Midnight Warrior (17 page)

“Adwen must be taken from this place.” She turned and moved toward the door, “Carry her.”

“You give
me
orders?”

“Carry her,” she repeated. “Or I will go to Lord Gage and tell him you’re conspiring with Lord Richard to harm him.”

He blanched, obviously recalling that terrifying moment in the courtyard. “You would not.”

No, she would not do it, but he need not know that. “Carry her.”

He reluctantly moved across the room toward the cot. “Lord Richard will not be pleased.” He lifted Adwen’s frail form. Adwen stirred but did not waken. “With either of us.”

Brynn paid no attention as she strode out of the stable and into the sunshine. Gage had vanished from the courtyard, but LeFont was still there, giving orders for the dispersal and accommodation of his men. She marched up to him. “I must see Lord Gage. Where is he?”

“He’s also very eager to see you,” LeFont murmured as he glanced curiously at Delmas and Adwen. “He told me to go after you and bring you to him. I’m glad you spared me the task.” He nodded at the manor. “I believe Lord Richard said he had ordered a bath for my lord.”

“And where have they put Malik?”

LeFont shrugged. “He said the South Chamber.”

Adwen’s chamber. She gestured to Delmas to follow her, then entered the manor and made her way through the hall, up the stairs, and down the corridor toward Adwen’s former room.

Malik occupied the wide bed and warningly shook
his head at Brynn after she threw open the door. “I am well and comfortable. Go to Gage before his anger has time to build.”

She ignored him and entered. “Presently. I’m here to make you less comfortable. Slide over on the bed.”

“Why?” He saw Delmas with his burden. “Ah, you’ve brought me a woman to warm my nights? How kind of you. And I was beginning to think you had no compassion for my needs. You must truly think I’m getting better.”

“She’s not for you. I only need a safe place to put her until I can make arrangements for her. Move over.”

Malik sighed. “I take it you have a new charge to heal?”

“Not new. This is Lord Richard’s wife, Adwen. You are resting in her bed.”

He slid over to the far side as Delmas placed Adwen on the bed. His gaze raked Adwen’s pale face. “Poor lady. She looks very bad. What is her ailment?”

“Fever, exhaustion, and neglect. She has lost four babes in five years and Lord Richard saw fit to banish her to a dirty little room in the stable and abandon her.” She settled Adwen more comfortably on the pillows before turning to Delmas. “Tell them to bring hot water and clean linens. Where is Alice?”

“She can no longer serve her. She has other duties now,” Delmas said.

“Why can—” She stopped. She had forgotten that Richard had taken Alice to his bed. Well, he would have to give her up. Adwen might need more care than Brynn could give her, and Alice may not have been perfect, but she had never neglected Adwen. “Go get her.”

Delmas shook his head.

“Then I will get her myself.”

“Poor little demoiselle. I will care for her,” Malik said softly.

“You?” Brynn lifted her brows. “You cannot even care for yourself yet.”

“Then we will care for each other.” His expression was meltingly tender as he looked at Adwen’s still face. “I think she needs me.”

“Alice will do as well.”

Malik’s jaw set obstinately. “She needs me.”

She had neither the time nor energy to argue with him at the moment. “Have it your own way. I’ll find Alice and she can tend to both your needs.”

Malik’s expression changed. “Go to Gage, Brynn. Do not delay any longer.” He stared pointedly at Delmas. “And I would not take him with you.”

“No, no, I must be about Lord Richard’s duties.” Delmas moistened his lips as he backed toward the door. “I’ve wasted too much time already.”

The door slammed behind him.

Malik shook his head. “He has no more courage than a cockroach. Gage will crush him and splatter his remains on the dirt of the stable yard.”

“A man should not be killed because he has no courage.”

“You’d be wise not to defend him to Gage. It will only bring the cockroach’s demise that much sooner.” He waved his hand, his eyes going back to Adwen. “Run along to him. I will watch her until you return.”

Brynn hesitated and then moved toward the door. She had no desire to confront Gage immediately, but it must be done. Malik was probably right; a delay would only make the situation worse.

So this is how it came, Malik thought wonderingly. One moment a man was alone, and the next he was given a gift beyond price to treasure for the rest of his days. Adwen was as beautiful and frail as the crystal bell his mother had given him when he had left his village. What beast would try to destroy anything so lovely?

Her eyes opened and looked into his own. She stiffened with terror.

“Shh, do not be afraid,” he said quickly. “Brynn will return soon. I am Malik. I would never harm you.”

“Stranger …”

“Not for long.” He smiled gently. “We were not meant to be strangers. Can you not feel it?”

She continued to stare at him with those huge eyes, the tenseness gradually leaving her. She sighed and closed her lids again.

She was accepting him. Malik felt as if she had given him a gift. “Ah, you trust me?”

“No,” she whispered. “Never …”

“Because I am a stranger?”

“No.”

He went rigid. “Because I am a heathen Saracen?”

“No.”

“Then why?”

“I cannot trust you.” She yawned and turned over onto her side, her back to him. “You are far too comely.…”

Brynn threw open the door to Richard’s chamber and strode into the room. Gage was immersed in the huge wooden tub, wreathed in steam and the scent of soap and herbs. Alice was kneeling behind him, scrubbing his back.

Brynn stopped just inside the room, her eyes on Alice. It seemed Richard had given Gage not only his chamber but his leman. The intimacy of the picture the two made was affecting her strangely, igniting an irritation that held elements of both anger and pain.

“Don’t stop there,” Gage said silkily. “Come closer.”

By the saints, he was angry. She could feel the waves of rage rush toward her. She braced herself and
moved forward to stand before the tub. “I came as soon as I could.”

“I realize you had other ‘duties’ to perform. You’ve been away from your husband for a long time.”

“Yes,” she said absently, watching Alice’s hands move around Gage’s body and begin to scrub his broad chest. The maid’s hands were as plump and well shaped as the rest of her and her movements seemed unnecessarily sensual. She tore her gaze away and back to Gage’s face. It was without expression, but she sensed the anger had deepened. His body had turned rigid, and his eyes … She looked back at Alice. “Leave us. I need you to go to Lady Adwen.”

Alice’s hands stopped in mid motion. “I cannot.”

“You will. She needs you. Wash her and make her comfortable. I’ve taken her to her former chamber.”

Alice’s eyes widened in alarm. “You should not have done that. Lord Richard will be very angry.”

“Then he will be angry. Go to her.”

Tears filled Alice’s eyes. “I cannot. Do you not think I wanted to help the poor lady? He will not have it.”

The idea of disobeying Richard clearly scared the woman out of her wits. “Did he not tell you that you were to obey Lord Gage in every way?”

Alice nodded, a flush mounting to her cheeks.

Brynn turned back to Gage. “Tell her to do it.”

“And what if I want her here?”

“You don’t want her here. You want only to curse and bite at me.”

He stared at her and then motioned impatiently for Alice to go. “Go tend this …” He searched for the name. “Lady Adwen.”

Alice jumped to her feet and rushed around the tub toward the door. As she passed Brynn, she whispered, “I truly did not wish her harm. He would not—I had to do as he wished.”

Perhaps the woman was speaking truly and it was not avarice but weakness that had driven her. At any rate, it would do no good to berate her. “Then make amends by treating her with care and gentleness.”

“I will. I will. I promise you.” Alice hurried from the room.

“Which leaves me with no servant to cleanse me,” Gage said softly. “It appears you’ll have to take her place.”

“I have no objection to the service,” she replied, taking Alice’s place. “You know it is only custom. If Adwen was well enough, she would cleanse you herself.”

“Would she? I don’t recall you mentioning Lady Adwen. Though I should not be surprised when you also forgot to mention a husband.”

“Lord Richard told you that I was brought to Redfern to tend his wife.”

“But you did not tell me about her. Not one word. What a secretive woman you are, Brynn of Falkhaar.” He leaned back in the tub. “Take off your gown and climb into the tub.”

She went still. “Why?”

“You have an odor about you I don’t like. I wish it gone.”

Perhaps the foul smell of that stable sickroom still clung to her. “I’ll wash later.”

“Now,” he said with emphasis.

She stood up, pulled the gown over her head, and dropped it on the rush-strewn floor, then slipped out of her shoes. “It could not be so offensive, or I would smell it myself.”

“Perhaps I’m more sensitive to it. Get in the tub.” “There is no room.”

He gestured to his lap. “I’ll make room.”

She hesitated and then surrendered. He would not be dissuaded and she would do better to save her energy for the more important battles that seemed to be cropping
up all over the horizon. She slowly climbed into the tub. The water was very warm, almost hot as she sank beneath the surface and settled on his lap.

“That’s right.” He arranged her legs on either side of his brawny thighs. “Now, that’s not uncomfortable, is it?”

“No.” It was a lie. This helpless position made her as uneasy as the silk-coated menace in his voice.

He reached around her with the cloth and began scrubbing her back with a circular motion.

“What are you doing? You told me to cleanse you.”

“Soon. You’re very tense. Why?”

“You know why. You’re angry. It is surely a natural response.”

He pressed her head into the hollow of his shoulder and lifted her hair. “Do you know that your hair feels like no other woman’s? Thick and silky … and alive. If I touched only this mane in the darkness, I would know it was you.” He began to scrub the nape of her neck. “Your muscles here are tied into knots. Do you fear me, Brynn?”

“No.” The word was muffled.

His arms suddenly contracted around her. “Then you should. I want to
break
you.”

“I’ve found it’s a common impulse for a man to want to destroy a woman.”

“Not for me. It never happened to me before I encountered you.” He was silent a moment and then asked softly, “Did he take you?”

“Delmas?”

“Who else? Unless you have another husband crawling around this damnable place.”

“No, of course not.”

“Then, tell me pray, did he throw you down on the ground when you reached that stable and take you?” Each word was spaced with careful, lethal precision.

“No.”

A little of the tension ebbed from him. “I will not have you lie to me in this.”

“I don’t lie.”

“You didn’t tell me about him. Omission can also be deception.”

She was abruptly tired of his questions and accusation. “I didn’t tell you about him because he didn’t matter. I had enough to worry about without bringing up subjects that didn’t concern you.”

“You take your holy vows lightly.” He paused. “It’s just as well. I believe I’ll rid you of this husband who you say does not concern me.”

“No!”

Gage pounced. “So he does matter? You have a fondness for him?”

“I detest him, but I will not have him slain. I will not have that sin on my shoulders.”

He bent down and kissed the hollow where her shoulder met her neck. “They’re very lovely shoulders and you will have nothing to do with it. I assure you, I will hardly notice one more sin staining my soul.”

“You will not do it.” She started to struggle. “Do you hear me? I will not have it.”

“Be still.” He effortlessly quelled her movements. “Don’t move. I don’t want to hurt you too.”

Violence again. “Why?” she asked wildly. “He has done nothing to offend you.”

“Hasn’t he?” He suddenly pushed her away and his eyes blazed down at her. “It offends me that the fool thinks you belong to him because a priest murmured a few words over you. It offends me that he has used your body as I have and that he
knows
you. It offends me that he exists.” His hands tightened on her arms. “Oh, yes, he has greatly offended me.”

“So you would kill him to rid yourself of the sight of him?”

“Why not?” He smiled recklessly. “I’ll sweep him
out of your life as I would have washed his touch from your body.”

He meant it. “It would be a sin,” she whispered. “Life is a great gift. It should never be stolen away. I have no affection for Delmas, but I couldn’t bear to be the cause of his death.” Tears were suddenly rising to her eyes. “I heal. I don’t destroy. It would be … I could not bear it.”

“Stop weeping,” he said roughly.

The tears continued to fall.

“It also offends me that you weep for him.”

“I’m not weeping for him.”

“Then stop it. Why do you always weep?”

“Do you think I wouldn’t stop if I could? Look to yourself. I have wept more in the weeks I’ve known you than in all the years before.”

“Damnation.” He scowled. “Stop crying and I won’t touch the vermin … now.” He cradled her face in his big hands. “But you will not see him or talk to him. He will not touch you. You will not even mention his name or I’ll slit him from loin to throat.” His mouth covered her own, his tongue pushing deep in the moist cavity to toy and play with a wild urgency he had never shown her. It was as if he were starved and could not get enough. He lifted his head and said fiercely, “You belong to me. No one else. Only to me.”

He was reaching between them, parting her thighs, adjusting their positions.

She cried out as he plunged deeper. “Only to me.” He held her hips, sealing himself within her. He was breathing harshly as his hands opened and closed on the softness of her flesh. “I wanted to kill you when I saw you meekly follow him into the stable. I’ve been sitting here thinking of all the things he was doing to you.”