Knight's Caress (8 page)

Amberlie woke the next morning to discover Wulfgar watching her. Quickly, she sat up, suddenly aware that the cave was empty except for the two of them. Not even Wick was nearby, and she found this odd since the old man had been one of the few people apparently designated to stay constantly near her. Hastily, she brushed her tousled hair away from her face. “Where is everyone?” she asked with a wary glance at Wulfgar.

“Gone, my lady, all gone except for us.”

“Gone where? How did everyone leave without my hearing them? Why did Tedric not tell…” Quickly, she grew quiet, not caring for the sudden eruption of laughter from Wulfgar and the knowing look in his eyes. She chastised herself for even thinking about Tedric. Apparently Wulfgar knew far more about what had passed between her and Tedric than she cared to dwell upon.

“Lord Tedric owes you not an explanation for his actions. He is no longer here, having ordered everyone to take their leave of this place during the night. We’ve scattered to the four winds as a means of protecting ourselves from Norman vengeance, now that Lady Edytha is safe with her family.”

“Edytha has been returned?” Amberlie’s shocked statement sounded like a question. When had all of this taken place? she wondered. When would she herself be returned to Woodrose Keep? Or would she be returned? Her eyes contained suspicion. “I can’t imagine Guy de Bayonne releasing Tedric’s sister before I am returned.”

Wulfgar shrugged. “‘Tis little concern of mine what your kinsman thought, but he released Edytha into the company of three of our men last eve. Our own small force was nearby to make certain no Norman followed, though Tedric made it plain that your safety would be jeopardized if de Bayonne attacked. It seems that Guy de Bayonne sets great store by his pretty niece, my lady, to agree not to pursue us before your release.” Wulfgar leered, but made no move to touch her, though Amberlie sensed his restraint might wane.

She didn’t like his insinuations, but at the moment she didn’t care what he thought about her relationship with Guy—or what Tedric might have thought either. She wanted only to go home. “When shall I be set free?”

“Now, my lady, but first I’ll blindfold you. We don’t trust that you won’t reveal our hiding place.”

Amberlie started to protest, but she thought better of it, and allowed Wulfgar to tie the covering over her eyes. He extended a hand to her and led her out of the cave to place her on a horse. Wulfgar didn’t mount behind her but walked, leading the horse in the direction of the keep.

The early morning sunshine spilled through the overhead branches, and meadowlarks chirped in the boughs of trees. The forest had come to life sweetly and slowly as they progressed toward their destination. For all of Amberlie’s relief to be going home, she couldn’t help but wonder why Tedric hadn’t escorted her—and she swallowed her hurt that she could be so easily discarded by a crude and overbearing barbarian. But her good sense kept telling her that she was well rid of Tedric, the renegade who’d murdered Henri, the hateful man who’d inflamed her with his kisses, only to send her on her way without a word of farewell. But she silently vowed to avenge herself upon him for all he’d done to her. If it took the rest of her life, she’d make him pay for his crimes against her.

So busy was she mulling over her future plan of revenge, that she didn’t realize Wulfgar and the horse had ceased walking. “Why have we stopped?” she asked worriedly after Wulfgar removed the blindfold. They were in a particularly dense part of the forest.

“This is as far as I go, my lady. You’ve only to follow the path to the keep.”

“You surely jest,” she objected with some force. “I know not the way to the keep from here. You simply can’t leave me to fend for myself in this—this wilderness.” Amberlie glanced wildly around, fearful that that was exactly what Wulfgar proposed doing.

Wulfgar grabbed Amberlie around the waist and lowered her from the horse to the ground. “Lord Tedric has given me his orders, my lady. I must obey or risk discovery by de Bayonne and his men. ‘Tis necessary for me to leave you here. You’ll fare well; I fear not for your safe return.”

“But I do fear, you crude oaf!” she spat out. “I know nothing of this forest—I’ve never wandered this far from the keep.”

“Stay to the path, my lady,” Wulfgar responded without emotion, and handed her a leather pouch filled with water before he hauled himself onto the back of the huge beast and turned away, leaving her standing alone.

“You’re a horrid man!” Amberlie cried after him. She waited some minutes, wondering if Wulfgar would have a change of heart and return. He didn’t. Apparently, she’d served her purpose and now, with orders from Tedric, Wulfgar had released her to fend for herself. “I shall make you suffer for this,” she said aloud through clenched teeth, addressing an invisible Tedric. Common sense dictated that she not stand in one spot all day. The sun was higher in the sky now, an indication that it was nearly noon. She had no idea how far she had to walk, and prayed that the keep was close enough for her to make it by nightfall. She didn’t relish spending a night in the forest alone.

Wiping away tears that threatened to fall, she headed down the path, which was overgrown with milkweed. It seemed she’d trudged for almost an hour when she sensed she wasn’t alone. She felt the same way she had felt on the day by the pond before Tedric kidnapped her. Halting for a moment, she barely breathed as she glanced around but saw no one. Yet the hair on the back of her neck rose up, and she nearly gave into tears imagining that someone more truly terrifying than Tedric might be stalking her, watching her every move. But she had no alternative but to continue, and with each footstep she prayed that God would guide her safely home.

Before half an hour had passed, Amberlie walked out of the forest into an open meadow and blinked in astonishment. Before her were her Norman knights on horseback, approaching with the gold and red de Fontaine banner held aloft and blowing restlessly in the breeze. Guy de Bayonne sat upon a white destrier, and upon seeing her, he immediately spurred the cantering horse into a full gallop. Before she could gather her wits about her, Guy had stopped and jumped down to enfold her in his arms.

“Amberlie,
cherie,
you’re safe,” he breathed into her ear as he caressed her hair. “We’ve been so worried, so concerned about you. Are you safe? Are you well? Has Tedric harmed you in any way?”

Amberlie glanced up at Guy. She’d never cared for him before now, but at that moment, she was so overcome with joy to be free that all she could do was hold onto the swarthy-faced man before nodding she was all right. “Please take me home,” she begged in a small voice.

“Bien,
home,
cherie.”
Guy scooped her into his arms and placed her on the horse, nimbly climbing behind her. He held onto the reins, locking her body between his arms. Amberlie leaned against him, her body and mind so weary that she wanted all conscious thought to cease. Most of all, she ached to forget the unsettling emotions that Tedric had released within her. But she wouldn’t forget Tedric—ever—and before she was finished, he’d not forget her either.

What she didn’t know was that Tedric hadn’t forgotten her. From a distance, well hidden behind dense thickets, he watched de Bayonne ride away with Amberlie. He’d followed the entire distance from the cave to the meadow, his eyes trained upon Wulfgar and ready to pounce if the man took any liberties with her. However, Wulfgar had followed his orders exactly, a relief for Tedric. Still, he’d wanted to be the one who returned her to her people, all the while wishing he didn’t have to give her up. But he knew de Bayonne and his knights would search for him, and he couldn’t risk his own safety to return Amberlie to her kinsman.

He hadn’t expected to feel such pain when the return actually occurred. Even now he watched as Amberlie’s long hair streamed behind her, her body imprisoned in his enemy’s embrace, as de Bayonne carried her away from him. Which was just as well, he decided, and hardened his heart. From the way she’d clutched at de Bayonne and allowed him to seat her so cozily against him, it was clear that she and the man were lovers.

Forget her! his mind screamed. And Tedric knew this was his only alternative. Amberlie de Fontaine was his enemy, and now that Edytha was safe, her usefulness had ended. He would go about organizing more men, training them into competent soldiers, and eventually would rush the keep and win back his home. Until then, he couldn’t return to the cave, having ordered it abandoned, for he felt certain that de Bayonne would discover the hideout soon. At the moment, his army was dispersed in several different hiding areas. He would bring his followers together when it was safe. And he would fight against de Bayonne one day. The image of Amberlie clutching at the man sealed their fates, for now he had more reason to hate Guy de Bayonne. He hated him for being the man who’d won her love.

Aware that the knights would soon attempt to ferret him out of the forest, Tedric silently and quickly snuck away to meet his family in the abandoned cellar of a burned-out keep called Weymouth.

~
~
~

“Such a disobedient girl you are.” Julianne peered disapprovingly at Amberlie, who sat tiredly in a chair. “You’ve caused us no amount of trouble by your sneaking away when I ordered you not— “

“Julianne, please don’t badger Amberlie,” Guy declared, and patted Amberlie’s shoulder. “She has been through enough without having to listen to your sharp rebukes. And I am tired of hearing your voice.”

Guy’s criticism seemed to take Julianne by surprise. She lifted her head haughtily and squared her shoulders. “You approve of her conduct, my brother? Then perhaps you should explain yourself to King William when he visits in a fortnight and you have to tell him how this wayward girl left the confines of the keep, after I ordered her not to, and was captured by one of King William’s most notorious enemies, the Saxon dog who murdered my son. Explain to him how you’ve let this treacherous dog slip through your fingers—again. I should like to hear such an explanation.”

“I’ve sent troops to search the woods for Tedric,” Guy heatedly returned, but he had the sense to flush. Julianne’s words struck an unpleasant chord within him because the crafty Tedric hadn’t yet been brought to heel.

“Hah! Father Ambrose could have found the man by now,” Julianne noted with a sneer.

Such a bitter exchange of words, especially the comments about Tedric, was more than Amberlie could bear at the moment. Weariness bowed her down, and she wanted to sleep and forget the last few days had ever happened. She needed to sleep so she could stop thinking about Tedric and her wanton responses to his kisses. “I should like to retire,” Amberlie suddenly announced, interrupting Julianne, who would have gladly continued her full-scale tirade.

“Oui,
a good idea,” Guy quickly agreed, more than amenable to ending the discussion. He solicitously helped Amberlie to her feet. “We all should retire for the night, eh, Julianne?”

“You may sleep,” Julianne sniffed to Guy, “but I shall spend the night on my knees, praying that my son’s murderer be found and brought to justice. Perhaps the Lord shall deliver Tedric to me, for most certainly you cannot.” She turned her attention to Amberlie, and her dark gaze raked Amberlie from head to toe. “And I have much to discuss with you, once you’re well rested, my daughter. Things of a personal nature which could very well endanger your value as a bride, now that you’ve been captured by a barbarian.” Julianne turned and stiffly departed from the solar, her words hanging ominously in the air.

Amberlie caught her breath, knowing full well what Julianne meant to speak to her about at a later time. She’d lost her virginity to Henri on their wedding night, but to lose her honor to a Saxon would be unthinkable as far as Julianne was concerned, and would lower her value in the marriage contract to a Norman nobleman. But Tedric hadn’t violated her, not really. Yet who would believe he hadn’t raped her? “Good night, I shall see you on the morrow,” she said to Guy, and began to move wearily to the doorway. His hand on her arm stopped her. His countenance no longer expressed concern. His mouth had thinned to a hard, disapproving line, and his eyes sparkled with suspicion.

“Did Tedric ravish you?”

The question needed to be asked. Though she’d cloistered herself with only Julianne and Guy, it was clear from the guarded looks thrown her way by the servants and some of the knights upon her arrival home that everyone speculated about what had happened to her at Tedric’s hands. She didn’t wish to speak of what had happened to her body beneath Tedric’s questing hands, for then she’d be forced to admit how wonderful his touch had felt upon her flesh, how his sinful kisses had burned through her resolve and scorched her soul. She didn’t want to speak about Tedric at all, but it was clear that Guy held other ideas. “I’m waiting for your answer, ere I’ll believe the worst,” she heard him say when she didn’t immediately reply.