Knights and Kink Romance Boxed Set (70 page)

Sabina closed her eyes, held her breath, and waited
for the inevitable to happen.

The herd of cattle tore through the battlefield,
catching both sides off guard, even knocking many of the soldiers
over. Two of Tostig’s men got gored by a bull, while three of Lord
Reginald’s men got trampled. It wasn’t complete chaos,
however—anyone watching the melee from above could see that the
cows were obviously being driven to stampede in a very specific
pattern, with a very specific heading.

The lead cattle ran straight for Tostig’s pavilion,
tore through its walls—and stopped dead in their tracks.

Sabina slowly opened her eyes, and stared straight
into a black-and-white Jersey cow’s face. The cow lowed, licked her
softly on the nose, then went back to chewing its cud. Meanwhile
the battlefield around them had come to a near-standstill as
soldiers from both sides stopped to stare,

“What on earth—“ Sabina said to the empty air. “Now
I really have seen everything.”

Well, not quite. One of Tostig’s soliders rode up,
his face completely hidden by a black helmet. He leaned down,
slashed the ropes tying Sabina’s hands and feet with one flick of
his short sword, scooped her up like a sack of grain, and rode
off.

Sabina didn’t struggle. She didn’t scream. She was
well past the point of fighting back. At this point, she just
wanted everything to be over with. And with any luck, the soldier
that had carried her off like a prize would take her life shortly
after having his way with her. It would really be best for all
concerned that way, after all.

They rode on for what seemed like an eternity, but
was really only a few minutes. The rider brought his horse to a
stop at the top of a high ridge about a mile away from the main
battlefield. The battle raged on below them as before, but for the
moment, they were safe.

For the moment. Surely that wouldn’t last.

The masked rider set Sabina down gently on her feet,
then dismounted his horse.

“Are you all right, milady?” a familiar voice asked.
Then he removed the mask.

It was Robert.

“Well, milady, you are rescued, thanks mostly in
part to Master Cuthbert’s herd of dairy cows.” He ran a hand
through his tousled, sweaty locks. “I must say, that was probably
the most unconventional battle plan I’ve ever tried. And it
actually worked. Though I must apologize if the stampede startled
you at all.”

Sabina flung her arms around his neck and covered
him with kisses. “Never mind that,” she said when she finally came
up for air. “It was worth it. And tell Master Cuthbert that he
should really send his cows into battle more often.”

“I will,” Robert smiled, returning her kisses with
equal fervor. “Though Cuthbert swears that he’s retiring for good
after today. At least after he’s turned Mfanwy in to the King’s
guards for spying. Cuthbert has no love for King Henry, but he’ll
still fetch a fine bounty for her.”

“I take it that means you and Cuthbert have made
up?” Sabina asked, puzzled. “Why? And how?”

“That’s kind of a long story. Suffice to say that
Cuthbert was looking out for us all along.”

They embraced each other again, then turned and
watched the battle rage below arm-in-arm. Lord Reginald’s forces
still appeared to be winning, but Tostig’s men had managed to
reorganize and it was anyone’s battle now. “We’re not out of the
woods yet, you know,” Robert said. “A lot is going to depend on how
that battle down there turns out.”

Sabina leaned her head on Robert’s shoulder. “I
know. Here’s hoping Lord Reginald surrenders.”

“He’ll have to do more than just surrender. He’ll
have to die. And even then, your father might try to marry you off
to someone else. Like Tostig.”

Sabina scoffed. “Not if I can help it. Perhaps we
should just sail for Calais and be done with it.”

“Lord Reginald can follow us to Calais. So can
Tostig.”

Sabina broke away from him and stared out over the
horizon. “What business does Tostig have with me anyway?”

“You were his prisoner. He might want to take you
back. And to the winner go the spoils.”

Sabina studied the battle raging below. Now it
seemed to be at a draw, yet both sides fought on. “What if neither
side wins?”

“Then I would say you and I are in the clear. Unless
your father gets any other matchmaking ideas for you, of
course.”

“Why do you keep on referring to my father that way?
Maybe after all that’s happened, he’ll respect my wishes and let me
make my own choices.”

Robert sighed. “You think far too highly of your
father, Sabina. I know you think he loves you, but in truth he
views you as property to be auctioned off.”

Sabina’s jaw dropped. “How dare you speak of my
father that way!”

“It’s the truth and you know it.”

Sabina’s lower lip quivered. As much as it hurt to
hear it, she knew that Robert was right. “I—I always thought Papa
was different,” she said. “I guess I was wrong.”

“There’s nothing wrong with wanting to see the best
in people, Sabina. You’re an optimist. It’s one of the things I
love about you.”

“I suppose I’ve always known Papa would do what was
expected of him in the end, and expect me to do the same. I just
didn’t want to believe it, is all. Growing up, I was Papa’s
favorite. He doted on me, read to me, taught me Latin and Greek,
made me think that I was as good as a man. I guess I was wrong to
think it was the truth.”

“Your father is no different from any other nobleman
in England,” Robert replied, taking Sabina’s hands in his. “He’s
just trying to hold on to what he has. I’m sure he’s terrified he’s
going to end up a landless peasant, or dead. You’re the only thing
he has to bargain with, whether it’s with the Normans or anyone
else.”

All at once, Sabina’s face lit up. “You know what?
That gives me an idea.”

Chapter
19

“What makes you think this plan of yours is going to
work?” Robert said as they rode side-by-side through the meadows
towards the tiny town of Rye. Robert had retrieved Amir and the
rest of his belongings from Cuthbert, and Sabina again rode Arthur,
who had gotten some much-needed rest under the care of Cuthbert’s
stableboy.

“I know my father,” Sabina replied. “And I know him
better than you think I do. If the money doesn’t convince him, then
the fact you’re a noble Norman will.”

“Somehow I doubt that,” Robert scoffed. “Just a few
minutes ago you were talking about him like he was an enlightened
philosopher. And my status as a Norman nobleman is somewhat
precarious at present, especially if Tostig wins the day at Rye.
And even if he doesn’t, I have no title, and my estate in Normandy
is worth about as much as a whore’s virtue.”

“Land is land. And Norman noble blood is Norman
noble blood. You have gold and spices, too. It’s enough. Besides,”
Sabina said, her eyes twinkling, “it’s not as if he has the power
to annul a lawful marriage made in God’s house.”

“Never say never,” Robert said with a laugh. “Many a
parish priest has been known to rip a page out of the church
register if the bribe is big enough.”

“My father would never bribe a priest. He’s a good
Catholic.”

“If you say so. Mind you, I’m planning to bribe the
priest to perform the ceremony without your father’s consent.”

“Oh, I’d consider that more of a donation,” Sabina
chirped with a smile.

“Whatever you want to call it, a bribe is still a
bribe, milady. Let’s just hope they’ll let us in the church at all.
We’re hardly presentable. The both of us look like the mud-covered
spawn of hell.”

“Everyone is welcome in God’s house,” Sabina
retorted. “And if not, there’s always my mother’s jewels.” At that,
Robert laughed raucously. “Why are you laughing at me?”

“Because you’re starting to think like a mercenary.
Seems I’ve been a bad influence on you.” He brought Amir to a stop
for a moment, then reached out and took Sabina’s hand. “I suppose
that makes you a mercenary bride.”

Sabina smiled. “Yes, I suppose it does.”

They rode on to Rye and its tiny parish church. The
parish priest was hesitant to marry them at first, but swiftly
changed his mind at the sight of a handful of Robert’s gold.

“Our marriage comes via the benevolence of Lord
Reginald’s own purse,” he whispered to Sabina as they approached
the altar. “Ironic, isn’t it?”

“I pray to God he doesn’t find out,” she whispered
back. “Then we’re both done for.”

“With any luck, he’ll be dead by sundown. And if
not, at least we’ll die as man and wife.”

The priest’s eyes narrowed and he shushed them.
“There will be no talk of death in God’s house,” he snarled, and
then extended his palm. Robert put another gold coin into it, and
the priest began the bridal benediction in Latin.

They were married quickly; the
priest bypassed the full-length marriage mass and Communion at
Robert’s behest. They both signed the church register, and the
priest placed his seal in hot wax on the marriage certificate, then
handed it Robert.
“Pacis exsisto
vobis,”
he said, doing the sign of the
cross in the air over their heads. Then he switched to English.
“The inn across the road has rooms,” he said. “And baths. I suggest
you both take one before consummating the marriage. Cleanliness is
next to godliness.”

“That’s all right, Father,” Robert said. “The
marriage has already been consummated. We’re just taking care of
the paperwork.”

The priest reddened. “Get out of here, both of you,”
he snarled. “And come to confession on Saturday.”

“We shall, Father. Thank you.” He and Sabina exited
the church, arm-in-arm and giggling.

“So, Your Ladyship, fill me in on England’s laws of
inheritance. What happens when a titled Saxon lady marries an
untitled Norman mercenary? Does that mean you lose your title? Or
do I gain it?”

“A little of both,” Sabina replied. “I’ll have Papa
explain when we see him.”

“How do you think he’ll take the news?”

“I don’t know.I guess we’ll find out.”

They rode back to the ridge overlooking the
battlefield. The fight was still at a draw, but still close to
being over. Most of the soldiers lay either dead or gravely wounded
upon the meadow floor. Only a few cavalrymen and footsoldiers on
both sides continued the melee—Tostig and Lord Reginald among
them.And Sabina’s father the Duke of Angwyld continued to fight on
horseback, too—though it wasn’t entirely clear which side he was on
anymore.

“Well, your father’s still alive,” Robert remarked.
“And he seems to be bringing up Tostig’s right flank, oddly enough.
Any chance he’s had a change of allegiance?”

“I suppose anything’s possible,” Sabina replied.

They crept closer to the edge of the ridge, hoping
for a better view. One by one the footsoldiers and cavalrymen fell,
until it was only Tostig, Lord Reginald, and the Duke alone on the
battlefield.

Tostig said something to Lord Reginald that neither
Robert nor Sabina could hear. Just as he raised his sword to
strike, Lord Reginald ran him through with his lance, then laughed
his trademark sinister guffaw loud enough for it to ring off the
surrounding hillsides. He gloated so over his victory that he
didn’t notice that the Duke had shifted his horse’s position so he
was diagonal to the humpback’s rear and in his blind spot.

Lord Reginald took off his helmet, laughed even
harder. The Duke saw his opportunity, and took it.

With one swift blow of his broadsword, The Duke of
Angwyld beheaded Lord Reginald de Guillaume.

Robert and Sabina could hardly believe their eyes.
“I told you Papa was different!” Sabina cried once she’d recovered
her senses. “I told you!”

“And I believe you now. God bless His Grace’s
courage.”

Sabina dismounted Arthur and ran down the hillside
to meet her father, who greeted her with outstretched arms. “Papa!
Papa!” she cried, embracing him. “Why? Why did you do it?”

The Duke held his eldest daughter close, and took a
few moments of silence before answering. “I realized that some
things are more important than lands and titles,” he finally said.
“Like my daughter’s happiness. Lord Reginald will never terrorize
you, me, or anyone else ever again.”

“Oh, Papa! Thank you! Thank you so much!” Sabina
broke away from his embrace and took her father by the hand. “Come,
Papa. There’s someone I want you to meet.”

The Duke sheathed his broadsword and followed his
daughter to the far side of the meadow, where Robert stood waiting.
“Papa, I’d like you to meet my husband, Robert de Tyre.”

Robert bowed, then extended his hand. “Very pleased
to meet you, Your Grace.”

The Duke glanced back and forth from Sabina, to
Robert, and back again. “Your-your husband? But why? How? When did
this happen?”

“Just this afternoon, Papa, in the parish church in
town. We are lawfully man and wife. And what God hath joined—“

“—let no man put asunder,” the Duke finished for
her. “So be it, then. Sabina, Robert, I offer you both my
congratulations.”

Sabina’s eyes widened. “That’s all, Papa? You are
not angry?”

The Duke sighed and gazed heavenward. “Perhaps
yesterday I would have been. But today I am a changed man. I do
believe your mother sent me a message from heaven this day,
reminding me of the importance of love in marriage. And fatherly
love most of all. Lord Reginald was an evil man, but knowing him
has taught me an important lesson. There are things upon this earth
more important than land and titles.”

“You are a great man, Your Grace,” Robert said. “To
do what you have done takes great courage, especially now.”

“Yes, Robert, you are right. I am afraid that my
days in England may be numbered.”