The Baron's Bounty (17 page)

Chapter 19

The day of the trip came quickly, and Isobel was excited since she would be spending the next few days with Conlin and Rose. Toft finished packing their things in the travel bags, and Isobel watched as Conlin rode up on his horse, looking very regal. His steed was covered in ornate metal studded trappings with small medals jingling from the bridle. The saddle-cloth was extended, hanging way down past Conlin’s feet. And on it was the bright blue, yellow and red crest of the Barons of the Cinque Ports. He obviously wanted everyone to know he was coming, by putting on a grand show.

Conlin himself wore the Cinque Ports crest on his chest, and she wondered why he was so dressed up since their trip was supposed to be casual and relaxing.

“Toft, saddle a horse for Lady Isobel and another for Rose, and be sure to report to my steward while we’re away.”

“Aye, my lord.”

“Isn’t Toft comin’ with us?” asked Isobel.

“Nay. He’s not needed. This is an outing for family only.”

“But I’m no’ family, and I’m comin’ along.” She saw Rose approaching from behind him. She wore her new gown and shoes and had her hair braided and coiled at the top of her head. She also wore a short veil, and of all things, long gloves. She knew she had to get Conlin to agree to let Toft come along before he got a look at Rose’s attire.

“Well, would you rather stay here?” Conlin asked sarcastically.

She walked up to him and laid her hand on his knee. From atop the horse he looked down at her, and she made sure to stand so he could see down her cleavage. “I was hopin’ Toft would keep Rose occupied at least once or twice so we could have a chance te . . .”

“Once or twice?” That seemed to get his attention and he raised a brow.

“Or . . . more.” She smiled, trying to lure him in by batting her eyelashes.

He cleared his throat and repositioned himself in the saddle, then called out to Toft.

“Squire, be sure to saddle a horse for yourself, and be quick about it. I won’t wait all day.”

“Aye, milord. I’ve actually already got my bag packed, and the horse is ready as well.” Toft looked over Isobel’s shoulder and saw Rose. Then he smiled and turned and quickly made his way to the stable.

“If only I could get him to move that fast when I actually want something done,” complained Conlin, scratching the back of his neck in thought.

“I’m ready to go,” called out Rose as she approached them. Isobel thought she looked beautiful, and very much like a young lady. But obviously Conlin didn’t feel the same way when he turned and got his first look at her new attire.

“Why are you wearing that?” he asked, taken by surprise at her appearance.

“It’s my new gown and shoes,” she said, looking down at them. “Do you like them?”

Isobel noticed that Rose had tugged on the bodice again, and she was sure Conlin would notice from his position atop the horse.

“Go change your clothes and get out of those ridiculous shoes.” He turned a full circle on his horse impatiently. “And do hurry, as you are putting us behind schedule.”

“I want to wear this!” Rose’s lady-like demeanor was starting to slip back to her spoiled little girl ways. Isobel had to do something quickly. She stepped in front of the girl and pretended to hug her as she tugged the girl’s bodice higher.

“Leave this to me, and stop makin’ the bodice lower,” she whispered. “Then she raised her voice so Conlin could hear her.

“I think I left me hair brush in the stable. Will ye go check fer me, Lady Rose? Jest ask Toft if ye canna find it.” She winked so Rose would see, but not Conlin.

“Of course I’ll do that for you, Lady Isobel.”

She picked up her long skirt, and walking very carefully in her new shoes she headed toward the stable.

“She’ll break her neck in those bloody shoes, Isobel,” growled Conlin. “What were you thinking? And since when do you bring your hairbrush to the stables?”

“I was thinkin’ thet this trip would be a guid time fer ye te notice yer daughter is turnin’ into a young woman. Loosen yer grip on her, Conlin, or ye are goin’ te lose her.”

She must have said the right words, because Conlin watched his daughter go, and just nodded his head. “She looks a lot like her late mother dressed like that.” He silently turned and headed his horse away, and called back over his shoulder. “Next time you want to talk privately, just say so. Hmph! Left your hairbrush in the stable,” he scoffed.

Isobel watched him go with a smile on her face. Mayhap she had gotten through to him today. Now how was she going to explain to him that she really did leave her hairbrush in the stable?

* * *

It wasn’t long before the small group was on their way to Canterbury. Conlin led the way on his horse, Rose and Isobel followed, and Toft brought up the rear. Isobel didn’t like the fact that none of them were talking. This was supposed to be a trip for Conlin to get to know his daughter and for the two of them to make amends. That was never going to happen if they rode in a straight line all the way to Canterbury.

Finally, Isobel had had enough. Being an expert rider, she rode up to Conlin effortlessly, even dressed in a long gown. Of course, she’d had Toft saddle her horse with a man’s saddle, and just hiked up her gown and rode astride. Conlin wouldn’t let his daughter ride this way, so Rose had to sit sidesaddle instead, but it didn’t seem to slow her down.

“Stop,” she said, riding to his side. “I want te talk with ye.”

“If you want to talk, you’ll have to do it while we’re riding.” He looked up and squinted at the sun. “If we don’t stay on schedule, we won’t make it to the place I’ve planned to camp for the night. Once there, we’ll head off to Canterbury Cathedral first thing in the morning.”

“If ye dinna slow down, ye’ll ne’er be able to talk with yer daughter and make amends.”

“I’m still trying to settle my thoughts before I talk with her. I am not happy about that gown nor those shoes you forced her to wear.”

“Forced her to wear? She wanted te wear them. And I think she looks beautiful. Jest like a lady.”

“Aye, she’s beautiful, but she’s not yet a lady.” He looked forward as he spoke.

“She is too, if ye havena noticed.”

He glanced over to her this time, and had a dangerous look in his eye. “Oh, I assure you I noticed. And so did half the men in the castle thanks to you.”

“That’s no’ what I mean.”

“We’ll talk about it later. Right now we need to pick up the speed unless we want to be making camp in the dark.” He urged his horse to go faster, and Isobel slowed as Rose came to her side.

“What’s the matter, Isobel?” Rose asked.

“Yer faither is what’s the matter.” She watched him ride off and just shook her head. “But I intend on changing all thet verra soon.”

* * *

Isobel finally got Conlin to agree to stop, saying she needed to use a bush. They’d all dismounted at the river to allow their horses to drink. Isobel noticed Rose shadowing Toft everywhere he went, and only hoped Conlin hadn’t noticed.

Conlin kneeled on the ground, splashing water on his face, and let out a moan of pleasure that only made her remember his moans of pleasure in the bedchamber as well. She shook the thought from her head and tried to focus. This was her chance to do something to remedy the situation. She’d get Conlin and Rose to talk if it was the last thing she ever did.

She sneaked over to Rose’s horse which was on the end, slipping the reins from the branch of the tree to which it was tethered. She looked around once more, and when she was sure no one was looking, she slapped the horse on the rear and sent it off into the woods. Then she went back to try to distract Conlin so he wouldn’t notice right away.

“I think I’d like te cool off, too.” She purposely kneeled next to him, leaning way over and splashing water onto her face, neck and chest. Then she stood upright, noticing his eyes fastened to the water droplets running down her chest and pooling in her cleavage.

“I like your new gown,” he said, wetting his lips with his tongue. His eyes were still on her cleavage.

“I’ll bet ye’d like what is under it as well.”

“Really?” His eyes shot over to Toft and Rose and then he moved closer and spoke in a mere whisper. “So do you think I’ll find out what is under there? Once or maybe twice before we get back . . . like you said?”

She walked over to her horse and opened the travel bag and took out a small drying cloth, handing it to him. “Could ye help me?”

Their eyes interlocked and she saw him swallow hard. “Of course, my lady. I’d be happy to help you dry off.” He dabbed at the water droplets on her chest, purposely rubbing his knuckles against her nipples, making them go taut. She felt a stirring between her thighs and now regretted teasing him, because she was being teased in return.

“So I’d be glad te show ye what’s under this, right now.”

“Not now.” He glanced back once more to his daughter. “Mayhap after Rose has gone to sleep tonight. I’ll make sure that happens early.”

She almost groaned inwardly, thinking she would never get the two together now. She turned and dug through the travel bag, bringing forth a pair of riding boots.

“Isobel? What are you doing?”

“I’m goin’ te change me shoes.” She sat down on a rock and removed the ones she wore. “I can ride easier and faster if I wear these boots.”

“So . . . you were thinking of . . . shoes at a time like this? Really?”

She donned them and stood up, and saw him still staring at her as if he thought she were daft. Then she smiled and brought her mouth close to him as if she were going to kiss him. He leaned in as well and closed his eyes, and as much as she wanted to kiss him right now, she had another mission to accomplish first. Right before their lips met, she pulled away quickly.

“Oh my!”

“What’s the matter?” His eyes popped open and confusion painted his face.

“I think Rose’s horse has run off, me lord.” She pointed to the horses by the tree.

“What do you mean?” He turned and looked in that direction. “Bid the devil, you’re right.” Then he pushed the drying cloth into her hands and headed over to his squire. “Toft, you didn’t tether Rose’s horse properly and now it’s gone.”

“My lord, I assure you I did.” His squire ran over to the tree, and Rose followed.

“Get on your horse and hunt it down,” commanded Conlin. “And be quick about it. This will throw us off schedule.”

“Then mayhap we ought te keep ridin’ as we look fer the horse,” Isobel suggested.

“I agree.” Conlin nodded his head and looked up at the sun once more. “We’ll ride.” He walked over to his horse and was about to mount. He stopped, and looked back at them. “Isobel, you’ll ride with me.”

“My lord, then ye’re daughter would have te ride in a man’s saddle. Rose will ride with ye instead.” She put her hands on Rose’s shoulders and turned her toward her father.

“I could ride with Toft,” suggested Rose, but Isobel would not let that happen.

“Nay. He’ll be slowed down and we may ne’er find yer horse. Now go, Rose. Ride with yer faither. I’ll help Toft find yer horse.”

She jumped onto her horse and rode off before they could object. She followed the path Toft had taken, leaving Rose to ride on her father’s horse with him.

Conlin felt like his strings had just been pulled as he watched Isobel ride away. He knew damned well she had something to do with the horse getting loose. Toft knew how to tether a horse, and if he thought for one moment he’d been so careless, he’d see to it the boy was replaced as his squire. This was all Isobel’s doing, he was sure of it. And while he felt happy to be riding with his daughter, he also felt scared to death.

Rose looked like a young lady, just like Isobel said. When the hell had she grown up and how hadn’t he even noticed until now?

“Come on, Rose, I’ll help you mount the horse.” He held out his hands, but Rose just made a face and shook her head and stepped around him and mounted the horse by herself expertly, even in the long dress and silly shoes.

“Or not,” he mumbled to himself, mounting behind her. He put his arms around her, grabbing the reins. He felt her spine go rigid at first, and he felt uncomfortable himself. Rose hadn’t let him hug her or even hold her hand since she’d lost her mother.

“Rose, you look beautiful today,” he told her as he started away. “I never realized how much you look like your mother.”

“Do you really think I look like mother?” She turned her head and looked over her shoulder, and he was so close to her that he could see the sparkle in her bright blue eyes, and the golden halo of her hair in the sun. This was his little girl, and she looked so grown up, it made him wonder if he’d had his head in the sand these past few years to not even notice.

“I do. Very much so.” As they rode in silence, she finally relaxed and leaned back in his arms. It felt so good to hold his baby again that it made him want to cry.

“Do you remember when you were little and I would take you on my horse with me when I went out riding each morning?”