Читать книгу The Viking's Heart - Jacqueline Navin - Страница 16

The man in the dung-brown monk’s robes said, “My lady, the longer we delay, the worse are our chances of success.”

“I disagree, Davey,” Rosamund replied, pacing a tight path before him. “The longer I can pretend all is well, the less on guard they will be.”

“But who can suspect you? There was no reason to doubt you were being abducted.”

“All the more reason for us to take care. We have the element of secrecy with us. Thus, you are never to risk this foolishness again. Do not come to me unless I summon you. Many of Lord Lucien’s soldiers saw you when you were captured, you know.”

“They do not expect me to be sitting beside them in the hall.” He smirked, waving his hand at his tonsure. “And I have sacrificed my locks to appear the harmless friar.”

Rosamund shook her head. “That Viking will know. He sees everything, and he has the instincts of a cat.”

Davey’s eyes sharpened. “Has he been troubling you?”

“He watches me.” A shiver rippled through her, an exquisite blend of heat and cold. “I try to avoid him as best I can, but he dogs my steps and asks far too many questions.”

“You do not have to suffer him, he is not lord here. Simply command him to leave you alone. He is merely the captain. You must not allow him to bully you, my lady. You are a noble. He is not.”

She gave a little laugh at his simplistic opinion. “Agravar the Viking is not so easily dismissed.”

“You are too soft. ’Twas always your weakness.”

“Please, let us not quarrel.”

“Then please listen to me, my lady. We must get you away soon. There is a new moon a few days hence. The night will be black, giving us excellent cover. We can slip away to the river. I can have made arrangements for a boat—”