Immortal Love (27 page)

Dominick laughed, rubbing his wife’s arms.
“She’s fine. She was making tea when I saw her this afternoon.”

“I shouldn’t have left her alone. She looked
awful.”

“She looked fine. We talked for a bit about
the baby and Ruth’s future. I asked her to come and live at the
castle, but she wouldn’t hear of it. She wanted to stay in the
cottage.”

“Do you think that is such a good idea? It
would be much better for her here.”

He paused for a moment and looked out to the
night sky. A soft breeze blew across the battlement. “I understand
what she’s doing, Eleanor. Like me, she wants a place of her
own.”

“The castle could be her home.”

“It wouldn’t be the same. She and Ralph built
that cottage and their lives there together.” Eleanor couldn’t say
anything to that logic. “I asked her if she would like me to
arrange a marriage,” he continued. Eleanor’s eyes widened. He held
up his hand to ward off any response. “You were right. She’s not
ready for that. Her loss is still too painful.” Eleanor relaxed.
“We did talk about her returning to the village she came from.”

“Does she want to?”

“I believe she does. Her family and the
friends are there. It may be good for her to go back, but it’s too
dangerous now. Her being with child and with McPhearson’s men
hiding in the woods, I couldn’t allow her to risk it.”

“I’d miss her greatly, but I can’t deny her
happiness.”

He squeezed her shoulder as they headed back
toward the castle. “Well, she will not be leaving right away, and
when she does I will make sure she’s well taken care of and can
support her family in case she decides not to marry again.”

Eleanor wrapped an arm around his waist.
“You’re the most generous of lords, and I’m so grateful.”

They walked into the south tower. It was
empty. Only the glow of a torch lit up the room. He turned her
toward him. His lips rose into a mischievous smile. “How grateful
are you?”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Very
grateful, my lord.”

“Show me.”

Pulling his head down to her, she kissed him
softly. When she pulled back slightly her tongue leapt out and
licked his lips.

A low growl escaped his mouth, and he lifted
her off the ground. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he
carried her to the wall and pinned her against it. “You’re a witch
to toy with me like that.”

Seductively, she smiled back. “It’s you, my
lord, who draws out the wanton spirit in me.”

His hips ground into hers, sending jolts of
desire to her core. “I should take you right here as payment for
such behavior.”

She gave him a sly smile. “As you wish.”

He held her in place with one arm while the
other slipped between them. His thumb churned the embers of
passion.

She groaned and whispered desperately in his
ear, “Dominick, I want you.”

“You shall have what you desire, my lady,” he
promised, his voice breathy and ragged.

Desire bloomed between her legs as his
knuckles brushed against her when he freed himself from his pants.
Then he encircled her with both arms and slid her down onto his
shaft, burying himself deep against her womb.

Planting soft kisses on her neck, he moved in
and out.

As her desire grew, she no longer felt the
cold stone wall behind her. She was lost in a world of passion,
climbing the mountain of desire, rising higher and higher to its
precipice.

Dominick moved faster, sending her into a
frenzy to reach the top. She moved with him as he pushed deeper and
deeper. Each thrust took her closer. In one final thrust, their
climax shattered them into lights of satisfaction, and then floated
back to earth on a cloud of euphoria.

They held each other tightly while trying to
catch their breaths. She began to giggle.

Dominick couldn’t help chuckling with her.
“What is it?”

“This is not the act of a proper lady.”

“Proper ladies don’t know what they’re
missing.”

He gently pulled out and lowered her to the
ground.

“If they have never made love in a tower,
then I would highly recommend it to them,” she said.

He kissed her cheek. “You have the soul of a
tavern wench, my dear.”

One eyebrow rose. “Have you experienced so
many?”

He couldn’t keep the smile off his face.
“None have your fair beauty to tempt me. It was merely an
observation.”

“I’m not so sure,” she said suspiciously.

He swatted her behind. “To our chambers with
you, maid, or I shall be forced to take you here again.”

“That wouldn’t be so bad.”

Rolling his eyes, Dominick picked her up and
threw her over his shoulder like a sack of grain, swatting her
behind as they left the tower.

“What have I created?” he said over her peals
of laughter.

H
e had brooded for
four days. The blackness of his failure consumed him. No servant or
guard was safe in his presence. Animals shunned him. Even his horse
shied away.

McPhearson sat in the gloom of his chambers.
Fury permeating from every pore, his mood black and wretched like
no hell that could be imagined. “Son of a bitch. The devil should
have died in the stable fire.” Webbing his fingers together, he
brooded about the night of the fire.

Disguised as a miller, he and his minion had
been able to get past Dominick’s guards while McPhearson hid in the
shadows inside the gatehouse. Their plan was simple. His servant
would set fire to the stables to create a distraction while he
slipped into the castle and stole Eleanor during the chaos.

But fate had thwarted him again. Instead of
being inside the castle, Eleanor was outside, putting order to
pandemonium. He had watched and waited, but opportunity never
presented itself. Anger and frustration at his inability to get
close to her was maddening.

He had seen Dominick running into the burning
stable and people and animals running out. When Dominick had
remained inside, he’d believed his nemesis was trapped in the
inferno. His heart had risen with the flames that brought down the
roof. With monumental effort he had kept himself from jumping up
and down, shouting with glee.

When he saw Eleanor and Randolf huddled
together in grief, he couldn’t help smiling. Their torment was his
greatest pleasure. Visions of marching into Godwin now that
Dominick was dead filled his mind. With delight he had continued to
watch the fire burn. Then the devil had emerged from the flames.
Like a blow to his gut, the astonishing sight doubled him over with
disbelief. Like molten lava, his fury oozed to the surface,
threatening to spill over. When the crowd cheered, he screamed out
his rage and slipped back out of the gatehouse and back to Aurora
Castle.

Finally, not willing to accept defeat, he
sought out his brother. It didn’t take long. Liam was in the great
hall dining with his men.

“You!” he said pointing to Liam. “You will be
the catalyst that brings Eleanor to me and Dominick to his
knees.”

His brother looked up casually from his meal.
“I’m not one of your minions to order about, Robert.”

McPhearson bit down hard on a venomous retort
and gathered himself together. His brother would not respond to
anger, and would not cooperate with force. “No, you’re right, we
are family.”

Twirling his eating dagger on top of the
table. Liam looked at his brother with skepticism “Since when have
you honored family, Robert?”

“It’s true, we have not been the closest of
brothers, but we do have something in common.”

“What, pray tell, would that be?”

“Our dislike for the King.” When Liam turned,
giving him his full attention, Robert added, “With your help we can
force Dominick to forfeit his lands to us.”

“Should Dominick give up those lands, what
would keep the King from sending more armies to take them back?
It’s obvious your men are not up to the task, and I only have a
handful of good soldiers-soldiers I’m not willing to lead to
slaughter.”

Robert took a deep breath to calm himself
down. He wanted to throttle his brother for his insult. “Once
Godwin has been taken, I have enough allies that would side with me
and tip the balance of power
.
”

Liam’s quiet contemplation encouraged him.
“Help me do this brother, and together we can keep William from
marching across our borders.”

“What would you have me do?” Liam wiped his
mouth, speaking slowly.

“It’s very simple, really. Just take the
girl, as we have discussed, and bring her here.”

“If it’s so simple, why have your men been
unable to do so?” A smirk crossed Liam’s lips.

To hide his indignation Robert toyed with a
goblet, turning it in the palm of his hands. “As you have said my
men thus far have not been up to the task.”

Liam leaned forward over the table. “If I
help you, what would be my reward?”

Robert smiled. He knew more than anything
what Liam wanted. “Help me to get Godwin, and you may have
Aurora.”

Liam gaped in disbelief. “What?”

“Make Godwin and Lady Eleanor mine and I will
give you Aurora.”

J
ust when Eleanor
felt that Godwin would never see the sun again, summer came. The
gray misty clouds that hung over the castle saturating its grounds
finally lifted.

The inclement weather had benefitted more
than the crops, allowing the stone masons and carpenters to work
inside restoring Godwin Castle’s interior to its former glory.

Banners of red and gold hung in the great
hall. Colorful tapestries covered the walls, giving new life to the
castle. Godwin was truly a sight to behold.

The castle had become a beehive of activity,
and drove Eleanor to what she thought was the brink of insanity.
From the moment her eyes opened in the morning until she laid her
head on the pillow at night, she had listened to the constant sound
of banging, sawing, or scraping.

Even in the rain, Dominick had trained his
men. He proved impervious to the rain and the mists that saturate
the body until the bone was near frozen. Eleanor envied him his
resilience, as it enabled him to venture outside, away from the
constant assault of sound.

At every opportunity she and Dominick would
lock themselves in their chambers and enjoy the time spent
together. He placed a pallet near the hearth where they would lie
together for hours, talking about the future of Godwin and its
people. They would discuss villager’s disputes and come to one
agreement. Once the problems were solved they would bask in the
warmth of each other. Eleanor savored those moments.

She listened contentedly to the sweet sound
of birds singing. Sunlight slipped through the shutters to shine on
the bed. Her heart leapt for joy. She cuddled up to Dominick and
kissed the length of his broad shoulder. His hand reached behind
him, pressing her more closely to him.

“Good morning,” she said brightly.

“Mmmmm, good morning.” His hand began to
stroke her hip and thigh.

She leapt out of bed. “No, no, we will have
none of that. The morning is too beautiful to waste.”

He turned toward her, “I would hardly
consider lovemaking a waste.”

“Nor would I, but it’s the first sunshine
we’ve seen in weeks, and I want to be out enjoying it.” She began
to quickly dress. “I have been trapped in this castle far too long,
with the exception of the muddy trek to Ruth’s cottage. I need to
feel the sun’s warmth on my face.”

Slinging his legs over the side of the bed,
Dominick began to dress “How has Ruth been feeling?”

“Remarkably well. Martha has given her some
herbs to put in her tea every morning, and they seem to be
helping.”

“Good.”

“Abigail on the other hand is another matter.
Since her brothers are no longer there to entertain her, she has
become quite a handful.” Tying a ribbon at the end of her plated
hair, Eleanor continued her chatter. “I think I will take the
little sprite today and give Ruth some relief.”

Dominick donned his tunic. “I’m sure Ruth
would appreciate that.”

Eleanor knew she was rambling, but the
promise of a warm sunny day lifted her spirits. After slipping on
her shoes, she walked toward Dominick and pulled his head down,
kissed him in a way that promised more in the future. His eyes
crinkled with a smile.

“I will see you at the evening meal.” She
kissed him again briefly.

His hand caught her before she walked away.
“Why don’t you bring Abigail here for the noon-time meal, and I
will make sure Ethan and Matthew join you. I’m sure they would love
to see their sister.” Since becoming pages, both boys had been
brought to live in the castle to be trained by their master and his
men. Dominick and Eleanor also thought it best to ease the burden
of raising three children for Ruth.

“I’m sure they would.” She kissed his cheek.
“I will see you at midday,” she promised, then bolted out the
door.

Once outside the castle she was met with the
sweet smell of herbs from her kitchen garden. She discovered to her
delight that the cabbages were growing round and fat, and the
carrot stalks were growing taller and heartier. Rosemary and thyme
thickened. Soon fresh vegetables would grace their tables.

After her inspection, she headed toward
Ruth’s cottage. Eleanor found her and Abigail pulling weeds out of
their own kitchen garden. Eleanor had been vigilant about taking
care of her friend.

“Good morning,” she said.

“Good morning, my lady. She looked over at
her daughter. “Abigail, don’t pull that out, it’s a carrot.

Ruth looked especially radiant that day.
Despite her growing girth, she was extremely agile.

Eleanor bent down to help. “Should you be
doing this?”