The Baron's Bounty (18 page)

“Those rides are what taught me to be able to handle a horse,” she told him, making him laugh.

“Aye, I remember the first time I let you hold the reins.”

“I made the horse run, and then dropped the reins and we almost ended up in the lake.” She laughed now as well. They rode for a little more and then she said something that took him by surprise. “Daddy, I like riding with you and having you hold me in your arms. I missed that.”

“Really?” He felt almost too choked up to speak. “Rose, I’m sorry we went to Canterbury the day your mother and the baby died. We should have stayed, and I really wanted to.”

“Then why didn’t we?”

“Because it was your mother’s wish that we go. I think she knew she was going to die and didn’t want you to see it. She knew how hard it was for you every time she birthed a baby. She didn’t want you to see her in pain.”

He heard her sniffle. “I never knew that.”

“I’m also sorry that I buried her with the bracelet you made for her.”

“I wish I had that now, to remember her by.”

“She told me it meant so much to her that she never wanted to take it off. She gave me her wedding ring that day and told me to hold onto it. I thought she just didn’t want to wear it in childbirth, and I’d asked to hold the leather bracelet you’d made for her as well.”

“You did? What did she say?”

“She said no. She said she would take it to her grave. I just thought she liked it a lot, and didn’t think anything by those words. But now – now I know she meant them literally. I’m so sorry, Rose.”

“Daddy stop the horse!” He did as she ordered. Then she turned in the saddle and threw her arms around him, and hugged him like he remembered from years ago. He was taken aback at first, but when she started crying, he pulled her to his body in a hug and kissed her atop the head. “I’m the one who is sorry for blaming her death on you all these years.”

“You didn’t know, sweetheart.”

“It’s my fault, not yours. All I had to do was talk to you and I would have known.”

“I should have tried harder to talk to you as well,” Conlin admitted.

“I love you,” she said, sinking her tear-stained cheeks against his chest. He reached out and wiped a tear away with his thumb and ran a gentle hand over her head.

“I love you, too, Rose,” he told her and it felt good – damned good. “I don’t know what I’d ever do without you. I’m sorry for treating you like a child.”

“I’m not a child anymore, and I need you to see that.”

“I do, now. And I’ll do my best to treat you like the beautiful young lady that you’ve become.”

He pulled her into his arms again, and could feel her body shaking as she cried against his chest. He’d spoken to his daughter – he’d made amends. And it was all because of Isobel. He looked up and saw Isobel watching from atop her horse half-hidden behind a tree. His eyes met hers, and holding back his own tears he nodded his thanks.

“She just smiled, then directed her horse forward to catch up to Toft, and he knew it was because she wanted him to have more time alone with his daughter.

Isobel was wonderful. It made him very happy, but at the same time made him sad. He had no idea how he would survive without her once Lady Catherine showed up, and Isobel went back to Scotland, and left him forever.

Chapter 20

Isobel rode with Toft, giving Conlin and Rose private time alone to mend their broken relationship. She’d heard every word they’d said, though she’d pretended to be riding in front of them looking for the horse. She almost cried when she’d heard the story about the bracelet, and then again when Rose said she loved him, and he’d returned the endearment.

She never thought she’d hear those words coming from Conlin’s mouth, and only wished he’d been saying them to her.

“I found the horse, my lord,” came Toft’s announcement after a while. And when he’d collected it and brought it back, Conlin stopped his horse and dismounted.

He held out his hands for Rose, then smiled and pulled them away. “Oh, I’m sorry, you can do it by yourself.” He put his arms down, and Rose smiled and slipped off the horse and gave him another hug.

“As much as I like being in your arms, I am glad you let me do it myself. Thank you.”

Isobel watched in awe at the transformation in Rose in just the past few hours. She’d gone from acting like a child to acting like a grown up and it was all because she and her father had finally communicated after all these years.

“We’ll stop and make camp here for the night and go to Canterbury Cathedral first thing in the morning,” Conlin announced.

“Did you know this is where we were coming the day my mother died?” Rose asked Isobel.

“Aye, I’d heard somethin’ o’ the sort,” she said, looking up to see Conlin’s expression.

“We were interrupted that day, but this time we’ll get to the cathedral since you’ve always wanted to see it, Rose.” Conlin seemed to have a new sense of peace about him.

“Mother would have loved it as well,” the girl answered.

“She’d seen it,” Conlin told her.

“She did?”

“Aye, we were married in the cathedral. I thought you knew that.”

“Mayhap I did and just forgot,” Rose answered. “Either way, I’m glad mother had gotten a chance to see it before she died.”

“I’ll collect wood for the fire, milord.” Toft headed off toward the woods. The sun had started to set and it would be dark soon.

“I’ll go with him.” Rose picked up her skirts and hurried across the hard ground.

“Rose you’ll -”

Isobel threw Conlin a glance and shook her head slightly.

“You’ll . . . need to hurry back, as it’ll be dark soon,” he said, meeting Isobel’s gaze.

“I’ll watch over her, my lord, so there’s nothing to worry about.” Toft stood up straighter and smiled.

“Toft, you get lost going to the garderobe, so I think Rose will have to guide you,” grumbled Conlin.

That got a smile out of his daughter. As soon as they were out of sight, Isobel went to her horse’s travel bag and started to untie it. Conlin walked up behind her and put his arms around her and whispered into her ear. “You can’t fool me, I know you planned that all along.”

When he started kissing the back of her neck, she closed her eyes, just holding her breath. It felt so good, and all she could think of was the night they’d consummated her cousin’s marriage to him. She wanted more than anything to do it once again.

“I’m happy ye and Rose have made amends.”

“I want to thank you properly for meddling in my business this time, Izzy.” He pushed up against her back. She felt his intense need poking at her, and she knew if they continued this, they’d be going at it in the bushes before long.

“I think a simple thank you should suffice.” She opened her pack and continued to dig through it.

“Really?” He snuggled up behind her, and this time his hands caressed her buttocks and then slid upward to cup her breasts right thought her clothes.

“Stop it,” she whispered, barely managing to get the words out. She closed her eyes again, feeling a tingle of desire shoot up her spine.

“You don’t mean it.” He nibbled at her ear.

“I do.” She pushed away. “We can’t do this. Rose and Toft will be back soon and might see us.”

“Oh. Yes.” He cleared his throat and yanked at his tunic, trying to hide his erection. “I suppose you’re right.” Then he looked into her travel bag and came over to inspect it closer.

“Izzy, you brought an entire travel bag filled with . . . shoes?”

“I didna want te run short.”

“We’re only going to be gone a few days. You have enough shoes in there for an entire month of Sundays.”

“Nay, no’ so.” She took out a pair of flat, short shoes with toggles on the front, and sat down on a log to don them. “These will be better fer walkin’ in the woods. And I have another pair fer ridin’, and another te wear in the cathedral since I canna wear dirty shoes inte a beautiful place like thet.”

“Izzy, you are crazy, but you make me smile.” He bent down and kissed her again, and this time she found herself thinking that if she couldn’t lay with Conlin soon, this was going to be the longest trip of her life.

* * *

Later that night after the meal of roasted hare that Conlin had caught, combined with the bread they brought with them, they all sat around the fire talking. Conlin had made sure the ladies had enough food before he even ate, and though he was still hungry afterwards, he didn’t care. He was with his daughter and Isobel, and this made him very happy.

They had one tent set up that would be used by the girls. He and Toft would sleep by the fire atop blankets on the ground.

“I’m tired,” said Rose, rubbing her eyes.

“The tent is for you and Isobel,” Conlin told her. “Go on to . . . I mean if you’d like to go to bed, Rose, go right ahead.”

“That’s right. I set it up inside and even gave you an extra blanket.” Toft poked at the fire and smiled at Rose as he spoke.

“Toft, we only had one blanket per person, so I hope you are the one going to sleep on the bare ground,” said Conlin.

“Oh.” He made a face and shrugged his shoulders, making Rose laugh. “I guess I’ll do that then.”

He noticed Rose opening up more, and not just to him but to his squire as well.

“Good night,” said Rose, disappearing into the tent.

“I’ll clean the spoons and platters in the lake.” Isobel collected them quickly.

“Toft can do that,” Conlin told her, but she just shook her head.

“Nay, I want to do it. It’ll be good to have a moment alone.”

“There’s a nice big bush at the edge of the lake,” said Toft, still poking a branch in the fire. “No one will bother you there.”

Toft sounded as if he thought she had to urinate, but Conlin had been watching Isobel closely tonight and knew that their little snuggling earlier had affected her just as much as it did him. She was going down to the lake to take care of other needs. And since he had those same needs, hell if he’d let her do it alone. He waited for a short while until he was sure Rose was asleep. Then he looked over to his squire.

“Tend to the horses and watch over Rose. Whatever you do, don’t leave camp.”

“Why not?” asked Toft, heading over to the horses.

“Think about it, squire. I’m going down to the lake to help Isobel.”

“But she said she didn’t need help with the dishes.”

“Who said anything about dishes?” he growled.

“Oh!” Toft hit himself on the forehead and opened his mouth wide. “I’ll stay here, and don’t worry about Rose. She is in good hands.”

“Your hands get anywhere near my daughter and you will have to answer to me.”

“Aye, my lord,” said Toft with a silly grin.

Conlin headed down to the lake, and stopped by the large bush near the shore. He didn’t see Isobel anywhere, but heard a splash in the water. In the moonlight he could see her swimming. As he got closer, he noticed her clothes spread out over a bush, and this made him very excited to think she was naked.

He had planned on calling out to her, but then decided to surprise her instead. He stripped off his boots, weaponbelt, and clothes quickly, and stepped up to the edge of the water.

He heard her gasp, and looked downward to realize he was straight and hard.

“Conlin, what are ye doin’ here?” she asked, treading water out a ways. Her long hair was wet and she looked like a damned siren of the sea. Her beauty and her presence called to him, pulling him in and not releasing him at all. He had to get to her – to be with her, or he would burst right there in the moonlight on the shore.

He swam out to greet her as she swam in, and when they got closer, her reached out for her. She struggled a little and he knew she might still be frightened from almost drowning.

“Hold on to me,” he said, and she did just that. He pulled her to a spot where he was able to stand, and held her against his body. “Kiss me, Izzy.”

He didn’t have to ask her twice. She kissed him right there in the moonlight, and he reached down and grabbed her legs and spread them around his waist as he lifter her buttocks and pulled her toward him. She threw her hands around his neck, and when he reached down and suckled her like a babe, she threw her head back and let out a moan.

“Conlin, we canna do this.”

“I think we already are.” He kissed her lips, and then slipped his tongue into her mouth. Her tongue met his in a dance of love, and he felt her legs squeeze tight around him.

“But we arena married,” she said through ragged breaths.

“Oh, but we are.” He hiked her upward, the tip of his hardened shaft now brushing against the downy hair between her legs.

“Nay. Ye are married te Catherine.”

“I am married to you until she arrives. Your own uncle said he wanted the union consummated, so I’m assuming that every time I feel the need for release, I’m to do it with you until things change.”

“I dinna think thet’s what he meant.”

He slipped inside her slightly under the water, and saw her eyes close and her tongue slip out to wet her pink lips.

“Then tell me to stop and I will.” He slipped into her warmth a little further.

“Nay, I canna tell ye te stop becooz I want ye so bad I could die.”

“Well, no dying on this trip, my lady. Actually, I think a little releasing is in order.” He pushed his full length into her then, and her mouth opened wider. He didn’t want her to scream out for fear his daughter might hear, so instead he leaned over and covered her mouth with his own.

He took a hold of her hips in two hands and thrust in and out, moving her as needed. He felt her slippery wetness that had naught to do with the water. In the moonlight, it was magical and also the most beautiful thing he’d ever witnessed. Two naked people embraced in passion, making love. She was all woman, wet, and wonderful.

As soon as she’d found her release, he let his seed spill within her, growling out his pleasure as he did so, because it felt so good.

“Isobel, I don’t want you to leave me. Ever.”

She looked him in the eye and he saw the swirling depths of her hazel eyes changing colors in the moonlight.

“I dinna want to leave. I like bein’ with ye and also Rose.”

“Rose has grown very fond of you as well.”

“I am happy ye have made amends with yer daughter.”

“It’s all because of you. You were the one who brought us back together. I wish there was something I could do for you.”

“Ye can.”

“What? Anything. Just name it.”

“Dinna let Rose cry when I leave, and let her grow up and be a lady. And dinna yell at her when she wants te be around Toft.”

“Toft?” He put her down and helped her to the shore where they donned their clothes quickly. “What do you mean by that?”

“She likes yer squire,” Isobel told him with a giggle. “Isna thet cute?”

“I think not! My daughter and my squire are never getting together, so just get that idea out of your head right now.”

“Ye need te let her do what she wants.”

“Nay. Not in this case. Rose will marry a rich baron or perhaps an earl. Toft doesn’t have a half-pence to his name, and neither is he a knight.”

“But he will be a knight some day.” Isobel slipped her gown over her head and then went about putting on her shoes.

“Only if I dub him a knight and he’s yet to prove that he’s even close. Besides, even if he were a knight, he would be landless as he doesn’t come from a very wealthy family.”

“Yer friend Nicholas married a spinster. So what does it matter?”

“We’re not talking about me, Isobel. This is Rose – my daughter.”

“Ye want the best for her. I understand.”

“I want someone for her that is a man, not just a boy. Someone who can protect her.”

“So ye’re sayin’ Toft canna protect ye in battle?”

“Nay, of course I’m not saying that. If he couldn’t, I wouldn’t have made him my squire in the first place.”

“So he could protect Rose, then.”

“Aye. Nay. I don’t know! Now we’re done with this conversation and I won’t have you speak of it again.”

Conlin hurried back to camp, now regretting leaving his daughter alone with Toft in the first place. How could he not have seen the attraction between the two? Not this kind of attraction. He only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Toft sitting by the fire - alone.