A VOW TO KEEP (The Vengeance Trilogy) (15 page)

He picked a secluded area and turned her so she faced the moonlight. Edward was right on one count–she was beautiful. Tonight she looked especially so. The deep color of her attire suited her. The thin veil covering her long hair only made his desire to run his fingers through her dark tresses all the stronger. Her bliaut had drawn his eyes to her curves as she’d moved about the hall, making certain all was well with the meal. The few times she’d passed by, he’d caught the same scent that had captured him when she’d ridden before him on his horse.

Though he’d done his best to avoid her at the evening meal, countless times, he’d had to tear his gaze away from her lithe form. He could only hope Lord Blackwell had not noticed the attention he’d paid to his granddaughter. Royce hadn’t been able to keep his distance since he’d met her. Then again, thank God he hadn’t or the night might have ended much differently. His anger resurfaced at the thought.

He forced himself to release her arm and waited for her to explain.

“I’m certain what I’m about to tell you means nothing, but I thought it best for you to know, so you could decide for yourself.” She paused and looked around as though to make certain they were still alone.

“What is it?” Royce asked, puzzled.

“Upon our arrival, Sir Edward made suggestions to my grandfather that you were wrong in pursuing the thieves and implied your men were in disagreement with your departure, including him.”

Not surprised, Royce considered what she’d said. Everything was a competition with Edward; he couldn’t seem to help but do all in his power to win. Although Edward’s past actions had proven him a trustworthy knight, his words were not always so. When he added this information to the suspicions he’d shared with Lord Blackwell, Edward’s loyalty became increasingly questionable.

What struck him more than Edward’s attempt to undermine him was Alyna’s trust. Royce had known Edward would do his best to turn Alyna from him. In fact, he’d almost hoped Edward would succeed. It would’ve made Royce’s wish to stay away from her easier. Many ladies succumbed to Edward’s dark good looks and the charm he portrayed when it suited him, but apparently not Alyna.

She had much to be concerned with in her own life, yet she took time to speak to him of this. In all honesty, he was touched.

“I’ll add my thanks to you for the improved taste of the meal this eve.” Royce changed the subject with a compliment as he thought about the information she’d provided. The women he’d known were easily distracted and responded to compliments like fish to water.

She looked confused by his comment. “Why, thank you. I’m pleased you found it to your liking, but what of Sir Edward? What will you do? Should I say something of this to my grandfather?”

So much for his attempt at distraction, thought Royce. He tried another. “Are you happy here, Alyna?”

Silent, she stared up at him, obviously confused by his question.

He couldn’t blame her, as he didn’t know where it had come from. All he knew was that her eyes held a sadness that pulled at him.

“I’ve only just gotten here, but so far, I’m content. Why do you ask?”

Royce merely raised a brow while those amber eyes seemed to look right through him to his very soul as though weighing him to see if he deserved an honest answer. At last Alyna looked away, and he released the breath he hadn’t realized he’d held.

“There have been many changes in my life of late,” she said softly. “I have yet to determine where my future lies, so until then, I find I am no more than content. I’m not certain why I’m here or what my purpose is.”

“Purpose? Why do you need a purpose?”

She opened her mouth to speak, then shut it. She turned her head, and a lock of hair fell free of her veil to lie against her cheek.

A wave of yearning filled him, and he gritted his teeth. He would not touch it. He already knew her hair carried the same fragrance that followed her everywhere, that it was as soft as fine silk. Her lips moved, and he focused on her words in a poor attempt to rein in his lust.

“I would prefer to provide some sort of assistance to my grandfather while I am here.”

“Lord Blackwell expects nothing from you.”

A smile turned the amber golden. “So it seems. That is something I’ll have to adjust to, but I would like to help, to earn my place here. Grandfather and I still have much to discuss. He has yet to answer my questions.”

Royce shook his head, frustrated that Blackwell had not told her more. He could only hope she didn’t ask him instead. Eyes like hers would make it difficult to resist sharing all he knew. And if she smiled at him again, he’d say anything she wanted to hear.

“I’m sure he will soon,” Royce offered.

More than anything, he wanted to comfort her, to lift the sadness and uncertainty from her face. Again, the strand of hair at her cheek teased him, and he could resist the urge no longer. With a slow movement, he gently eased the lock behind her ear. The moonlight emphasized the elegant lines of her face, hollowing her cheeks and lighting her eyes. She looked up at him with such a sweet, earnest expression.

What was a man to do but...

Kiss her.

Slowly. Passionately. Waiting for her to withdraw and demand he stop. But no protest left her lips, only a soft moan that heightened his desire. He kept the kiss light, not wanting to frighten her away, needing more than anything for her to stay right where she was, in his arms.

The longer he held her, and the longer he kissed her, the more he realized it was not enough. He ached for her touch, to feel her softness against him. He pulled her closer and molded her body to his.

As though she read his thoughts, her arms reached up to his shoulders, their warmth burning through his tunic. She deepened the kiss and tentatively twined her fingers into his hair. Shivers of longing rolled down his spine.

Never had a woman affected him like this. But never had a woman been so wrong for him. A landless knight set on vengeance was a terrible match for a lady. Royce knew this could go no further, not here, not ever. He had to let her go.

In just a moment.

After he had one more taste of her. He would hold her a bit longer, because this would be the last time he did. The memory of this kiss would have to sustain him in the lonely nights to come for he feared he’d never feel like this again.

Her soft whimper was nearly his undoing, nearly more than he could take. Releasing her mouth, he leaned his forehead against hers and took a deep breath to rein in the desire pulsing through him.

Hell’s teeth. What was he doing? This woman was his lord’s granddaughter. Why the thought didn’t force him to release her with great haste was beyond him. It mattered not that she was already a mother, a woman experienced in the ways of the world. She was not his to take and never would be.

With great effort, he set her away from him. “My apologies, my lady. That was a mistake.”

“Excuse me?” Her confusion overrode the desire lingering in her eyes.

Royce felt his resolve weaken and took a step back to shore his defenses. “That was an error.”

Alyna stiffened, obviously affronted at his words, just as he’d intended. “What do you mean?”

He turned away. Another moment of looking at her, and he’d draw her back into his arms.

“If you don’t find me attractive, then why did you kiss me?”

Surprised, Royce spun back toward her. Not find her attractive? How could she think that? His need for her strained his chausses. But a closer look at her vulnerable expression confirmed the beautiful Lady Alyna didn’t realize how desirable she was.

“Nay, it’s not that. It’s...”

“It’s what?” Her hurt expression gave him pause.

Even as he opened his mouth to tell her the truth, he knew what he must do. “My lady, I fear you misunderstood.”

“Indeed?” Those eyes drilled into his, her brow raised in question, her tone cool enough to chill wine. “What is it I have wrong, sir? When you avoided me all through the evening meal or when you kissed me and seemed to thoroughly enjoy it?”

Instead of being pleased by her cold tone, he felt only remorse. He’d never meant to add to her unhappiness. Perhaps this method was not going to work after all. The idea of her thinking so little of him did not please him.

Nay, it did not please him at all.

But it was for the best. Nothing would be gained from his desire for her. Better to sever it now, before it progressed any further. He took her elbow with a firm hand and guided her up the steps to the keep door.

“You have my word it will not happen again.”

“Forgive me if I don’t anxiously wait to learn to which ‘it’ you refer.” She jerked her elbow away from him and stormed into the keep.

The heavy wooden door didn’t slam shut, but he knew it had closed firmly in more ways than one. With a heavy sigh, he turned and walked away, wishing he could leave behind the disastrous results of the evening.

He did not go to his bed, which he’d longed for earlier in the day. He knew sleep was beyond him.

His only hope for some rest was a long, cold swim in the small lake outside the curtain wall. A temporary solution to a problem that seemed unlikely to go away on the morrow.

CHAPTER NINE

“The root of cowslip can rid stubborn coughs.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop other stubborn behaviors.”

Lady Catherine’s Herbal Journal

Alyna studied the dingy tapestries that hung high on the wall of the great hall. Soot and grime coated the battle scenes depicted; at least, she thought they were battle scenes.

The haziness of the pattern matched her emotions this morning. Obscure and unclear. How could a simple conversation about the questionable behavior of Sir Edward have escalated into a passionate kiss that had ended in disaster? It had been passionate, hadn’t it? There was no question it had ended in disaster. Then again, it had been her first real kiss. She had no experience on which to judge.

She’d hoped her thinking would clear after a good night’s sleep, but sleep had eluded her. Though remembering Royce’s rejection of her still hurt, when she focused on that kiss...

With a sigh, she let the passion swirl through her once again. Royce was a man like no other. She counted herself lucky to have shared her first kiss with him. She couldn’t imagine it with anyone else.

Remembering the feel of his mouth on hers brought a flush to her face–and other areas of her body she wasn’t sure she was comfortable with. In truth, that kiss had been glorious. For those few moments, she’d felt like the most beautiful and desirable woman in the country. He’d held her like she was some sort of treasure at first, a delicate object to be treated with care. But then, oh then, it had changed. He’d pulled her against his hard body and held her like he’d never let her go.

She’d felt...she couldn’t even describe how she’d felt. It had been wonderful and had certainly erased the memory of a drunken Edward’s advances as well as Lord Tegmont touching her.

Her pleasure faded as she wondered yet again what she’d done to make Royce set her aside. Was something wrong with her, some fault deep inside her that didn’t allow her to please a man?

“Frowning at them won’t remove a bit of that dust, my lady.”

Alyna sighed and turned to Enid. “Aye. The condition of the hall is a shame. ’Tis the heart of the keep. It should declare the glory of the castle for all to see.”

“Well, if I know you, it won’t look like this for long.”

She smiled. That was just the sort of practical comment she needed to hear. “I’d like to see the look on Lady Florence’s face when she realizes what we’re about.”

Enid laughed in response.

Alyna knew Enid had seen how upset she’d been when she’d entered her chamber the night before. She also seemed to understand Alyna hadn’t been ready to speak of it.

“If she was doing what she was supposed to, then we wouldn’t be forced to do what we’re about to,” Enid advised her.

Alyna chuckled, just as she knew the older woman meant her to. “The frightening part about your statement is that I understood it.” She looked up at the tapestries again and at the weaponry draped with cobwebs. “Grandfather said he’d welcome our help. Are Beatrice and Mary available?”