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“I’ll make sure they canna hurt you.”
    “And how will you do that?”
    “I still plan on dueling Geoffrey for you. If he has the nerve to go through with it, that is. If not, then I will find some other way to free you from him.”
    “ And precisely what do you mean by free?”
    “I have only one option.”
    “What if I will not agree to your option ?”
    “I willna force you into anything.” It was difficult to say, because it wounded his pride. Maybe she wasn’t ready for a husband in the conventional sense, but she could accept the protection of his name. 
    “ Can I go on my way then?”
    “You are a lady. Someone has to take responsibility for you. Besides, where else would you go?”
    “On my own. ” Her jaw flexed.
    William stood and held his hand out to her. “I canna let you do that.”
    “Why?”
    He pulled her up whether she liked it or not, careful not to touch her sore arm. “Because you need to be sheltered.”
    She came to his nose. Connor was right, her height was refreshing.
    “Then you surprise me not,” she said from between her teeth. “You are what I thought you to be.”
    He smiled, enjoying the way her stubbornness overcame her fear. “And what is that?”
    “Male.” She licked blood off her lip.
    “I offer to shield you with both my sword and my name, and that is all you have to say?”
    She crossed her arms over her rib cage and turned her cheek to him.
    “I like it when you’re angry. It makes you forget your fear.”
    “You don’t scare me.”
    “My laird,” Alice said. She held out a handkerchief and he took it from her.
    “Let me see your lip .” He knew his words had sounded too much like a command. William exhaled through his teeth. “I am more accustomed to the company of men than of women.”
    “I very much doubt that.”
    William touched her shoulder, turning her to face him. She let him wipe away the blood trickling from her lip, watching him with guarded eyes.
    “I ’ll need to stitch this.” He pressed the cloth against her mouth.
    Her throat rose and fell as she swallowed.
    “I will be gentle .”
    “Is there such a thing?” Around the cloth. “A gentle stitching?”
    He corrected himself. “I will be fast?”   
    He could feel her breath against his hand. Moist. Warm. Her scent was washing over him, and he wanted to pull her into his arms.
    “Take this,” he said .
    She caught the cloth before he pulled away, h er chilled fingers brushing his.
    He ran his hands through his hair. “’Tis time to go.”
    “But . . .”
    “Now.”
    She scrambled onto his horse, wincing over her injuries. He knew he should have helped her.
    “Why did you take my horse?” he asked.
    “He was the oldest one in the stable. Strong and healthy enough for my use, but I thought he would not be missed overly much.”
    William pursed his lips. “Thank you, my lady.”
    “I did not know he was yours.”
    “I didna know you were you.”
    “You would not have let me go either way.”
    “Nay, I would not.”
    “The other horse .” She pointed to Connor’s mount. “Fell right in line with yours when I took them from the stable. I knew he would be right for Alice because he seemed used to going wherever your horse did.”
    “Well done ,” he said, nodding his approval at her resourcefulness.
    “My father bred horses.” She toyed with the reins, her thumbs working the braided leather. Then she shook her hair over her shoulder, hiding her face. “You remind me a little of him.”
    Was that good or bad?
    “I wish I had a home,” she said.
    She would have a home soon. His home. Och, and anything else she wanted from him as well. Geoffrey was right about one thing. William had turned into a giant bleeding heart.
    He took up   the reins  to   Angus’s horse. “I will walk back. I   am   in   no   hurry.”   Aye, he needed to tend to her lip, but he didn’t look forward to it.  She   didn’t   appear   to  be    excessively uncomfortable,