So Fair a Lady (Daughters of His Kingdom 1)

How could they possibly find humor in this? “Please! Get it off of me, one of you. Why doesn’t it just leave?” Eliza covered her mouth and breathed through her fingers while the large gray squirrel stared at her from tiny black eyes.

“Allow me to rescue you from this dangerous attacker, fair maiden.” Thomas reached over and shooed the animal from its perch on Eliza’s lower leg. It scampered away as Thomas continued chuckling and wiping tears from his eyes.

He winked and his smile softened, but not enough to soothe the waves of Eliza’s embarrassment that crashed against her. She sat up straight and pressed her hand to her chest as she tried to calm the rapid thumping of her heart.

Thomas pointed out the cave with a tilt to his voice that announced his teasing. “You could have been killed.”

His winsome smile almost took away the shame. Almost. “I’m glad you were both so entertained.” She stood and brushed off her stiff skirts, attempting to appear as casual as possible.

Kitty continued her playful snicker. Despite her humiliation, Eliza couldn’t help but be grateful. God knew her fear of those wretched creatures—as ridiculous a fear as it was. Perhaps He’d sent it there to simply bring a smile to Kitty’s face. If that were the case, it was well worth the terror.

Thomas stood and looked over at her as he slipped his pistol back in place at his side. A jovial smirk spread across his handsome mouth.

“So, you don’t care for squirrels, I take it.” He flashed his straight white teeth when he laughed again.

“Oh no, she doesn’t.” Kitty answered, standing and brushing off her skirts as well.

Pursing her lips, Eliza sent her sister a look that said, “That’s enough.” Wisely, Kitty complied, but not before her face bloomed into another taunting grin. Eliza started to walk out of the cave when Thomas called after her.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

She looked at him with cocked brows and lowered her chin. Did she have to say it and complete her utter humiliation?

His face reddened. “Oh, well . . . don’t go too far.”

She nodded and walked out, hearing from behind her the two of them laughing and discussing the hilarity they’d just witnessed.

Mortifying! She buried her face in her hands as she walked.

That dreadful display wasn’t the kind of thing she wanted anyone to witness, let alone the dashing press owner.

She couldn’t explain why she cared about his opinion of her—or why the thought of never seeing him after this turmoil ended made her insides tie in knots. But it did. Within a few short weeks, or sooner, after Samuel heard of this and came to their aid, she’d likely never see him again.

When she returned to the cave, Thomas and Kitty were donning their dry cloaks and Eliza quickly did the same.

“Do we have everything?” Thomas asked as he looked around.

“I believe so. Then again, we didn’t come with much.” Eliza shrugged and winked at Kitty to show her good humor was repaired. At least that’s what she wanted them to believe.

Kitty massaged her stomach. “Liza, I’m . . . I’m . . . oh, never mind, forgive me.”

Gripping Kitty’s hand, Eliza looked her over. “Are you all right?”

She shrugged. “It’s nothing.” Just then her stomach groaned and Kitty’s cheeks reddened.

Eliza frowned and squeezed her hand. “Kitty, I’m so sorry I didn’t bring more.”

“’Tis not your fault.”

Thomas stepped forward, his large frame silhouetted against the bright mouth of the cave. “I’ve stored much food, so you can have your pick of goods when we reach Sandwich.”

Ignoring a hunger pang of her own, Eliza straightened. “See? We’ll be eating like King George before you know it. We best get going, should we not?” She followed Thomas out of the cave with Kitty close behind.

After several more hours of torturous hiking over rain sodden earth, Eliza stopped and leaned her hand against the rough bark of an old tree. Oh, the pain! The quick rest allowed her to take some of the weight off her feet and legs, but doing so did little to ease her discomfort. She’d nearly bit her lip in two as she tried to keep from groaning.

Thomas must have heard her stop. He turned around, worry shaping his features as she attempted to pry her shoe from her foot.

“Are you all right?”