Forbidden Magic (22 page)

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The pastel pinks and yellows of early morning light spilled into the room between the cracks in the shutters to mingle with the orange-vermilion glow of the fire in the hearth. Jewel viewed its beauty from across the room curled up in the chair, where she had spent the long hours since Amery had left her. And with the coming of dawn, tears filled her eyes once more, for she was certain his absence from the small chamber meant her absence from his thoughts. Yet her reason for tears eluded her. Could it be that she felt shame for the responses he had stirred, her eagerness to have him hold her, kiss her, make love to her? Or did she weep because of the simple truth that she held no place in has heart as he had said she would not? Why did it matter? she wondered sadly, touching her bare feet to the floor as she stood and crossed to the window.

Warm, bright sunshine caressed her face once she languidly pushed open the shutters and leaned a temple against the framework, enjoying the crisp bite of early morning air. Amery had been responsible for the death of her family and it made little sense that his rejection of her would touch her so deeply. She should welcome it, insist on it—even provoke it. Yes, 'twas shame she felt, that her womanly body would betray her. Gathering the shattered remains of her pride, Jewel stood erect, shoulders squared, and set her mind on a means of escape. She would flee his company and direct her steps to the road leading back to Harcourt. She would find Radolf, and together they would hunt Amery down. But she must act quickly before the others awoke and found her gone.

As she glanced about the room, Jewel's brow furrowed in a disappointed frown. Her fur mantle was nowhere to be seen. Although the sun shone brightly and felt warm against her face when she stood near the window, she knew the wintry air would soon chill her to the bone without the cloak wrapped around her. Shaking off her frustration with more determination than ever, she hurried to the bed and tore the coverlet from it, a lump forming in her throat the moment her fingers touched its roughness, for the scent of Amery still clung heavily to it. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and flung the wool cloth over her shoulders, ignoring the sensation it aroused as she slid her feet into the slippers she had left by the chair. Pausing only a moment to listen at the door for any movements in the other room, she quickly crossed to the window once more and guardedly peered outside.

The shadows of night had faded in the morning light, which illuminated the way to the stable a few yards from the house. Without hesitation, Jewel hoisted herself to the window frame, swung her legs over the sill, and silently glided to the ground below. A chill coursed through her the moment her slippered feet touched the soil, for the earth had been hardened by the frost clinging thickly to the grasses and her Breath formed a translucent cloud that barely faded before another came. Sparrows chirped excitedly overhead, but Jewel paid them no heed as she hurried toward the opened doors of the roughly constructed building. She would have to saddle a horse and flee before Amery awoke. A smile touched one corner of her mouth. If only she could be a mouse hiding in the woodpile near the hearth. Twould please her greatly to witness his rage when he discovered she had fled without a sound. Her brow wrinkled. And better still to be a mouse to escape his wrath should he catch her. Shaking off the thought, she clutched the blanket to her and stepped inside the stable.

Gray shadows greeted Jewel save for the yellow shaft of light that haloed her, and she squinted in the darkness to view the interior. Surely Blagden owned one gentle mare for his wife to ride and, although the idea of stealing the animal went against her upbringing, she hoped he would understand. And once she arrived safely at Harcourt, she would have the steed returned to him. It would mean she only would be borrowing the mare for awhile. With one quick glance back over her shoulder to make certain she was alone, Jewel nervously advanced.

Her heart pounded in her chest, her breathing was ragged, and she wondered if all the world had heard. She paused, hit her lower lip to calm herself before continuing on, and allowed a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dim light. However, once they had, her tiny chin dropped, for there before her stood only two horses from which to choose: Amery's steed and Gunther's. Panic threatened to turn her around and send her racing from the stable. She was not skilled at riding and the most spirited animal she had ever mounted had been a good-tempered mare, nothing in comparison to these mighty war-horses. Even if she could saddle one, it would prove rather difficult to pull herself up to his wide back. Tears glistened in her eyes when she believed her plan had failed, for most assuredly Amery would overtake her-within the hour if she traveled the road on foot. Sighing resignedly, she had lowered her head, searching for an answer, when a new thought exploded in her mind and she nearly cried aloud with glee. With the fingertips of both hands pressed against her lips, Jewel giggled in spite of her effort to contain her mirth, and covertly she glanced back at the entrance, wondering if anyone had heard. Mentally scolding herself for being so careless, she turned to face her task, shoulders squared and an impish grin lighting up her eyes. It would indeed be difficult, but Jewel would not leave the stable without Conan beneath her and the reins of Gunther's destrier held in her hand. After all, what better justice than to have a gallant knight afoot, put there by a foe almost half his size?

Cooing softly once she moved close enough to gently touch the charger's rump, Jewel quickly pulled Conan's blanket from the rail and slid it across his back, whispering soothingly all the while. The huge beast swung his head around to eye the delicate figure standing at his side as if to disapprove of her intent, but he made no other move and Jewel paused to look up at him, wondering if by some mystical power the steed had human thoughts of his own. She ignored the eerie shiver such a possibility evoked and concentrated on readying her mount. Several awkward minutes passed, but at last she had succeeded in securing the saddle and bridle and strained to pull Conan from the stall, guiding him to the open space in the center of the room. Overturning a wooden pail she found close by, she had lifted a foot, ready to hoist herself up, when she suddenly remembered Gunther's horse. Heaving an agitated sigh, she dropped Conan's reins and hurriedly bridled the second stallion, bringing the animal to stand beside the first. Balanced precariously on the back, she grabbed hold of the pommel and jumped, pulling herself over the slick leather seat before she could twist around and sit comfortably and reposition the wool blanket that had slipped from her shoulders. Only then did she realize the saddle was not meant for a lady to ride when she found no place to rest her knee. With a disgusted shake of her head, she decided her return home would be doubly welcome and bent to take the other steed's reins in her hand. Lightly nudging Conan's ribs, they left the stable.

A smile broke the serious line of Jewel's mouth once the warm sunshine hit her face, for she was positive that she would view the sun's setting from the window of her own chambers, and it widened even further as she rode past the door of the small hut. Nothing would spoil this moment —her victory over Amery—not even the sound of creaking hinges as someone swung the portal open or the voice that called out to her. With head held high, Jewel slowly turned her gaze upon the one who spoke, spying Gunther, Blagden, and his wife crowded outside the entrance, a bundle clutched in Gunther's hand.

"Fare thee well, Sir Gunther," she said, grinning happily, then lifting the reins of his horse in the air for him to see and laughing at the distressed look he gave her. Then, gripping her fingers around the pommel, she gave Conan a hard kick.

The destrier responded immediately, the thick muscles across his rump tightening as he lunged forward. But before he could reach full gallop, a shrill whistle cut through the air, bringing the charger to an equally abrupt halt and nearly spilling Jewel from the saddle. In an effort to save herself, she let go of both pairs of reins to entangle her fingers within the heavy mane of Cohan's neck as he spun around and headed back toward the stable. Nearly frightened out of her wits from her close brush with disaster, Jewel clung frantically to the steed, giving no thought to the wool coverlet that flew from her shoulders or what had altered their charted course, her head down, eyes closed, until the huge animal all but buried his hindquarters in the ground as he slid to a stop. Lifting fearful eyes to look upon the reason, her breath lodged in her throat when her gaze fell upon Amery standing before them, Conan's reins held in one hand, a half smile curling his lips.

Frantic, certain the amusement that glowed in his eyes was simply a facade and he would yank her from the horse and beat her, Jewel glanced back at Gunther in a silent plea for help only to find the knight reclaiming his steed a fair distance from them, his back turned. With no other choice left her, she feverishly slid from Conan's back, stumbling when her feet hit the ground. Her quick hand catching the destrier's stirrup kept her from falling and, without a second wasted, Jewel bounded off, long auburn hair flying out around her as she raced for the cover of trees a few yards away. But long before she reached them, she felt the painful entrapment of her coppery mane, which jerked her off balance and into the arms of the one who had chased after her.

Jewel hastened to be free of him, kicking and clawing at the man who held her, but Amery only laughed and lifted her to one hip as easily as if he carried a child. Strolling casually back toward the stable, he caught Conan's reins in his free hand and led them all through the darkened entry way. Still struggling, Jewel jabbed her elbow in Amery's stomach, hoping to knock the wind from him and gain her freedom, but he merely tightened his grip, unaffected, and she found herself fighting to breathe instead. And once they reached one of the stalls, Jewel could only watch while Amery tossed the horse's reins over its top rail, then turn to unpretentiously dump his slight burden in the stack of thick hay. The soft cushion beneath her absorbed the shock to her petite form but failed to dull the indignation she felt straining her pride. Furious and still a little frightened, she scrambled to her knees to glare at him.

Amery stood with arms akimbo, feet apart, and a smirk on his handsome face, silently daring her to move as he blocked the only exit. "My steed obeys better than you, little one," he stated. "As I have said before, I have not grown bored with you and will not so easily allow you to slip through my fingers." Devilment sparkled in the green depths of his eyes. "Mayhap before I have, I will teach you to come when I whistle as Conan does."

Jewel's anger overshadowed her fear of him. "I am not a dull-witted animal, Sir Amery, to come at your beck and call. I am a woman .... with feelings you enjoy bruising."

His gaze slowly appraised the shapely curves, tousled locks of hair, and beautiful face marred by an angry frown. One tawny brow lifted appreciatively. "Yea, the warmth of you beneath me still lingers and sets a burning in my loins."

Jewel's cheeks flamed with his embellished reminder and she quickly came to her feet lest he be tempted to extinguish that burning here and now with no thought to who might discover them. " Tis you who are the dull-witted animal," she spat, "for there is no love in your heart, only lust that makes you take a woman without care-and lay her on her back for your pleasure alone." She stumbled back when he dropped his arms at his sides and took a step toward her.

"Mine alone, you claim?" he directed, pausing to rest one hand on the rail, the other on his hip once more. "Was that not you who shared the simple cot with me last eventide? Mayhap the wine I drank benumbed my thinking and set visions in my head, but, by all that's holy, I would pledge my life 'twas you who clung so frantically about my neck."

Jewel's shame heightened anew, bat she inwardly vowed he would not have the last word. "And how, prithee, oh gallant knight, wouldst thou know for certain when you fled before your lust had cooled? Or didst another await your pleasure in the other chamber?" One brow rose questioningly. "Or here, perhaps, amid the straw and with your kin." An outstretched hand indicated his destrier.

A nervous shiver raced through her when she saw the whiteness of his smile and she retreated even further when he leisurely straightened and started toward her again. Panic tickled the hairs on the back of her neck and raced down her spine once she discovered there was no escape, for the stall was narrow and offered no way to run past him.

"Art thou saying thou wouldst suggest a night spent in my arms was equally pleasurable to sharing this humble space with Conan?"

Jewel trembled. And although she knew it was not from the cold wisp of air that swept through the stable and rustled her hair, she prayed Amery had mistaken it for the true cause. 'Twould bode ill if he knew the source, she reflected silently. Veiling her uneasiness with a brave lift of her chin, she forced herself to meet his unwavering stare.

"Nay, Sir Amery, more so," she replied in a whisper. "I would prefer a four-legged beast to one who walks upright and claims to be a knight of King Richard's. Conan would make no demands of me."

Stepping closer, Amery leaned slightly forward and trapped Jewel between his outstretched arms as he rested his weight against his hands pressed to the wall at her back. "Thy tongue is as sharp as the morning air, little one," he murmured. "And it spills lies."

"If you think otherwise, then you are a conceited lout," she rallied in defense, silently damning his nearness and the tingling warmth it created over every inch of her.

"Oh?" he challenged, lowering his head. "Mayhap I should
prove it to you."

Before his lips descended upon hers, Jewel ducked beneath his arm and started from the stall. But having expected as much, Amery was quick to react, catching Jewel's wrist before she had traveled very far and purposely yanking back to knock her from her feet. Trapping her in his arms, he fell together with her on the soft mound of straw and before Jewel could wiggle free of him, Amery had rolled her beneath him, a bright smile enhancing his green eyes, his face only inches from hers.