The Longing (48 page)

“A sennight.” He turned and strode to where his knights were gathered near the doors.

So many questions swirled about Graeye’s mind that she thought she might go mad, but she knew it would be useless to pursue the matter. She turned and looked at William and the steward. “All is lost,” she said.

At their continued silence, she withdrew from the hall. Without benefit of a mantle to protect her against the lingering chill of morning, she set out to discover her father’s whereabouts. Not only did she know the precipice upon which his mind balanced and worried for his welfare, but she needed to know if she would be allowed to remain at his side to care for him, or if he intended to return her to the abbey.

It was no great undertaking to discover where Edward had been taken, for with expressions of concern, castle folk pointed Graeye to the watchtower.

Along the way, she became increasingly uneasy about the great number of the king’s men positioned around the walls. They were alert, ready to stamp out any signs of uprising. That unlikely possibility made her smile bitterly. Not only had the number of Edward’s retainers been depleted from Philip’s foray to the north, where he had given up his life for a cause as yet unclear to her, but few would be willing to challenge the king’s men for their lord. They disliked him so.

At the watchtower, a surly knight halted Graeye’s progress. “You would do well to return to the donjon, my lady. No one is allowed to see the prisoner.”

“I am his daughter, Lady Graeye. I would but look to his needs.”

He shook his head. “My orders are clear. No one is allowed within.”

“I beseech you, let me see him for a short time. No harm will be done.”

He did not waver, though she thought his eyes softened. “Nay.”

Even as Graeye told herself she should not, she snatched up her skirts, ducked beneath the man’s arm, and managed to make it up the flight of steps before encountering the next barrier. The first knight tight on her heels, she came to a halt when faced with the two who guarded the room where her father was surely imprisoned. They had heard her advance, for their swords were drawn and trained upon her.

The knight behind need not have gone to the trouble to seizing hold of her, as she could go no farther, but his hand turned around her arm. “You—” He snapped his teeth closed on his next words.

Tears flooding her eyes, she peered up at him. “Just a moment,” she choked. “’Tis all I ask.”

The angry color that had flooded his face receded and, miraculously, he said, “For a moment only.”

He released her and motioned for the guards to move away. After a brief hesitation, during which Graeye feared he had reconsidered the wisdom of allowing her to see her father, the knight threw back the bolt and opened the door.

With a murmur of gratitude, she entered the cold room. She had expected to be granted privacy with her father, but it was not to be. His great bulk shadowing the floor, the knight positioned himself in the doorway as she crossed to where Edward huddled in a corner of the room.

She lowered to the floor beside him.

Forehead resting on arms propped on his knees, he seemed not to realize he was no longer alone.

Graeye’s heart swelled with compassion for the pitiful heap he made. True, he had often been unkind, had never loved her, had not inquired as to her welfare at the abbey, but he was her father. He was a man who had lost everything—his son, the grandson who would have been his heir, his home, and now his dignity. Everything gone. Would the remainder of his mind go, too?

Though she longed to embrace him, she knew she risked much by simply laying a hand upon his shoulder. “Father?”

He did not move.

She spoke again, but still no response. She moved nearer and tentatively slid an arm around his shoulders. “Father, ’tis I, Graeye.”

He lifted his head and stared at her. Then he came to life. “’Twas you who brought this upon me!” He swung his arm, landing it so hard against her chest that she fell over. “Spawn of the devil!”

With her back to the cold floor, Graeye drew a shuddering breath.

“I should have left you to the Church!” Edward lurched upright and set himself over her. “For this offense, I am to be punished to everlasting hell.”

Graeye glanced at the knight who had not moved from the doorway, then slowly rose and took a step back. “I have come to see to your needs.”

“My needs?” Edward thrust his face close to hers. “What else have you come for?”

She held his stare. “I would know what is to become of me.”

He laughed, a loud, raucous noise that died abruptly. “And what do you think your fate should be, Daughter of Eve?”

“I would stay with you.”

“Me?” he mimicked her voice. “Of what use are you now that all I possess has been stolen?”

“I would care for you. You will need—”

He seized hold of her. “I do not need the devil on my shoulder.”

“’Tis not true—”

“Know you that twice your mother bore me sons? Sickly things that lived no more than a few days. Then she bore you with the devil’s mark full upon your face—strong and healthy. Then no more.”

This was the first Graeye had heard of it. Never had her mother spoken of those children who had come before. It explained much of her father’s treatment of her, but now that she knew, perhaps she could do battle with it—find a way to reach him.

“Nay,” he continued, “you will return to the abbey. As the Church has already received your dowry, your place there is secure.
That
Balmaine cannot take from me.”

She pulled free of his hold. “I do not wish to return.”

“Think you I care what you wish?” He advanced on her again. “Many a daughter would vie for the soft life of a nun, but not you. ’Tis the devil in you that resists. Thus, as my final offering to God, you will return.”

“You need me!” It was no lie. What would become of an old man alone in a world so changed from what he had known? And what of her? She could not simply wander out into the world without a man to protect her.

“I need you?” he scoffed. “Nay, I needed your body. Blood of my blood. A vessel for the heir you would have made with William. Now”—he gave a short laugh—“you may return to the abbey or go back to the devil whence you came. That is your only choice.”

The air of hate upon which his words were delivered cut deeply and Graeye backed away.

“And do not let me see you again without your nun’s clothing!” he yelled.

She was surprised when she came up against the knight in the doorway. Wordlessly, the man drew her outside and closed the door on Edward. There was silence. Then a great clamor arose as the old man threw himself against the door, his curses vibrating through the wooden planks.

“My lady,” the knight spoke to her bowed head, “‘twould be best for you to return to the donjon.” At her nod, he gently guided her forward.

She was grateful for his support. Otherwise, she did not think she would have made it down the steep stairway, so blurred was her vision.

At the bottom, she expected him to send her on ahead, but he led her past the curious stares of the soldiers and castle folk and did not relinquish his grip until they stood within the hall.

She tried to smile, but it was useless. “My thanks, Sir…?”

“Abelaard,” he said with a small bow.

“If you will wait but a few minutes,” she said, stepping away, “I will gather blankets that you might deliver them to my father.”

A thick silence followed that had her turning back around. Too late, she realized it was beneath the knight’s rank to perform such a duty for her.

“My apologies,” she said. “I will send a servant.”

Looking relieved that he did not have to refuse, he offered an uneven smile. “My sister is a nun,” he said gruffly. “’Tis not a bad life she has.”

Graeye stared at him, watching as he grew uncomfortable with the effects of his poorly timed, though well-meaning disclosure. “I fear you do not understand, Sir Knight,” she said, then turned away.

It was difficult to find privacy where she could vent her distraught emotions, and in desperation she returned to the small chapel abovestairs.

Kneeling before the altar, she clasped her hands to her breast and tried to offer up prayer. However, there was no room for such devotions. All of her hopes were dashed by the coming of the treacherous Baron Balmaine. She gave a shuddering sob, then cried as she had never cried—and vowed she would never cry again.

Dear Reader,

If you enjoyed this excerpt of Lady Of Eve, the book will be available early Summer, 2014.

TAMARA LEIGH NOVELS

INSPIRATIONAL HISTORICAL TITLES

Age of Faith: A Medieval Romance Series

The Unveiling:
Book One, 08/12:
Amazon
,
B&N
,
iBooks Store
,
Kobo Books

The Yielding:
Book Two, 12/12:
Amazon
,
B&N
,
iBooks Store
,
Kobo Books

The Redeeming:
Book Three, 05/13:
Amazon
,
B&N
,
iBooks Store
,
Kobo Books

The Kindling:
Book Four, 11/13:
Amazon
,
B&N
,
iBooks Store,
Kobo Books

The Longing
: Book Five, 05/14: Amazon, B&N, iBooks Store, Kobo Books

CLEAN READ HISTORICAL TITLES

Dreamspell:
a medieval time travel romance
,
03/12
Amazon
,
B&N
,
iBooks Store
,
Kobo Books

Lady At Arms:
a “clean read” rewrite of the 1994 Bantam Books bestseller
Warrior Bride
, 01/14:
Amazon
,
B&N
,
iBooks Store
,
Kobo Books

Lady Of Eve:
a “clean read” rewrite of the 1994 Bantam Books bestseller
Virgin Bride
, Summer 2014: Amazon, B&N, iBooks Store, Kobo Books

INSPIRATIONAL CONTEMPORARY TITLES

Southern Discomfort Series

Leaving Carolina,
RandomHouse/Multnomah, 2009

Nowhere, Carolina,
RandomHouse/Multnomah, 2010

Restless in Carolina,
RandomHouse/Multnomah, 2011

Stand-Alone Novels

Stealing Adda, 05/12
(ebook edition)
Amazon
,
B&N
,
iBooks Store
,
Kobo Books

Stealing Adda,
NavPress, 2006 (print edition)

Perfecting Kate,
Multnomah, 2007

Splitting Harriet,
RandomHouse/Multnomah, 2007

Faking Grace,
RandomHouse/Multnomah, 2008

OUT-OF-PRINT GENERAL MARKET TITLES

Warrior Bride,
Bantam Books, 1994

*Virgin Bride,
Bantam Books, 1994

Pagan Bride,
Bantam Books, 1995

Saxon Bride,
Bantam Books, 1995

Misbegotten,
HarperCollins, 1996

Unforgotten,
HarperCollins, 1997

Blackheart,
Dorchester Leisure, 2001

*
Virgin Bride
is the sequel to
Warrior Bride

Pagan Pride
and
Saxon Bride
are stand-alone novels

www.tamaraleigh.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tamara Leigh holds a Masters Degree in Speech and Language Pathology. In 1993, she signed a 4-book contract with Bantam Books. Her first medieval romance,
Warrior Bride
, was released in 1994, followed by
Virgin Bride, Pagan Bride,
and
Saxon Bride
. Continuing to write for the general market, three more novels were published with HarperCollins and Dorchester and earned awards and spots on national bestseller lists.

In 2006, Tamara’s first inspirational contemporary romance,
Stealing Adda
, was released. In 2008,
Perfecting Kate
was optioned for a movie and
Splitting Harriet
won an ACFW “Book of the Year” award. Both books were released as audiobooks. In 2009,
Faking Grace
was nominated for ACFW “Book of the Year” and RITA awards. In 2010,
Leaving Carolina
was featured in Target stores’ “Emerging Authors: New, Notable, Red-Hot Reads” section. In 2011, Tamara wrapped up her “Southern Discomfort” series with the release of
Restless in Carolina
.

When not in the middle of being a wife, mother, and cookbook fiend, Tamara  buries her nose in a good book—and her writer’s pen in ink. In 2012, she returned to the historical romance genre with
Dreamspell,
a medieval time travel romance. Shortly thereafter, she once more invited readers to join her in the middle ages with the
Age of Faith
series that includes
The Unveiling, The Yielding, The Redeeming,
The Kindling,
and
The Longing
.
Lady at Arms,
the 1994 Bantam Books bestseller originally titled
Warrior Bride,
is the first of her early medieval romances to be rewritten as a “clean read.” The sequel,
Lady of Eve,
will be available Summer 2014.

Tamara lives near Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, sons, and a Doberman that bares its teeth not only to threaten the UPS man but to smile.

Connect with Tamara at her website
www.tamaraleigh.com
, her blog
The Kitchen Novelist,
Facebook,
and
Twitter
. To be added to her mailing list for notification of new releases and special promotions, drop her an email at:
[email protected]