Gem of Gravane (The Northern Knights) (18 page)

Besides, he’d a sennight or so he
said had passed to bed Lady Ella many times over while she had lain ill all
that time. 

So he’d plans to visit their other
holdings. He would go before seeing things settled between them? Yea, he
would.  He did not care about her feelings. A groan of despair left her
lips and Danielle pressed her head into the soft pillow.  She wanted to
scream out loud, but her head hurt from when she’d screamed at him. 
Nothing had changed.

Chapter 20

Danielle did not
see Aric again for the rest of the morning.   Edie had paid her a
short pleasant visit and had confirmed Aric’s words that she had indeed been
quite ill for a sennight.  And now Edie was back again urging her to
finish the healing drink of chamomile and wild berries.  Danielle made a
face, looking down into the cup. 

Edie’s
smile was warm and nervous.  “It’s your own concoction milady. I
tried to make it the same as you do. Mayhap, I put in a bit much?”

The mixture was minty and soothed her
throat, but, oh the taste left plenty to be desired.  “You meant well,
Edie. It does help. Thank you.” Danielle reassured her as she drank
another mouthful of the distasteful mixture. She flashed her maid a grateful
smile. “Tell me, has Lady Ella been keeping herself at my husband’s side
these past few days.”  She needed to know.  And she was surprised by
Edie’s cheery tone.

 “Nay, milady.”

“Nay? Then what is she up to
if not that?”  Danielle handed her the empty cup. 

 Edie beamed.  “Hard to
tell when she is so far away.”

 “What say you? Far
away?” 

“Your husb- milord…sent her packing
the day after he walked out of the passage with you.”  Edie squeezed
her lady’s hand.

Danielle’s breath came fast. Hope
filled her.  Nay, it could not be that easy. “He didn’t!” She said
breathlessly.  Dare she think it true? She was afraid to believe it.

Edie’s nod confirmed it.  “He
did. Straight away and she was none too happy about it, milady. 'Tis a
wonder her shrew-like screams from the courtyard did not wake you.”  Edie
slapped a hand over her mouth to stop her giggles.  “Forgive me,
milady.  None of us are sad to see her gone. 'Twas not soon enough.”

“’Tis alright. I too am
pleased she is no longer here.”  Danielle was still reeling with the news.
She clasped her maid’s hand in hers.  “I want to thank you, Edie. My
husband said you hovered over me. ‘Tis nice to know.” 

Edie frowned.  “How could I
not? No need to thank me, milady. ” She leaned down with a wink. “‘Twas
not only I that kept vigil over you.” 

Danielle’s eyes widened and Edie
smiled, continuing.  “Aye, that be your husband. Milord never left
your bedside other than to relieve himself.  He took his meals in here and
fed you broth and liquids himself, he did.” 

Danielle’s mouth opened in
disbelief.  So that was the reason for his disheveled appearance and
sensitive scent. But why?  Could he be feeling something for
her?  Was it possible?  He had sent Lady Ella away. But why had he
not told her himself? 

Was she hoping for too much?

Danielle’s questions continued to
whirl long after Edie had left and she lay back on the bed.  Sleep came
with Aric’s handsome face in front of her and the memory of his hands on her
body. 

 She was feeling much better
today. Aric still had not come to her since yester eve and Danielle missed
his handsome face.  She did know that he’d not left yet for his
trip.  Now that she had wakened and he’d seen that she fared well, he
probably felt he’d done his part.  Nay.  He had sent away Lady Ella
and taken care of her, fed and watched over her. Seen to her
needs.    Edie would not have lied to her about that.

 Dressed in a blue kirtle
and gold slippers, Danielle left the chamber.  Two guards were indeed at
the door now.  She almost smiled. Almost. As she moved to descend the
stairs, she saw that one followed her.  Turning sharply, she faced the
young foot soldier.

“What are you doing? Is something
amiss?”

The young soldier swallowed eyes
steady.  “Following me orders, milady.”

Danielle hesitated.  Her hands
on her hips.  “And what might those orders be my good fellow?”  She
knew, but she waited to see what the soldier would say. Poor fellow, sweat
already had broken on his brow.

Although his tone was nervous, he
held his stance and replied.  “Perhaps it might be best if you were to ask,
milord. I’m just doing my duty, milady.”

Danielle inhaled.  So the
arrogant man had kept his word and ordered her a shadow.  Blast him! “That
is a good idea, young man. I think I will do that right now.” A look
of horror crossed the young soldier’s face and Danielle hesitated. ‘Twas not
his fault he was just following orders. Still she turned and fled down the
stairs into the hall.  The manor was busy and her husband’s men looked up
with what looked like relief when she entered.  They greeted her as usual
but this time something was different. They had smiles on all their faces.
 

Danielle stumbled in her tracks at
the change but a moment before she found herself returning their warm welcome
with a smile of her own. 

Clearing her throat, she walked at a
brisk pace through the manor all the while ignoring the call of the soldier at
her back.  He made quite a bit of noise as he kept pace at her back.
 She smiled inside.  The young man did not miss one
step.  Spotting a familiar face at the manor doors, Danielle
recognized the man as one she’d seen regularly with her husband and
Balwain.  

 “Have you seen milord, sir?”
  She asked the large knight. 

Another beaming smile.  “He is
with Balwain up on the ridge. ‘Tis good to see you up and about again,
milady.”  

What was going on around
here?  Danielle thought. And why was everyone being so nice to her all of
a sudden?   She thanked the man giving him a weird look as she
skirted around him and headed for the stables. 

What were Aric and Balwain doing up
on the ridge?  

Those areas were the farthest north
of the property and mostly open planes.   Harvey was nowhere in sight
by the stables.  

The soldier's protests drew her
back when she swung up onto her mare’s back astride and her gown bunched around
her legs in the saddle.

“I am well enough to ride and do
intend to ride up yon ridge to speak with my husband. Do not worry. You are
safe from punishment young man. I will tell him that I ordered you to stay
behind.” The color left the young soldiers face as his mouth dropped open
in horror and disbelief.  Danielle took his moment of shock to take off at
a full gallop around the stable.

“’Tis quite beautiful up here,
is it not, Balwain?” Aric observed, walking closer to the edge of the
hill.  The land was green, a level plane, yet dropped off to a deep gorge
below. Only way in was from the hill on the blind side leading up to
Gravane.

“Aye, ‘tis a sight, milord.” 

Balwain gave him a quizzical look
and Aric smiled, letting his gaze sweep over the open valley before them. Two
other soldiers still on their steeds sat a few feet away.  Aric needed to
square away a few matters before they left for Egway and Gent. This was one and
the other, was next.  The village.

“Think you ‘tis nice enough to
start a family here?”  Aric asked him.

Balwain gave him another odd look,
frowning yet replied.  “Of course. The land is vast and
plentiful. Impenetrable and would be at a vantage point of protection for
Gravane, milord.” 

“Good.”  Aric’s broad back was
to him, the draft from the gorge below caught his cloak and it billowed out
behind him.  “I do agree on the latter too. So be it then, my
friend. ‘Tis the place to begin.”

“Begin what, milord?”

Balwain’s bafflement was written
all over his weathered face and caused Aric to smile.  Stepping away from
the edge over to his friend and longtime comrade, he threw an arm around his
shoulders. “For you to settle down. This is my award to you my friend
for the many years of your welcomed friendship and your loyalty to me.” 

Aric’s grin widened as realization
dawned in Balwain’s eyes.  Disbelief was soon followed by Balwain’s hearty
laugh.  The two warriors clasped forearms as Balwain graciously thanked him
with wetness glistening in his eyes. 

 Aric continued, his tone
serious.  “I would never have forgotten about you, Balwain.”

Balwain nodded knowingly.  Too
choked with emotion, before stating, “I know that, Aric. My friend. I
know.”

Aric clasped the back of his neck
and patted the large knight with a vigorous slap on his
back. Moving away, he turned his back to allow his friend a moment to
admire his benefice. 

When he moved to approach his
destrier, a flash of blue caught his eye and he looked again, eyes squinting
against the high noon sun.

Nay, she would not dare so openly
defy him? Would she?  

As the horse and woman galloped
closer, she would.  Aric stood there in awe as he watched Danielle’s
approach.  Her breasts strained against the fitted bodice of the
gown.  Her round face flushed as she dismounted by the two soldiers. 
Aric glared at the soldier he’d left at their chamber door who rushed up behind
her and almost fell off his horse in haste to get to his wife. 

She strode towards him, not limping
at all.  She looked good.  Too damn good.   Wisps of hair
kissed her face, her pink mouth pursed and her cheeks gone rosy from the wind
and that heaving bosom.  God’s wounds! How he missed touching
her. 

“What are you doing,
milady?”   He shouted.   Danielle opened her mouth and
closed it.   Aric took the moment to continue, “I told you to stay
abed the last time I spoke to you. Is that not so?”

He was bellowing and she met his
gaze. Aric saw fire in them.  That only seemed to darken those
unique eyes of hers as she yelled back.  

“Yea, indeed. The
last
time you spoke to me is correct. Yet I am fine as you can plainly see else
I would not have been able to ride up here. I would like to discuss some
things with you, milord.”  Danielle stepped near him with a tilt of her
head and whispered for his ears only.   “I told you I am not a child
that needs a babysitter,
Aric
.”

Aric’s knees almost buckled from
the sweet warmth of her breath over his cheek and his brows furrowed in anger.
  “Aye, Danielle, I know you are not a child.”   His heated
gaze slid over her and by the deepening coloring of her cheeks, he knew she
understood what he meant. "Nevertheless, until I say different, a
babysitter, if that is what you wish to call it, will remain. What is of
such import that caused you to ignore my order?”

Danielle ignored the anger in his
tone.  He’d said her name loud enough for the others to hear. 
But she was still angry. With her hands planted on her hips, she said. 
“That’s just it. You and your orders. Did we not talk about
this?”  She did not care that she was nigh shrieking nor did she notice
that Balwain had approached and was waving his hands to the men to move further
away.  He really didn’t have to, for the dark look on Aric’s face already
had them moving away at a distance. 

Yet, the look on his face this time
did not have its usual power on Danielle.  She moved nearer, her anger was
too great.  Why she was so angry, she did not understand. She just
was.  Her emotions were all over the place when it came to this man.

 “I told you once before I’m
not something you own that can be ordered about whenever you feel like
it. This is just one of those times I meant. Every time you open your
mouth to me, ‘tis to bark an order and naught more. I walk and breathe freely
as you.” Her chin was now a hair’s breadth away from his chest as she
glared up at him. Her eyes blazing with emotion. She wanted to jump on
him.

Aric looked at her as though she’d
just gone insane and grabbed her elbow.  She sounded like a screeching
crow. “You want to discuss orders?”  His icy tone met her ringing ears.
“Come. We will discuss
my
orders when you get back to the manor and
I return. Now-“

Danielle shocked him as she yanked
her arm out of his grasp and spun away from him. “Nay!”  She yelled.

Aric stiffened. 

Balwain mounted and bade the other
soldiers to follow quickly.  Aric boiled and he seemed to stretch every
word. “You dare much, Danielle. You defy me in front of my
men. I could beat you where you stand for all to see for such insolence.” 

His steel tone did penetrate her
then. But Danielle was too wound up to care; the emotion inside her that
she did not quite understand was churning in her gut and eager to get out.
She was ready to burst. 

“Insolence? Then go
ahead! Do what you must to gain what you call order here.  But, know
this Aric Claydon. I still will not be ordered about. Nor will I punish
myself and sulk away my troubles in our chamber. I am a baroness and am
behaving as one as you not so long ago reminded me. Not your
mistress
who will be told to come and go at your every whim or fancy!” 

The anger in him immediately
deflated and he arched a brow.  He stared at her for a silent moment,
watching.  

That was it. Her jealousy
warmed his heart. He now understood her behavior, but was not so sure she did
yet. Aric could not stop his grin as his chest filled with emotion. “You are
still angry?”

“Yea. I am.”  His
widening grin was infectious.  But, Danielle was not going to let him off
that easy.  He needed to apologize.  “I will give you your heir as
'tis my duty to do so, but I will not tolerate Lady Ella or any mistress
ever again under the same roof as I.”    The emotion in her
burst causing her voice to crack and Danielle fought back the tears.  Damn
him! She could no longer wait to know if he had lain with another.