The Beast of Renald (The Northern Knights) (38 page)

Later, she plodded further along paying little heed to the fact she no longer was on a trodden path but on fresh unmarked green. She swatted away a swarm of flies that came at her.  She did not know where to go or what to do and it would be dark soon.

Hell, she did not even know where she was.  She laughed. Ha! If he were to find it within himself to come after her, if only for the sake of Kelbie, he’d not find her.

She laughed and sobbed some more over her dilemma as she curved a hand over her belly. The babe she carried had not even begun to show yet. She needed to take every precaution.

Coming to a clearing, she saw a road. With nothing else or no buildings nearby, she decided to take it and see where it led. 

Perhaps in the next town, she would find out where she was.

She had gotten what she wanted. She’d prayed for freedom when William had forced her to marry the cold Norman beast. Now she had it.

She could make the trek somehow, someway to London to William’s court to plead her case despite Darc’s words. But Caroline knew her words would fall upon deaf ears or worse. The king held her husband in high regard. Nay, William would not show her mercy over the complaints she would throw at his feet about one of his favored lieutenants.

She would have to make a different way. Find a way to get all that had been taken from her and return for Kelbie. She had to focus.

She simply would have to make enough coin to return for him and start over. If only Darc had let her take her father’s ring.

Her heart bled at the thought, the sharp knives lancing her heart and shattering it into a million pieces. There was no time to cry about it now. Her despair would have to wait.

The only thing that gave her solace was that Kelbie would indeed be safer with him for now.

She had to do what needed to be done.

Let her husband go back to his reclusive life and brooding self. Caroline pulled her short mantle tighter to her chest and rode on down the well-trodden path with a prayer she had chosen the right one.

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

Two days had passed and Darc still had no idea where his wife had gone. It gnawed at his gut till he was close to physically ill from it. He had gone out looking for her the moment he’d spotted his first man returning over the rise. Now he was hell-bent on finding her. Where had she disappeared to so quickly?

All she’d known outside of castle Halvard no longer existed.

Stubborn fool that he was, he had sent her out there. If something happened to her, to the babe, he could fault none but himself. Guilt and heartache ate at him night and day. 

Crossing the small wooden bridge over the swollen river, Darc halted his horse as he looked around the small meadow.

Where are you Caroline? He voiced aloud in frustration looking up at the star filled sky. The moon was bright this night and full. An owl hooted to his right as if mocking him in response.

Darc hung his head and inhaled a long shaky breath. He had to find her. He prayed in silence.

Mounting the stairs after another exhaustive and unsuccessful search, Darc wallowing in his grief found himself at her chamber door. He entered as he’d done each eve since he had cast her away.

Her sweet scent lingered and he inhaled deeply of it, wishing it could last. He stepped further into the room and felt the cold.

 What had he been thinking? He hadn’t and that was his mistake. Her smiling honey-colored eyes, beautiful chestnut colored hair and those lips that curled ever so gently when he plied her sweet mouth with his kisses haunted him.

How could he beg for her forgiveness? Her bid to return to him?

His anger, his jealousy and his pride had ruled him since the day they’d met. Painful memories and unbearable sorrow filled his days and nights now. No sleep. He could not eat.

His mind played tricks on him. Mayhap it was best he if he simply let her go. Let her be free.

Never had a woman captivated him in such a way as Caroline had. Not even Adelay had had this effect on him.

Caroline’s beautiful face swam before him. His foolishness in falling into Raven’s diabolical trap had been his own folly. His own stupidity had wrought all this and his hurtful words. Darc stumbled to her bed and clutched one of her gowns over his heart. He had grieved too long.

A fortnight now had passed since she had ridden away from him.

Kelbie needed her. She was the only mother the child knew and he had torn her from his arms as surely as if he’d severed the cord himself.

A presence drew his gaze to the door. Laur stood there with Kelbie by her side. Darc rose to his feet, Caroline’s gown gripped in his fist.

When they found her would she even want to return to him after all he’d done to her?

He did not know but if it meant he had to crawl on his belly naked as a newly born babe, then he would. He would do whatever he had to as long as she came back to him.

He called Kelbie over to him and spoke his promise to him. When Kelbie threw his arms around his neck, Darc had a hard time swallowing back his emotions as he returned the hug. Laur watched from the door, nodding.

Caroline counted her coins for the final time before shoving them back into the small pouch at her waist and tucked them away as she heard footsteps coming her way.  Looking up, she went to the door of the small bedroom and stepped out into the hall. The small inn was built sturdy and the smell of the hearty stew filled the long hallway. 

She greeted the other server, Mary as she gave her a beaming smile. ‘Your turn, Caroline.’

‘Thanks, Mary. ‘

‘You well rested?’  Mary’s hand stayed her by the arm, her tone laced with concern.  Caroline rubbed her small round belly and smiled. ‘All is well. A bit hungry, but we can wait.’

‘Oh no you don’t. You have to eat first. John will have both our heads if you do not. Last thing he wants is to see you faint away. He worries us both about it enough now. Come. The stew is almost done and the crowd has not come yet.’

‘Mary-‘ Caroline’s words were cut off as the girl dragged her by the hand down the hall.  Caroline’s gown and apron swished around her feet as they descended the stairs to the dining area of the inn below.

She had stumbled upon the place a month ago when she’d followed that trodden road. She had been so weak, tired and had been ready to give up when the innkeeper, John, riding his cart by had stopped.

She had shed hard tears of relief at his kindness and John had been taken with her ever since. And had brought her here and taken her in, no questions asked. Another thing she’d been thankful for.

He had given her food and board and all she had to do was see to the rooms with Mary in cleaning for the guests.

The small town was a close knit one and the people here were only trying to survive with what they had left after the Conquest. No trouble. And Caroline liked it.

The stew John served was the heart of the town and brought all together. ‘Twas the best Caroline had ever tasted along with his delicious fish pies. John paid her a hefty wage even though of late he lessened and lessened her load once he’d found out she carried a child. 

She had settled in easily enough thanks to him. No one neither suspected nor asked her questions and she was able to hide her true identity. Though she had an inkling John knew she was more than what she appeared for he called her lady too often. Aye, his old eyes saw the truth but the sweet man that he was, he said naught.

Soon enough, she would have enough coin to start anew and carry out her plans, and return to get Kelbie. 

Caroline blinked back stinging tears as she dug into the hearty stew from the trencher Mary placed before her.

After all this time she hoped Kelbie had not forgotten her. Every day she wondered if he missed her. She hoped he believed she had simply gone off again to visit a friend as before. She would kiss his little face till he was sick of her kisses when she returned for him. Her heart bled and longed to feel him in her arms again.

She tried not to think of her husband. But despite her efforts, his face filtered in and he haunted her nights. The bags under her eyes told all she had a terrible time sleeping. Caroline was angry at herself that she still yearned for him too. But she could not help it. ‘Twas not so easy to fall out of love with that Norman beast.

Finished with the stew, she saw it was just in time as the first wave of patrons swept through the doors for their daily bowl. 

Caroline quickly returned above stairs with Mary to start on the rooms. They had only one guest that remained from some small wedding feast yestereve.  So today would be a short day and Caroline was glad for she wished to take a walk later down by the small river. 

Her heart heavy with her thoughts, she pulled off the coverlets of the bed as Darc’s image swam in front of her face. Did he miss her?

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

Daylight was quickly waning and this was the last town before he headed deeper into East Anglia that Darc needed to check.  Several towns and cloistered villages leagues behind them, he and his men had ridden through and checked from corner to corner for Caroline.

The horses trotted at a slow pace and he knew his men were weary and looking over the group now Darc could see a few leaned to the side in the saddle. Aye, he’d ridden endlessly it seemed for weeks searching for his wife. His heart beat only for his need, his search to find her, but he needed to give his men a short reprieve. They were worn and hungry. 

Darc scratched at the long beard covering his chin and neck. Five of his men dismounted as they stopped in front of the small inn. He had covered nearly all of Mercia.

He had lost a great deal of weight over the past month in his search for his wife. He spoke to no one outside of checking in the towns and villages they searched.  He was too consumed by his guilt. Loss. Grief. Hurt. Love. Aye.

Love. Darc knew now that he was madly in love with her.

And he prayed he found her to tell her. And that it was not too late. After all this time, a part of him had struggled with the thought she might be dead. But he refused to allow it to take root, he would not think it.

She lived. He knew it for his heart beating told him so.

He thought of the last words she’d spoken. Never had he liked being called the beast. But after what he’d done.  Had it not been a beastly act?

Without her he was nothing.

Darc climbed off Gray and his stiff legs and body protested when his feet touched the ground. The wind blew and he scrunched up his nose. He needed a bath. He was ripe. The inn looked large and clean enough for that possibility and he followed his men inside.

Caroline felt rejuvenated after her short walk along the river behind the inn. She came through the rear into the kitchens and John greeted her with a smile and warm hug.

‘How’s my little lady?’

Caroline smiled at him. His round belly and glowing brown eyes were full of warmth. Such a sweet and caring man with a head full of grey hair. ‘Very well now, John. Thank you for being so kind.’

‘Ah, lady. ‘Tis easy to be to such a lovely lady as yourself. You ready to eat again?’  He beamed at her pulling back to look down at her belly.

Caroline laughed and rubbed her belly. ‘Two bowls of stew down the hatch. Nay, John.  Makes me worry though, so early yet in this pregnancy that he or she eats so much. I will the size of this inn this continues this way.’

‘Ah, naught to that, lady. Means he will be a strong one he will. There’s healthy stuff in my stew.’

They shared a laughed. John, since finding out she was with child, believed that ‘twas a boy she carried. Caroline heard the crowd out in the dining hall. ‘A full house, I hear?’

‘Aye.’ John went back to cutting up the vegetables and preparing to make another pot.  ‘They hungry mongers tonight. ‘Tis the fourth pot.’

Caroline’s eyes widened. ‘Oh my. Usually we empty the three. ‘

‘Aye. But we got us some giant Normans in here this eventide. And they eating like they haven’t eaten in days.’

Without looking up, Darc grumbled out his request. He tore off a piece of the hardened bread and almost choked on it, his mouth was so dry. One of his men pushed over the mug of ale the serving wench set down on their table. The cold liquid washed the bread down and his stomach clenched with pain from having food and drink in it. He forced himself to eat another piece of bread.

The serving wench remained at their table after setting the bowl of gruel in front of them. His men dug in but he did not.

‘’Tis a hearty stew, my lord. Will you not try some?’

Her words made his head hurt. Wincing at the pain that raced up the back of his skull, Darc grimaced and said. ‘Just another mug of ale and a loaf is all I need.’

She looked like she wanted to say more, but she thought better of it from his expression and walked away.

His men had polished off three more bowls each with exclamations to how tasty the stew was, still Darc did not eat. The half-eaten loaf he had managed to get down still turned over in his gut with the ale. At least the pounding in his head had ceased a bit, but his thoughts of Caroline did not. He stretched out his long legs before him and taking in the little inn and it’s furnishings he said to his weary men.

‘We will stay here this night.’ Their jubilant shouts and expressions made him feel even more guilt for pushing them so hard.

He sent one of the men over to pay for their rooms and the innkeeper lifted a hand in his direction with a big grin on his face. Darc and his men had just taken all the available rooms.

Later as Darc approached the staircase, the man came over and wiping his hands down the front of the stained cloth around his waist, he gave a hasty bow.

 ‘Thank you, my lord. I shall show you to your room. ‘Tis one of my finest.’

Darc could care less. He was ready to fall over. One of his men approached, Darc nodded him away. There was no danger here. 

The man had not lied, it was a big room but all Darc saw was the large bed. He lay back on it across the middle and closed his eyes.