Lords of Retribution (Lords of Avalon series) (7 page)

Hand in hand
, they walked up the hill toward the round castle ruins covered with creepers and ivy. They crossed the earthen bridge that stretched over the now dry moat and entered the castle walls.

“There’s a nice shady spot over there, shall we have our luncheon?” Trevan asked her
as he pointed to one shaded area in particular.

“Yes!” Wenna beamed at him
.

Trevan sp
read out the rug. He helped his lady to sit. When he lowered himself onto the blanket beside her, she was already unloading the basket.

“Oh my, Mrs. Gaddy provided
a veritable feast for us.” Wenna removed several wrapped bundles from the basket.

“Mrs. Gaddy is a
remarkable cook. It’s a wonder Gabriel stays looking so fit.” Trevan unwrapped one bundle and removed a piece of roasted chicken. He took a large bite. “The chicken is delicious!” he said with his mouth full.

“
Look, Mrs. Gaddy’s cinnamon bread. Oh my, biscuits, jam and clotted cream!” Wenna opened the crock and smiled at Trevan.

“I might have mentioned to Mrs. Ga
ddy you adore her clotted cream.” Trevan winked then grinned at her. “There should be saffron cake in there as well, for I told her you quite fancied it.”

Wenna
removed the saffron cake. She froze when she saw a large black velvet box at the bottom of the basket. She lifted it up and asked, “What is this, Trevan?”

“It is
the Chynoweth Sapphires, Wenna,” he said softly. “I want you to have them, so you know I am serious, when I tell you I still want you to marry me. I want you, and you alone, for my Duchess. If you don’t have an answer for me today, then I can wait. Whenever you decide you will have me, Wenna, we’ll set the date and be married. We’ll get the ring sized to fit you then.”

It was
a tradition for the Chynoweth Sapphires to be given from the Duke, or the ducal heir, to his intended bride upon their engagement. The tradition began it the sixteenth century. In this case, it was the new Duke, giving them to the woman he wanted to be his Duchess. Wenna’s eyes misted. She lifted the lid.

“Oh Trevan, they are beautiful
. I’ve only seen them once or twice when your mother wore them for special occasions,” Wenna exclaimed as she gazed upon the sapphire necklace, earrings, bracelet and ring. She found the fact that he gave them to her today so stirring. She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. This was his way of telling her he truly wanted her to marry him. Her heart constricted. Oh, she did care for Trevan. She was certain she still loved him. Could he truly be the kind of husband she wanted him to be? That was the only question left in her mind.

“Thank you!”
Wenna said softly as her eyes misted again. Wenna was on her knees still, she leaned over intending to kiss Trevan on the cheek.

As she
came toward him, Trevan turned to face her. Her lips landed against his. He captured those full lips and kissed her fully and completely. He took the box containing the Chynoweth sapphires and set it and his piece of chicken upon the old quilt. One large arm wrapped around her, while his other hand fisted in her hair. Their kiss deepened. God how he’d missed holding Wenna in his arms. She smelled of rosemary and lavender, fresh and clean. Her body molded soft and warm against him. Since the day she sent him away telling him she would marry another, he had prayed for the chance to hold her again. There were times he thought this day might never come. He savored the kiss, drawing it out.

Wenna’s heart thundered in her chest
. It felt so right being in Trevan’s arms, him kissing her again. She had never wanted John to kiss her, and thankfully, he had only once. She had not enjoyed it.

At this moment
, she wanted Trevan to kiss her and more! Yet reason screamed they could not do more. It was far too soon. She pushed that particular thought away while she simply enjoyed the passionate kiss they shared.

Though Trevan wanted to lay her back upon the
rug covering the soft green grass and make her his again, he knew it was not the wisest of ideas. He continued the kiss for a few more moments then pulled away. He smiled down at her. He dipped his head again and allowed his lips to feather against hers once more.

“You are so beautiful, Wenna,” he whispered huskily.
He caressed her cheek. “We had best eat our luncheon.” He released his hold on her.

Wenna straightened.
She smoothed her skirts and smiled at Trevan. “Yes. You said the chicken is good?”

“
It’s delicious.”

After they ate thei
r fill, they conversed while they shared another glass of wine. Trevan pulled Wenna to her feet. They strolled about the castle ruins, hand in hand, while talking. They observed and shared details of the ruins.

When it began to
sprinkle, they ducked into a shallow alcove beneath a thick arch where heavy vines provided a canopy of sorts. There was little other cover available. The castle roof had been gone for centuries.

There was
barely enough space for them to stand and remain dry. Trevan gathered Wenna in his arms again and pulled her close against him. “This little shower shouldn’t last long.”

Wenna looked up and studied Trevan’s face
. He was so handsome with his jet-black, curly hair and his strong chiseled features set off by the brilliant blue of his eyes. The fact that his sensuous lips were most often curved upward in a smile aided in softening the harsh angles of his face.

There was certainly no larger man in Cornwall, of that she was certain. Wenna herself was tall for a woman, yet Trevan stood a full head taller than
she did. He was twice as broad in the shoulders as was she. He was solid muscle and looked as if he were hewn from Cornish granite.

Could she be happy i
f she married him? She was starting to believe she truly could. If they were married, she would live at Menadue, and there would be no distance between them then.

“What thoughts are running through that beautiful head of yours, Wenna?” Trevan whispered
. In all of Britain, he had never set eyes on a more beautiful woman. There was not a woman upon the Earth who could start a fire inside him the way Wenna did.

Wenna smiled, “I was just thinking what a
n
ansum
man you are, Trevan.”

“Were you now, Wen Pen
? Funny thing, I was just telling myself what an
ansum
woman I am holding in my arms at this moment.” He grinned. Then the grin faded and he spoke in a serious tone. “I mean that, Wenna. You are the only woman I’ve ever been attracted to. The only one I’ve ever wanted. The only one I can imagine spending the rest of my life with.”

His voice was husky
. Wenna rested her palms against his rock-hard chest and lifted up on tiptoe. She pressed her lips to his.

H
e accepted her kiss hungrily.

They kissed e
ach other with fire and passion. Neither one of them held back. Their hands skimmed each other’s bodies igniting more fires, while their kiss deepened and the flames burned higher.

Trevan’s hands moved
to the curves of her bottom. He pulled her tightly to him and thrust his hips toward her, grinding his hardening cock against her. The friction felt wonderful. He did it again.

Wenna’s hand slid down Trevan’s chest over the waist of his trousers and lower still
. Her fingers curved over the outline of his hard length. She massaged him through the fabric of his trousers. Her other hand moved to unfasten his trousers. Caution had been thrown to the wind. She knew only that she wanted Trevan, she wanted this. It had been far too long. She wanted him inside her, thrusting deeply and bringing her to sweet release.

“Sweet Jesu, Wen Pen
! I’ll come before we ever get there if you keep touching me like that!” Trevan breathed against her ear as his hand began to inch up her skirts on one side.

His task of raising her skirts accomplished, his large hand moved to massage his lady who was already slick and wet with her need.

Wenna’s hand had just entered his opened trousers and closed about his hard rigid erection when a loud boom echoed throughout the castle.

The sound echoed inside the
small alcove.

P
ieces of stone sprayed down upon them from the top of the arch above them.

Trevan dropped his l
ady’s skirts. Taking her by the shoulders, he moved them around so she was in the corner of the alcove, and his body was covering hers. Quickly he fastened his trousers then whirled around.
Jesu
! His pistol was in his coat, which he left on the damned rug where the remnants of their luncheon remained.

He saw no one. He looked to the left and above
them where the bullet had hit. He surmised the shooter must be somewhere close to the entrance of the castle ruins.

“
Are you well, Wenna?”

“Yes, I am, Trevan.
Did someone just shoot at us?”

“Yes
. I want you to crouch down as low as you can behind me.”

“Very well.” Wenna did as he asked
.

Trevan bent over and picked up a
palm-sized stone. He threw it out into the center yard of the ruins. It landed with a thud upon the ground. Seconds later a shot rang out and grass and dirt flew up about a foot from the rock.

“Well he’s got a
fairly good aim. We can’t try anything foolish. Just stay still.”

“Shouldn’t you get down too, Trevan?” Wenna ask
ed, with a hint of worry in her voice.

“Perhaps, but if I do we won’t be able to see him coming toward us if he should decide to come across the yard from the entrance.”

Again, Trevan closely surveyed the opposite wall and entrance. This time he saw one shadow in the long entranceway move across the opening while another man stood further back near the bridge that spanned the moat. “Damn Wenna, there’s two of them. You don’t happen to have a weapon on you, do you?”

“No, why would I?”

“Wishful thinking, I suppose.” Trevan did not close his eyes, yet he allowed his mind to become quiet and still. He called out for Gabriel as he slid through the veil and moved beyond the mist.

He heard Gabriel’s voice, “
Hold on cousin, I’m almost there!
”

Trevan responded, “
I’m at Restormel with Wenna!
”

“
I know. I’m not far from you.
”

“Wenna, I believe Gabriel is on his way here,
he’s not far from here.”

“How do you – oh
! You did your Chynoweth communication thing with him.”

“I did
. Your sister does it too, you know.”

“I know and people in the village say she’s away with the
Piskies
.”

“Zenny is not away with the
piskies
and you well know it,” Trevan gently scolded his lady.

“I know
. But that is what
they
say.”

“They never say Gabriel and I are away with the
Piskies
, Wenna.”

“Of course they don’t, you are both two large, strong, hulking men who could rip them apart with your bare hands.”

Trevan grinned while he still watched the castle entrance, “And we’re both
bleddy ansum
, and that helps, because the ‘
they’
who talk so are women!” He chuckled as Wenna pummeled him on his back with her fists.

“You are
vain and arrogant to boot!” Wenna clucked her tongue.

“Y
ou just told me not five minutes ago that I’m an
ansum
man, Morwenna Penrose!”

W
enna grinned. “Perhaps I was away with the
Piskies
.”

Another shot rang out
. Bits of crumbled stone spewed down on them from where a bullet hit somewhere above them.

“Thank goodness that one is not a good shot!
” Trevan mumbled.

Wenna and Trevan grew serious
once again.

“How are we going to get out of here, Trevan?” Wenna asked him.

“Gabriel should be here in the next few minutes. Until he shows up we’ll stay right where we are. Don’t worry, Wenna, we’ll be fine.”

Ten minutes passed before Trevan heard Gabriel’s voice in his mind. “
Be ready. There are three of them. Tremayne is with me. In two minutes you’ll know we’re here
.”

“It will just be a couple more minutes, Wenna
! Gabriel and Tremayne are here.” Trevan looked down to where Wenna still crouched. He gave her a wink.

Wenna tried to smile
. Her nerves were on edge.

At that moment
, bits of stone peppered down upon them.

Trevan and Wenna
both looked up to see a man in a brown coat and hat standing on the battlement above them, his rifle was pointed directly at them.

Trevan embraced his lady tightly, turned them and moved them swiftly to the
other side of the alcove where Wenna would be out of harm’s way.

“Oof!” Wenna
hit the stone of the castle wall hard. She found herself sandwiched between that and Trevan’s hard body.

“Trevan, he’ll shoot you for certain!” She managed to say at the same moment
the man fired his rifle. Another deafening boom immediately followed. She panicked as a red stain appeared and grew on the white sleeve of Trevan’s upper arm. “Trevan?” she called out in alarm.

Before he could answer
her, the brown-coated man who stood on the castle wall above them fell from the battlement and landed just outside the alcove, his neck bent at an odd angle.

Wenna gasped and turned her head
.

M
ore gunfire erupted from the castle entrance area. A few moments later Gabriel hurried into the open area inside the castle walls. “Trevan?”

“Over here, Gabriel!” Trevan called
.

“Trevan you were shot!” Wenna reached up to touch his sleeve near the growing blood stain.

“It’s nothing Wenna, it’s just a scratch. Don’t worry.”

“But you’re bleedi
ng.”

“I’m fine.
Come on, woman. We need to get out of here.” Trevan took her hand and pulled her toward Gabriel.

“Were you, hit?” Gabriel frowned as he saw the blood stain on Trevan’s sleeve
.

“It just grazed my arm.”

Gabriel reached out and took hold of his sleeve. “How would you know, you haven’t even looked at it, cousin.” Gabriel calmly said as he ripped the linen. He nodded as he studied the wound. “You were lucky, it is just a graze.”

“I told you
it was. What of the two out front?”

“Dead
. I took them out and your brother got the one trying to shoot you from above.”

“How did you know to come for us here?”

“You mentioned your destination to Mrs. Gaddy. More importantly, Zenny had a vision. She saw men in brown coats firing upon you and Wenna.” He wouldn’t tell them she saw blood. “Tremayne and I left to find you when he arrived at Fairy Cross. He arrived about the same time Zenny did. There are Brown Coats all about Menadue, Trevan.”

“Bleddy hell
!”

“Who are these people
in brown coats?” Wenna looked from Gabriel to Trevan.

“I’ll explain on the ride
back to Callywith, Wenna. We must make haste. When we arrive at the Manor, you must pack your things quickly. You, Senny and Robert are coming to Menadue with us, and I’ll not take no for an answer,” Trevan said in a serious tone.

“Senny is already seeing to the pack
ing of hers and Robert’s things,” Gabriel supplied. “I left a few of my men at Callywith to keep watch for intruders.” Despite that, Gabriel was anxious to get back to Zenny and Robert. He hadn’t felt comfortable leaving them behind.

Trevan bent
and quickly repacked their things into the basket when they reached their luncheon spot. He reached for his coat.

Wenna picked up the quilt
, folding it hastily. They hurried from the castle ruins and exited onto the bridge spanning the castle moat. Tremayne waited near the phaeton with his and Gabriel’s horses.

“Hello, Tremayne.
” Wenna called to Trevan’s younger brother. Tremayne was as tall as Trevan, having wavy black hair. His eyes were a grayish green instead of blue. He was muscular, but not as large as his elder brother, the Duke.

“Wenna.” Tremayne nodded
. He frowned as Trevan began to don his coat. “You were hit?”

“
Ayce
, you didn’t kill the bleddy bastard above us in time.”

“You’re always armed, where was your pistol?”

“It was in my coat, which I left with our picnic luncheon on the other side of the ruins. I’ll not make the same mistake again.”

Tremayne grinned
.

“Tristan is at Menadue
with Mother and the girls?” Trevan asked.

“Yes
. Our cousins, August and Arthur arrived last evening. They are there as well.”

“Let’s get to Callywith in all due haste!” Trevan handed Wenna up into the phaeton after he set the basket in the back
.

The four of them set out for St. Mabyn.

“So who are these men?” Wenna looked to Trevan.

Once
he turned the horses about and they were moving in the direction of Callywith Manor, Trevan began to explain, “We call them Brown Coats. We do not yet know whom they work for. They are the reason Harry sent for us here in Cornwall last month. He needed our assistance in Glastonbury.”

Trevan continued, “
This all started when the new Lady Glaston, formerly Lady Rowena Locke, found a letter written by her ancestor, William Dulac, in an old book in her library at Stonedown Manor in Glastonbury. Her aunt and their friend, Sir John Nunn, arranged it so she could meet Harry. The letter told of sacred and holy treasure hidden before the Dissolution of Glastonbury Abbey in 1539 by the last Abbott and William.”

“
After she shared the letter with Harry, the Brown Coats showed up and stole some books from Stonedown Manor’s library. Luckily, Harry and Lyon were there at the time. Charlie and Micah arrived just after the incident occurred. They began to look for clues. They even found some of the treasure.”

He continued,
“The Brown Coats attacked our friends and Lyon received a serious wound to his leg. After we arrived, we found the larger portion of the treasure. We exposed two local men who were in charge. A dozen of their men were arrested. Many more were killed. One of them, a Mr. Percy Davitt, whom we thought was fatally wounded, got away with the help of a local man’s wife, Amelia Whitely. Micah and Jack are still tracking them. It appears Percy Davitt and Amelia Whitely headed for Scotland.”

“Our being attacked today confirms that there was someone higher up
than Percy Davitt in charge,” Gabriel began. “There is no way he could be healed enough to orchestrate this attack. I doubt he is out of his sick bed yet.”

“I agree, Gabriel.” Trevan nodded.
“We do indeed have a problem on our hands.”

Gabriel couldn’t help but smile when Senny ran from the manor to greet them. He noted she looked very worried. He was quick to ease her mind, “Everyone is well, don’t worry.”

Senny nodded and gave him a small smile, though he
noted she wrung her hands together. He laid his hand atop hers and gave them a squeeze.

“And w-was it as I saw?” Senny
whispered nervously as she looked to Gabriel.

“Yes.
There were three men in brown coats and hats at Restormel. We made it in time. Other than Trevan receiving a scratch, everyone is in fine health, thanks to your gift, Zenny.”

“That is good news
.” Senny smiled as Wenna hugged her.

“We’re fine, Senny
. Did you manage to get everything packed?” Wenna asked her.

“Yes,
our maid is packing your things. She waits for you upstairs to make certain she gathered everything you wish to take with you to Menadue.”

Wenna excused herself and
went inside.

Gabriel
’s carriage and his men had arrived and were waiting. He instructed one of his lads to return the phaeton back to Fairy Cross.

“Nowles saw to it mine and grandfather’s
things were carried downstairs,” Senny informed Gabriel as looked at her.

“Thank you, Z
enny.” He smiled at her. He checked with his younger brother, Thomas, to make certain his valet had packed his things. He walked over and found his trunk and portmanteau in the wagon.

Trevan
, Tremayne and Thomas had already entered the Manor. Senny now awaited him on the steps of Callywith.

“You are coming to Menadue as well?” Senny asked him.
She captured her lower lip with her teeth.

She still seemed
quite nervous. He needed to reassure her. “Yes, I’m riding in the carriage with you.”

“Oh, good.
” Senny sighed. “I have never slept away from my home before, not that I remember, other than when we went to London with mama and papa when we were children. I have been to Menadue m-many times though. There will be s-so many people there already. Tremayne said more of your relatives are coming. It will be n-noisy?”

Gabriel realized Senny was
overwhelmed. He had forgotten how large numbers of people and noise affected her. The breaking of normal routine tended to frustrate her also.

“Shh,
my sweet Zenny, breathe,” he placed his hands gently upon her shoulders. He gazed into her vivid blue-green eyes, the color of the ocean off the Cornish coast in summer. He smiled down at her and spoke gently. “Breathe. That’s it. Good, Zenny.”

After she took several more breaths
and calmed he continued in a gentle, soothing voice, “I will ask my aunt, the Duchess, to place you in a quiet part of the house. You will be fine. I will help find quiet places for you when there is too much noise.”

“I saw the
men in brown coats coming through the windows at Menadue in my vision, Gabriel. Do you remember?”

“I do remember
what you saw in your vision, Zenny. We will make certain they can’t get in through the windows. You will be safe at Menadue. You will be in the family wing and your room will be next to mine. You can call out to me if you need me. I will hear you.” Gabriel already decided Senny would stay in the Lady’s chamber in the St. Mabyn apartments at Menadue.

Senny took
a deep breath. “Good, I’m glad you will be near. What of Grandfather and Wenna?”

“We will all be
close together. If things get too noisy in the main rooms and I fail to notice you must promise to ask me to find a quiet place for you. Will you do that, Zenny? If you need anything at all while we are at Menadue, you must let me know.”

“Yes.” Senny nodded. “I will ask you if I need quiet
or if I need anything.” She exhaled deeply. The noise inside her head lessened. Her thoughts slowed and she found it easier to think and breathe.

Senny had always been quite at home
when visiting at Fairy Cross. Gabriel had forgotten about her fears of being in a different place, being among a large crowd of people and her inability to tolerate a great deal of noise. It was sometimes difficult for her to adjust to new energies, especially in crowds. Everything was quiet here in St. Mabyn. He guessed that is why he hadn’t remembered.

“Good.” Gabriel’s large hands framed her bea
utiful face. “You’ll be fine, Zenny. I’ll make certain. Do you trust me?”

“Yes.” Senny nodded
and gave him a smile. Senny did trust Gabriel. Looking into the crystalline depths of Gabriel’s eyes and hearing the deep timbre of his voice always calmed her. She could never truly be frightened when Gabriel was near.

Her
bright smile warmed Gabriel as nothing else could. “Come, let’s go inside.” Gabriel took her hand in his. He entwined his fingers with hers for a moment then reluctantly placed her hand upon his arm. It would not do for him to hold her hand in front of so many. He wouldn’t wish to make her feel uncomfortable in public.

Gabriel pulled Tremayne aside before they left Callywith
. He gave him the instructions for his and the Penrose’s sleeping arrangements. Tremayne would give Gabriel’s’ requests to his mother first thing upon their arrival at Menadue. Gabriel knew his aunt would handle everything accordingly.

Gabriel wanted to make everything as easy for Senny as he could. Though many people who did not know Senny well
thought her odd or
touched
, Gabriel knew differently. The unfamiliar energy in locations she was not used to, could sometimes overset and overwhelm her. The same thing happened with too many people about her. It was too much for her to take in all at once.

Gabriel rode in t
he carriage with Robert and his granddaughters. Trevan, Tremayne and Thomas rode with the rest of Gabriel’s men.

Morva Chynoweth, the dowager Duchess of Penrose, stood at the main entrance of Menadue awaiting the carriage, wagon and riders coming up the long drive. Her son Tremayne had ridden ahead to inform her of their newest arrivals. All day long, members of the Chynoweth and Trevelyan families, as well as cousins and second cousins, had been arriving.