The Tempest (18 page)

Dear Father in heaven, grant me this one true happiness. I beg you, do not let her be taken from me.

*****

The storm had passed. The morning sun shined in as the birds serenaded the two lovers, still wrapped in each other’s arms. Cassia was the first to rise and greet the day. Stretching her arms above her head, she smiled a sleepy smile as she thought of the glorious night that had passed. It was tempting to remain just as they were…blind to the world around them…so content in their love for one another. She looked down at Guy, sound asleep beside her. It was tempting to stir him, for she longed to see him smile in that cheeky way of his. But she chose to let him remain as he was, resting peacefully.

She made use of the privy, and after returning she washed herself with the cool water in the basin. Slipping into her nightdress, she came back to the bed and found him still asleep…until she sat beside him, and her slight weight was just enough to rouse him. He woke slowly, and seeing her, his eyes lit up. Then, in a fulfillment of her wish, he smiled. She leaned over to kiss him, thinking him utterly adorable with his hair unkempt and his face in need of a shave. He gently held the back of her neck to draw her closer. She whispered softly against his mouth.

“Good morning, my love.”

“Good morning indeed,” he replied, his kisses growing deeper and making her head spin. Despite the way he was stealing her breath, she managed to speak.

“Are you hungry?”

His answer was more of a groan than a reply. His lips were softly kissing her neck and shoulder, his align= twining around her waist to pull her against him. For a moment she considered foregoing everything just to lie with him and indulge in his attentions. But there were other tasks to be done…small tasks, but necessary ones, and somehow she managed to push him back. Even though he gave her a petulant look in return, she didn’t give in to him, difficult as it was.

“I am ravenous, my lord. Being in your company has sapped my energy, and I must break my fast. Come, join me in the kitchen when you’ve gathered yourself together.”

He gave her a withering look, but she only laughed at his childish expression. She gave him a peck on the cheek. Dodging his attempt to pull her into his arms, she giggled and hurried from the room.

In the servants bedroom she found her dress, blushing as she recalled how fast it had been discarded the night before. She found Guy’s things and gathered them up, carrying them into the hallway, stopping just at the open door to the bedroom. Peeking around the corner, she saw that he was occupied with shaving…and standing completely nude. If she went in the room now, she was in danger of forgetting her hunger altogether. And tempting a sight as he was, one of them had to have some sense. She cleared her throat, trying to compose herself.

“I shall leave your things here by the door,” she called to him, her voice trembling slightly.
“Will you not bring them to me?”

She rolled her eyes, smiling at his obvious invitation. “I shall see you in the kitchen, my lord.”

*****

They broke their fast with the remaining bread from the night before, along with fruit and wine. They fed each other, enjoying the intimacy of being so close and having no one around to interfere. When the meal was over, Guy was quite willing to return to the bedchamber…but Cassia shook her head in denial.

“We cannot spend the day lying about. If we are to travel to France, I must have more than this one dress to wear. I shall raise many an eyebrow if I am seen in the same poor clothes every day. And since you snatched me away so quickly, I have no others. Will you fetch me material so I might stitch together a few simple garments?”

He nodded, knowing she was right. In his haste, he’d nearly forgotten the trivial matter of appearances. Even when they were safely away from Nottingham, it would be impossible for a nobleman to have a woman on his arm who was obviously not of his station…though in his eyes, she was more noble than any of the so called “ladies” he’d known in society. He smiled at her, kissing her slender fingers.

“When we are wed, your hands shall never again labor with a sewing needle. Perhaps you shall do needlework for pleasure, as many fine ladies do. But for your clothing you shall have a seamstress at your disposal, to keep you in beautiful garments every day of the year.”

She smiled sweetly. “That may be very well someday. But under the current circumstances, I must put my own hands to use.”

He was not pleased with the idea of her laboring over anything. But if it pleased her, he was willing to consent. Though he was reluctant to leave her alone again, he ventured into town to do her bidding. All that he could do to make her happy, he would, for she had brought a quality to his life that could never be repaid…though he intended his damndest to try.

*****

When he returned from Nottingham, having been careful to avoid the Sheriff at all costs, he carried two parcels under his arm…and wore a slight smile on his face.

As he’d ventured into town, he’d thought about her request…and chose to amend it. He wanted her to shine like the rare and precious gem she was. And her request for simple material simply wouldn’t do.

If there had been time, he would have enlisted a seamstress to make new gowns. But alas, a few days was hardly enough time. It would have to be managed another way.

There was a youngster he knew of…a boy who worked in the castle kitchen. He was also a good thief. At first, the boy had been terrified when Guy approached him. But when a small purse of gold was dangled in front of him, he became less apprehensive. Guy’s instructions were simple. Go to the chamber of Lady Strafford…a guest staying on for the Prince’s visit…and steal a few of her finest gowns. Elizabeth Strafford was about Cassia’s height, and very close to the same slender shape. She also had a king’s ransom in gowns, and she would not miss two or three.

One of the gowns stood out from the rest…an exquisite garment of turquoise color, and Guy could just imagine how beautiful Cassia would be in it. He could hardly wait to see it on her.

Riding up to the house, he saw her a distance away in the fields of wildflowers, with a basket on her arm. How perfect she looked at that moment, holding a tender blossom to her nose. Her long hair flowed freely down her back, occasionally ruffled by the breeze. He called to her and she turned, smiling as she came to him. As he slid from his horse, she teased him.

“I was beginning to wonder if you’d traveled to France without me.”

She threw her arms around him and kissed him, making a sweet little sound of pleasure that he gladly returned. Then he took her hand, leading her into the house. After she’d set her basket aside, he held one of the parcels out to her. She smiled, taking it with her to sit in front of the fireplace. When she untied the cords and removed the linen covering, her mouth fell open in surprise.

“Oh Guy, this is hardly the simple material I asked of you. These gowns are too exquisite.” She ran her hands over a dress of pale green silk, ornately patterned with leaves. The other was of dark purple velvet, embroidered with gold thread. She looked up at him, and he could see a protest coming. But he shushed her…and held out the other parcel.

She gave him a curious expression, taking it carefully from him. He watched as she untied the binding. And hedelighted at her little gasp when she saw what was inside…a gown of turquoise silk, decorated with hundreds of tiny gold beads.

“This will be your wedding gown,” he said. “I hope you find it pleasing enough.”

She rose slowly to her feet, clutching the elegant garment against her breast. He smiled in a smug way, quite happy with himself for having found something to please her…until he saw the tears in her eyes. Confused by her reaction, he reached out to take her hand, wanting to comfort her.

“What is wrong? Does the color not please you? Why are you not happy?”

Suddenly she fell into his arms, weeping softly into his shoulder. “I am happier than I have ever been in my life.”

He raised a curious eyebrow. Gently taking her by the shoulders, he held her a slight space away, studying her as she dabbed her eyes with her sleeve.

“These are tears of joy, then?”

She nodded, and as he gathered her against him once more, he smiled…but sighed as well. If he were to judge by her expression, he would never have guessed that she was as joyful as she said she was. Lord, he wondered if would ever understand the ways of women. They were such odd, complicated creatures…a riddle he was certain he would never solve.

*****

They spent another joyous night together, equally giving and taking from one another with all the passion of their previous times together. When the dawn broke, even Cassia was as unwilling to leave the bed as Guy, though she made several weak attempts to do so. He would not let her go, pulling her back each time she tried to move away. With small but persistent kisses he convinced her to linger, and they whispered and giggled like mischievous children. With her arms looped around his neck, she smiled up at him.

“Do you not think it sinful to be so lazy?”

Gently he pressed soft kisses across her face. “Yes, it is indeed sinful. Wholly wicked and shameful.”

She softly laughed as he pressed his face against her shoulder, wrapping his arms around her in a snug embrace. She knew they should rise and greet the day properly…but his arms were too inviting, his kisses too loving and gentle. This once, she let herself be truly spoiled by his attentions.

It was nearly noon before they chose to rise, and even when they were both dressed they found it impossible to stay apart. He pressed her back against the bedpost, running his fingers through her hair as he admired her beautiful face. He was just about to lean in for one more kiss when he heard a sound that rent the air like a knife.

“GISBORNE!”

They froze as one, their heads both whipping towards the sound…and then they on ofed at each other. Fear, cold and undeniable, shined in both of their eyes. And they both knew the reckoning had come.

In an instant Guy was moving, taking her by the hand. He headed for the window…only to stop when he saw two of Briwere’s guards close by, keeping watch at the back the house, positioned just by the door of the kitchen. If there were guards waiting there, then there were guards all around them. They were surrounded. Guy looked at Cassia, terrified.

“I must go out and confront them.”

Her reaction was instant, and furious. “Are you out of your mind? Do you think you can take on an entire swarm of men all alone?”

“I have no choice!”

“There is always a choice, you fool! And I will not give you up that easily!”

He could see the wheels spinning in her mind, but she gave him little time to study her further. Grasping his hand, she pulled him along with her. Opening the bedroom door just a hair, she peered out to see if anyone was in the hall. Finding it empty, she moved along carefully to the front room, where she crouched down low and pulled Guy down with her, keeping below the level of the windows. Pausing for only a moment to reach his longbow and quiver, which she thrust at him, they slinked past the front room and around the corner. Moving down the servant passageway they came to the kitchen, where keeping low, they could see the two guards just outside the window. Guy looked at them, then at Cassia, wondering what fool thing she had in mind.

“Make your aim true,” she said.

He realized that from this position, he could shoot with perfect aim and the guards would never know what was coming. But what then? How could they manage to cross the open field without being spotted?

“Do not waste time thinking,” she whispered. “If we do not make for the woods now, we may not have another chance.”

He knew she was right. To slink away, without facing the enemy head-on, was cowardly. But if they wanted to get away, it was their only choice.aking careful aim, he set his sights on the first guard. His arrow flew, striking its target in through the neck. As the body fell, the other guard hardly had time to react before an arrow pierced his neck as well.

Taking her hand again, he moved to the door. He opened it cautiously, realizing that just because he’d only seen two men watching the back door, it didn’t mean there weren’t more. Peering around the corner of the house, he counted eight guards along with Briwere. The odds were stacked so high against them. If he tried to stand and fight, he would surely lose. If they both tried to run, they might be spotted and captured. But there was no other choice. It was either run for the woods, or stay and be found.

“Go!” He gave her a push. She hesitated for a moment…and then she ran like a doe in flight. When she was safely across, he let out a sigh of relief. Now it was his turn, and he took in a deep breath. He ran for it, trying to stay low in the tall grass, hoping to get by unnoticed.

But just as he reached the trees he heard a shout from somewhere behind him.

“Seize them!”

His blood went cold at the sound, knowing that escape was impossible now. And yet he ran, unwilling to give up until the bitter end…and that end came suddenly, with a searing pain through his thigh muscle. In agony he fell to his knees, an arrow lodged deep into the back of his left leg. From a distance in front of him heard Cassia scream his name, and then she was at his side. But forcefully he pushed her away.

“Leave me!” he demanded. “Get away!”
With equal force she shouted back at him. “I will not leave you here!”

In a moment they were surrounded, swords and arrows pointed at them. From behind the soldiers came Briwere, clucking his tongue as he wagged his head.

“Is this not a pretty picture? Two lovebirds clinging together. What a shame to break up such a happy pair.” There was a long pause as he sneered down at them. Then he snapped his fingers. “Take them both.”

Two men snatched Guy. He tried to hold fast to Cassia, struggling against the hands of the guards, but it was a useless effort. They were wrenched apart, and both of them had their hands bound tightly with rope. Briwere gestured at Guy’s leg, commanding one of the guards…