined. She was a madwoman. He had to send her away. He would tell Elia in the morning. He made it around the corridor when he heard her call to him.
“Sir Nicholas?”
He stopped and turned slowly. “Miss Locksley.”
She looked disheveled and dreamy from the bed she had just left. Even from several feet away, her eyes shone like jewels ringed in black, haunting, hypnotizing eyes that tempted him to—
“May I walk with you for a few moments?”
He nodded, not breaking their gaze. “Of course.”
“I’m surprised to find you awake,” she told him, catching up.
Did she know where he was a moment ago? “I waited for the last of my men to return from the field.”
“Did they all return?”
“No,” he answered quietly.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” They walked for another moment before she spoke again.
“I realize that my story is very difficult for you to believe. I just wanted you to know that I will not ask your or anyone else’s assistance with anything. I will find a way to get home myself. If I got here, I can get back.”
He looked away and asked in a quieter voice, “What if there is no way back?”
“I refuse to believe that.”
He glanced at her. It was best not to look directly at her too often or for too long. It was too easy to lose his thoughts to the way torchlight fell over her rich sable locks.
“What if you are supposed to be here? What if the brooch was given to you for a reason?”
“What kind of reason?” she asked.
“I do not know.” He shook his head. What was wrong with him, going along with this dangerous game? It seemed as if her slightly floral scent was going straight to his head. “’Twas just a thought.” He led her to a large wood and wrought-iron door. He opened it and they stepped outside onto the wall near the great bridge.
A soft wind blew her hair off her shoulders. He watched it, and the way her eyes widened at the sight of the sea roiling in the distance, the whitecaps rolling onto the shore beneath the bright full moon. He didn’t know why he brought her here. Just that he loved the solitude and the scent of the briny air.
“Wow,” she breathed out. “It’s beautiful here.” She turned to get a panoramic view.
He thought her heard her sniffle.
She was cold. He should have thought of that when he brought her outside.
“We can go back in,” he offered.
“No. Really, I don’t want to. Let’s stay out here.”
She wanted him to stay. It shouldn’t matter to him.
“I told Elia to change your room. She did not know—”
“I didn’t blame her. I hope she knows that,” she told him quietly.
“Did you blame me?” he asked, staring at her while she stared at the sea. How was she more beautiful in the moonlight? He rejected his thoughts of her. He wanted no woman in his life to complicate things further. He could leave whenever he wanted. There was always a battle between the Yorkists and the Lancasters being fought somewhere. If the king was coming, Nicholas could leave. If Reg and his wife and children drove him mad, he could leave. If he died on the field, no one would mourn him.
She glanced at him. “Well, you are the lord here. They follow your rules, don’t they?”
He nodded.
“You didn’t give Elia any. I remember. I was there. How can I blame her?”
“’Twould be difficult,” he agreed and set his gaze toward the cliffs. He liked how she thought things out in her head.
“Is all this yours?” she asked, spreading her arms wide.
He nodded. “And the king’s. Richard lives here a few months of the year.”
“Elia doesn’t like him. Do you?” she asked boldly.
He studied her in the stillness. “Why would you ask me a question such as that, Miss Locksley?” Was Richard questioning his loyalty? Had the king sent her to tempt him into confessing what he truly thought of his liege?
“There’s no reason,” she said, trying to sound reassuring. “I was just curious.”
“Curious,” he intoned with a sneer. “You almost had me believing your wild tale and doubting my own good senses.”
“What?” she had the boldness to demand.
“Did Richard send you?” he demanded back.
Her eyes opened wide and she reached the pinnacle of audacity by slapping his arm. “No, Richard didn’t send me! What do you think he did, transport me from some vessel in space onto the battlefield? You saw me appear. You were looking straight at me.”
He almost nodded his head but then shook it to clear his thoughts. “Space? What are you saying?”
“What are you saying?”
“You’re clever.”
Her lips parted, tempting him to let his gaze linger there. “I guess anything would be clever to a fool.”
He wiped his thumb across his lower lip as if she’d struck him and drew blood. “Perhaps it wasn’t a good idea for me to bring you here.”
“Perhaps it wasn’t.”
Was that water in her eyes? She turned away too quickly for him to know.
“Miss Locksley, I did not mean for you to leave.”
He was mad. Out of his mind. He wouldn’t throw her out. Besides, he didn’t
