The Dark Lady (67 page)

Peter raised a brow at this, but said nothing, only held her tighter. He knew she had lied—obedient and calm did not come easily to his wife—and he found he was glad.

Suddenly the nightmare changed and she began to strike him, her hands reaching for his neck before he could get hold of her wrists. He did not know what to do. He was frightened she would hurt herself as she wrenched at her wrists to free them.

“
You will die for what you have done,” she whispered in an agonized groan. Then she began to weep, once more talking to Richard. “I have shamed you. She should not have died.” Peter was startled that his strong wife was still haunted by the death of the woman she had slain and he felt guilt for ever having brought it up to her.

A small cold hand, tightening in his grip, pulled him from his dark thoughts. He opened his eyes to clear and vibrant black ones. “Van, you are awake. How do you feel?” His voice cracked with relief.

At first she could just shake her head, her voice so tight she could do no more than croak.

Jumping to his feet, he grasped a tankard of ale from the side table and pressed it to her almost white lips, while he carefully supported her head. She drank slowly and he smiled remembering when it had been she who had held the drink for him when he had been injured so long ago. “Better, my love?” he asked when she leaned her head back.

“
Aye, my lord,” she said and tried to sit up.

He supported her weight and put several pillows behind her so she could prop herself up. The bed swayed under his weight as he sat beside her, clasping her hands. “How do you feel?”

“
Tired, thirsty, and confused. How long have I been in bed?” She looked around his chambers and shook her head. “I am sorry, my lord.”

Crushing her in his embrace, he took in the welcoming coolness as her arms snaked hesitantly around his neck. Kissing her deeply, possessively, he sighed.

As she gently lay against him he told her first of what had happened in the library with Rebeka, and then of her fall, of the results of the battle, and how long she had worried them all.

“
All?” She leaned away from his embrace and collapsed against the pillows. “Who is all?”

“
Devon, Gary, Douglas, and every man out there have been by to sit and talk to you. Amy, Joseph, and Anna have been just beside themselves with worry.”

A small half grin spread across her ever reddening lips as health flushed back into them.

He grasped her hands and smiled. “Your father,” he said, pointing to the adjoining room, “has not left your side. He is also beside himself and would like to talk to you.”

“
I do not need him to talk to me. I just need to tell him that I understand.” Her breathing was low and still labored, but it came easier to her and for that he was delighted.

“
Verges and Richard are the ones who have been most concerned, with the exception of me.” He pulled her fingers to his lips and kissed them. “I have slept here beside you, never leaving your side. Verges and Richard have slept out in the hall, guarding your door.”

Her laugh was like a balm to his soul. Its soothing sound reminded him of the phantom woman that he had dreamed of for so long. It was a relief to know that the woman was not a young boy as he had feared all this time.

“
Verges is staying here?” Her black eyes sparkled with gratitude. “Thank you, Peter.”

“
I need to talk to you about Verges if you are up to it?” The seriousness of his voice caused her smile to disappear and he regretted it.

The gratitude in her eyes faded to concern. She nodded cautiously.

“
I have some concerns. He has attacked a woman in the village. She was unhurt and though I think she embellished, he admitted to approaching her with lust on his mind.” Van did not look shocked as he had expected, but then he did not know why he had thought she would be. She had known the big man for a long time. “That, I see, does not surprise you, my lady?”

“
Nay, I know Verges well. Is that the only trouble?” she asked with a look on her face saying she knew it was not.

“
Nay, he has attacked several of the men. Both times it had been one of mine. He is respectful of the men at arms of the Dark Knight, but mine seem to be fair game.” He shook his head slowly. Then he smiled. “He broke one man’s arm over Miss Violet.”

“
Violet
? She is here?” Her hands gripped the edge of the soft down filled blanket as she sat up too quickly and collapsed against him.
“How
?”

Panic set in and Peter clung to her, his heart pounding painfully in his throat. “I will tell you if you promise to lie down and relax.”

He waited until her back was sinking into the soft pillows and the color was slowly coming back into her hollowed cheeks.

The scar, like a beacon shining on the tanned skin, called to him. He reached for her cheek and had a momentary fear that she would disappear as she had in his dream.

He knew it was a ridiculous notion, but he had had the same dream every night since she had been hurt. She was always gone before he could touch her.

He sighed in relief at her smooth skin, real and warm, beneath his loving administrations.

“
Aye, Violet is here. Violet, Mellie and her son, as well as three other of your ladies. You will have to ask Verges which ones, for I cannot remember the names of all your paramours. The last should arrive later today with Verges.” He gave a soft laugh.

“
What is so funny?” Her lashes were nearly touching her cheeks as sleep seemed to drag at her.

“
I was just thinking it strange, I sent Verges—Verges—to see to the ladies. I sent him so they would not be frightened.”

She answered as her eyes closed completely. “That makes sense, Peter. They are comfortable with him. They know him and that he is gentle when he should...” Her eyes flew open. “How is Amy? Did he hurt her badly?”

“
Nay, she had not been able to act scared and Verges had to play his part. He played the marauder the way they expected him to.”

“
I will talk to him, let him know...” Her eyes drifted shut.

After several moments of silence he thought she had fallen asleep.

Then her voice began again as if it had never stopped. “...that the village and your men are as well under my protection. Then everything will be fine.” She smiled sleepily, her eyes still shut. “I would tell your men, Violet is special to Verges. He cares for the big woman. Have you seen her, she is bigger than me.”

“
Aye, she is.” Peter had seen her. Violet was thicker than Van and taller. Her figure was like that of a bear, stout and wide. The man, now laid up with a broken arm, called her a giant of a beast.

She was massive and not attractive. Her limp brown hair fell around a face too hawkish for a woman. Her beautiful violet eyes were her best feature, also giving her the name she went by.

He had asked Verges her real name, but he would not divulge it. He thought to ask Van but had a feeling she would say the same.

“
I would like to see him cleaned up. She likes him as well.” Her voice was now just a whisper.

Peter had spoken to Verges about her after the incident. He had admitted to caring for her, but he did not believe she liked him. “Sturdy, a woman who might be able to accommodate my needs, not that she would ever consider it,” Verges had confided.

“
Clean him up?” Peter asked carefully.

No answer. Believing she must finally be asleep, he gently pushed himself away from the bed. He walked toward the door, thinking to inform the others of her improvement.

His hand on the door, her voice stilled him. “Aye, he will never get the courage to ask for her love as he is. He needs help.”

He turned back and looked at her.

Her eyes pleaded with him. “Help him.” Without awaiting an answer, she curled into a ball, sleep finding her quickly.

***

Days had passed with increasing boredom for Van. She stood staring out the window toward the lists as she thought back over the last two days.

Much to her irritation, the men had not come to see her, none of them. She was distressed and hurt that they had not. She was sure they still held a grudge against her for her deception.

She had held her tongue about her misery and doubts but somehow she thought Peter had known.

He had told her that they were busy. While she had been sick the king had come for his men and now they were trying to get the barracks and the castle ready for the first set of pages that should arrive within days. He had told her not to blame the men, for they were trying to give her the rest she needed.

She was still unsure if that was true. She looked out at the lists and wondered why there were no sounds coming from the training grounds or the barracks if they were so busy.

Her heart clenched in pain. She was sure they were avoiding her as they had before she had fallen ill.

She pushed those thoughts away and tried to think of happier ones. Her mind lit on her father. She shook her head in wonder that after so many long years of thinking of him with hatred he was now one of the first places her mind took her when she tried to think of something better.

Her father had finally gone home after a long talk between them. He had laughed, saying he should be insulted that the only way he could get her to listen was when she too weak to fight back or to run.

She had forgiven him, promising to work on a relationship as the years passed. It was something she found she was looking forward to.

She shook her head in wonder again and spoke to the garden below her. “Poor Amy.”

Amy, Anna, and Joseph had come to see her yesterday. All her girls had been gathered around the room. Her friends had stood, mouth agape, while Van introduced them to one doxy after another.

Soon all the women would have a home of their own, or husband if one was desired. Peter had told her last night that he already had several warriors asking to be considered for husbands for some of the girls, Melinda included.

Van’s smile widened.

Verges had been the biggest surprise. She grinned, rubbing her hand across the back of her neck and stretching.

Verges had seen the doctor on Peter’s insistence and his teeth, while still discolored, no longer hurt him. A comfortable bed in the keep, his own chambers with a massive tub, specially made as a gift to him for all he had done had gone far to make him look almost unrecognizable.

“
How dare you come into my chambers, a stranger?” she had ribbed him when he had first come in. He had looked surprised at first but then he grinned.

“
I take it you approve, my lady?” He stood before her in breeches and tunic. His hooded cloak had been discarded days before. His long black hair hung loose around the disfigurement of his face. It was a face she loved.

“
Does Violet approve?” she had asked him. His excited look had told her everything she needed to know.

“
I do not hurt her.” He had then dropped his voice shyly. “She has agreed to be my wife.”

That had gotten her out of bed, flying into his arms. “Verges, I am so happy for you. You mean so much to me. You will stay with us, will you not?”

“
Peter has asked me to stay, to help with the training of the new lads. Although the ones who arrived yesterday seemed less than thrilled to see me.” His voice dropped to a proud whisper. “One screamed.”

Even clean he was a gruesome sight.

She had told him of the village and Peter’s men and that they were under her charge. His only response had been to say that some of Peter’s men were undisciplined and he aimed to see that changed.

Peter had told her that the men were beginning to mingle. Both sides were reluctant, but compromising. Ranks were the hardest thing to determine, and that what was giving them the most problems.

She grinned, thinking how nice it was that Peter was keeping her informed of the comings and goings of the men. It was a big change from the way their marriage had started out.

Peter walked, unbidden, into the room. He smiled as she turned from the window, drawn out of her reverie as the door closed behind him.

She opened her mouth to speak but he waved her words away. “I have waited for this day for some time now, for you to be well. I need you to come outside with me for a moment.”

Curiosity and excitement swirled together and her heart began to race. She was delighted to be out of this room for any reason. She hated being cooped up like a caged animal, it made her hair stand on end and left her nerves frayed.

As she walked toward him he stared at her and seemed to change his mind. “I think it can wait for a moment.”

He stepped up to her with a heart so full that he thought it would burst. Reaching for her, he wrapped his arms lovingly around her.

She opened her thick robe and wrapped her arms around his neck. Reveling in her nakedness, he began to kiss her gently as he cupped a full breast, rubbing his calloused thumb across her nipple. He kept his lust under control, not wanting to take her too soon. She was still weak from her illness and he was afraid to hurt her.

Her kisses became desperate and her body arched against his. She wrapped her hands through his hair and held him close as her tongue slid into his wanting mouth.