Hearts Aflame (27 page)
He began to remove his mantle, but his fingers stilled on the gold clasp as Kristen sat up in the center of the bed. The sheet fell about her waist and she did not move to lift it up. She was looking at him expectantly, so at ease with her natural state that she was unaware of how he perceived her. He was in fact mesmerized, his eyes drawn to the soft mounds of her breasts and unable to look away.
“Your bargain, milord?”
“What?”
It was perhaps the hardest thing he had ever done, dragging his eyes up to meet hers. And then to have her expectant gaze jolt him back to his senses. He swung around, feeling heat spread up his neck. This power she had to befuddle his mind and control his body. If she ever knew…God help him.
He swallowed with difficulty, keeping his back to her now as he went on to finish disrobing. By the time he
was finished, they had best be done with their talk, or it would have to wait again.
He cleared his throat. It sounded like a low growl. “The difficulty you had yestermorn made it obvious to me that you could not effectively defend yourself fettered as you were. I regret that you found it necessary to defend yourself at all.”
He glanced over his shoulder to see he had her rapt attention. And she still had not covered herself. He moved to the table to splash cold water over his face and chest. He had to clear his throat again to continue.
“I do not like it that you were helpless, Kristen. I can set men to watch you as I have since, but ’tis not the same as your being able to do for yourself when I am not here to look after you.”
“You do not have to explain why you removed the chains, milord.”
Without turning to see it, Royce knew she was smiling at him. He sat down at the table to remove his shoes and leather garters.
“Very well. What I need from you is your word that you will leave off your attacks against my cousin until Alfred and his party go.”
“You ask for much,” she replied softly.
“Think what ’twould mean were you to bring deliberate harm to Alden while Alfred is here. He is a fair man, but you saw for yourself today how he protects his nobles at this time. By rights, I should have been able to challenge Eldred. Alfred knew how dearly I wanted to. Yet he sent the cur home and away from my wrath. Every man he has now, he wants to have when the Danes come again. He deals harshly with any who deplete his army.”
“Your point is taken, milord. But why do you ask for my word only until your King leaves?”
He answered easily. “When all his nobles are gone, you will be safe again.”
“And after that?”
“The danger will be gone. We go back as before. So will you give your word?”
Kristen continued to sit there for a long stunned moment, staring at his broad back. Then she slipped off the bed, taking the sheet with her. She came up behind him so quietly that he tensed for a second when she wrapped one arm about his neck, for he had not heard her approach.
“Aye, I give you my word I will not touch your precious Alden,” she purred into his ear. “But as for you…”
She yanked hard with her arm, toppling man and chair over backward. She heard his hiss of pain, then the violent curse he shouted, but she was already running for the unlocked door. Once in the corridor, however, she was faced with the frustrating knowledge that she could not go below as she was. She dashed for the nearest door instead, intending to hide behind it no matter who occupied the chamber.
A fine plan under such short notice, but she had not counted on this particular occupant. A candle still burned by the bed, allowing her to immediately recognize the King of Wessex as he sat up, sword in hand. They were both stunned, but he only for a second. He smiled, taking in her dishabille: the tawny hair cascading over her shoulders, the sheet simply hanging in front of her, for she had had no time to wrap it around.
Unfortunately, Kristen stood there too long in her own surprise. She had closed the door to Royce’s chamber, but he threw it open now. She could not close herself into this room. She could not hope to hold the door closed against Royce, nor would his King let her. And she had nowhere else to run now that he couldn’t quickly catch her.
She thought of all this before she turned to face Royce, unmindful that she was giving Alfred a trim
view of her naked backside. But Kristen did not give the King another thought, not once she saw the look of fury on Royce’s face as he stalked toward her.
He said not a word to her, but caught the hand she put out to ward him off. She let go of her sheet to hit him with the other, but he caught that too, bringing both hands up behind her back, which pressed her hard against his chest.
“Your pardon, milord,” Royce said to his King.
Alfred chuckled. “Nay, ’twas most entertaining.”
Tight-lipped, Royce nodded and closed the door. He then dragged Kristen back to his own chamber. He did not trust himself to speak yet. He felt like throttling her and was very close to giving it serious consideration.
He kicked his own door closed and dragged her with him to the bed. He sat down on it, yanking her across his lap as he did. He held her in such a way that she could not move either hand, and her legs were likewise of little help. For long moments he just held her, trying to bring his fury under control while she jerked and twisted to get loose.
Finally, Kristen’s strength was expended and she became still. But her eyes were smoldering with blue-green fire. Royce did not see it. He had closed his own against the sight of her squirming naked on his lap.
“I hate you!”
The words jolted him, they were hissed with such rancor. A tight feeling twisted at his chest, defusing most of his own anger. As unpredictable as Kristen was, he had never thought to hear her say that.
His eyes locked with hers, probing. “Why?” he asked her quietly.
There was more heat to her own voice. “You tricked me! You knew what I thought, and you let me think it!”
“I cannot know your mind, Kristen.”
“Liar!” she fumed. “Why else would I come to your
chamber without protest? You take off my chains and you say we will make a bargain. You said naught of it being only a temporary bargain.”
He had indeed been surprised by her acquiescence, but had been too pleased to wonder long about it.
“You say me wrong, wench.” Royce sighed. “How could I know what you assumed, when a permanent removal of those chains was never my intention? If the notion did not cross my mind, how could I know it did yours?”
“So, I am the fool—again. I see in you what is not there, what will never be there.”
He was stung by her bitterness. “What do you see? God’s mercy, Kristen, what do you want from me?”
“There is naught that I want—anymore—except to be left alone.”
He shook his head, slowly, his eyes almost regretful. “I would if I could.”
“If you could?” she sneered. “Have you no stronger will than that, Saxon?”
“Not in dealing with you.”
It was something, for him to admit that. But it did not placate the deep resentment she was feeling at the moment.
He spoke again, softly. “You do not hate me, Kristen. You are angry with me, but you do not hate me. Admit it.”
It was true. She still didn’t hate him. She wished she did, but she didn’t. Still, she kept her lips sealed.
“Then if you will not say so, show me,” he said in a whisper as he bent to kiss her.
Kristen wished it otherwise, but she did show him.
N
ew guests arrived at Wyndhurst. Lord Averill came to see the King. He brought with him his only son, Wilburt, and his three daughters.
Kristen would have paid scant attention to these newcomers, except that one of them was the Lady Corliss of Raedwood, and Edrea, working beside her, was quick to point it out. Kristen might have guessed for herself from Darrelle’s elaborate efforts to make the lady welcome.
So this was Royce’s betrothed. Kristen was not surprised that Corliss was incredibly beautiful, but actually seeing that she was made her miserable. Corliss was small, delicate, and graceful, everything that Kristen was not. And she had thought to win Royce away from this tiny woman? God’s bones, she was more the fool than she knew!
Kristen could be thankful for only one thing: that Royce was not present to greet his betrothed. It would have been more than she could bear to see him bestow on this woman all the tender care and gallantry she longed for herself, without having time to prepare for it first. As it was, she had to watch the deferential way Corliss was treated by Darrelle, by the servants, and by Alden, who came in later.
It was disgusting, really, but so typical. Even if the lady was not liked, she would be handled with care, for she would soon be Lady of Wyndhurst, supplanting Darrelle, who now enjoyed that position as Royce’s only female relative.
There was one among the household, however, who did not try to curry the lady’s favor. Meghan. Of course the child could not be expected to understand that the woman would one day have complete charge of her, that it would behoove her to be nice to Corliss now. But Kristen silently applauded when she saw Meghan shake her head at Corliss when the lady bade her come near. And then the child actually made a face at the lady before leaving the women’s area.
Kristen nearly laughed aloud, but suppressed the urge, not wanting the servants to wonder what she found amusing. She knew Darrelle would have called Meghan back and chastised her if she had seen what she did. Corliss now wore a tight-lipped look of displeasure, but she did not call Meghan back, either. Kristen would have been unable to stop the laughter, though, if she had noticed that Alden saw the interaction too and turned about to hide his own humor.
Kristen was surprised a few moments later to feel a tug on her skirt. She glanced around to see that Meghan had worked her way around the hall to come up behind her. The child wouldn’t look up at her, though.
“Are—are you still angry with me?”
Kristen frowned, wondering what prompted such a question. “Why would I be angry with you, little one?”
“I told my brother what you said to me before, but Alden said ’twas secrets I revealed.” Meghan peeked up at her. “I did not know, truly.”
“And you thought I would be angry?”
“You were,” Meghan said. “I saw you the next day and you were very angry.”
Kristen smiled, remembering. “But not at you, sweetling. What you told your brother about me made no difference.” That was a lie, for it was what led him to first make love to her, but Kristen could not in truth regret that happening.
Meghan gave a look of self-disgust. “Then I hid from you for naught.”
Kristen chuckled, bringing Eda’s attention to them. “What do you here, child?” the old woman demanded.
“Talking,” Meghan retorted defiantly.
Eda gave Kristen a stern look. “You have work to do, wench.”
“And I am doing it.”
“Can I help?” Meghan asked.
Hearing that, Eda shook her head and went back to her own tasks. Kristen did not know what to say to Meghan, who was waiting for her reply, and looking hopeful. She glanced at the group of women at the far end of the hall, then back at Meghan. She sighed.
“Should you be here, Meghan?”
Meghan looked toward the ladies, too, then said stubbornly, “I would rather be here than over there.”
Kristen repressed another smile. “Why do you dislike the Lady Corliss?”
Meghan looked back in surprise. “How did you know?”
“I saw what you did.”
“Oh.” The little girl blushed now, lowering her head, and then she said defensively, to explain herself, “She did not really want me to come to her. She does and says things she does not mean. She is full of sweet words now, but she was not before the betrothal.”
“I see.”
“Do you?” Meghan ventured hopefully. “You do not think I am wrong to not like her?”
“Your feelings are yours alone and cannot be commanded by another. But since your brother likes her, mayhap you should try to.”
“I did,” Meghan admitted with a touch of rancor. “Until Royce took me with him to Raedwood and she
pinched me, so I would go away and leave her alone with him.”
“What did he do?”
“He did not see.”
Kristen frowned. “You should have told him.”
“Nay, he would have been displeased.”
And Meghan would never do anything to displease him. Kristen sighed to herself. The poor child really should be made to see that her brother’s anger was not such a terrible thing—or, at least, that it wouldn’t be to her. Kristen had herself seen the way he treated Meghan with such tender care. She had watched him one evening carry the child upstairs when she had fallen asleep in the hall. How that had reminded her of her own father, and how Garrick used to do the same for her. Royce loved this little girl dearly, yet Meghan was still frightened of him.
Kristen shook her head at the thought. Meghan despaired, watching her. “You want me to go?”
“What? Oh, nay, sweetling, stay if you like.” Kristen realized that at the moment she was probably the lesser of two evils in the girl’s mind. “But are you sure you will not be scolded if you remain here?”
Meghan quickly shook her head. “There are so many guests, no one will notice where I am.”
“Then sit you down on that stool, and I will show you how to make my father’s favorite nut bread.”
“He likes nuts in his bread?”
“Indeed.” Kristen winked as she reached inside her outer gown, where she had made a pouch with the help of her girdle, and pulled out a handful of nuts. “And I swiped these from Eda before she could stuff them into her hens. We will make two special loaves, just for us. Would you like that?”
“Oh, aye, Kristen!” Meghan’s face lit up with childish delight. “’Twill be our secret.”
Meghan was incorrect in her prediction that no one would notice where she was. Royce noticed as soon as he entered the hall, for as always his eyes sought out Kristen first. And he could not help but see Meghan sitting next to her, for their heads were bent together, and they were laughing over something, oblivious to everything else around them.