Page 69 of Castle of Refuge

Helena often said kind things to Audrey, but Helena was a bit in awe of Audrey due to her having read so many books and because she was a viscount’s daughter.

But Edwin—Lord Dericott—shared none of those reasons for praising her and pointing out the good things she had done. And even the fact that Lord Dericott thought those things were good made her want to get closer to him.

Lord Dericott reached his hand into the waterfall. “We should drink some water before we start out.”

She followed him out of their hiding place, climbing down the rocks and walking down to the river. He lay on his stomach on the bank and put his hand in the water, cupping it and bringing it to his mouth. Audrey did the same.

The water tasted fresh and cool.

“Normally you should not drink from a stream or river,” Lord Dericott said. “Better to find a spring at its source and drink from there. Spring water is less likely to make you sick. But since we don’t know where to find a spring and we need to get moving, we have to take the chance.”

Audrey remembered her father’s guards telling her something similar.

“We will make our way under the cover of trees whenever possible,” Lord Dericott said quietly. “We need to get back to Dericott without being seen by your sister and Umfrey.”

They made their way back up the hill, with Lord Dericott moving slowly, obviously struggling to keep his balance. Nevertheless, she could see that he was better at balancing than he had been when she first met him. But she sensed he would be embarrassed if she mentioned it.

“We will be moving in a northeasterly direction, but we need to make a wide path around the place where your sister and her henchman slept last night, since they may go back there, or may be there now.”

Audrey resisted the urge to grab his hand. Instead, she used words to express the gratitude that had been welling up inside her.

“Thank you for coming after me and helping me. I would have been so frightened last night if you had not been with me, and I never would have found that hiding place behind the waterfall. You should be safe and comfortable right now in your home instead of walking throughout the countryside in danger from my mad sister. So I thank you. I am so grateful.”

He had a pained look on his face. Did he regret coming to search for her? But of course he did. She was only reminding him of what he already knew—that he could be at home doing whatever he wished instead of out here with her. Her heart ached while she waited for him to speak.

“It is my privilege to help you. I only wish... I wish my men had found you instead of me.”

Her heart twisted painfully inside her chest. He glanced back at her.

“Do not misunderstand. I am thankful to God for letting me find you. I just know that my men could have taken better care of you than... than I could, a broken man with only one arm.”

Her heart constricted again, but this time in compassion for him.

“You are not broken, and you are the best man I’ve ever met.” She hurried to get in front of him so she could look him in the eye.

He raised his brows but looked away from her.

“I do my best, but I could not even stay on top of a horse. I fell off and couldn’t grab the reins because my balance is gone. I cannot even walk at a normal pace.”

“But you are getting better at balancing, and you will get stronger and—”

“Please don’t pity me.” He held up his hand, palm out. “I cannot bear it.” He still would not look at her.

“Forgive me. I didn’t mean to—”

“I will get you back to Dericott Castle, Lord willing, but if anything happens, do not worry about me. Save yourself.”

As they walked on in silence, she cast about in her mind for the right thing to say.

“Truly, you have saved my life. I would not have found a hiding place, and Maris and Umfrey would have caught me and killed me, if not for you. You are a good and kind man who bravely saved a woman far beneath you, and—”

“You are not beneath me. I will not allow you to say that.”

“Very well, but I am a woman. And I am beholden to you.”

“You owe me nothing. I only wish you had someone better to protect you.”

“Why are you being so stubborn?” The words came out of her mouth before she thought about them.