De Warenne Dynasty 01 - The Conquerer (33 page)

In the doorway of his chamber she came to an abrupt halt. Nothing could have prepared her for the sight of him.Alice andBeth were hovering by his side, as wereAthelstan andGuy . She could only see his shoulders and head and neck; he appeared naked. He was not lying in agony, as she had feared, but sitting straight and tall, his face in that hard, contained mask she knew so well. Her heart froze at the sight of him. He was golden and handsome, he was sexually magnetic, and she had forgotten this in the past week.

He saw her, and their gazes locked. Ceidre realized she had stopped breathing, so she took a long breath. Anger reared. He was not badly hurt, this she could clearly see, because he looked her over carefully, the way only a man who has been intimate with her could, in a way that suggested he would be intimate with her again. She blushed.

"Come here," he said, his voice strong, in a command. "I am hurt."

If he was hurt, she was a witch, Ceidre thought caustically. She came forward, lips tight. Her heart was thudding so hard it was painful. The men moved aside. She noticed thatAlice did not, and that her delicate white hand was clasped possessively upon his shoulder. The sight almost stopped her in her tracks. It certainly brought a sudden nausea to her. He beckoned her forward.

Then she saw that he was hurt, and a cry escaped her lips.

He was completely naked. His right thigh, nearer to her, was gashed from hip to knee, raw and bloody.

"Get water and linens," Ceidre ordered, kneeling by his side, atAlice 's feet. She was aware of his gaze relentlessly upon her, as she gently touched the unmarred flesh near the wound. It was already hot. His leg tightened beneath her fingertips. "It hurts when I touch you?" she asked, with real worry.

Page 164

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv
erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

"No," he said harshly. "Your touch does not hurt me, Ceidre."

His tone made her look up. His gaze was both so bold and so intimate that for moment she forgot his wound and the presence of everyone in the room. She recovered, however, whenAlice shifted angrily, her skirts swishing. She noted, then, the tight curve of his mouth, and knew he was in some pain. "How hurt are you?"

"I've suffered much worse."

"Do not play the hero with me," she snapped. His tone was low, almost a purr. "I want only to be a hero in your eyes, Ceidre."

A flashing recollection of her wedding night pierced her. "Then you have gravely erred in judgment, my lord."

"I realize that." His laugh was bitter.

"My lord,"Alice cut in, her voice high, "you look uncomfortable. Here, lean back, I-

"I am fine,"Rolfe said curtly. "Do not hover over me, I am not a boy."

Aliceremoved her hand from his back, taking a small step back. Ceidre quickly dropped her gaze to his torn flesh, but not before receiving the full brunt ofAlice 's glare.Alice 's movement, as well, crowded her unreasonably, but she said nothing and began a careful inspection of the wound. It was not deep, not deep at all, and she was relieved. But it would require a few , stitches after being more thoroughly cleaned.Beth returned with the items she had requested, and Ceidre placed everything upon the floor where she knelt, within easy reach.Alice 's skirt billowed near the urn of water. Ceidre looked up at her sister and said politely. "Would you move,Alice ? I need room."

"I will not,"Alice said, her face pinched.

"LadyAlice, take yourself to the hearth,"Rolfe ordered, and that was that.Alice obeyed, mouth pursed.

Ceidre couldn't help feeling sorry for her sister, to be spoken to with such obvious dislike. She wanted to ask theNorman exactly how he felt about his wife, and if he disliked her so, she wondered how he could bed her, night after night. She reminded herself that liking had nothing to do with lust-as she knew firsthand. And of course she could not voice these questions, even if they were alone in the room, 'twas not her affair. She picked up a clean rag. "'Twill hurt."

"I suffer gladly," he murmured, holding her gaze.

She broke the contact, thoroughly unsettled now, and began cleaning the wound. He made not a sound, although she was aware of his big leg cramping beneath her gentle touch. She became thoroughly immersed in what she must do. When the wound was cleaned to her satisfaction, she picked up needle and thread. She did not hesitate. Her stitches were small and neat and very fast.Rolfe was so still he might have been carved of stone. She was keenly aware, however, that his breathing was harsher than usual.

To distract him, she conversed. "Was the hunt successful, other than this?"

"Yes, very. We took three deer, one with a sixteenpoint spread. A wolf, and of course, the boar."

Page 165

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv
erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

"Of course. Am I to assume 'twas your lance that slew it?"

"Yes," he said.

She finished with a sigh and looked up. For the first time his stark nakedness struck her, as she glimpsed his groin, its member flaccid now, the soft curve of his belly as he sat, the narrowness of his hips and the breadth of his chest. Flushed, she put aside the needle, preparing a poultice. "However did you manage to get gored?"

"It happens easily, the boar is mean and unpredictable."

"They are too deadly to be hunted," she replied, placing the herbs packed in linen upon his thigh. "'Tis foolish for men to seek such sport." She was careful to look only at what she was doing, but now she was keenly aware of his hard leg beneath her fingers.

" 'Tis the danger that draws us," he said.

She could feel his gaze on the top of her bent head. "'Tis a boyish need to prove a tardy manhood,"

Ceidre retorted with feeling.

"You cannot accuse my manhood of being tardy," he said softly.

His sensual tone brought a hot blush and she swiftly raised her gaze to his-only to glimpse the swelling of his organ. She faltered completely, at a loss. He smiled slightly, a smug, satisfied look in his bold gaze.

"You are clearly not suffering," she managed. She rose and turned, but he grabbed her hand.

"Do not leave me."

"I am finished." She was forced to meet his regard. "Do not leave," he repeated. "I am in pain." "The pain you are in is quite clear," she retorted, angry now.

"You can ease it-if you would." "Your wife can ease it!"

"You think so?" He cocked a brow. "She cannot, only you can."

"Do not say such things," she hissed. "Let me go."

"Only if you promise to return. I will allow no one else to tend me. The poultice must be changed, must it not?"

"Yes, but anyone-"

"You must tend me."

"All right." She surrendered.

"When will you come again?"

She hesitated. "Tomorrow."

Page 166

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv
erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

"Tonight. You will come tonight. Mayhap I will catch a fever." He smiled.

There was, of course, that possibility, although Ceidre though it was indistinct. "I will come when I have finished my duties at the manor," she said.

His face grew suddenly dark, blue eyes stormy. "Yes, of course, your duties. To your husband? Does he command your presence every night?" His tone raised. "Does he? Have you missed him these past two nights? Have you?"

She was stunned by his anger.

"Tonight," he said through gritted teeth, "you have duty to me, your overlord. Do not," he purred, "forget who I am. I gave you toGuy ," he warned, "and I can take you away."

Ceidre shook with fury at his presumptive autocracy. The fact that he was right-that on Aelfgar his will was law, that he could order a divorce andGuy would willingly oblige him, that he could dispose of her, despite her husband, as he saw fit-increased her rage. "I am finished here. May I go?"

"You may go," he said silkily. "But do not think that you are finished here." He smiled, a tight, ruthless smile. "Do not think that we are finished."

Chapter 43

His leg throbbed, butRolfe heaved himself up from the bed to limp to the fireplace and stare into its flames.

It was evening now, and his ears were attuned to the sounds outside his door, purposefully left ajar. He listened intently for movement, but there was no sound. Ceidre had not come.

He was angry-with himself. He had taunted her with sexual innuendo. He had not meant to. In truth, he never talked to any woman the way he spoke with her. Her bronze-haired, purple-eyed presence seemed to be his undoing. How could he have taunted her as he had? Mayhap it had to do with the fact that he hadn't set eyes upon her in a sennight. Mayhap it was her touch, so gentle, so tender-and ultimately, despite the superficial tear in his flesh, so arousing.

But to taunt her sexually with his wife and her husband in the same room?

He could not control his physical arousal, but he certainly could control his words. There was no excuse.

They had both heard, he had seen it onAlice 's tight-lipped white face and inGuy 's searching gaze. He was surprised, if not confused, with the young man's response.Guy had not been angered, or, if he had been, he had hidden it well.Rolfe knew that if he wereGuy and another man made such suggestive remarks to his wife, if she were Ceidre, he would kill. Of course, he wasGuy 's liege lord, andGuy , he knew, worshiped him.

Page 167

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv
erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

He regretted ordering her presence this night, just as he was disappointed that she had not come. She was probably, he thought with sudden depression, inGuy 's arms this very minute. And then he heard her.

His head whipped around, listening to the light footfalls approaching, waiting, watching as his door swung open. She appeared there then, in all her golden and bronze glory, a mutinous expression on her face, her lush lips tight, her eyes flashing purple fire.Rolfe realized he was smiling with his pleasure at seeing her.

"I see you have not succumbed to the fever," Ceidre said curtly. "Therefore, may I leave, my lord?"

His smile widened. He hobbled to the bed and sat. "Come check my leg."

She huffed her disdain, but obeyed. He was wearing only a tunic that came to midthigh. She did not pause or hesitate, but lifted it to reveal his thigh and the rest of his naked body. Damn, he thought, he was truly well, for he was rousing instantly into thick tumescence.

"This is a farce," she cried, jumping away from him.

"I cannot help my response to you."

"I refuse to cuckold my husband!"

His anger was instant. "Think you I called you here to commit adultery? To cuckold my best man?"

She flinched slightly under his icy stare. "Think? Oh, no, my lord, I know it!"

He grabbed her wrist and yanked her hard, right onto his bed, almost across his bad thigh. She struggled once and went still. "You flatter yourself, Ceidre," he said roughly.

"You are a beast!"

"I do not cuckold my best man."

"Then let me up-let me go."

His other hand captured her chin, forcing her gaze to his. "You are so unwilling. You love him?"

"What?" She struggled anew now, but it was futile.

"Do you love him so soon?" His tone was harsh. "A few tumbles, and you are so loyal? Answer me!"

She shook, she said nothing. He saw tears well in her eyes.

"Does he please you so, Ceidre?"Rolfe said in a dangerous tone.

"'Tis not your affair," she cried in a small voice. "Answer me!"

"Yes," she shouted, then wept. She would never let him know the truth, that her own husband found her repulsive and preferred the comfort of Lettie andBeth to herself. Never would she share this secret, this humiliation, with this man.

Page 168

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv
erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

"I am not going to hurt you, I am not going to touch you, I am not going to rape you-cease your tears,"

he said, his tone filled with loathing. He pushed her violently away off the bed. She stumbled and almost fell. She looked at him and saw the glittering fury. It was so strong, she thought it was hatred, and she shrank.

"Get out," he said, low. "I have changed my mind, I do not need you-as you can see."

Ceidre wiped her eyes and stood, squaring her shoulders. She could not look away from his dark, violent gaze.

"Go to your husband," he said softly, ugly. "Go to him, charm him. But stay the hell away from me."

For some reason, the urge to go to him and take away the controlled loathing in his tone swept her, and she did not move, unable to do so.

"Why do you wait? Do you now play the seductress? Do you think to cast a spell, standing there honey haired, beautiful, trembling as if with hurt? What you have I have seen before many times. You are only a woman, like any other, and my response to you is the same as with all the others."

His cruel words struck her with the force of a blow, and she turned, numbly.

"TellAlice to come to me," he called to her departing back. "Tell her to come to me, I have need of her now."

Ceidre escaped.

CHAPTER 44

A week later,Rolfe andGuy rode out to inspectGuy 's holdings at Dumstanbrough thoroughly.Rolfe 's leg was slightly stiff, which he deemed the riding would ease. They took with them a dozen men, in case of a run-in with Scots reivers, leaving Aelfgar well defended and under Beltain's authority. They reached this outermost village belonging toRolfe in a day and a half and had completed their inspection by that nightfall.

As his men lounged around the campfire, preparatory to sleep,Rolfe stood and stretched. His leg ached slightly. The village was quiet now, after the initial uproar that their arrival had caused. Apparently, being so far north, they saw little of their lord and master, and apparently cared just as little whether that lord be Saxon or not. Ample fare and atrocious ale had been provided for his men.Guy had already chosen a site for his manor. As soon asRolfe could spare him, he knewGuy would be returning to see to its construction. This made him envision a day in the future that surely must come-Ceidre living here as the lady of Dumstanbrough.