Vengeance 03 - Believe In Me (20 page)

Nothing.

He looked again at Cristiana, wishing he could get through to her, wanting only to draw her into his arms and never let her go. He longed to see her smile light up her face, to feel her body pressed against his.

She met his gaze for a
brief moment, her expression shuttered then looked away.

The idea of leaving without her was unbearable.
His chest tightened as he stared.

Henry cleared his throat, a sure sign that the silence had
gone on too long.

“Where will we find Father
Daniel?” William asked reluctantly.

The bishop answered and all too soon, it was time to take their leave.

Unable to resist, William moved to Cristiana and took her hand, sliding his thumb along her palm. “Good day, my lady.”

She bit her lip
again and darted a glance at him. “Good day, sir.”

“This is far from over,” he whispered
for her ears only.

Her eyes widened in alarm. Before she could
protest, he turned to the bishop, bowed and left the chamber with Henry directly behind him.

But his heart remained with Cristiana.

***

“The
venison was especially delicious, don’t you think?” Father Daniel asked as he escorted Cristiana to her chamber that evening. A guard trailed directly behind them.

The bishop had advised her that once she’d earned his trust and proved she would truly cooperate, she’d gain her freedom. She hadn’t bothered to argue with him. That would serve no purpose.

“Indeed,” Cristiana murmured, trying to think of what had been served.

“The sauce on the venison was seasoned with something unusual.
Nutmeg, perhaps?”

Cristiana didn’t remember eating venison, so she hoped
he didn’t require an answer. Food was the last thing on her mind. All she could see was the stunned look on William’s face when she’d advised him she would be remaining with the bishop.

Despite his whispered promise that this wasn’t over, s
he hoped she’d been convincing enough that he’d leave Longsbury for his next mission whatever that might be. That was where he’d be safe.

Far away from
here.

Far away from
her.

But some small part of her had wanted him to see through her lie and take her away.
To defy the bishop and declare his undying love for her. To exchange promises and kisses with her. To plan a future.

Together.

She stopped in shock as she realized the truth: she loved William.

She loved him body and soul
, with all of her heart.

Seeing him
earlier and worrying over how much danger he could be in had shaken her to the core.

“Is something amiss?”
Father Daniel asked.

“
Nay,” Cristiana denied and began to walk again.

Her heart raced at the revelation. The love inside her felt fragile and delicate
—something she had to protect at all costs.

“You
were very quiet in the hall.”

“I have a lot on my mind.”
And on my heart, she silently added.

“Your time would be better spent showing the bishop that you have truly had a change of heart.”

Cristiana sighed. How could she do that when she hadn’t? “I am doing my best not to offend him. Believe me.” Soon she’d be healing those willing to pay the most for her abilities. The very idea of it made her ill.

“He
will soon arrange a good marriage for you.”

She almost laughed. Somehow, she doubted the bishop would do any such thing. He
’d want to keep her nearby. She couldn’t imagine any husband who would allow her to heal people as the bishop directed. If there was such a man, she didn’t want anything to do with him.

She didn’t bother
disagreeing with Father Daniel.

“Sleep well,
my lady.” He smiled as he opened her chamber door.

“You as well, Father.” She stepped inside and heard the lock click. A low fire cast a warm glow of light in the chamber, its flickering light causing shadows to move around the walls.

Hopelessness crashed over her as the reality of her precarious position sunk in. How long could she live like this? Locked in her chamber with no one to help her, befriend her, or to love her.

Tears filled her eyes as she longed for William. Already she missed
him—his humor, his smile, his warm eyes, and especially his arms wrapped around her. She’d never expected to find someone who filled her with such longing for what she’d always known couldn’t be.

A movement caught her eye, but before she could turn, a hand covered her mouth and she was
held tight against someone.

“Not one word,” a gruff voice whispered in her ear.

William was well aware he was scaring the hell out of Cristiana. In all honesty, he didn’t care. He was angry with her for not leaving with him when he’d given her the chance, for putting him through such misery.

Now the choice was out of her hands.

“Quiet,” he warned her again as he continued to hold her tight against him. He drew a breath only to capture the sweet scent of her hair. Desire speared through him, taking him by surprise.

He must’ve loosened his hold, for she
escaped his hands and spun to face him.

“William?” she whispered
incredulously as she caught sight of him.

“Were you expecting someone else?”

“How did you get in here?”

“T
he same way we’re getting out.”

“I told you
before—I’ve decided to remain with the bishop.”

“Why?” In reality, it didn’t matter what her answer was. She wasn’t staying.

“Well...I... That is to say, the bishop and I have come to an understanding.”

“Truly.”
He didn’t bother to keep the sarcasm out of his tone. She was lying and he knew it.

She lifted her chin.
“Truly.”

“Very well then.”
He stepped forward, grasped her hand, and bent to pull her body over his shoulder.

“William! What are you about?”

“Quiet. You don’t want to raise the alarm. There’s a guard outside your door.” He held her tight despite her struggles as he strode to the window.

“You think I don’t know that?” she asked, her voice muffled.
“Let me go!”

He pushed open the shutters and peered into the darkness.

“Throw her down,” Henry called out softly from below. “I’ll catch her.”

“Don’t you dare,” Cristiana
warned as she struggled even harder.

“He’s merely jesting,” William whispered. “No
w stop or I might drop you.”

The wriggling form over his shoulder immediately
stilled.

He smiled. If Cristiana had been able to see it, she might’ve struggled harder.

He threw a leg over the window, lowered Cristiana off his shoulder to cradle her in his arms.

She looked up at him with
eyes wide, her expression horrified. “William, you can’t do this.”

“Remember, be quiet.”

“You must let me go.”

“All right.”
Then he released her, relishing the shock on her face. Thank goodness she didn’t scream.

Henry caught her, staggering under her weight.

William lowered himself to a nearby ledge and made his way to the ladder they’d borrowed from the cathedral workers earlier. Already he could hear Cristiana berating Henry. He was pleased she kept her voice down. If she truly wanted to escape them, she would’ve screamed at the top of her lungs.

Within moments, he
reached the ground only to find his hands full of an angry Cristiana.

“
Damn you! What do you think you’re doing?” She pummeled his chest. “You’re ruining everything.”

He grabbed her
fists and pulled her close before she did anything to hurt either of them. Unable to resist, he pressed his lips to hers, letting his passion for her surface briefly, drawing a response from her. His action silenced her quite effectively. “We’re leaving,” he whispered.

“Nay.
I refuse to go.”

Keeping her tight against him, he turned toward the horses,
glancing about as he walked. Henry laid the ladder on the ground so no one could see it without searching. No guards were posted on this side of the manor house, but that didn’t mean one wouldn’t stroll by at any moment.

“I’m not going
anywhere.” She dug in her heels.

Not in the mood to argue, he simply lifted her in his arms,
enjoying the feel of her against him.

“William, I know you can hear me.”

He saw no need to respond to such an obvious statement.

“Do not ignore me.”

“Never,” he promised.

The horses
waited where they’d left them, and he began to hope their mission would be successful.

Henry gave Cristiana a grin. “So glad you decided to join us, my lady.”

The growl of frustration low in her throat was rather surprising coming from a lady.

William
set her down beside his steed, leaving her in Henry’s care while he mounted. Henry lifted her onto the horse before she realized his intent.

“We must hurry before the city gate is closed for the night,” Henry said as he moved toward his horse. “Go. I’ll be directly behind you
.”

“William, I am not going with you,” Cristiana said
despite her position on the horse in front of him.

“
Fine.” Why argue with her when he so clearly had the upper hand? He kneed his horse, hoping their escape would remain unnoticed.

“I am serious. I cannot go with you. Please,” she begged, turning to look at him.

He could hear the tears in her voice and was grateful darkness hid her face. How ironic that she asked to remain with the bishop when previously she had asked the very opposite.

If only he’d listened to her
then—but that did not mean she was correct now.

“Cristiana, you must trust me. I
—” He stopped himself before he said too much. This was not the time to declare his love, not when they were in so much danger. “I care for you and would never see you come to harm.”

“You don’t understand. I need to stay here.”

“Why? Give me a logical answer and I will take you back to your chamber. No one will even know you left.”

Her profile was just visible in the dim torchlight. Her mouth opened and closed several times as though she wasn’t sure how to answer.

That was good enough for him. She had no answer.

He put his arm around her waist and drew her back against him
. She felt so right there. He couldn’t imagine ever letting her go.

Nor did he plan to.

With a smile on his face, he left the manor house with Henry riding at his side.

***

Cristiana shivered, the damp cold seeping through her thin kirtle as they rode quickly through the city. William pulled his cloak around her, but his thoughtful action only confused her more.

What was she to do now?

Her heart wanted to stay right where she was—in William’s arms. But her mind told her she had to return to the bishop’s with all haste. William’s life was at stake.

“William
—”

“Nay, Cristiana. I am not taking you back.”

“But—”

“You and I both know it’s not safe for you there anymore.”

“It’s not safe for you if I don’t return.”

“What do you mean?”

She explained the bishop’s threat, leaving out how he’d also threatened to declare her a witch. Why give William anything else to worry over?

“Cristiana?” He said her name so solemnly that she shifted to look at him, his features barely visible in the dark. “
While I appreciate your desire to protect me, it is not necessary. I can take care of myself.”

A lump formed in her throat, preventing her from responding. How could she explain that his life meant more to her than her own?

He settled her back against him and once again tucked his cloak around her. His concern for her warmed her from the inside out. She shook her head at her warring emotions. She well knew that if she’d screamed, guards would’ve come running. Yet how could she when there was no place else she’d rather be?

“Where are we going?” Cristiana asked
after they’d passed through the city gate.

“Not far.”

“Not far at all, my lady,” Henry added. “You’ll soon be sitting before a warm fire. We’ve found an excellent place to hide.”

“Oh?” The
humor she heard in his voice made her wonder what they were up to.

“
Indeed. A place Bishop Duval will never look for us.”

She looked back
at William. “Where?”

“His holding
just outside the city.”

“Are you crazed?
We’re going to try to hide under his nose?”

Henry
chucked. “Brilliant, isn’t it?”

William shrugged. “Chances are
he won’t search for us there. He has a holding just north of Longsbury. There’s an empty cottage on the outskirts of the small village there. ’Tis tucked along the edge of the woods by itself. It will be perfect for our needs.”

“This seems like a terrible plan,” Cristiana said as she leaned against William
, her worry growing.

If only she’d been able to think of a reason for staying with the bishop
, William and Henry would be safe now. But William had seen through her attempt to lie. He’d come to know her so well despite their brief time together.

Though tempted to
try again to convince him to take her back to the manor, she had the feeling it was too late. Surely her absence had been discovered by now.

“We have much to discuss, you and I.” William’s words rumbled
through her.

She nodded in agreement
yet couldn’t help but wonder what he meant.

Fo
r now, the comfort of his arms around her, the swaying of the horse, the quiet of the night, all worked to calm her. In reality, there was no place she’d rather be.

The moon had risen; its warm light a welcome sight as it traveled the night sky.
Soon they took a well-worn narrow path that veered off the road toward the woods.

The thatched roof of a small cottage came into view. They rode the horses around to the back
where a small shelter stood.

William dismou
nted and reached up to aid her.

“I
still can’t believe you dropped me,” she said as he set her on the ground. “That took years off my life.”

“You frightened me when you announced you were staying with the bishop.
That makes us even.”

She bit her lip, uncertain how to respond. It was so tempting to tell him
all of it, to lean on someone so strong and capable. But she didn’t want him to worry about her. There was still a chance she could convince him to return her to the bishop’s. He and Henry could leave Longsbury for good, put all this behind them, and live long, happy lives.

Without her.

William’s hands remained on her waist, his fingers warm through her kirtle. She couldn’t see his expression in the dark but felt the intensity of his regard.

“I’ll see to the horses,” Henry said. “You can get settled inside.”

Keeping his arm around her, William guided her to the front of the cottage. They walked slowly, unable to see much of anything.

“Wait here,” he told her after they’d entered and shut the door behind them
, enclosing them in the darkness. “I’ll start the fire.”

The place smelled a bit musty, but the pleasant fragrance of dried herbs lingered in the air.

Flames lit the area, revealing William kneeling in the center of the room before a fire on a raised hearth.

“That was quick,
” she said.

“Henry and I found the place
a few days ago and laid the fire then.” He remained crouched by the hearth, looking up at her, his brown eyes golden in the firelight.

Her heart did a slow roll in her chest. Being with him now after she thought she might never
see him again was overwhelming.

He
rose, his gaze steady on hers, and came forward to draw her closer to the fire. “’Tis warmer over here.”

’Tis
warmer anywhere you are
, she wanted to reply. Instead she drew a deep breath as she dropped his gaze, attempting to gather her thoughts so she could convince him to return her to the manor house.

“Cristiana?” His whisper shivered through her, scattering
the few arguments of which she’d thought.

She had no choice but to look up at him again.

And was lost.

The heat in his gaze was far warmer than the fire. He released one of her hands to
touch her cheek. Her heart felt as though it might beat its way out of her chest even as butterflies danced in her belly. Love swelled through her, filling her entire being.

He bent toward her slowly, forcing her
to close her eyes. With bated breath, she anticipated the press of his lips against hers.

First
came a kiss on her forehead, so sweet, so tender that it brought tears to her eyes. A kiss on one cheek, then the other, put a lump in her throat. Overwhelmed by the gentleness this powerful knight offered her, she opened her eyes.