Page 13 of Hooked

It wasn’t until we were returning to the stables that Falstone brought up a subject other than riding. “Can I ask you something?”

I tensed, bracing myself for a personal question.

“It’s about Princess Marilee,” he clarified.

“Oh.” I kept my face forward. ”Yes, you can ask, though I can’t guarantee an answer.”

“Does she still have nightmares?”

His question took me by surprise. “I forgot you knew about those.” For weeks after leaving Bridgefield, Marilee’s nightmares had been awful, often waking me in the night.

He gave a sad smile.

Those days had been such an intense mixture of light and dark as we left behind the home that had been both a prison and a sanctuary. “They were frequent at first,” I finally answered. “But fortunately it’s been a long time since I’ve been aware of any.”

He nodded. “Good. I’m glad to hear it.”

“I’m a little surprised you would continue to worry about such things.”

He shrugged, and the timidity of the gesture was surprising. “It’s my job to protect people. With everyone I’ve been tasked with protecting before now, that’s been a straightforward assignment. But the princess’s situation is different. I can’t protect her from memories of her past, or from the phantoms her mind conjures.”

“What would it be like to have that magical power?” I mused. “I’d like to be free of my memories sometimes.”

“Would you?”

I caught his eye, realizing I’d said more than I’d intended. “Yes,” I said simply and turned forward, nudging my mount a little so that I could pull ahead and end the conversation.

***

Marilee insisted I become reacquainted with the saddle as quickly as possible, which meant I found myself in the company of Falstone on a daily basis over the next week.

“Why is it that you chose Falstone to be my instructor?” I asked, suspicious that it had a great deal to do with her need to pair me off with someone.

Her smile was radiant. “I just thought you two would enjoy one another’s company.”

Her lack of remorse over her blatant matchmaking made me sigh. “Falstone is a fine man, but you know I am not interested in any attachments.”

“Well, you can at least give the man a reprieve from the boredom of protecting me from nonexistent potential threats.”

I wanted to be bothered by her machinations, but it was difficult because Falstone as an instructor was actually quite charming. It was the oddest thing. When I had first encountered him all those months ago, my initial instinct was to be frightened, but then his determined aloofness had allowed me to be invisible. Then I’d seen him with the children, and then he’d spoken to me.

And now…I just wanted to know who he was, who he truly was.

Was he the firm and immovable guard, in control at all times? Was he this easygoing tutor, relaxed on a horse? The man who engaged in swordplay with children? Or was he the awkward man who had stood before me suggesting I was a distraction while seeing through to my soul?

When we returned to the stables after my fourth riding lesson, he helped me to dismount and there was a moment—just one small moment—when he paused before stepping away and my heart lurched just a bit.

He broke away and we went about brushing our horses, since Falstone was a proponent of caring for one’s own animal instead of simply handing it off to a groom.

I fell into the task with ease. I was good at brushing things. My hair. Marilee’s hair. Marilee’s clothes. This horse.

“The children have asked about you.”

“Pardon?” I asked, confused by the sudden conversation starter. I saw many of the children several times a week when I went to the stables to tell a story or two.

“The boys have been hoping for another chance to rescue a fair maiden.”

I pinched my lips against a smile. “I’ll have to see if I can find one.”