Midnight Warrior (12 page)

“I’ve already tried to barter with you.”

“But I don’t think you were entirely honest and you couldn’t prove good intent. That’s always necessary
in such a pact.” He smiled. “There’s a possibility you do have proof of this treasure at Redfern. There’s also the possibility that you wish to draw me there for reasons of your own and will waste my time. To take the risk I must have compensation.”

“A visit to Redfern will not take much time. It’s only a short distance from here.”

“Nevertheless, I must be compensated.” He was silent a moment and then added, “In one week Malik will be able to travel. It’s your decision whether we go to Redfern or follow William to London.”

He turned and left her.

She stared after him, startled at the abruptness of his departure. The first foray was over and she had won. If delay could be called a victory.

Of course delay was a victory, she quickly assured herself. He had left to her the decision to come to him and had not totally discounted her offer of the treasure. He wanted willingness, and she had a week to convince him that she would never give him what he desired and he should accept the much greater prize beckoning from Gwynthal.

A week could be a long time.

A week was not that long, Gage thought as he strode back to the camp.

It was damn long. What in Hades had led him to walk away from her again? He was a fool and as soft as one of those mawkish fools the troubadours sang about. He could have had her. Even now he could be between her thighs, his hands squeezing those breasts that had felt so firm and warm through the cloth of her gown. He could be moving and hearing her cry out to him as her hands dug into—

Christ.

He was hurting; heavy and engorged. He stopped at the edge of the encampment and reached out to grasp
the trunk of a tree with one hand. His fingers dug into the bark until a ripple of pain went through him. He welcomed it as a distraction from that other maddening ache.

She would come to him. She wanted to go back to this Redfern. He would not have to use force. She would come and let him have her. He had only to wait.

Wait?

God’s blood, he was heavy and stiff as a stallion scenting a mare in season.

He could wait.

A week was not that long.

“I wish you would go away, Gage.” Malik sighed. “Brynn tells me I must rest and keep a serene mind, and how can I do that with you prowling around the tent like a tiger about to pounce?”

“I’m not prowling.” Gage stopped prowling, threw open the tent flap, and looked out into the darkness. “Where is she?”

“In the forest. She likes the forest.”

“Does she?” In the past three days she had certainly spent enough time strolling through the underbrush. He was not sure if it was because, as Malik said, she liked the woods, or wanted to avoid him. Either way he didn’t like it. “You should have told her not to go. LeFont tells me there are wild boars in these forests.”

“I am sure you’ve already told her.”

He had told her and she had ignored him. Not that her disregard of his wishes in this matter was exceptional. She had scarcely looked at him or spoken a word since that day by the pond. “You appear to have more influence on her than I do.”

“She says she’s safe in the forest.” He paused. “I think she is more afraid of the human beast than the animal.”

“The soldiers won’t bother her. They know she’s my property.”

“I wasn’t speaking of the soldiers.”

Gage knew he wasn’t, but he had chosen to misunderstand. It was clear Malik had no intention of letting him do so. “Say it.”

“If she is so opposed to taking you to her bed, why not let her win the battle?”

“The hell I will,” he said harshly.

“I knew that would be your response.” Malik sighed again. “I just thought I would make the attempt.”

Gage whirled to face him. “You said before that I should bed her as soon as possible. What changed your mind?”

“I have gotten to know her better. To many women, taking a man is an easy, joyous matter. For her it would not be so. She could not rise from your bed and walk away.”

“You think I should send her back to Richard of Redfern’s bed? By God, I will not. If she can become used to pleasuring that whoreson, she can take me. She’s done with him. I won’t send her to Redfern, nor will I pay heed to her pleas and take her there.”

“Perhaps it’s not Richard. Perhaps she spoke true about this treasure.”

“And perhaps she didn’t. How would a slave know of such a thing?”

“How does a slave know how to read and write? It’s a skill not many noblemen in this benighted country possess.”

He frowned. “She can read?”

Malik nodded. “And write.”

“She told you this?”

“She mentioned it in passing.”

“You seem to have her complete confidence. What else did she mention ‘in passing’?”

“Nothing. She is wary as a frightened bird. She
would not have told me if it had not slipped out.” He made a face. “And don’t glare at me. I have no desire to stand between the two of you. It would be most uncomfortable.”

“Then don’t interfere.”

“I must do what my heart wills,” he said simply.

“You might try doing what your head wills,” Gage said dryly. “It will save considerable lumps and bruises.”

“Are you threatening him?” Gage turned to see Brynn standing in the entrance of the tent. She frowned as she came forward. “You would threaten a sick and helpless man?”

“Yes, come and protect me, Brynn.” Malik’s eyes gleamed with mischief from beneath half-lowered lids, and he held out a pleading hand. “I cannot defend myself from this barbarian.”

Brynn studied his guileless expression and then grimaced. “You defend yourself very well,” she said, kneeling beside him, “and deceit deserves a few lumps and bruises.” In spite of the tart words, her hands were gentle as they pulled the cover closer to his throat.

A tiny scarlet maple leaf was caught in her golden-brown hair, and he remembered the rueful remark she had made about her thick hair being a net. Gage could smell the scent of earth and crisp autumn air that clung to her. Her skin glowed in the lantern light and the air seemed to vibrate with the vitality she exuded. He wanted to step closer and pull the leaf from her hair and then gently run his fingers through the bright thickness.

Gentleness. It was the first time he had wanted to touch her with tenderness, he realized. Usually his body was too ready and hurting for him to think of anything but the lust that racked him.

“You shouldn’t have gone into the forest alone,” he said gruffly.

She stiffened but didn’t look at him. “I was quite safe.”

Her wariness irritated him more than usual. “That’s my decision to make.” He added mockingly, “I won’t have my property damaged.”

Her hand clenched on Malik’s cover, but she replied evenly, “As you can see, I’m not damaged.” She turned away and ordered, “Blow out the lantern. Malik needs to sleep.”

Malik made a motion to lift the cover for her to lie down beside him.

“No.” She smiled down at him. “It’s time for you to sleep alone.” She took off her cloak and spread it a few yards distant on the ground. “I’ll be here if you need me.”

Gage was almost as surprised as Malik. “I take it the dragons have gone back into their caves?”

“Laugh if you like. I don’t care. There is a time for all things. It was wrong to leave him before.”

She was bristling at the expected mockery, and yet there was something touching and gallant in her defiance. He abruptly turned away, picked up one of his blankets, and tossed it to her. “I’m not laughing.” He blew out the flame in the lantern. “For God’s sake, go to sleep.”

The next afternoon the sun was shining brightly, and Brynn arranged to have four of LeFont’s soldiers carry Malik out to lie on a pallet outside the tent.

Malik blissfully lifted his face to the sun. “Good. I almost feel alive again.”

Brynn smiled. “I thought you’d like it. We’ll come out for a little while every day now. The sun is a great healer.”

“No better than you.” Malik smiled. “What a sweet, modest lady. You give credit to everything and everyone but yourself.”

“I’d say that was a very safe course.”

Brynn turned to see Gage coming toward them.

He continued. “And shows the lady is wise as well as modest.”

The words were barbed, but the tone lacked Gage’s customary mockery when he addressed her. It was almost … warm. He might have been speaking to Malik. It was the second time he had surprised her. Last night she had convinced herself that moment of gruff kindness had been a whim, but now he was looking at her as if—oh, she did not know. She was probably imagining
that sudden softness, and this yearning for a dream to become reality was very dangerous.

She pulled her gaze away. “It doesn’t take wisdom to tell the truth. Clean air and the sunlight is—”

“Ho! Permission to approach!

Brynn knew that voice. Dread chilled her as she turned to watch Lord Richard ride up the hill. He was smiling broadly and dressed in his best blue wool surcoat with the ermine trim. The sunlight caused his hair to gleam golden and he was altogether the most splendid and pleasing-looking of gentlemen.

Gage stiffened beside her, and she thought she heard him mutter a curse beneath his breath. He strode forward and motioned for the soldier to permit Richard to pass.

“Who is this?” Malik murmured.

“Lord Richard of Redfern,” she said absently. Why was he there? Did Adwen need her? No, he would not have dressed in his best and made the journey for Adwen. He had some other purpose.

Malik gave a low whistle as he watched Richard ride into the camp. “A very comely lad.”

“Yes.”

Gage shot her a glance over his shoulder and bit out, “I might remind you that ‘comely lad’ tossed you to me without a qualm.”

She frowned. “I expected nothing else.”

“Then you show a meekness to him you never showed to me.”

She remembered Richard’s scathing words on the ride to Hastings. “He does not think me meek.”

Those words failed to please him as well. “Yes, he told me you often displayed a skill that—” He broke off with another curse and strode forward to meet Richard.

“You did not handle that well,” Malik said disapprovingly. “Gage is in a most delicate state at the moment. You should not have taunted him.”

Her brow wrinkled in confusion. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t taunt him. I merely told the truth.”

“Then perhaps it would be best not to speak of your former master at all. Gage does not like it.”

She shook her head impatiently. She couldn’t care less what Gage did or did not like at present. All that was important was to learn why Richard was there.

Gage stopped before Richard’s horse and said curtly, “I thought we’d seen the last of you. What do you do here?”

Richard kept the smile firmly on his face. “I come with an invitation.” His gaze wandered to where Brynn stood beside Malik’s pallet. “Ah, Brynn, I see you’ve used your skills to full advantage. How is our wounded soldier?”

“He is better,” she said reservedly.

“You’re looking well.” He smiled. “But then, you always look well to me.”

“What invitation?” Gage asked.

“Redfern,” Richard answered him. “I invite you to come to Redfern.”

“Why?”

“I hope you will choose it as your boon from William.”

Surprise flickered over Gage’s face. “How generous,” he said with irony. “You wish to give me your lands?”

Richard shrugged. “As you said, William is bound to give my property to one of his barons. I’ve assessed the situation and decided it would be better to deal with you.”

“I don’t have to deal with you at all. I can take the land and send you on your way.”

“But why would you do that? I know everything about Redfern. You could have no better agent than me.”

“Agent?” Gage’s eyes narrowed. “You would go from master to agent?”

“As a start. I’m a practical man.”

“I’d also judge you to be an ambitious man.”

Richard’s pleasant expression didn’t change. “Of course, but one must begin somewhere.”

“You’re a Judas. Why should I take on an agent in whom I have no trust?”

“Judas was reputed to be a very clever man, and clever men are useful. Besides, Christ wanted to be betrayed. You would not tolerate it. You’d watch me every minute.” He added persuasively, “Come to Redfern and see what I have to offer you. It’s a fine, rich property, isn’t it, Brynn?”

“Yes.”

Gage didn’t look at her. “Stay out of this, Brynn.”

“Has she displeased you?” Richard asked. “Now that she has done her duty toward your man, perhaps you’d like to be rid of her. I’ll be glad to take her back.”

“No!” Brynn’s eyes widened at the violence in Gage’s tone. He recovered quickly and said curtly, “She has not displeased me. Find another slave. This one is mine.”

Richard shrugged. “I merely sought to ease your burden. Will you come to Redfern?”

“I will think on it.” He turned on his heel. “It’s not likely.”

“I wonder if I might—” Richard hesitated. “You understand I would not infringe on your rights or property, but may I speak to Brynn alone?”