A Lady's Charade (Medieval Romance Novel) (24 page)

She could no longer look into his eyes for he would see the truth there. He demanded the truth. She looked down at the ground unable to stand his stare for another second. Her mind had grown numb and she was unable to think, unable to respond. Her pulse was quick and her face felt like it was on fire. She tried to swallow but her throat was dry, tightening up by the second. She could barely breathe. Her shallow breaths came faster and faster.

Was she going to faint? Her head started to whirl and as things started to become dark, she felt herself falling, only one thought went through her mind: he knew.

Chapter Fourteen

Alexander was quick to react as he saw her eyes roll into the back of her head, and her goblet of wine drop from her hands. He quickly came to her side and caught her before she hit the floor.

His tactic worked. She gave him her answer when she fainted at the end of his story.

A mixture of feelings flowed through him. He wanted to gloat, yet he was apprehensive. He was ecstatic that he had been right, she was his bride—he could have her. But at the same time, fear and doubt crept into his mind. His father and the king would not condone the marriage now, and his people would question his motives.

He himself could not condone it, for he was sure she wanted to kill him. That had to be her plan, just as he had stated in his story to her: a woman whose family had been ruined, stripped down and left for dead would certainly want revenge on the man who had caused it all. Wouldn’t she?

Lord, he hoped not. He couldn’t stand it if that were the case. Alexander wanted her so badly he was willing to marry her despite her family’s treasonous acts. Deep down inside a little part of him didn’t think she had anything to do with it. But she had come here, to his keep—albeit he brought her here, she could have escaped. She had somehow infiltrated herself into his life. That couldn’t have been a coincidence.

He picked up Chloe, thinking to himself that she was as light as a feather. Carrying her to his bed, he laid her on it, deciding she looked right there. Her chest moved with quick shallow breaths. He made quick work of unfastening her dress and loosening her stays. When it resisted his efforts slightly, he had no problem ripping the fabric away. Her breathing came easier, but his quickened.

Lying there, in all her innocence, her breasts half exposed, Alexander’s breath caught in his throat. He stood still for a moment, not sure if he should believe what he was seeing. It was impossible. The thing he had been stressing over, fretting over, trying to trick her about was right before his eyes.

And it wasn’t just her breasts—although the sight of the sloping creamy mounds had his body hardening. It was a portrait. But not just any portrait. It was his beautiful chatelaine all dressed up in regal finery, and a man stood behind her, his hand on her shoulder. Who was he? Her betrothed? Her husband?

He had to move quickly. She would surely wake soon. Quickly, he snatched up the portrait and put it in the small chest on top of the mantle above his hearth. He then moved back to her and straightened her on the bed, putting some blankets over her to hide her half naked chest. Although he did take a moment to stare at the light pink flesh, resisting the urge to reach out and stroke the soft swells as he’d done before.

It only deepened his need for her.

Tearing his eyes away, he went to his water basin and dipped a cloth into it. He wrung out the cloth and then brought it to her. Gently he wiped her face, her neck and her soft shoulders, and back again. Caring for her in such an intimate manner made his blood run hot. Although he held his fingers back from touching her breasts, he couldn’t help but stroke her face, just as she had stroked his. How ironic now that the tables were turned.

Leaning forward, Alexander placed a soft kiss on her lips, lingering to breathe in her feminine scent. Her even breaths washed over his face, and he had to resist the urge to kiss her again. Alexander turned his cheek so he could feel her breath on his face, and he closed his eyes.

Oh, how he wanted to wake up each morning to feel her breath so even on his face. What a dream that would be. He could then roll over and take her into his arms, sink into her warm, tight sheath. It was all too much. He didn’t know how long she would be out. Torn between taking his leave of her and pulling her into his arms, Alexander raked his hands through his hair as he stood. Neither were options. He wanted to be there when she woke. He knew she would be frightened, especially to find herself under the blankets in his bed. When she realized she was practically naked from the midsection up, and her portrait had been discovered, she would be more than frightened. She would panic, and in her panic she would do something dangerous, either to herself or someone else. And worst of all, he feared that she would run. Run away and be lost to him forever.

Alexander sat down and waited in the chair in which she had spent so many hours while he’d been sick. If only she would tell him the truth. He’d rather hear it from her than anywhere else. As much fun as their games had been, he was beginning to tire of the cat and mouse chase.

He wanted to trust Chloe so badly it hurt. He wanted more than to trust her, he wanted every part of her. Dear lord, he hoped she hadn’t already been claimed by another.

Leaning his head back against the chair, he fixed his gaze on the rise and fall of her chest. Whatever she hid from him must have been extremely traumatic for her to have fainted and be out this long. It had been nearly twenty minutes, and she still lay asleep on the bed. Should he try to wake her? He decided against it. Whatever evils she was fighting were probably best dealt with unconsciously first before facing them in reality.

His vision kept traveling to her face. Her peaceful beautiful face. With her hair flowing all around her, she looked exactly like the angelic vision he’d seen outside of South Hearth. It was hard to believe that someone who looked so innocent in sleep could be a traitor. Perhaps that was part of her enchantment. She used her beauty to her advantage. That was certainly how she’d initially captured him. Then she’d spoken, and he was completely enraptured.

Chloe had also captured all of his staff and the entire village. Everywhere he looked on his way through the village to the keep, he heard whispers of her name. It was evident from the cleanliness of the castle, the scent of herbs and flowers, and come to think of it, the orderly way the bailey now looked.

She appeared so innocent from the outside. But what lurked beneath? He knew the passion that lay beneath her innocent exterior. She had a passion to match his own, and how he wished to reignite it.

In time,
Alexander told himself. She would be his soon. Just as soon as he was able to sort through this mess, and explain things to not only his father, but his king. As soon as they knew and understood what had happened, he could make her his. And he would see to it that they did understand. His need and desire for Chloe were so great, that he would give up everything he had just to be with her.

Alexander was amazed at the realization. He truly would leave all his riches, titles and future.
She
was his future, and he would give up anything that got in the way of that. He would fight for her. He would even fight
her
until she realized they were meant to be.

Staring intently, he willed her to wake up. He wanted to get this over with. He was anxious to move on. He was a man of strategy, a fierce dragon, and he couldn’t sit around and wait all day for her to wake up and tell him what he needed to hear.

He stood up with the idea of shaking her a bit to rouse her from her stupor. By the time he got to the side of the bed he could hear her murmur something and she turned her head to the side. He rushed to her side, his breath quickening along with his heart.

He froze. She thought he would kill her? He couldn’t tell for sure if she was coherent and speaking to him, or if she was speaking in her dreams. She had not opened her eyes. Her arms had come up around her head and she was shaking her head back and forth. Her voice had taken on a begging quality. She was truly scared that he would do something to her. She choked on a sob.

Alexander sat down on the bed beside her, stroking her arm, then her hair.

“Chloe. I won’t hurt you. I would never hurt you, my love,” he said softly, stroking her cheek. She seemed to calm down a little at his words. “Wake up darling. It’s all right.” His hand caressed her furrowed brow, smoothing the wrinkles there, then he took hold of her hands, gently caressing them with his thumbs.

Chloe slowly opened her eyes and looked at him. Her face clouded with emotions, and then one took prevalence.

Fear.

She sucked in her breath and became still. She pulled her hand out from his and felt under the blanket. As she did so her eyes grew wider and wider. She locked her gaze on his with the realization of what he’d done to her gown, and that her precious portrait was missing.

“What have you done to my gown?” she asked, still wide eyed, but the fear he had seen on her face was replaced with anger. Her brow furrowed as she stared at him, demanding an answer.

“You couldn’t breathe. I had to do what I did. It was the only way,” he explained, not really caring whether or not she agreed with what he’d done. She didn’t say anything, just stared at him.

Based on his recent experience with her, it was not likely she would bring up the topic. She must be waiting for him. Chloe searched his face for something—waiting—her eyes flitting about his face, her lips pressed firmly together.

She had surely made him wait long enough. Actually she hadn’t. She would have made him wait until all eternity. He found out her secret on his own. He decided to be honest with her. Maybe that would prompt her to be honest with him.

“I know what you are thinking, Chloe,” he said looking into her eyes, giving her one more chance to bring up the topic herself.

“How could you possibly know what I am thinking? But I suppose you can guess, seeing as how you are the reason I am lying here indecent with my stays ripped open and my body practically exposed to you,” she said angrily. “You think because you are lord of the manor you can do what you like with the women of the village? I told you once before, I am no common harlot here for your use.” Her face was red with anger.

“I agree,
mademoiselle
. You are no one to be trifled with. But I was not talking about your state of undress. Which, by the way, was necessary for your breathing. You would have suffocated. I did, of course, enjoy the view,” he added to spite her.

She sucked in her breath, her eyes shooting daggers at him.

“I am so tired, my lord. Could I go back to my room and rest?” She tried to sit up, but Alexander pressed her back down.

“No, you can not. We have much to discuss. Particularly what I have found.” He hoped the look he gave her said,
I know what you have been hiding, now stop playing games with me.

Chloe swallowed nervously. “May I please have some water?”

He understood her thirst. Fear and panic would do that to a person. Perhaps hydrating herself and taking a moment would help her to think more clearly. Let the truth sink in that he knew her secrets.

“Yes.” He handed her a cup and she sipped it slowly. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. He could see her battling something inside.

He moved to the fireplace and leaned against it, an elbow on the mantle and his head in his hand, he paused to think a moment. Maybe he should wait till she was more rested and focused, not the frenzied looking rabbit she was now. He wanted her to trust him too, trust him enough that she would tell him the truth, even though he already knew what it was. Perhaps if he showed her some mercy, she would believe he was truly serious, that she could trust him.

Without turning back to her, he started to speak.

“Chloe, I know you know what I am talking about. I can see that it causes you great distress to think on it, and although I am desperate to hear you speak the truth, I will wait.” He turned to face her. “I want you to trust me enough that you can tell me the truth.”

At his last words, he could see relief wash over her face. She really wasn’t very good at hiding her emotions. He laughed softly.

“Let me be clear. You have tonight to contemplate what I’ve said. I will give you that. Think wisely. I need to hear it from you. I will send a maid to your chamber with food.” He turned from her, dismissing her from his thoughts. He had much to reflect on.

“My lord, may I borrow a robe?” she asked softly.

Turning, his breath caught in his throat at the sight of her standing, covering her shredded gown with her arms. Soft pink flesh attacked his senses. She was a vision. He rounded from her, not wanting to ravish her on the spot. He walked to his wardrobe and pulled out his dressing robe and handed it to her, keeping his eyes averted. Not wanting the staff to gossip if they saw her return to her room unescorted and wearing his robe Alexander decided it would be a good idea for him to go with her.

After she had secured the robe around herself, he walked her to his door and opened it. With his hand resting on the small of her back, they walked. Luckily they passed no one along the way, and he did not have to deal with stares or whispers.

“Do you have more stays?” he asked softly, averting his eyes from her.

“Yes, my lord,” she whispered. She walked into her room and, turning from him, took off the robe and handed it to him behind her back. “Thank you, my lord.” She walked straight to her bed, climbed under the covers and laid down. “I will require no food this eve,” she said to him without turning around once.