The Duke and the Dryad (Elemental Series) (11 page)

“Have you seen Rae lately?”

“Obviously,” he answered.

“Well, have you two made amends
?”

“Obviously not.”

“Well, how are you two getting along?”

Wolfe entered the castle, making a beeline for his chamber. “It should be obvious even to a simpkin like you, that
it’s not going well between us. If it were, would I be walking around half naked through the courtyard with my desire to lay with her on display for all to see?” He stopped outside his door and turned to speak. “I don’t think I can do this any more, Sir Braden.”

“Do what?” he asked, cocking his head and sporting a half grin.

“Keep her here at the castle. I am going to dismiss her and send her back to the forest – permanently.”

“Nay, don’t do that,” begged the man. “Everyone likes having her around.”

“Believe me, no one likes it more than me.” He entered his solar and closed the door, leaving Sir Braden standing there. He lay his head against the wood, and let out a breath of frustration. It was going to hurt Rae if he sent her away, but if he let her stay, he was going to be the one hurting instead.

Rae followed Wolfe around for the remainder of the day, not saying a word as he met with the steward, nor when he’d had her accompany him on the inventory count in the larder. She didn’t much care for that, as the sight of salted pig carcasses and dead geese hanging from the rafters made her stomach turn, and she had to leave more than once, excusing herself and saying she needed to use the garderobe.

Nothing was mentioned about what happened at the
fish pond, and she was glad he didn’t want to discuss it. However, he did seem to try to say something to her more than once. But every time he’d started, he was interrupted by Sir Braden or Juturna or one of the other servants or knights. Odd, but it seemed as if they were trying to keep Wolfe from communicating with her.

She didn’t rightly care, as she really had nothing to say.

She made it through the day, and didn’t even stop at her garden, but instead rushed out of there eager to be back home. She thought of not returning on the morrow, but figured she’d made a deal and had to uphold it. If only things could be different between them. She felt an ache in her heart and did not understand it. These human feelings were all new to her and she’d have to ask Juturna about them the next time she saw her.

Perhaps she could suggest which herbs to use to heal this odd sensation. Because even though Rae was one with the forest, even the forest wasn’t speaking to her about the pain she felt in her heart.

Chapter 9

It had been three days sin
ce Wolfe told Sir Braden he was going to dismiss Rae. However, every time he tried to tell her, someone interrupted him. Then, he’d finally had the perfect opportunity after he’d taken her with him to mass this morning. They were alone when he’d stopped to get a drink from the well, but for some reason, he just couldn’t bring himself to do it.

He’d seen her flower garden blooming beautifully and in such a short time that he knew she’d used magick to accomplish it.
She’d never invited him to see it, nor did he ask. Instead, he visited it nightly when she was back in the forest and like usual, he found himself unable to sleep.

Normally, the thought of her using he powers
would have upset him, but he rather liked the beauty she brought to the castle, and even started getting used to the urns of flowers she’d placed on the dais, near the hearth, and even in his own solar. The damned place was starting to smell so good from the blooming flowers and the new herbs she’d initiated the cooks to put atop every dish, that he had even seen to bathing in the fish pond daily, not wanting to stink while in her presence.

Every day she
’d work in her garden for two hours in the morning, then followed him around like a puppy all day with neither of them speaking to each other. And she seemed to be skipping her allotted two hours of garden time in the evening, in a hurry to get home – or away from him anyway. He missed her when she was not there, and his nights never felt so lonely.

He couldn’t live like this any more. Something needed to be done, yet he didn’t know what. He enjoyed having her
around, even if she was trouble. Lately she seemed to be befriending everyone, which truly surprised him.

The servants took a liking to her since he’d been sendi
ng her to the kitchens to help out, giving him time to let down his guard and drink by the fire with his men. The meal was finished for the day and night was nearly upon them. The minstrels struck up a tune and the lords and ladies of the castle joined in the dance.

“Why don’t you dance?” asked Juturna, settling herself on the bench next to him.
As soon as the meal was finished, he’d made a beeline to one end of the room, while Rae disappeared to the other side.

“I don’t dance,” he mumbled and busied himself with his drink.

“I bet there are many young ladies who would be thrilled to be twirled around in your arms.”

“Are you suggesting yourself, old woman? Because that is never going to happen.”

“Nay, not me, my lord,” she said with a scowl. “Besides, didn’t you hear me say young? Anyway, I have heard that the fae people love to dance as well as sing.”

He
gaze followed the nod of her head to see Rae sitting alone at the other end of the hall. He did dance, and was quite good at it. He had lied to the old woman. Still, he didn’t know how to ask Rae to join him after he’d been ignoring her for the last three days.

“I
don’t think she’ll accept my invitation. And I don’t take a fancy to being turned down in front of the whole castle.” He looked back down to the tankard in his hand.

“You would
never know if you don’t try,” she told him. “I am a seer, remember. And I see the hidden attraction you both have for one another. I also see that the stubbornness on both your parts is making you both miserable.”

“I am not miserable,” he said
, feeling a stab to his heart for the way their relationship was dissolving fast. He’d never been so miserable in his entire life.

“I cannot believe that, my lord, I am sorry.
”

He looked up to her, knowing he could no longer lie to her nor lie to himself.

“Do you really think she is miserable?” he asked. “And did she say anything to you about . .  . about me?”

“Enough talk,” she said, pulling the tankard from his hand and placing it on the table. “You need to get to know each other.”

“I know plenty about her.”

“Really? So what is her favorite food and what does she do when she goes to her home every night? Can you tell me about her parents? And why don’t you tell me what she went through as a child?”

“I . . . I can’t say I know the answer to those questions.”

“Of course not.” She pulled him to his feet and pointed him in the girl’s direction
. “Drop your stubbornness and be the first to end this silence between you. Now go ask her to dance.” She pushed him gently toward Rae-Nyst. He slowly looked back over his shoulder. She motioned with her hands for him to join her, and he forced himself to cross the hall and talk to the fae girl who was probably going to end up making him feel worse than he already did.

Rae felt an excitement within her as she watched the occupants of the hall dancing to the merry minstrel’s music. Her kind loved music, dancing and singing as well. These were tools to make a heart happy and let one forget their troubles.

She wanted to
get up and dance like the other ladies of the hall. But that was never going to happen. No one would ask her, for they all thought her to be Lord Wolfe’s woman. But she was no one’s woman, and certainly not his. He hadn’t even spoken to her in three days, and it hurt her deeply to think he no longer wanted her the way he did the first night they’d met.

She’d gone home every night to recharge her earthly energies, and
slept amongst nature, filling her elemental needs. But her human needs were far from being satisfied and she yearned for the companionship of a man. For Lord Wolfe. But she knew after the pranks she’d pulled and the arguments they’d had, his defensive wall was raised and she wasn’t sure he’d ever lower it.

“My lady, may I have this dance?”

She turned her head to find Lord Wolfe, half-bowing and holding his hand out to her. She looked up to him but didn’t say anything. Then she spotted Juturna across the hall, motioning with her arms for her to get to her feet.

“Rae?” he asked, his eyes now meeting hers. She could see the desperation in them, and knew if she refused him he’d probably never ask her again. She’d embarrassed him more than once now, and knew she could not do it again.
Not tonight, nor would she.

“Of course, my lord. ’Twould be my pleasure.”
She took his hand in hers and got to her feet. He led her out to the floor in a grand show, and everyone’s eyes were on them.

“I am not sure I know the dance of the court,” she whispered to him.

“’Tis not hard. I can teach you.”

Her heart beat quickly within her chest, and now she
regretted accepting his invitation at all. The dance of the Fae was much different than what she’d been observing. ’Twas much more free-flowing, turning and swaying with the breeze and dancing on the ethers of the air around her. This dance looked calculated and precise. More stiff and not free-flowing at all.

“Just follow my lead,” he told her, holding her hand in his and bowing slightly toward her. S
he bowed as well, and he grinned. “Nay, you are a woman, so you curtsy.”

“So sorry, my lord.” She eyed the other dancers and curtsied, hoping she would be able to keep up.

He proceeded to twirl her and lead her across the floor. She felt so clumsy with each and every move. This was harder than it looked, tho Wolfe mastered it, making it seem so easy.

He gallantly held his body erect, looking so handsome
in his dark green hose and matching surcoat displaying his crest of a passant white wolf. She felt uncomfortable in the gown she now wore that was meant for a lady. At least it was brown like the earth, but ’twas very plain. She’d wanted to don her own gown, but Wolfe wouldn’t let her. Juturna had told her that Wolfe said she needed to look like the other ladies at the castle, and her gown was too exotic and ornate.

Well, look like the others, she may. But to dance like them – she knew she’d never be able to blend in.

His steps were direct and his footwork amazing, and his body quite lithe for such a hardened warrior. This truly left her in awe. She picked up the dance quickly, to her surprise, with the expert guidance of his hands gently facing her in the right directions.

He looked especially handsome tonight, obviously having bathed and shaved, sporting fresh clothes. He even smelled good – like the outdoors with a hint of woodsmoke. His male essence called to her and she felt her resolv
e crumbling quickly. The walls she’d built up against him seemed to be falling apart at his mere touch. She missed talking to him these past few days and wanted to get to know him better.

Then he twirled
her once again, gathering her in his arms with her back against his chest. She felt so safe and secure. She actually felt like the lord’s woman. Then the music stopped, but he didn’t let go. She turned to look up into his eyes and was frightened and also intrigued by the desire she saw within them. He was looking at her lips again and she knew if she didn’t stop him he was going to kiss her right there in front of everyone. She turned abruptly, setting them off balance, and when he went to grab her, he stepped on her toe.

“Ow,” she said, hopping up and down on one foot.

Wolf
e had almost kissed her in front of everyone, and was almost glad now that he’d stepped on her toe He looked down and to his surprise, Rae once again wore no shoes. He hadn’t even noticed that earlier, as her feet were hidden under her long skirts as she moved across the floor effortlessly. But he’d felt her soft toes under his boot now and also felt bad by what he’d done.

“I am so sorry, I had no idea you weren’t wearing shoes.”

“’Tis fine,” she said. “I will be alright.”

“Rae, I . . . I feel like we’ve been ignoring each other for the last few days.”

“We have.”

“I don’t feel good about it.”

“Neither do I.”

“Mayhap we could -”

“Lord Wolfe,” interrupted Sir Braden, rushing in from the guard house.”

“Not now,” he said, waving the man away.

“’Tis important,” he said, urgency in his tone.

“Whatever it is, take care of it yourself.” All he wanted to do was to get back to his conversation with Rae
and for everyone to stop interrupting him. But then a straight horn sounded, calling his attention to the door.

There was Lord Clive and his entourage, making a grand entrance.
The tall, dark-haired man was mayhap twenty years his senior, hardened from war, with battle scars over his body and a huge scar across the side of his face.