The Robber Knight's Love (The Robber Knight Saga #2)(157)

Ayla saw Reuben pursing his lips thoughtfully. She was surprised, to say the least. Was there something he wanted that the count could give him? She hadn't thought there was anything particular he desired. But then, he was Reuben. He might just say something like, “Oh, if you would give me all your gold and silver, that would be appreciated. And if you don’t, I’ll cut your throat, you nasty old fart!”

However, that was not what he seemed to have in mind. His eyes traveled until they landed on her, where they stayed for a very long moment. Then he lowered his gaze from her face, and she could feel it on her hand.

Her hand? What would he want with her hand?

Ayla's breath caught as she realized the truth.

“Well,” Reuben said thoughtfully, “there might be something, actually.”

“And that would be?” the old man asked eagerly. He didn't seem to have noticed the direction of Reuben's gaze. “Name it. It shall be yours. What is it?”

Ayla had a good idea of what “it” might be. She felt hot and cold at the same time, excited and afraid, ecstatic and vulnerable. A thousand thoughts ran through her mind. But of all those, the foremost was Ohgodohgodohgod! If he asks him, he's going to have a heart attack! I know it! He's going to have a heart attack.

Frantically, she gestured to Reuben to stop. He cocked his head, innocently raising an eyebrow, as if asking “What do you mean? I'm just asking for my well-earned reward for services rendered. You’re lucky I’m not asking for all his gold and silver, and the castle into the bargain.”

The scowl she gave him in reply could have scared off a dragon. Reuben shrugged his shoulders and, with a last smirk at her, turned back to her father.

“Well…maybe another time,” he said. “When you're well rested and your nerves are strong.”

The count blinked in surprise. Then he nodded and raised a hand. “All right. But you have my word that I shall reward you. Remember. Anything that is mine to give is yours to have.”

Reuben nodded. “I shall remember, Count. You have my word. It will definitely come in useful in the future.” He managed to give another graceful bow before Ayla forcefully dragged him out of the room.

“Ayla! What are you doing?” her father called after her, startled. “I should have liked to hear more of the worthy Sir Reuben's brave deeds.”

“There will be plenty of time for that later!” she yelled over her shoulder. “Right now, I need to have a word with the worthy Sir Reuben. And Father?”

“Yes?”

“Be careful what you promise him in future. He might just take you at your word!”





To Rob the Maiden

Reuben’s long legs carried him quickly down the stairs, and soon, he was around the bend of the stairs and out of Ayla’s sight.

“Reuben! Stop!”

She heard low, diabolical laughter drift up the stairs towards her and hastened her steps. He was waiting for her in the room at the bottom of the tower. Ayla had a well-thought-out speech prepared by the time she reached it—a speech that detailed exactly what she thought of Reuben for almost giving her father a heart attack. The speech was of impressive length, impeccable logic, and made use of several rhetoric devices.

The problem was that, when she stepped out into the room, he was standing there with that smile on his face, the smile that made her heart thud and her knees go weak. The speech just flew out of her left ear and fluttered out through the window, seeking the company of millions of other lost ideas among the stars.

What had she been about to say?

Ah. Yes.

Raising an admonishing finger, Ayla advanced on Reuben but stopped several paces away from him. She couldn't go near him. Not while he had that smile on his face. She didn't know exactly what she would do if she got close enough for him to touch her, but she definitely wouldn’t do what she needed to do right now: yell at him!

“You…” she said, shaking her finger at him from a safe distance. “You…”

“I what?” he asked, his grin widening a fraction.

“You were going to…”

“Going to do what, Milady?”

“Don't try to deny it!”

“Deny what exactly?” His voice was shaking now just a little. But not in fear of her threatening finger. He was laughing at her!

“You know what I'm talking about!”

He pursed his lips, as though in deep contemplation. “Just assume for the moment that I am very, very slow-witted.”

“You! You and my father! You wanted to ask him…to ask him to…”

To ask him for my hand.

But she couldn’t get the words out.

“You were going to ask him for you-know-what!” she finally spat out.

Suddenly, there was concern on Reuben's face. Ayla could almost have believed it to be genuine. “Do you think the request I had in mind was excessive?”

“I…I don't…I'm not…” She couldn't get out two words strung together. It was infuriating!

“Of course, I realize it might have been a bit much to ask,” Reuben mused, nodding. “I see that, now that you mentioned it.”

“I didn't mean…”

“After all, they are quite expensive to make. I'm not sure I should be asking something so costly.”