The Troubadour's Romance (35 page)

She shook her head.
“
If there were any need, I would not withhold that from you. But it serves only my shame to name him. Rest assured he is a noble sire and there is no reason to be wary of future generations. If I named him to you, you would be well pleased with the strength of his blood, but I beg you not to ask it of me. Some pain still comes of my sin.
”

He shook his head in some delighted confusion.
“
I don
’
t know, lady, whether to thank you or cast you out. I have never liked being meddled with to this extent, regardless of the intention.
”

“
I need no thanks and it will not be necessary to cast me out. Tis time I returned to my home. I will soon leave Segeland, when there is no further need for me here.
”
She turned quietly away, as if to go back to her bed. Then turning back to him, she spoke softly.
“
I waited for your return, my lord, to be assured that you knew everything due you. I meant you no injury and would only see you prosper ... and with you, your young wife. Please believe this to be truth.
”

Royce took two large steps, took the candle from her hand, and held her elbow. He looked down into her eyes, gentleness and understanding in his.
“
Stay, Lady Vero
nique,
”
he whispered.
“
I won
’
t tell her.
”

She smiled at the sympathy.
“
I fear I shall never leave if I
allow myself to stay now. And this is my place for only a short while longer.

He escorted her up the first step, planning to light her way up the stairs.
“
It becomes more your place with each day, lady. And should you choose to tell Felise the truth, I think she would be pleased.
”

Vespera stopped sharply and looked at him with a pained expression.
“
Ah! But do you not see, Royce? When your heart aches with love, just the fear of having it thrust away is enough to frighten the boldest from spilling their simple truth.
”

He gently touched her cheekbone with his knuckle.
“
Surely, dearest lady, we were born under twin stars,
”
he whispered.

“
We share many things, Royce.
”
She smiled.
“
The most important being our love for yon lady. Keep her well, I beg you.
”

As they gained the top of the stairs, a shadow caused Royce to stiffen. A man stood outside his wife
’
s door. Sir Hewe came out of the darkness and his sleepy face shone in the candlelight.

“
You guard her door as she sleeps?
”
Royce questioned, his hackles rising as he considered the need for this.

Vespera quickly touched his arm.
“
Did you not order Sir Hewe to keep the lady safe beyond all question?
”
She looked pointedly at Hewe.
“
The knight does you honor as your vassal, my lord, for he does not rest even when all seems at ease. But now you are home, Sir Hewe can light me to my chamber and you may rest beside your wife to make sure she is well and safe.
”
She took the candle from Royce
’
s hand and gave it to Hewe.
“
You will wish to sleep, and Sir Hewe can speak to you on the morrow. That is soon enough to discuss estate affairs, is it not?
”

“
My lord,
”
Hewe began, seemingly ready to launch into a long discussion, but he stopped abruptly and smiled.
“
The morrow is soon enough,
”
he finally said. He took Vespera
’
s arm and led her away down the hall, leaving Royce outside
Felise
’
s door.

When
Felise
’
s chamber door softly opened, the hearth vents high on the wall created a cool breeze and she stirred,
sleepily wondering why Vespera shuffled around in the darkness. She murmured softly in her sleep and pulled the quilt more tightly around her.

Perhaps because of her depth of sleep, the touch of a hand on her hair did not startle her. She rolled in half-sleep and looked up at him, breathing his name.

“
Royce.
”

She saw his large physique and tousled hair in profile above her, and at her sleepy sigh, he lowered himself to sit on the bed. A single candle barely lit the room from near the door and his image was dark. But she would have known his touch, scent, and silhouette in the blackest cavern.
“
I am sorry to disturb you,
”
he whispered.

“
I would be disturbed had you failed to come,
”
she said, opening her arms to him.

He grasped her quickly to him, kissing her fiercely, and her mind whirled in joyful pleasure. She held him as tightly, yielding more in her drowsiness than she could have in the cool evening and in full consciousness. She knew she lacked the courage when fully awake to invite him to her this openly, yet she had dreamed of this moment for what seemed like years. Not a day had passed since they left the Chaney house that she hadn
’
t craved his touch, the wonder of his lips on her flesh, the sensation of his naked power pressing her down into the bed.

And strangely, she did not feel ashamed or shy of these passions that filled her, but rather proud of them.

Royce pulled away to shed his clothing, and although his body was shielded by the darkness, she drank in what she could see of him and became only more courageous with these new feelings. She boldly surveyed his body with her eyes and glowed at what she saw. She heard the sound of her own soft laughter as if it came from across the room. Throwing back the coverlet to let him within, she said,
“
My lord, you come home to me starved.
‘
Tis well. Come, husband.
”

“
Do not become vain,
”
he gently teased, tempting a round breast with tender fingers.
“
Perhaps there was noth
ing better along the road.
”

She kissed his ear and neck and chest.
“
Your oafish remarks are ill timed,
”
she whispered.

“
Thus far,
”
he murmured, caressing her with playful strokes down the length of her body,
“
my timing is perfect.
”

She moaned softly, turning in his arms, hungrier for him than she had ever hungered in her life. It had been fear, she thought as she touched him as bravely as he touched her. It had been the fear that they would never again share this that had plagued her. She had been lulled by the more desirable duties of a wife and then had suffered as they were cruelly revoked, replaced only by distance and labor. Long before he left for France she had wanted his strong arms, powerful fingers, hard and heavy thighs, yet he had placed himself sullenly apart from her. Since her arrival at Segeland, she had felt more like a servant than a wife.

She let her hands roam over his muscular back and caress his mighty arms. She turned her face and kissed the fingers that touched her hair. She stroked his hips and thighs lovingly, all the while kissing and nibbling his shoulder, neck, and ear. Never, she thought desperately, you must never shun my bed again.

She opened her body and heart to him, pulling him into her, demanding as she had never dared before, and glowing all over as she heard his sigh of pleasure. She locked slender fingers into the thick hair at the back of his head and rode with him, their ardor mounting in speed and determination.

His sighs were accompanied by the quickening of her gasps as she held him, met him, gave with him, and took from him. And suddenly a wild frenetic bursting shower of fire and ice consumed her.

“
Royce!
”

She clutched him as if the joy were painful in its crescen
do and might never end, until, it ebbing some small bit, she shivered at the wonder of this strange, new sensation.

He murmured thick, barely intelligible words into her hair and neck, holding her damp body tightly. Felise thought of the power she had just experienced and nearly collapsed in delighted confusion. But he was not yet full of her and moved again, a rhythmic pace that slowly built to a demanding thrusting until the explosive pleasure was his, causing him to convulse, shudder, and collapse upon her.

She held him, gently stroking his neck and back as though she tended him in recovery. She had never in all her
imaginings contemplated this kind of intimate joy. A whole new world had just been briefly observed. It was as though the curtain had been lifted on the black sky and a universe of stars never seen before had come into her sight. She had wondered before how it w
as she was lured to his lovemak
ing, and even why she should crave his touch, finding the pleasant sensations strangely lacking. She chuckled softly as she considered that if this was the benefit of sharing his bed, she would rarely be without a round belly.

“
I am not alone in my need,
”
he whispered, his breath playing teasing little games against her ear that caused her to tremble.

“
Aye, but you were alone with the knowledge,
”
she said, amazed at the brazen laugh in her voice. She would not have believed such adventure could be found with him.

They lay quietly for a while, simply enjoying the moist warmth of their exhausted bodies pressed closely together. When he would have rolled away from her, she stopped him.
“
Don
’
t...
”

Still, he eased his weight and lay on his side beside her, drawing a moan of despair as he left her body.
“
You will become spoiled,
”
he said.

“
I beg it. My labors have earned meaning.
”

“
Who has schooled you in my absence, wench?
”
he asked. She turned her face toward him, detecting a note of playful cynicism in his voice.

“
‘
Twas not Colbert,
”
she laughed.
“
That grand sheriff fears God and the Testament more than a monk would. Could it have been Hewe? Nay, the boy blushes and runs in fear of your sword. Or Trumble? But that honorable old stag needs a full skin of wine to speak without a stutter to the peevish maid Daria.
”

“
Whoever,
”
he said, kissing her ear.
“
Remind me to thank him.
”

“
Royce,
”
she asked seriously,
“
will you leave me again?
”

“
May I return to you thusly?
”
he countered.

“
If I swear that you need not journey far to receive a decent welcome in your home, will you stay?
”

“
I have no pressing duties.
”

“
Nay, my lord, I mean ..
. Royce, I do not relish your anger. I do not wish to earn your presence with hardship
and long partings.
”
She paused and bit her lip.
“
A husband true
--
that is my desire.
”

He lowered his mouth to hers and his kiss was deep and meaningful.
“
Can you keep the Twyford knights from guarding my door at night?
”
he asked.

“
They are gone, but in their place you will find other distractions.
”

“
Who could draw my attention from your affection, lady? Is the queen in residence?
”

Felise drew in her breath and willed herself further bravery.
“
Nay, messire.
‘
Tis the lady Celeste.
”

Royce instantly stiffened, caught completely off guard by the news. Many thoughts assailed him. He had sent a short note apologizing to Celeste, a letter of explanation to her father, and nothing at all to Boltof. He had avoided her very carefully while in London prior to his journey to Aquitaine. And now he returned to this.
“
Here?
”

“
And Sir Boltof. They have been here for nearly a week.
”