Free 22 Nights by Linda Winstead Jones

know it to look at her. Her face was pale, like milk, and her eyes were a remarkable blue. Truly remarkable. She didn’t look much different than she had fifteen years ago. Perhaps her face was a bit leaner; perhaps there were fine lines at the corners of her dark eyes, but somehow those small changes only made her look more lovely. She had a nice womanly shape, and a delicate way of moving, and a perfect face with a slightly pointed chin and an adorable little nose. Her hips swayed a little when she walked, and he had never seen hands more delicate and pale than hers. She put every young woman in Childers to shame. None could compare to her. Watching her stretch her legs after being in the carriage for hours, he could almost imagine what soft hands like hers would feel like on his rough, overly warm face.
    Lady Leyla Hagan was more than beautiful, she was also kind. How often had she secretly helped villagers who were sick or had fallen on hard times? She did so quietly, delivering food and medicines on the sly, afraid that her stepson, the less kind Wybert Hagan, would not approve of her actions.
    How did he know this? Savyn could not recall where he’d heard the tales, but he knew. The knowing made him long to take her hands in his own and cradle them, just for a while. Even now, when she was answering the emperor’s very flattering command, she looked sad. Could he make her smile?
    Savyn laughed at himself as he turned to care for his horse. “I am a fool, Albin. A fine woman like Lady Leyla would never so much as look at a man like me, much less touch me or allow me to touch her.” She would soon be empress, he supposed. How could the emperor not choose Lady Leyla as his bride, no matter who the other women in the contest might be? She would make a fine empress.
    Savyn was certain that with his brother’s help, he would find work in Arthes. Maybe he should’ve gone to the capital city years ago, after their mother had died. Settled there as a solid citizen of Arthes, he would surely catch a glimpse of Empress Leyla now and then, as she was traveling down the city streets or making an appearance with her husband. His stomach knotted. An empress would definitely not smile at a craftsman, much less touch him. Lady Leyla surely did not even remember that long-ago kind smile that had made a child fall in love.
    The sentinels had chores to do, and they rushed about setting up camp for the night. The carriage driver saw to the horses, all except Savyn’s Albin. There were small tents for the ladies and for Deputy Bragg, lightweight shelters which would do no more than keep the wind from their sleeping bodies. But like the other men in the party, Savyn would sleep under the stars tonight, as he would for all the nights to come until they reached their destination.
    Again his eyes were drawn to Lady Leyla, and he watched her out of the corner of his eye as he pretended to give his attention to Albin. She stood alone, not talking to her companion, Mistress Hilde, or with Minister Bragg. Not only did she stand alone, she wore a cool expression that would keep others from approaching. To others she might appear cold, but to Savyn she simply looked lonely.
    Traveling could be dangerous. There were wild animals about, as well as thieves who would be drawn to a woman like her, a woman of quality and wealth and delicacy and incredible beauty. Lady Leyla had three sentinels, a driver, and a deputy minister to look out for her, but if necessary he would take care of her, too. He would keep an eye on the lady; he would make sure she was always safe. Something inside him commanded that it was his duty and his right to do so.
    After making that decision, after deciding to commit himself to Lady Leyla for the remainder of the journey, Savyn suddenly felt better. He felt more himself, more whole , less isolated than he had at any other time during this long, strange day.

Chapter Four

    AS if it wasn’t bad enough that he and Bela were