Strangclyf Secret (30 page)

William cocked his head a
moment then nodded. “I believe she is on her way. During our recent
encounter, she didn’t bow her head once.”

“
Well if you get in the
tub, I will bow mine.” She tossed him a sexy grin. “I promise you
will enjoy it.”

William dropped his robe
and stepped into the water. “And just how long can you hold your
breath?”

~ * ~

Voices hummed, rent by
occasional laughter, in crescendos and decrescendos as the men and
women of William’s court mingled in the hall, partaking of the
bounty of Strangclyf. Newly appointed servants scurried about,
refilling goblets, laying out trenchers, and seeing to the other
hundreds of tasks overseen by Ardith’s diligent eyes. Trays of
succulent pork, beef, and shark awaited in the buttery along with
fresh fruits, cheese pastries, and minced-pear pies—all prepared
for serving when the lord gave the signal.

Bernon stood alone with
feet braced and fists clasped behind his back. He glanced around
the hall for the thousandth time. What in perdition delayed his
wife’s arrival? He frowned, remembering she once fell down the
steps to the bath. God’s bones. He began walking toward the lord’s
tower. He would build a railing for her to hold onto on the
morrow.

An abrupt lull in
conversation drew him away from his thoughts. He noticed Barwolf
framed in the arched tower entrance, surveying the room. Landing on
him, her eyes sparkled with delight and her dimple dented her lower
right cheek. Bernon halted and caught his breath in his throat,
seeing her arrayed in his colors with such a beaming countenance
and knowing her pleasure flared at the sight of him. He was proud
the gorgeous little nymph was his. Why did he have a hall full of
guests when all he wanted was some time alone with his
wife?

Well damn, he might as
well accept defeat. He cared for her a hell of a lot.

A tender smile played
about his lips as he held out his hand toward her. Barwolf’s glow
brightened at the signal and she walked toward him.

“
One really must wonder if
the lady owns any other gowns,” Lady Lucretia said in a
pseudo-whisper that carried across the hall.

Barwolf hesitated in her
stride about four feet from Bernon, uncertainty in her
gaze.

Bernon kept his eyes on
hers and his expression calm. “Your beauty enhances my
colors,
ma petite,
and I appreciate that you have worn my favorite gown. Come
meet our guests. You will find that some of them actually have
manners.”

With a grateful smile,
Barwolf closed the distance and placed her hand in his. Bernon
leaned down and placed a warm kiss on the inside of her delicate
wrist while his thumb massaged her palm. She sucked in her
breath.

Bernon felt her tremble
and read the glimmer of passion in her gaze. He whispered in her
good ear, “If you do not close your mouth and cease looking at me
like that, then I am going to say to perdition with our guests and
your mighty ache, toss you over my shoulder, and carry you
upstairs. Then I will bed you until you’re not able to walk for a
month.”

She averted her eyes and a
crimson flush suffused her face. Bernon straightened and looked
down at her with a purely arrogant grin.

“’
Tis your fault,” Barwolf
grumbled in a hushed voice.

“
What did you say?” he
asked, raising an amused brow.

She flashed him an
irritated look and tugged on his tunic until he leaned down. “I
said ‘tis your fault,” she whispered in his ear. “You should not
kiss me in front of people. You know I have a problem with my body
doing what it wants when you are around. ‘Tis bad enough that I
have to be next to you all evening and act normal without you
deliberately enticing me.”

“
But,
ma petite,”
he said in a husky whisper, fanning her ear with his hot
breath. “You are so amusing to entice, and I receive great pleasure
from doing so.”

Her nostrils flared and
her eyes narrowed. “Well maybe ‘twould pleasure me to entice you
too, milord, and ‘tis a game we both can play. Do not forget you
have a control problem too.”

His grin broadened. The
little minx was baiting him and appeared thoroughly disgruntled.
She was having quite a struggle, trying to hold her temper in
check. He probably shouldn’t goad her, should he? He shook his
head. Some games were too interesting and he was curious to see how
long she would play and how far she would go. “Ah,
cheri,
you must remember
that my mastery over my body is stronger than yours. After all, I
only have to look at you to entice you.”

She pursed her lips and
glared at him. “Think I cannot entice you?”

“
I know you can but not in
a hall full of guests,” he whispered.

Without warning, she
placed a hand on each side of his face, sucked on his lower lip
then kissed him full on the mouth, slipping her tongue between his
lips. Liquid fire coursed through him as her honey-sweet mouth and
tantalizing scent stormed his senses, sending a pounding need
through him. He slanted his mouth over hers and thrust his tongue
inside, partaking of her splendor.

Cheers broke out around
them, and he realized he was close to taking his wife in front of
an audience. She apparently didn’t notice. Her arms slipped around
his neck and she melted against him. Maybe his wife needed a lesson
on the consequences of taunting a bear. Wrapping his arms around
her, he drew her flush against him and stood up straight, lifting
her feet from the ground. She quavered and he broke the kiss then
stared at her, wearing a pompous grin.

Opening bemused eyes,
Barwolf gazed at him. After a moment, she scowled. “Well
zut,
did I entice you at
all, or did it only work on me?”

He suppressed a chuckle at
her irritation, knowing he would hurt her feelings if he laughed at
her now. “If you didn’t have a mighty ache, you would be so busy
right now that you wouldn’t have to ask.”

“
I do not have a mighty
ache anymore,” she said, lifting her pert nose in the
air.

He raised a dubious brow
as desire thrilled through him.

“
I have soaked three times.
I am barely even a mite sore.” She saw fire kindle in his eyes and
expelled a dramatic sigh. “But I suppose I will have to suffer the
lack of your magic all evening. ‘Tis a mighty fine wand you have,
milord. My memory of it is so keen that I fancy I can feel it
trying to poke me now.”

His little temptress had
roused him and she knew it. Bernon threw back his head and laughed,
startling the guests in the hall who had never seen such conduct
from the fierce warlord. He gave her a quick possessive kiss on her
mouth. “Vixen, as red and swollen as your tender woman’s flesh was
this morning, there is no way that your mighty ache could be gone
with just three soaks.”

She gasped and her face
drained of color. “How did you know I am red and
swollen?”

“
I looked this morning
before you woke.”

“
You what?” she shrieked as
her face burst into flames.

“
You will stand in front of
me until I give you permission to move.” He chuckled at her shock
and embarrassment coming so fast after her brazen flirtation. “’Tis
best I set you down before I’m the one who is poked,” he said,
lowering her to the ground. “How many daggers do you
have?”

“
Six.”

“
Six!” Bernon released an
exasperated sigh. “I do not know whether to be insulted because you
think I need your protection or flattered because you appear to
care.”

She patted his chest and
beamed up at him. “Then I hope you will pick the latter, so we can
have a pleasant evening. Besides, I wouldn’t want to have to eat
off the same dagger that I carved a heart out with and you are too
valuable, rare, and precious for me to risk losing. Why do I have
to stand in front of you?”

“
You do not have to
anymore, and I will explain later.” He held out an arm to her.
“Come, milady. We will mingle with our guests while we await
William and Matilda. Hopefully they will get out of the bath before
the boar burns.”

Bernon guided Barwolf
through the throng, introducing her to their guests. He found
himself enjoying her company and shy artless manners. He also liked
the way she clung to his arm and instinctively turned to him if she
felt unsure of a response or how she should behave.

The king and queen entered
three quarters of an hour later and Barwolf graciously inquired
whether they would care to mingle before they dined.

“
We will dine now,” King
William said, patting his sinewy flat abdomen. “Need to keep up my
strength for whatever my queen has planned for me next.”

“
If you can wait but a
moment, Sire, I have a surprise for my lady,” Bernon
said.

William nodded his
approval, and Bernon called across the hall. “Geno, you can fetch
the surprise now.”

Geno grinned and headed
for the front door. Barwolf tugged on Bernon’s tunic. He glanced
down and observed a troubled frown dimming her glow. “What is
wrong,
ma petite?”
he whispered.

“
You keep giving me things
and I have nothing to give you.”

“
You gave
me yourself,
cheri
. Nothing I give you shall ever compare.”

Booming laughter rang out.
“Damn if I’ll not have to catch me a few of them winged pigs flying
about the holding! Normans at Strangclyf. Who would have ever
thought this day would come?”

“
Uncle Aurick!” Barwolf’s
face transformed with joy, and she tried to pull free. When Bernon
didn’t release her, she raised questioning eyes to his. “I wish to
greet him, please?”

“
You are Lady Strangclyf.
‘Tis his duty to come to you.” Bernon gestured to Aurick, and the
clean-shaven Saxon came forward, stopping three feet in front of
them.

“
Can I greet him now,
please?” she asked, tugging on Bernon’s tunic.

He smiled over her
excitement and nodded once. Before he realized her intent, she
snatched her hand from his and threw herself at the warrior, who
caught her in a fierce embrace and kissed her cheek.

“
I am so glad you are home,
Uncle Aurick,” she said, placing a tiny hand against his cheek and
resting her forehead against his.

“’
Tis glad I am to be with
you again, but I got your message. The little lamb is not mine
anymore, is she?” Aurick asked, smiling into her eyes.

“
Nay, but you are still
family.” She patted his cheek. “Bernon is sharing the children with
me, so he can share my uncle too.”

Aurick’s smile suddenly
caught Bernon’s attention. The man had a dimple just to right of
his mouth and the shape of his green eyes filled with tenderness.
“God’s bones, you’re her—”

“
Do not say what you are
thinking aloud, milord,” Aurick warned with a stern expression. “I
am sworn to kill any man who does, and I would hate to make you my
enemy after I have just given you my pledge.”

“
I would rather not drop
the subject,” Bernon said in a mild tone, not wanting to upset
Barwolf, who appeared worried over the conversation.

“
What’s wrong?” she asked,
glancing between the two men.

“
Another time perhaps,”
Aurick said, setting her on the floor.

“
The morrow at the latest,”
Bernon replied with a tenor of command.

Aurick nodded. “Aye,
milord. On the morrow.”

“
What happens then?”
Barwolf asked, wringing her hands.

“
Your uncle and I will get
to know each other. Nothing more,” Bernon answered, still peering
at Aurick.

“
You are not going to be
enemies, are you?” she asked as her eyes frantically darted between
the two warriors.

“
Nay, little lamb.” Aurick
gave her a reassuring smile. “Your husband just wants to know how I
fit into the family.”

“
But I already told him
that you are Grandfather’s bastard.” She raked her fingers through
her hair.

“
Do you trust me?” Bernon
asked in a calm tone.

“
Of course I trust you.”
She cast wounded eyes toward him that he should ask such a
question.

“
Then you will not worry
over this matter further.”

Barwolf looked into his
eyes and Bernon saw the tension eased away from her. She moved and
stood in front of him, placing a hand on his arm, and he covered
her hand with his. “I will not worry,” she promised.

“
You are married to a good
man, little lamb. I’ll not have to fear for your safety
anymore.”

“
Can Uncle Aurick dine with
us and sit on my other side, please, Bernon?”

“
He most certainly may
not,” the king said. “He will dine beside his queen who has been
most anxious to meet him.”

Barwolf blushed. “I am so
sorry, Your Majesty. I became so excited that I forgot to introduce
you. Please forgive me. I keep thinking of you as Bernon’s family
and forgetting there are protocols to follow.”