Velvet & steel (9 page)

For some reason, sleep eluded Royce that night. He sat before the huge fireplace alone, his long legs stretched before him and a glass of wine in his hand which he kept filled from a bottle next to his chair.

His gaze was fixed on the glowing embers, and he heard no one approach until a voice came from just behind him.

"You cannot find rest tonight, Lord?"

Royce turned to look up into Oriel's face and observed that she was dressed for bed. Her garb left little to the imagination. He also had to admit that Oriel was an attractive woman. He wanted to condemn her for her obvious cruelty to Cerise, but he too, had been cruel in his own way.

"I find it easier to think when I am not abed" Royce replied. He rose and offered her a stool nearby. Deliberately Oriel put herself between him and the fire, in the hope that she could stir his senses.

"You have weighty things to consider, my lord. It will not be easy to control the Saxon swine hereabout. Of course, William has chosen well. Your reputation must have assured him that you knew what force it would take to put these heathens in their proper place, and make them understand that resistance would only lead to their deaths."

"You think it wise to rule with force?"

"It is the only thing they understand. They are defeated, and William rules. If they do not learn obedience, then it is their own destruction they will understand."

"Lady Oriel, I have found it is easier to rule living and productive people. Their deaths will only make fewer hands to serve this manor. It is easier to rule justly, and show what mercy you can."

"If you show justice, they will take advantage. Lady Lynette is an example. Already she has taken over your child's care without showing any consideration for your thoughts. She would raise herself above her station."

"Her station?" Royce questioned. But Oriel missed entirely the gleam of annoyance in his eyes.

"Aye, Lord. She is but a slave here. You must use an iron hand or she will believe she rules here, not you." Oriel smiled as if they were sharing a confidence. "If you give her freedom, she will take more and more. Then she will turn loyal men and women against you. One day she will bring revolt. She pretends submission, but she will begin with those you trust most. Only this morning I met Sir Robert coming from her chamber."

Royce laughed softly. "You think Robert would turn traitor?"

"Who is to say what men will do... given the right incentive?"

"Lady Lynette's reputation has preceded her. She is not free with her favors, nor has she been accused of that by any lips."

"There are none but her own surrounding her... until now. Other knights at your table look upon her with favor."

"They may look, Lady Oriel. What lusty man does not? But there are none who would betray me ... and Lady Lynette is a woman who is wise enough to know the consequences should she have such ideas."

"And... what would be the consequences to her should she do so?"

"That," he said thoughtfully, "would be in William's hands."

"Yes"—Oriel smiled—"I thought it might." She rose, and Royce rose at the same time. They stood inches from each other, and the delicate scent of her came to him. But he was as surprised at his lack of reaction as she was.

"It is very late, Lady Oriel, and I would not want to bring your brother's anger to the point of challenge. Sleep well."

Oriel was sorely disappointed, but she smiled and left him there. He wondered if he could have taken her... and if he would have found any satisfaction if he had. He doubted it.

Annoyed with himself, he tossed the last of his wine into the fireplace and heard it sizzle as he strode toward the stairs.

He dreamed that night, strange dreams he could not understand. In them, the vision of Sybella he had clung to faded into childlike eyes of lavender blue .. . and then silken strands of hair the color of ripe wheat.

He woke in the morning far from rested, and tried, to push the unwanted dreams from his mind. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he wasn't surprised to find Lynette already waiting for him.

"And I thought you were an early riser, my lord. I have been waiting this past hour for you," she teased. "I am about to perish from hunger. We were to break our fast together, but I was about to eat alone."

"I am sorry, my lady," he replied with a smile, "but I shall make up for my tardiness. I am interested in seeing if your abilities live up to the praise your father has given. I can judge firsthand the loyalty you have acquired."

"You will find the people willing and able, my lord. And you will find them loyal to my father and to me."

"And to William soon, through me. Lady Lynette, you would be wise to urge your people to give their loyalty to those who rule these lands now."

"Do you believe I would jeopardize one life to thwart William, when I know he has the power to destroy everyone living here? Do you think me a fool, my lord?"

"Nay," Royce laughed. "I would never be so unobservant as to think you a fool. In fact, I am in your debt."

"If you mean Cerise, you owe me no debt. She is a pleasure to care for."

They started into the main room as they spoke, and Royce paused to look closely at Lynette again, as if he was considering whether she spoke the truth or not.

She smiled. "It is true. She is a very sweet child." "Come, let us break our fast. There is much to be done. I should like to see the accounts today also."

The meal was hasty, a crust of bread and cheese washed down with ale, and soon they were in the saddle.

They rode for some time, and Lynette was well aware that he was watching her closely.

"I do not understand you," he finally said. "You are ... different from what I expected you to be."

"And what did you expect? A fierce woman waiting at the gates of Creganwald with a sword in her hand? It is an amusing thought, but in combat I hardly think I could stand against you."

"And so you believe there are other ways to do battle?"

"Mayhap you seek battle where none exists. This land has been in my family for long years. I value it, and the people who live and work upon it. I would not see them suffer needlessly. Not if—"

"Not if you sacrifice yourself in marriage, and bring peace here," he finished.

"Sacrifice? Did I suggest such a thing?" Her look was one of such innocence that Royce laughed. It had been a long time since he had laughed so freely. It was a surprise to him.

Again they rode in silence, and she knew he was lost in thoughts that did not especially please him. Was he thinking of the woman he had loved so fiercely that her loss would make him want to lay down his life?

Royce's thoughts were confused. He wanted this girl's resistance, and instead she gave him smiles to fight against. How could he make her understand that a true marriage between them was impossible? He lived with a ghost that would not free him, and he did not welcome any other woman's presence in his life.

What made matters worse was that though she rode beside him, her horse was just a stride or two ahead, and he could not keep his eyes off her. She rode well, as he had noticed before. She was also quite beautiful. She had been angry at Oriel's treatment of Cerise, and had stormed at him that she would bear no child of his. He hoped that refusal was still in her mind. He preferred her anger and resistance to her docile submission.

William had given him a month's reprieve before the marriage, and had told him to bring her to London. But he intended to take her to London before that. There were many knights in William's service, knights who would willingly take his place as Lynette's husband. If Lynette were to find another, one who was acceptable to William... The king might be willing to replace Royce.

He would show her to the court, and the court to her. Like any young woman, she would be excited. Once she had won another heart or so, he would broach the subject to William. Time was what he needed ... time.

Lynette's thoughts were more on him than he would ever know. She had been prepared to hate him, to do battle in every way possible. The taking of Creganwald by the Norman horde had created resistance. But Lynette's realistic assessment of her home, her father, and her responsibilities made her strong and quite capable of doing what was necessary to protect them. A woman had never had choices about marriage, and she knew she could have fared much worse than being promised to Royce.

She was also surprised at how aware of him she was. It was not the fact that he was the handsomest man she had ever seen. A handsome face could cover a great deal of evil. No, it was the shadows in his eyes, and the bitter hurt she had seen when he looked at Cerise. He was wounded and carried a scar that could not be seen, but that bled with every beat of his heart.

She looked at the hands that held his reins, and saw the power of them. They were large, his fingers long and shapely. She could feel again the strength with which he had held her. Those hands could wield a sword with ease, but she sensed they could be gentle and warm. The thought was surprisingly unsettling.

This brought another memory. That firm mouth upon hers, creating a sensation she had never experienced before, and that hard frame molded to hers, causing a confusing emotion that she found very hard to put from her mind.

One day he would be her husband, the man she would live with, sleep with, and whose children she would bear. She was again shocked that the idea caused no fear in her. Was she falling in love with this hard and seemingly ungiving man?

Another thought came unbidden ... it would not prove a difficult thing to do. She already knew he was not the fierce and vengeful man that rumor portrayed, and she wondered if he did not use that reputation as a shield for his own protection.

The lands around Creganwald that would be in his control ran for miles along the shore, and if one turned inland, the miles were just as many. It was much too large a holding to cover in one day's ride, and Royce knew it. But he meant to see the shore defenses, to speak to some of the serfs, and to understand Lynette better by observing the care she had given to those who served her.

At every stop, she was shown a deference that came not from force but from true devotion. He was well aware of the regard in which she was held. Many times she was approached unreservedly by those who served her, and was asked questions to which she gave honest answers.

He listened as she asked after the health of this child or that man. She advised remedies and offered help to those who were ill. He kept his silence, but missed little. And his regard for her grew with every mile they covered.

It was nearing time for the sun to set when they found themselves at the edge of a small cliff that overlooked the calm harbor. From here they would return to the hall. But for a few minutes they had stopped to rest the horses, and to enjoy the view. He lifted her from her horse, and they walked together to the cliff edge.

They stood for a few minutes simply enjoying the breathtaking view. The sun was a red glow on the horizon, and the sky seemed to be painted by the brush of a master painter in hues of purple, gold, crimson, and shades of blue.

He turned to face her and was instantly held by the picture she made. Strands of her hair, loosened by the breeze, blew across her cheeks, and the mist of the water made a dewy softness on her creamy skin. Her eyes were full of a kind of pride. This land might be owned by William now, but her heart lay here forever.

As he gazed at her, another face formed like a shadow over hers. He had known a maid as fair, and he had taken her life. He would not do so again.

"It is always beautiful," she half whispered.

"Even when the cold is upon it as now?" he asked with a smile.

"Aye, even then."

"Lynette ... I would leave for London within the next five days."

She turned to look up at him, surprise in her eyes. "I had thought William expected us just before the marriage."

"Aye, he does. I had thought to go early. The court is an interesting place. Perhaps you would enjoy some time there before you are wed and your duties keep you here."

Lynette had the feeling that he had left a great deal unsaid, and it puzzled her. Yet his eyes held no sign of duplicity.

"You are anxious to return to court?"

"A bit," he lied without a sign.

"Perhaps to see if there is another more promising reward for your devotion to William than the meager lands of Creganwald?"

That she had struck to the heart of the matter so quickly shook him a bit, but he returned her question with a smile. "Perhaps."

"Perhaps I can be of help to you." She returned his smile with the same honesty.

"I had thought you might."

"You would see me choose a maid to warm your bed in place of me? Would you then, if I found such a maid, release me from our promise?"

"That is not for me to decide," he retorted. "William wants this manor held in his name. I am certain there are many who would covet these lands. If you find one to your liking, maybe William will listen, and grant you a choice."

"But you must have a... better reward before you release your hold on Creganwald."

"Aye, you have struck to the heart of it. I am not a wealthy knight, like some who have a banner to fight under. I have given my sword to William in the promise of reward. If you can find another ... of better circumstances ..." He shrugged.

Lynette could happily have run him through with his own sword if she could have lifted its weight.

"I will look forward to our trip to London, my lord. Trust that I will study each maid very carefully. It is my fervent prayer that I may find the foolish girl, and guide you to her as rapidly as possible."

"You are angry, my lady? I but thought to give you choice as to who is to rule here." He needed her anger, and meant to push it beyond the area of reason... before she considered the possibility that he might be using her for his own purposes.

Royce did not know that Robert had told Lynette more of the story than he himself would ever have revealed. He was sure that she believed he was looking for another with more wealth than she held.