The Falls of Erith (42 page)

Dallas
nodded, looking drolly at Braxton. “I was there, but I remained outside while
Braxton lived like an emperor.  I was not fortunate enough to be treated to
such luxury.”

Brooke
giggled. “Do… do you think we can go there someday? I want to see the Roman
baths.”

Dallas
smiled, stroking her soft cheek which was starting to regain some color to it.
“Of course,” he said. “If that is your wish.”

“Perhaps
you would like to go now until this business with de Clare is finished,”
Braxton suggested. “You and your mother could live the life of luxury while
your husband and I finish off Gloucester.  We will come and join you when we
are finished.”

He
threw out the big bait and held his breath as Brooke looked at Dallas and then
to her mother.  In fact, he turned to look at Gray, too, as if she was the
deciding factor in the vote. But Gray remained focused on her apple, chewing
slowly and thoughtfully.  Gently, Braxton collected her free hand and kissed
it.

“I
am sure you would enjoy it,” he said softly. “It would be much better than
staying here in this dank place, starving for days on end while a battle goes
on around you.  You could be treated to the finished luxury England has to
offer; food aplenty, soft beds, fine clothes, and servants tending to your
every whim.  And you and Brooke could go shopping daily and buy more finery
than you know what to do with; a new surcoat for every hour, a new necklace for
every mood, and perfumes for every day of the week.  Does that sound appealing,
sweetheart?”

With
all eyes on her, Gray could see what he was doing; she wasn’t stupid. She knew
he was very nicely trying to convince her to leave Erith. She looked at him,
her amber eyes glimmering.

“It
does,” she said quietly. “And you are most sweet and generous to suggest it.
But I would be living like a queen, wondering if I still had a husband. 
Braxton, none of that means anything without you. I could not be living a
carefree life knowing that you were fighting for your every existence. What
kind of wife would I be if I could forget your peril so easily?”

Braxton
could see that she wasn’t being deliberately stubborn; she truly meant what she
said.  He kissed her gently. 

“You
would a wife giving her husband peace of mind,” he whispered. “If I know you
are happy and well, I can move mountains.  Please do this for me.”

She
set the apple down on the table and hung her head.   Braxton put his arms
around her, his forehead to hers, feeling her body as it began to shake with
soft sobs.  He knew she was distraught; he was distraught, too, but he truly
believed it was best for her.  The mood of the room turned painful, uncertain,
as Braxton tried to comfort his wife. Across the table, Dallas suddenly spoke.

“Although
I will respect Lady de Nerra’s decision to remain or to leave, I intend to make
the decision that I feel best for my wife and I,” he cleared his throat as he
looked at Brooke, taking her soft hand in his. “I, for one, do not want you
here when Gloucester returns. I intend to send you away until I can come for
you. If you wish to go to Braxton’s inn in Lancaster, I will send you there
happily. It would bring me comfort knowing you are content and well cared for.”

Brooke’s
luminous eyes bulged. “You… you would send me away?” she looked at Gray, almost
in panic. “But what about my mother?”

Dallas
was firm but not unsympathetic. “What she and Braxton decide is their own
affair,” he said, caressing her hand. “But I must do what I feel is best for
you.”

Brooke
bolted to her feet. “I am not leaving without my mother.”

By
this time, Gray had lifted her head to look at what was transpiring between her
daughter and Dallas. “Dallas, she is my daughter and….”

“It
does not matter if she is your daughter,” Dallas cut her off, his attention
returned to Brooke. “She is my wife and I will make the decisions for her. She
will go to Lancaster until this madness is through.”

Brooke
burst into tears and Gray looked to Braxton in a panic. “I do not want her away
from me,” she said, her lower lip quivering. “Please do not let him send her
away.”

Braxton
tried to soothe her even though he completely agreed with Dallas. “Then your
only choice is to go with her. Dallas says she is going and she is.”

“But….”

“Go
with her, sweetheart. It is what I want.”

Gray
hung her head and now the men had both women in tears.  Braxton cast a long
glance at Dallas, silently urging the man to take Brooke away.  As it was, the
two women were playing off each other’s emotions and Braxton needed Gray’s full
attention.  He knew that ultimately she would do as he asked but he didn’t want
her being hysterical about it. 

Dallas
stood up from the table he had been perched on and put his big arm around
Brooke’s shoulder, leading her away from the table. But Brooke resisted so he
swooped down and picked her up, carrying her off towards the spiral stairs that
led up to the bed chambers.  When Dallas and Brooke were free of the hall,
Braxton put his big hands on Gray’s face and forced her to look at him.

“Listen
to me,” he murmured, kissing her wet cheeks. “I will send you to Lancaster with
Edgar and a few soldiers as escort.  I will also send you with enough money to
keep you well supplied for months.  You can stay at the inn and indulge
yourself until I come for you.  All that matters to me is that you are safe,
happy and whole.  It will ease me tremendously so I can focus on more important
matters. Do you understand?”

She
nodded, wiping at her eyes. “But I do not want to leave you.”

“And
I do not want to leave you. But I must have you safe. You are the most
important thing in the world to me, Gray. Without you, there is nothing to live
for. I could not bear it if something happened to you.”

She
looked at him, the amber eyes spilling over, silently conveying all of the
emotions that a thousand words could not adequately express. After a moment,
she wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him tightly, her mouth by his
ear.

“I
love you, Braxton,” she whispered. “My life was reborn the day I met you.
Please… please do not leave me.”

He
held her tightly, the pain of their impending separation already filling him. 
“I will never leave you,” he murmured. “I will always been with you, until the
end of time, in this life or in the one beyond. I will always be there.”

His
words brought her sweet and painful comfort. Gray knew there was nothing more
to say.  Nothing would change his mind and the decision had been made. She was
distraught, exhausted and ill, her head eventually coming to rest on his
shoulder as Braxton held her tightly.   Eventually, he stood up and scooped her
into his arms as Dallas had done with Brooke.  Gray simply wrapped her arms
around his big neck and lay her head on his shoulder as he carried her towards
the spiral stairs.

Just
as Braxton mounted the bottom step, Geoff mounted the top rung of the ladder
and appeared in the entry.  His pale face was lined with exhaustion and there
was a big, dirty bandage on his neck, but he was surprisingly alert and
strong.   Braxton caught sight of him and paused before he took the stairs.

“What
is it?” he asked.

Geoff
had an odd expression. “We have a rider, Braxton,” he said, moving to scratch
his red head as if greatly confused. “De Aughton is here. He says he needs to
speak with you.”

Gray’s
head shot up and she focused on Geoff with surprise.  Then she looked at her
husband fearfully. “De Aughton?” she repeated.

Braxton
wasn’t particularly surprised but he was curious. “Did he say why he needs to
speak with me?”

“He
did not. Shall I bring him to the hall?”

Braxton
nodded. “Bring him in,” he said, swinging back around for the stairs and
beginning to mount them. “I will settle my wife and be down shortly.”

Geoff
nodded sharply and was gone.  As Braxton mounted the steps to their third floor
chamber, Gray watched his expression with a mixture of curiosity and fear.

“Why
do you suppose he is here?” she asked.

He
reached the landing and moved to their chamber door, kicking the panel open as
he entered.

“I
could not guess,” he set her down gently, realizing that their small bed with
its warm linens looked quite inviting; he was absolutely exhausted. “But I
intend to find out. Now, I want you to lie down for a time. I will be back
shortly.”

“But….”

He
looked at her sharply, his expression laced with fatigue. “Please, Gray,” he
snapped softly. “Does everything have to be an argument with you today?”

She
blinked, hurt by his tone but realizing he was right. She had done nothing but
argue with him since the moment he had climbed off the ladder from the bailey. 
She didn’t want any more harsh words or bad feelings between them. She hadn’t
seen the man in days. Contrite, she shook her head.

“Nay,
Braxton,” she said obediently. “It does not. I apologize.”

He
looked at her, realizing he’d been snappish, and leaned over to kiss her cheek.
“As do I,” he murmured, kissing her again. “I did not mean to be curt. Please
lie down and I will return as soon as I know why de Aughton is here.”

She
smiled at him and he returned the gesture, winking at her as he quit the room
and quietly closed the door behind him.  Gray stood there a moment, her
thoughts going with him, wondering with increasing trepidation as to why Niclas
de Aughton had reappeared. But her curiosity wasn’t enough to overcome her
fatigue and she obediently took to her bed just as she had promised him.

She
was asleep before her head hit the pillow.

In
Brooke and Dallas’ chamber on the floor above, it was anything but still and
quiet. After a temper tantrum and tears, Dallas had made up with his wife the
only way he could think of; he was preparing to make love to her.  But he
wasn’t moving fast enough pulling off his armor and Brooke almost ripped his
ears off again removing his hauberk. They laughed as the hauberk hit the floor,
he rubbed his ears, and pulled Brooke into his arms once more, kissing her
amorously.  But there was more clothing that needed to come off so in between
heated kisses, they managed to rip off every last stitch of clothing and fall
together on the bed.

Dallas
was grimy and sweaty, but it didn’t matter to Brooke. She was just glad to have
him warm and alive in her arms.  Over the past several weeks, she had become
sexually insatiable and Dallas, although understandably overjoyed, found
himself aroused in the oddest situations; he’d taken her several times in the
stables,  in the kitchens, once in Erith’s big armory in the southwest tower,
and at least twice a day in their bedchamber. Her young, nubile body was agile
and responsive, so much so that Dallas was finding himself a slave to her
desires.  All she had to do was look at him or touch him and he was instantly
aroused, visions of mounting her sweet body filling his brain.  He couldn’t get
enough of her.

But
it was more than that now. Even as he pushed her onto her back and suckled her
tender nipples, he felt more emotion for the woman than he had ever felt in his
life, for anyone. He tasted her flesh, listened to her soft grunts of pleasure,
and it overwhelmed him.   When he rose to his knees and wedged himself between
her slender legs, pulling her pelvis against his, all he could think of was how
beautiful and sweet she was.  And when he finally buried his manhood deep
inside her slick body, all he could think of was how much he loved her.

Dallas
thrust into her repeatedly, feeling her body respond to his as if God had made
her for him exclusively. She wrapped her legs around his buttocks, keeping him
buried tightly inside of her as their bodies moved together as one.  In little
time, he could feel her multiple releases and it threw him over the edge,
spilling himself deep. He lay against her afterwards, feeling their hearts
pounding, smelling her gentle musky scent and wishing that he could spend the
rest of his life with her just as they were. 

Brooke’s
small hands caressed him, moving over his back, his arms, finally coming to
rest on is buttocks, which she stroked gently.  He could tell by her touch that
she felt for him as he felt for her. Their feelings for each other were strong
and enduring, growing more solidified by the day.  In little time he was hard
again and he resumed making love to her as the day began to wane.

After
the third round of lovemaking, they lay sweaty and intertwined in each other
beneath the linens.  Brooke’s eyes were closed and he was sure she was
sleeping, but he couldn’t help touching her face as he studied her. She was
such a lovely creature.  When he touched her nose, she wrinkled it up and
scratched at it.  Then her blue eyes opened, fixing on him.

Dallas
smiled at her. “Did I wake you?”

She
returned his smile.  “No,” she whispered, taking the hand that was on her head
and putting it on her bare breast.  He squeezed and she wrapped her legs around
him, arching her pelvis against his.  “I have missed you.”