Forbidden Magic (25 page)

Lady Anne smiled understandingly in return, but once they had reached the landing, she stooped and set her daughter down. "Anson," she said quietly, "take thy sister to her room and see that Mayda cares for her and puts her to bed."

"Yea, Mother," the boy replied immediately, clasping the small hand in his as he led her away.

When they had disappeared from view, she turned to lock her arm in Jewel's and guide them both down the hall, "Tis none of my concern, but I will not pretend I do not know, Lady Jewel. Word of the terrible thing that happened at Harcourt has reached far across England and, not knowing the whole of it, I was forced to believe the stories that were spread. But when Gunther returned here with the man accused of the slaughter, I knew they were only fables. You have suffered a great deal and to see you smile after such a lot is something to be admired. So do not feel you must apologize for anything." She smiled gently at her companion and paused before an open doorway. "This shall be your chamber for as long as you wish."

Jewel frowned unknowingly as she entered the room. How could Lady Anne assume Amery's innocence by the simple fact that his friend had offered his home and protection? How could anyone be so easily swayed? And would Lady Anne's certainty about the matter fade if she knew the true reason she found herself with a guest in this chamber? A movement near the hearth caught Jewel's eye and she looked up to find Lady Anne idly staring into the flames.

"I sense there is more," she said quietly after a moment. Suddenly Jewel's scheme to seek out this woman's help in obtaining her freedom at the price of damaging Lady Anne's faith in her husband seemed ruthless. She had seen the love they shared and could not bring herself to be the one who might raise doubts in the mind of a man's wife—especially Gunther's. He had shown his disapproval of Amery's actions where she was concerned and she could only assume he did not interfere for some unknown reason. She liked Gunther and suspected that if she threw herself on his mercy, he would test his bond of friendship with Amery and aid in her escape. Silently she cursed her weakness. Even at the cost of her own happiness, she could not take advantage of another.

"Art thou here against thy will?"

Startled by the woman's keen ability to sense the truth, Jewel glanced up in surprise, her mouth open but no words trailing from her lips. Lady Anne continued to stare into the fire and Jewel sensed the pain reflected in the woman's eyes and knew an aching of her own. She had liked the grand lady of Burchard the moment Lady Anne had smiled at her and welcomed her to her home. There was an honesty about her, a warmth that was easily felt, and Jewel had no desire to cause the woman grief. Unable to voice the truth, Jewel looked at her hands folded in front of her as tears burned her eyes and a tightness constricted her throat.

"She will learn of it soon enough," a voice at the doorway interrupted.

Both women turned to find its framework filled with Amery's huge form. He stood with his arms crossed against his wide chest, feet apart, and his head tilted to one side as if considering two small children caught stealing pastries from the kitchen. A long while passed before he moved further into the room and closed the door behind him, and Lady Anne nervously stepped back from the hearth when he advanced to kneel before it and add logs to its dying flames.

"I have never felt a need to explain my actions to anyone.. . especially a woman," he said dryly without looking up. "But I also know I owe a great deal to Gunther. He is the only man I have ever considered a friend." Satisfied with the blaze, he brushed off his hands and stood to face the women." Tis why I stand here now. Though I have no proof as yet, I hold my half brother responsible for many things. A jealousy eats at him and 'twill be his downfall. He wants what is not his to have and in time he will come when greed blinds him. 'Tis why I have taken Lady Jewel from her home and will not allow her to return until it suits me. She would have it differently. Lady Anne, and I must warn you that even though you are wife to Gunther, your help in aiding her will not be tolerated."

Suddenly filled with rage at his declaration, Jewel felt her slender body stiffen. "How dare thee threaten Lady Anne," she hissed. "Had thy rudeness not found you at this threshold and quieted your words until I had a chance to speak, thou would have learned that I had no intention of placing her in compromise. My problems are mine alone and 'tis the way I will solve them. So threaten someone not so easily intimidated. Now begone with you and leave me to my bath. I have a sudden longing to cleanse my body of the scent of a beast."

Amery's green eyes sparkled as he studied her, though his face did not reflect his humor and thus it went unnoticed by Lady Anne. Nodding his head slightly, he tacitly consented to her demands but made no move to leave the chamber. In the silence that followed, in which Jewel only glared and Amery mutely watched her, Lady Anne grew nervously uncomfortable. She suspected there was more to their rather unusual relationship than what he had offered but also realized that neither one of them would tell her. She would have to depend on her husband for the rest and after learning what she had, she decided Gunther would have a lot of explaining to do.

"If thou wilt excuse me," she said quietly, moving toward the door, "I will see that water is heated." Pausing when she reached it, she laid a hand upon the latch and looked back at Amery. "If thou wilt come with me, Sir Amery, I will show you your chambers. Perhaps you would enjoy a bath as well."

"My thanks, Lady Anne, but I will have no need of separate chambers," he replied calmly, his attention still centered on Jewel.

"Sir?" she breathed, taken aback, and glanced at Jewel to find that his announcement had left her speechless,for she had retreated a step and stood with mouth agape.

"Yea, Lady Anne, thy ears do not deceive thee. My youth has taught me not to trust women and lying ones even less. Jewel will try at every turn to escape me and then guide my half brother to this place. I will not overstep the bounds of hospitality and place Burchard in danger. When we meet 'twill be on the grounds of my choosing, not Jewel's. Now leave us and speak with Gunther on the matter. You will find he will not object." Looking at her, he raised one brow as if daring her to say more.

Lady Anne and Gunther had shared a life of happiness for nearly a score of years. She knew him to be gentle, understanding, and kind. He was sensitive to her moods and never sought to anger her. When decisions were made about the raising of their children or simple things concerning Burchard, they made them as one. To be ordered about in her own home by this man who stood before her now left her awestruck and confused, for he had said her husband would not object. Had the Crusade and battles Gunther had fought hardened him, changed his tender feelings where a young woman was involved? Nay, it could not be. Glancing determinedly over at Jewel in a silent vow to right this outrageous wrong, she straightened proudly, turned, and left the room.

The great hall below resounded with gaiety and Lady Anne scanned the throng for her husband, spotting him almost immediately as he stood laughing with Rickward and Stafford. With certainty to her step, she descended the stairs and made her way to him.

"Gunther, we must talk," she interrupted, latching onto his arm and firmly pulling him away.

"But right now?" he objected with a laugh. "What could be so important that you would drag me from my friends before their words have reached their sum?" A thought struck him and he sobered instantly. "Prithee, 'tis not our children. Are they ill?"

"Nay, Gunther, they are fine. 'Tis I who feels my food turn about in my stomach," she answered, miffed.

A sympathetic frown wrinkled his brow and he stopped suddenly to study her face. "Then perhaps you should go to our chambers. I will make the excuses."

'"Tis not something rest will cure, my husband," she said irritably. "Only an explanation from you."

Confusion distorted his lean features as he searched his mind for her meaning, but when he opened his mouth again to declare his ignorance, he drew back once he saw the angry look on her face. "And I will gladly enlighten you, my love, if you will only tell me what it is that I should simplify."

Not yet having found the privacy she sought, Anne refused to answer but merely took her husband's arm again and pulled him toward the corridor that led to the kitchen. "Tis not something I wish all of Burchard to know," she muttered as she hurried along, "though by morning light there will belittle chance that tongues will not wag."

"What?" he demanded impatiently. "Have you found
cobwebs in some corner? Has the milk soured in the pail?
What?"

"Oh, if only it could be that trivial," she snapped, shoving him into the darkened hallway ahead of her. "Tis Lady Jewel of whom I speak, Gunther. Why is she here?"

Hoping to soothe his wife's distress, he grinned impishly, unaware of the seriousness of the matter, and said, "Art thou jealous?"

"Gunther!" she shouted, clubbing a small fist against his chest, brown eyes blazing. "Dost thou see me laughing? I will know the truth! Hath Lady Jewel been brought here against her wishes?"

All sign of merriment vanished from his face. Uneasy, he glanced down the narrow passageway as if to avoid the issue. He had known from the first that Anne would not approve once she learned why Burchard was being graced with the presence of Lady Jewel. She would not understand until he revealed the whole of it and he could only pray she would forgive him then for his part in it. Taking a deep breath, he lowered his head and reached out to cup her hands in his.

" Thou hast heard of the slaughter at Harcourt?" He waited until she nodded, then continued. "Amery is guiltless. I was with him on the road to London at the time, but no one else can make that claim except a beggar along the way. After speaking with the dowager queen, we traveled to Wellington, for we had learned of Lord Ryland's death and that Amery was now the lord. But when we arrived, we were told of the slaying at Harcourt and that a reward for Amery's capture had been posted. All at Wellington believed the lie and we knew the danger should someone recognize us. I begged Amery to come here to Burchard with me where we would be at ease to find a way of disproving this awful thing. He agreed, but would only do so after we had visited Harcourt. He wanted to hear the serfs' telling of the tale." He paused to catch his breath and search her face for any doubt she might be harboring and noticed the impatient lift of one brow.

"Doth not explain why lady Jewel is here," she said quietly.

Wrapping his arm around her slim shoulders, he guided them both further down the hall. "Amery is certain his half brother, Radolf, is the one responsible and that Jewel was spared only because Radolf wants her as his wife. With Amery accused of the deaths at Harcourt, it will leave Radolf free to claim everything—Wellington, Harcourt, and Amery's betrothed. We have merely delayed it awhile."

"Then Lady Jewel does not believe Sir Amery's innocence?"

"Nay, she does not. And if she is allowed to return, to Harcourt, she will lead Radolf to Burchard. Tis for her own protection that we brought her here with us."

"Protection?" Anne laughed sarcastically as she slipped from beneath his arm and turned to face him. "Sir Amery is with her now and sent me from the room. He intends to share the chambers with her. She is his betrothed, Gunther, not his wife, and you shall remind him of the fact."

A vague smile lightened his eyes as he stood quiet for a moment. Anne bristled all the more.

"Gunther! Art thou deaf?" she snapped.

"Nay, love." He grinned.

"Then you shall speak with him?"

Gunther shook his head, the smile widening. "Tis what they need," he replied more to himself.

"But they have not spoken the vows, Gunther! Lady Jewel will live in shame. Prithee, you must forbid it," she begged.

"Nay, I will not, good wife," he answered firmly. "And thou wilt not interfere."

"But he will surely abuse her," Anne pressed, her lovely face wrinkled with her distress.

"Then I would step between them," he replied, gathering her in his arms again and starting them back toward the great hall and their friends. "But I think not. Whether Amery will admit it or not, this damsel has unknowingly planted a seed of tenderness in the hard-hearted knight. He will soften in his thoughts of women, and what better one to show him. the way than his own betrothed? She will tame the mighty warrior, my sweet, and in return bask in the warmth of his love." He smiled broadly and let out a long, satisfied sigh. "Yea, 'tis best we do not separate them, for 'twill be a long battle to win and time grows short."

"
C
ome, little one, the water grows cold."

Jewel glared angrily at Amery, watching him trail a fingertip through the surface of water in the tub the servants had brought. "Unless thou wilt allow me privacy, it can turn to ice," she snapped. "I am not a whore to strip for you."

He shrugged his wide shoulders. "Tis your loss if your modesty forbids your pleasure. What you have, I have seen before."

"And now thee wishes all of Burchard to know as well?" she questioned acidly.

He glanced over at her for a moment, then went to the chair near the hearth and sat down. " 'Twas not my intent. I do not care what others think and 'twould do you a kindness if you felt the same."

"If I did, I would not be here but in London, where I would ask many silver marks for the spreading of my skirts," she railed hotly.

"Is that what sparks thy temper?" he mocked. 'That I did not pay for your favors? Is that what you seek ... to be different from the rest? I have never paid for a romp with a vixen." He glared coldly at her, then bent to remove the chain mail from around his leg.

"Yea, I wish to be different," she snapped. "I long to be the one who had never shared your bed and could thank Cod for the blessing."

Pausing in his task, Amery smiled up at her. "Most, would say 'tis the other way around. But then how wouldst thee know since I was the first. Perhaps you will come to know the truth once my half brother beds you."

"You braying jackal," she fumed. "Your conceit outshines your rancor for womankind."

Chuckling, he dismissed her and finished loosening the leg armor, carefully placing it aside once he kicked free of it. Next he pulled off his boots, stood, and unfastened the catches of his tunic, sliding the garment from his shoulders. This he folded neatly and laid with the rest of his raiments before he caught sight of the shocked look on his companion's face as she observed his undertaking.

"Twould be rude to allow the bath to go to waste," he said with a lopsided grin. "I do not share your modesty."

Jewel shrieked and flew to a darkened corner when his hands moved to his chausses and he proceeded to disrobe, his laughter echoing loudly in her ears. Turning her back on his brazenness, she waited until she heard the splash of water as he lowered himself into the tub, then bravely stole a peek at him. The firelight gleamed golden against his bronze skin, the firm muscles of his arms and shoulders flexing with each move he made, and Jewel experienced a strange desire to trace a fingertip along the sinewy ripples. Her heart beat faster, her mouth went suddenly dry, and she forced herself to look away, wondering how this man could excite her by his mere presence. Slowly moving to the bed, she sat down on the edge and studied her hands clasped in her lap.

In the passing of one week, her life had changed drastically. She no longer sat with the dowager queen listening to poetry, nor laughed happily at something Dawn said while she awaited the return of her betrothed and contemplated her forthcoming marriage. Her family was dead, her betrothed accused of their murders, and the man she had thought to marry now made it quite clear that he would never speak the vows. He had stolen her maidenhood, laughed at her shame, and pledged to give her to another once he had grown tired of her. Tears filled her eyes, her shoulders drooped, and she felt the weight of her day's journey press down on her. Curling her feet beneath her, she leaned against the headboard and her eyelids drifted shut. And now this very man had sparked odd yearnings. What could it mean?