Immortal Love (11 page)

Eleanor sat in amazement. Never would she
have expected a man like Dominick to love children. As she observed
them play, she watched him closely. Was this all an act for her
benefit? His eyes were bright and his smile easy and genuine. No,
she determined, this was no act. Besides, he hadn’t known she would
come to the river to see him splashing like a giant adolescent.

Abigail rested her small head on Dominick’s
broad chest. The two boys studied his large hands, flattening their
palms on his to compare. Ethan looked at Dominick in earnest. “Is
it true, my lord, that you’re the fiercest warrior in the whole
world?”

“Not the fiercest, Ethan.” Dominick seemed
uncomfortable by the question.

“But Mama tells me you have never lost a
battle.”

“I have just run into good fortune.”

“Mama says you’re the best. That is why
you’re favored by the King.”

“King William and I fought together in the
Crusades. It was there we became friends.”

“Will you show me how to be a knight and
fight for the King?” Ethan’s eyes pleaded.

“I want to learn too,” Matthew piped in.

Not to be ignored, Abigail sat up and pulled
Dominick’s face toward her. “Me too.”

“Well, poppins, you have to grow up a bit
first.” He shifted them in his lap. “Ethan and Matthew, you would
have to start out as my pages first. Then after a few years you
would become squires and learn all the rules of etiquette and
chivalry. Eventually, you will learn how to fight.”

“What about me?” Abigail whined.

“You, my little princess, will become a lady
in waiting, and wear beautiful gowns.” He tweaked her nose.

Abigail wasn’t happy. “I want to learn how to
use a sword.”

“Pretty little girls like you are to be
protected and cherished.”

“Ugh, I hate dresses.”

Dominick bellowed with laughter. Eleanor
couldn’t suppress her own. He gave her a quick wink, and her heart
leapt into her throat. What was this strange effect Dominick had on
her? Soon Ruth came to the castle to collect her children. They
began to protest, but one stern look from Dominick and the protest
died instantly. He promised to see them soon. They each bowed and
curtsied to Eleanor, then followed their mother away like little
ducklings.

Eleanor and Dominick sat in companionable
silence near the hearth for some time, each lost in their own
thoughts. Remembering she hadn’t washed off the grime from the
day’s efforts, she rose. “I must prepare for the evening meal. I
will be down shortly.”

Dominick stood to stop her. “One moment.”
Looking down he held her hand. “Does the ring I gave you fit your
finger?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t tried it yet.”

Dominick reached behind her neck, gently
moving her hair aside. His touch sent goose bumps along her arms.
Unclasping the chain he removed the ring and placed it on her
finger. There was no threat of it falling off.

He smiled with satisfaction. “It’s good to
see it now fits.”

“With all the food we’ve had on the table for
weeks there was little doubt I would fill out.” She pulled her hand
away. “Let’s just hope I don’t turn into a sow.”

Dominick smiled as he placed the gold chain
back around her neck. “There is little chance of that. You were too
thin when I arrived.”

Her hand went to the chain. “I can’t keep
this, it’s yours.”

He tilted her chin back so their eyes could
meet. “I like the idea that something of mine is close to your
skin.” Bending down, he placed a feather-light kiss on her lips,
then stepped back.

It was as though lightning had struck her.
She could feel the energy all the way down to her toes. It took her
a moment to find her voice. She watched him briefly before
speaking. “You’re a contradiction, Dominick.”

He turned toward her. “How so?”

“The legendary warrior, the merciless
knight—loves children.”

“The ruthless warrior you see before you is
made only of myth. I gave mercy to those who deserved it, and those
who did not should not have expected it.” He turned back toward the
fire. “When my battalion was ambushed in Istanbul, I was thrown
into prison. I watched good men die at the hands of men who showed
no mercy. I don’t wish to be placed on the same level as those
devils.” He steepled his fingers in front of his chin. “People have
forgotten that it was my brother who resurrected me from that hell.
His battalions laid that city to the ground. They literally tore it
down stone by stone, killing every guard in that prison.”

There was no mistaking the pain in his eyes.
Instinctively she wanted to comfort him, but she remained still.
“Story tellers confused my survival with Randolf’s victory.”

Eleanor spoke softly. “Until then, and after
your rescue, had you been defeated?”

He didn’t look up at her. “No.” She waited
for a moment, and then he turned toward her. “I will never allow
myself to be at the mercy of any man again.”

She looked down at her hands. “Then you
should understand how I feel.”

He gazed steadily in to her eyes for a
moment, then reached out and covered both her hands in his. “I do
Eleanor. I very much do.”

D
ominick sat near the
hearth during the preparation for the evening meal. Men and women
began filtering into the great hall, but he was not yet ready to
join them. His thoughts turned to Eleanor. Surprisingly, she didn’t
start when he kissed her. Hope rose in his heart. She seemed to be
gentling toward him.

Erik sat next to him. “You seem to be lost in
your thoughts.”

“Just pondering a few things.”

“Such as?”

Dominick couldn’t keep the grin from
spreading across his face.

Erik waved him off. “Never mind. I don’t want
to know.”

“No. It’s not what you think.” Dominick
paused for a moment. “Eleanor seems to be feeling more at ease with
me.”

“Ah. So she’s discovering you’re not an ogre
after all?”

“Perhaps. I have made every effort to change
her way of thinking, but there are still many barriers.”

“I’m sure that is the result of the
siege.”

Dominick nodded. “It’s that and much
more.”

“I have heard that her father was, shall we
say, weak in character,” Erik said.

Dominick snorted. “The man was Satan. He
promised Eleanor’s hand in marriage to McPhearson.”

Erik gave an enlightened nod. “Ah, so we have
more than just a border war. McPhearson was a jilted groom. That
explains the ferocity of the siege. From what I have heard of him,
he doesn’t take rejection well.”

“If he couldn’t have Godwin or Eleanor, he
would level it and kill all the occupants inside, including
her.”

“That would explain the deserted village. The
siege must have taken its toll.”

“Exactly. With any luck we will rebuild
Godwin and ward off any attack he may attempt.”

“It was good that you had enough forethought
to bring your own tradesmen.”

“As soon as I saw the castle’s condition, I
sent word to William about its state. He sent most of them.”

Erik smiled. “It must be nice to be a friend
of the King.”

Dominick smiled back. “It has its
advantages.”

Suddenly the hall became very quiet. Dominick
followed the gazes of those who gathered for the evening meal, and
his eyes fixed on the vision before him. She was dressed in an
emerald green gown, with gold embroidery. Even from a distance the
deep jade gown drew attention to her eyes. A sheer scarf that was
held I place by a gold circlet. The scarf shimmered as she moved
through the hall. His heart pounded with excitement.

Dominick looked back at Erik who gave him an
appreciative smile. As Eleanor floated down the stairs, he found
himself drawn to her and moved to meet her at the bottom step.

He pulled her hand to his lips. “You look
exquisite, my lady.”

Blushing, she smiled shyly, “Thank you, my
lord.”

Eleanor was truly a vision. He admired her
gown. “I will have to make a point of finding more fabric in shades
of green, for it makes your eyes sparkle like emeralds.”

She smiled at his compliment. Dominick loved
the way her soft pink lips stretched across straight white teeth.
He took a deep breath to push away the besotted adolescent that had
taken him over, but not too far, for he wanted to enjoy the
moment.

Seating her at his side, he couldn’t look
away.

Finally she turned to him. “Dominick, please
stop gawking. You’re making me uncomfortable.”

“I apologize, but it has been many years
since I have seen such beauty.”

Her cheeks blushed brighter. “Hold your
tongue. I’m not worthy of such a compliment.”

“If only your eyes could behold what I
see.”

The conversation was temporarily interrupted
when food was placed before them. They fell into a companionable
silence while they ate.

A goblet of wine sat in front of him. He paid
it little attention until he saw Eleanor glancing repeatedly at it.
“It’s only wine, Eleanor.”

She seemed to contemplate for a moment. “May
I taste it?”

Surprised, he placed the cup before her.
“Take a small sip. It’s an acquired taste at first.”

She wrinkled her nose at smelling the
goblet’s contents. Hesitating, she looked down into the dark
burgundy liquid and slowly brought the cup to her mouth.

An icy chill ran down Dominick’s spine just
as the apparition of Eleanor’s mother appeared before him.
The
wine is poison
. She vanished.

His reaction was swift. As Eleanor was about
to bring the wine to her lips, he slapped the goblet out of her
hands.

She jumped out of her seat, eyes flashing
with hatred and fear. “You bastard!” Her hand came back and slapped
him hard across the face.

Dominick grabbed her arm, halting her escape.
Her other hand came around in another assault, but he quickly had
her pinned.

“Eleanor, it’s not what you think.”

Gritting her teeth, she struggled against
him. “It’s exactly what I think. You’re no better than—”

“God’s blood!” someone shouted.

A murmur moved about the hall as all eyes
fixed on the table.

Dominick looked down to see where the goblet
spilled over. The linen tablecloth had been eaten through and the
wood burned away by the caustic substance.

His fury bubbled from his chest. “Close the
portcullis and drawbridge!” He turned to Randolf. “Make sure every
gate is locked. No one leaves.”

Randolf left immediately.

One of the guards came running forward.
Dominick grabbed his shoulder. “Take men with you to the kitchen,
and bring the people to me.” The guard ran off to do his
bidding.

He turned back toward Eleanor. Her
disbelieving gaze was fixed on the table. Moving on instinct, he
picked her up and swiftly carried her to their chamber. Once
inside, he lowered her to the floor. Eyes wide with fear, she said
nothing.

“Lock this chamber door and don’t open it
until I return.”

Once in the hallway, he
paused long enough to hear the bolt fall into place. Fiery hot fury
flowed through his veins, and darkness fell on his heart.

E
leanor stood in the
middle of her chamber, staring at the door. Her heart pounded
furiously. The vision of the acid eating away at the table played
over and over in her mind.

Poison. She couldn’t believe someone had
tried to poison her. Then realization dawned. The poison hadn’t
been intended for her. Her legs began to buckle, but she managed to
stagger to a chair. Icy rivers of fear ran through her, making her
teeth chatter. Suddenly the room felt very cold. Taking her sable
cloak from the back of the chair, she wrapped herself tightly, but
couldn’t warm the chill of terror that settled in her bones.

As she rocked back and forth, the realization
of how close she had come to death overwhelmed her. She ran every
moment in her mind that led up to that moment when Dominick had
slapped the wine out of her hand. Instantly she stopped, and her
mind froze. Clearly he knew someone had tried to kill him. But who?
As soon as she asked the question she knew the answer.
McPhearson
. The man would stop at nothing to take
Godwin.

A knock on the door made Eleanor jump.

“Sweetheart, it’s me.” It was Martha.

Quickly, Eleanor unbolted the door, and flew
into her arms. “Oh Martha, what’s happening?”

Softly, her maid patted her back, quietly
reassuring her. “There, there, my dear, everything will be all
right.”

“How can anything be all right? Someone tried
to kill us. It’s not safe here.” Like a buoy in a storm, she held
Martha tighter as she had so many times before in her chaotic life.
“I’m not sure I will ever feel safe.”

Martha led Eleanor back to her chair. She
wrapped the mantle tighter around her then went to the hearth and
began building a fire. “His lordship is turning the castle upside
down looking for the person responsible for this. His brother and
Lord Erik have dogs sniffing around in the village.”

Eleanor’s eyes burned. Pressure in her throat
made it difficult to swallow. As hard as she tried she couldn’t
hold back the floodgates of her emotions. Her eyes blurred with
tears. The salty droplets fell on to her hands.

Seeing her distress, Martha knelt in front of
her, scooping up Eleanor’s hands, holding them tight.

Her loving friend’s reassuring presence felt
comforting as it had so many times in the past. “Oh Martha, why did
this have to happen? It was such a wonderful evening,” she
sobbed.

“I don’t know, my love.”

“Today I saw Dominick in a way I had never
expected. It contradicted everything I thought about the man.” She
wiped a tear from her cheek. “I found him playing in the stream
with Ruth’s children.”