Sharon Lanergan (12 page)

Vanessa laughed. “It nearly sounds like you want to be rid of me.”

“Nay.” He did, of course.

She shrugged. “I’m not really certain. Originally I thought only a brief visit. My late husband’s friend has expressed a desire to marry me and he awaits my decision.”

“You don’t want to marry him?”

“I don’t know. He’s a good man,” Vanessa admitted. “And he will take care of me.” She reached over and placed her hand on his leg. “I am thinking now I have a reason to prolong my stay.”

At one time, Brian would have willingly taken what Vanessa offered. Before Katherine and Loutrant. And Constance.

“Vanessa, you are a beautiful woman and I would not trade what happened between us, but thirteen years have passed.”

Vanessa stopped him with the touch of her fingers on his lips. “I know what you are going to say. But I would like to speak plainly.”

Brian nodded.

“I want no promises, Brian,” Vanessa said, her voice soft. “I will likely marry my late husband’s friend, so I do not want anything from you other than a few nights of mutual pleasure.”

“I no longer want that,” Brian said. He threaded his fingers through hers. “If there is anything I learned from what happened to me, Vanessa, is life is too short to waste time in empty comforts. If you are going to marry this man, don’t start off by bedding down with someone else.”

“But…”

It was Brian’s turn to stop her words with his fingers on her mouth.

“I don’t intend to make the same mistakes I made before. I’m sorry.”

****

Constance stepped through the castle doors just ahead of Nicholas and Telford, laughing at Telford’s last jest.

“Don’t encourage him, Constance,” Nick said wryly.

“I am really going to miss you.” Constance grinned at Telford.

“You say that, but a few days from now you’ll be saying, Telford who?” Telford predicted.

“Can you be ready by tomorrow morning?” Nick asked.

“Aye, I’m nearly ready now,” Telford replied.

Nick nodded. “I am anxious to return to Marion. The storm yesterday was an irritating inconvenience.”

“I think we ought to speak with Brian first, though,” Telford said. “I’m concerned after the fire at the stables.”

Nick frowned. “It was just an accident, wasn’t it?”

“Mayhap.”

Constance wasn’t so sure but she didn’t voice her opinion. Likely she was mistaken anyway and she loathed looking foolish in front of her family.

She turned from the two men and immediately noticed Brian and the blonde sitting by the hearth. They were sitting close. Too close. And Brian’s thumb brushed the woman’s bottom lip intimately.

Her heart plummeted.

“There’s Brian now,” Telford said. “Let’s go talk with him.”

Nick and Telford walked past her and toward Brian.

Nick turned around. “Coming?” he asked her.

Constance continued to stare at Brian and the blonde. Brian glanced their way and his hand dropped from her lips. He stood.

“Constance?” Nick said.

Constance tore her gaze from Brian and the woman, and smiled at Nick. It took a monumental effort.

“I’m coming,” she said, and took Nick’s offered arm. She really wanted to beg an illness and go to her room.

Nick frowned. “Do you need anything? You are a bit pale.”

Constance shook her head. “I’m just weary, Nick.”

Nick nodded and they walked over to the hearth to join Telford and Brian. Constance noted the blonde looked up at their approach. She remembered her name was Vanessa.

“Good day to you, sirs,” Vanessa said. Then she smiled at Constance. “You’re James Portnoy’s daughter, aren’t you? I remember you now. Though you’ve grown up quite a bit.”

“Aye,” Constance admitted. “You knew Brian from before.”

“A long time ago. Before his imprisonment at the hands of a madman.” Vanessa shrugged. “In any case, I was just leaving.”

Brian helped Vanessa up from the bench. “Take care of yourself, Vanessa.”

Vanessa smiled. “I will.” She glanced at everyone else. “It was nice to see you again; I’ll be leaving in the morning.”

“Oh?” Constance said.

“No reason to stay,” Vanessa said, her smile turning a little sad. “Good day to you.”

Constance watched the buxom blonde leave. No reason to stay? Could it be Brian wasn’t interested in renewing their acquaintance? Surely too much to ask for. Or was it?

She glanced back at the three men by the hearth.

“Well, I am a little tired so I think I will go up to my room until the meal,” Constance told them. “I know you have a lot to discuss.”

Constance walked to the stairs and then turned to watch the men for a few moments more. They were already engaged in some sort of deep conversation.

But then, as though he felt her gaze, Brian looked up and locked eyes with her. He inclined his head, his lips curving slightly, then returned his attention to his brothers.

Constance let out the breath she held since seeing Brian and Vanessa together moments ago. Her heart lifted too.

****

“Well, since you do not object and you see no reason to prolong my stay, then Telford and I will leave in the morning,” Nick said to Brian.

“No objections or reasons,” Brian agreed. “I wish you Godspeed on your journey.”

“Brian, about the stables,” Telford spoke up.

“I’ve already got men working on rebuilding it,” Brian replied. He didn’t want to discuss the stables further. He was very certain it was no accident, but he wanted to handle the matter himself without either Nick’s or Telford’s interference.

Nick folded his arms across his chest and stared at Brian with avid interest.

“What’s on your mind?” Brian asked.

“You’ve changed since I arrived,” Nick said, shrugging.

Brian smirked. “I don’t want to dash your opinion of yourself, but it has naught to do with you.”

Nick laughed. “I didn’t think it did.”

Telford fingered his neatly trimmed beard thoughtfully. “Am I mistaken or did I see you on the training field this very morning?”

“Aye, I was there.”

Telford made a clucking noise. “And there is another topic I’ve been meaning to ask you about.”

“What?” Brian asked.

“Is there something going on between you and Constance?”

Brian’s jaw tightened. “‘Tis no concern of yours.”

“Very possibly not,” Telford acknowledged. “But Constance is a part of this family and I would not see her hurt. By anyone.”

“I am the last man you need worry about,” Brian assured him. “I would never hurt her.”

“Good,” Nick said, clasping each brother on their shoulder. “Then we understand each other. I’m starved, when do we eat?”

Chapter Seventeen

“I overslept,” Brian explained, coming outside to the courtyard. “I meant to be down to dine with you this morning.”

Nick and Telford, wearing their traveling cloaks, and the few warriors Nick had brought with him were in the courtyard readying their horses for their journey.

“No need to apologize,” Nick assured him, tying a sack to his horse. The morning was cold and his breath misted out when he spoke. “You’ve had a lot on your mind.”

“Is there anything you’ll need for the journey?”

“Nay. We have all we need.” Nick, smiling, turned to his brother. “I want to thank you for the loan of Telford.”

Brian shrugged. “He is his own man. I have no hold on him.”

Telford came forward. “If I thought Brian needed me still, I would stay.”

“But there is no need.” At least he hoped. Brian clasped Telford on his shoulder. “Nick and Marion require your efforts now.”

Telford glanced beyond Brian at the castle behind him. “‘Tis been a long time since I have left her.” His tone was wistful.

“And you deserve some new experiences,” Brian said. “Fitzroy is dull.”

“You don’t have to convince me, Brian,” Telford said with a grin. “I am leaving.”

Brian turned to Nick. “Give Marion my best.”

“I will.” Nick came forward and embraced him. “If you need us for anything we are but a message away.”

“Aye.” Brian pushed away from his brother’s tight hug but was instantly pulled into another one by Telford. “Oof. Are you two trying to crush me?”

His brothers laughed and moved to their horses. In spite of his rush to have them gone so he could get on with his life without their well-intentioned interference, Brian realized he would miss them. After years of having no one in his life, and having gotten used to it, it was an unusual feeling.

“Do you want to wait for the others before you leave?” Brian asked, noting Lucien, Stephen, and Constance had not come out to say their farewells.

“Nay, we said our goodbyes last night,” Nick replied.

“And he wants no more delays between he and Marion,” Telford told Brian. “Take care of yourself, Brian. And the others, too.”

“I will,” Brian promised. “And Nick?”

“Aye?”

“Mayhap when Marion has had your son, I will pay you a visit,” Brian offered. It would mean traveling some distance but by the time Marion’s child was born, he might be ready. He hoped he would.

Nick smiled. “I will look forward to it.”

Brian watched his two closest brothers mount their horses in preparation for leaving. He stepped back and waved them and the other warriors away.

They were both powerful men and well trained. Brian had never known a better warrior than Nick. But still he worried for their safety. If his suspicions were right, there was no telling what could happen. Even to Nick. He should have sent extra men with them.

He continued to stand in the courtyard for long after they had disappeared from sight. He couldn’t help but wonder if it had been a mistake not sharing his suspicions about Loutrant with them.

Brian shook his head. Likely it had been, but he was loathe to have these two brothers think him crazed, and his fear was they would dismiss his ideas as those of a lunatic.

“Good morning, Brian.”

Brian turned and shielded his eyes from the still-rising sun. Standing just a few feet away was Vanessa.

“Morning.” His gaze took in her sack of belongings slung over her shoulder. “Getting ready to leave?”

Vanessa nodded. “I left my mother sobbing back in the village. I just wanted to come and say farewell to you before I left.” She looked at him slyly. “You haven’t changed your mind, have you?”

“Nay, but I wish you well and Godspeed on your journey.”

Vanessa set her traveling sack down on the ground and threw her arms around Brian’s neck. She pressed herself close and planted a long, lingering kiss on his mouth.

Startled, Brian didn’t react. And then it was over before he had a chance. Vanessa pulled back and smiled saucily.

“Just wanted you to recall what you were missing.” Vanessa laughed.

Brian grimaced.

“Well, then, I’ll be on my way,” She winked.

A thought occurred to Brian. He was becoming consumed by an old woman’s worry.

“You do have an escort back home, don’t you?”

“Aye, one of the village men is going the same way and he offered to accompany me,” Vanessa assured him.

“Can’t be too careful,” Brian said. “I can have a warrior go as well.”

Vanessa waved in protest and bent down to pick up her discarded bag. “We’ll be all right. It’s not far from here. Only a day, mayhap two.”

Brian nodded, but remained concerned. “Then have a good journey. And life.”

She winked again. “You do the same, Brian Fitzroy.”

Vanessa walked away, her hips swaying provocatively.

“I missed Nick and Telford, apparently,” Constance said from behind him, “but at least I was able to see her on her way.”

Brian greeted her. “Good morning.”

Constance’s glare lingered on Vanessa’s parting back. Lord, how could she possibly be jealous of her?

“Sleep well?” he murmured.

Constance crossed her arms in front of her and rubbed her arms. “Not really.”

Last night Brian made the decision to take it a little slower with Constance and he had not gone to her room. She had not come to his either.

“And you?” Constance asked, tearing her hard gaze from Vanessa at last and studying him.

“Nay,” he admitted. He’d tossed and turned all night.

She bit her lip. “I wanted to come down to say goodbye to Nick and Telford.”

He nodded. “Nick wanted to get an early start. Very impatient.”

Constance nodded. “I saw Vanessa kiss you,” she blurted out. Then she reddened.

“Aye, she was saying goodbye.” Brian’s lips twitched. She was jealous.

“Hmm. Some kiss for saying goodbye. Usually one just pecks on the cheek.” Constance sniffed.

“Surely you are not jealous?” Brian had to ask. He smiled at the absurdity.

“Me? Nay, I am not jealous.” Constance lifted her chin. She quickly changed the subject. “Have you eaten?”

“Nay, and I am starved. But I thought to go see Trevor.”

She hooked her arm in his. “Then you are in luck. He has risen from bed and means to join us to break our fast.”

****

Loutrant couldn’t keep the grin off his face. It was going better than he’d expected.

His brother had just sent him a message saying the man they had at Fitzroy Castle had abducted Constance. Even now Loutrant was on his way to where Marcus and other man waited.

His brother had learned his lesson and the meeting place was no longer in a dark and dismal forest. This time they were to meet in the cottage his brother had been staying at in the village near Loutrant Castle.

Aye, Loutrant Castle
.

Loutrant refused to think of it as belonging to Nicholas Fitzroy. Never. Not while he had breath left in him.

Approaching the tiny cottage, Loutrant heard voices from within.

“You bloody fool, that isn’t her!” Marcus shouted.

“Not her? But I saw her kissing him,” the man protested.

“I told you,” his brother said, his tone angry, “she has black hair. This woman has yellow hair.”

“Well, but I…”

Loutrant flung open the door of the cottage. Both Marcus and the informant stared in surprise.

“Fin.” Marcus swallowed.

Loutrant glanced down at the prone figure of a woman on the dirt floor of the small house. The woman didn’t move but her hair fanned out in front of her. Long, golden hair.

“Who is this whore?” he demanded of his brother.

“I—I don’t know, Fin. Arthur took her by mistake.”

Arthur reddened to match his thick russet hair. “Forgive me, my lord. But your brother said the girl would likely be intimate with Fitzroy and I saw this woman kissing him this very morn.”

“If we were to seize every woman Fitzroy had kissed there wouldn’t be enough dungeons in all of England to hold them,” Loutrant snarled. He clenched his fists, wanting to put them around Arthur’s scrawny neck.

Arthur bowed his head and took a step backward. “My apologies, my lord. I will return to Fitzroy Castle.”

“You will indeed,” Marcus spoke up. “And do not make the same error again. We will have your head next time.”

“You are fortunate I don’t have both your heads.” Loutrant nudged the woman with his boot. “Is she dead?”

“Nay, my lord,” Arthur said. “I killed her escort and hit her over the head.”

“Dispose of her,” Loutrant ordered.

“Fin, we can just put her on the side of the road somewhere,” Marcus said. “Surely there is no reason to kill her.”

“I said dispose of her, Marcus.” Loutrant took the few steps it would take him to reach Arthur. He grabbed the man by the throat. “If you make one more mistake you will regret the night your whore mother spent panting under your sire.”

“Aye, my lord,” Arthur managed to squeak. “No more mistakes.”

Loutrant released him and Arthur crumpled to the floor, holding his throat and moaning.

Loutrant stepped over first him and then the woman. He pulled out his dagger and reached for his brother.

“Fin, nay,” Marcus protested, shrinking back against the wall.

“I want to make it clear I do not tolerate incompetence,” Loutrant sneered. He held the dagger to his brother’s throat. “Were your mother still alive she would pay for your foolishness.”

“Fin, I didn’t know,” Marcus croaked in a hoarse whisper.

Loutrant pressed the point in. He watched, fascinated, as a small bead of blood appeared.

“I hold you responsible,” he said, continuing to stare at the blood. “You found this simpleton, you must pay.”

Loutrant let his arm holding the dagger drop from his brother’s throat.

“Next time before you send for me, make sure he has the right woman” he said, lethally soft. “Or you will both regret it.”

****

Brian stared down at Genevieve’s grave.

Though he’d not been there in thirteen years, the grave seemed well-cared for. Wild flowers had recently been placed there.

Brian kept his gaze focused on his wife’s grave, for he was not yet ready to face his father’s.

Crouching down, he ignored the light breeze lifting his hair from his shoulders and into his face.

Swallowing heavily, he placed his hand on the mound.

“Good Morning, Gen.”

The shriek of a hawk overhead drew his gaze upward. The magnificent predator soared above. Life always went on, in some form or another.

Brian blew out a heavy breath. “I’m sorry I haven’t been by to see you for a while.”

Lord, this was harder than he imagined it was going to be.

“It’s been thirteen years.” He felt foolish. Why had he come up here? “So much has happened. Remember the last time I came, I told you about Katherine. Well, she died. Her husband murdered her that very day.”

Brian remembered still the terror in Katherine’s eyes.

“I failed to protect her. I knew something wasn’t right. But I was thinking only of myself, as usual.” Brian ran his soil-covered fingers through his hair.

“Loutrant, he was her husband, didn’t kill me, though, I wish he had. At least I did for a long time. I wanted to die,” he whispered. “Loutrant told them all I was dead anyway. You remember the ring I had? He took the life of one of his own warriors, put the ring on him, burnt him and sent his body to my father. It would have been so easy if I had really been dead. Or I thought so. I was thinking only of myself again.” He shook his head. “How I felt.”

He blinked back tears.

“Loutrant wasn’t satisfied with only me. He wanted to hurt me, destroy me, by getting to my family. He abducted Trevor, Gen. I couldn’t stop him. I’m sorry.”

Brian placed his hand back on his wife’s grave. It brought him closer somehow.

“I failed him too,” Brian said hoarsely. “But at least my brothers could help him. They rescued both of us.”

Brian stopped and let some of the soil from Genevieve’s grave sift through his fingers. He didn’t think he could continue.

“Gen, I’m leaving now, but I’ll come back in a few days,” he promised.

Brian stood up from the grave and glanced around the old graveyard. His gaze went toward the direction he knew his father would have been buried. Next to Brian’s mother.

When was the last time he’d been by his mother’s grave? More years than he could remember.

Brian moved toward the upper part of the graveyard, passing graves of deceased and fallen family members.