Page 31

A cold smile curved his lips, pulling the muscles taut across his cheekbones. “It seems Lord Stephen also discovered the brigands’ location. He sent word ahead to his knights at Malvern.”

“That is good, is it not? Travelers on our roads at last will be safe.”

“You do not ask how it is Lord Stephen found out.”

“I-I presume he has informants just as you do.”

“Aye, that he does. Men who are loyal to him. And people who would betray me.”

“Betray you?” An uneasy feeling swept down her spine. “I cannot see how something that has helped you get rid of the Ferret can possibly be seen as a betrayal.”

Around them, men and servants grew silent as a tension settled over the hall. “Is that what you did, Caryn? Helped me?”

“I-I do not know what you mean.”

He gripped the top of her arms and hauled her close. “I am tired of playing games. We both know you told Malvern about the Ferret’s camp. We both know you have once more betrayed me!”

Caryn gasped. “That is not so!”

“’Tis the God’s truth, Caryn. What I cannot understand is why you would aid a man like Stephen.”

“I did not do it to aid him!”

His fingers dug into her shoulders. “By Christ, you are my wife! Your loyalty belongs to me!”

“I am not your wife—you said so yourself! Lynette is more wife to you than I am.” She hadn’t meant to say the words, yet in truth she discovered she meant them.

For the first time, Ral fell silent. Then a bitter smile twisted his lips. “In this you are correct. Speaking the vows does not make a marriage. ’Tis the joining that counts and that has not yet been done. This night that will change.”

“But I don’t—”

He released his hold on her arms. “Return upstairs to your chamber. Prepare yourself to receive me in your bed.”

“What!”

“You heard me. Do as I command.”

“But you made a promise.”

“Only a fool does nothing to correct his mistakes.”

“But—”

“Go, damn you!”

Lifting her skirts up out of the way, Caryn raced across the hall to the stairs, then ran down the passage to her chamber. Slamming the door behind her, she sagged against the thick rough wood, desperate for its support.

Sweet Mary, Mother of God. She glanced at the bed, her limbs quaking, then listened for the sound of Ral’s footsteps coming up the stairs. Her chest heaved, her palms felt damp, and her heart slammed so hard against her ribs she could barely hear herself think.

Blessed Virgin, what should I do?

A brief knock sounded, making her jump, and Marta walked in. The older woman looked frail but resigned, not nearly as undone as Caryn. “Lord Ral sent me to attend you.”

“Marta—thank God you have come.” She went into the small woman’s arms and they tightened briefly around her. “I am frightened. I have never seen him so angry.”

Marta set her away. “Can you blame him? You have made him look the fool.”

“I did not mean to.”

Marta harrumphed. “Turn around.” Working by habit, she began to strip off Caryn’s clothes, removing her tunic and the chainse she wore beneath, leaving on just her linen camise.

“’Twas a foolish thing you did,” Marta said on a sigh. “But at least ’twill put an end to your problem.”

Caryn’s head came up. “My problem? What do you mean?”

The old woman smiled, deepening the lines at the corners of her mouth. “Has it not been your wish to become Lord Ral’s wife in truth?”

“Aye, but—”

“This night your wish will be granted.”

She digested that for a while. Indeed, it was what she had wanted. “But he is so angry.”

“’Tis the price you must pay for your foolishness.”

It was hard to argue with that. She hadn’t thought how Ral would feel, how it would look to his men. Of course, she had hoped he wouldn’t find out.

“’Twill hurt you some,” Marta said. “Lord Ral is a very big man.”

Caryn felt an uneasy chill. “Bretta told me what must occur.”

“Try to sooth his temper. ’Twill go the easier, should he be gentle.”

Caryn nodded. Soothing the dark Norman’s mood was never an easy task. “I will try.”

Marta led her to the table against the wall, picked up the bristle brush and stroked it through Caryn’s long auburn hair. It calmed her some, as Marta meant it to, her smooth strokes even as she fanned the heavy mass around her shoulders. Then she set the brush back down on the table.

“’Twill only increase his ire, should you keep him waiting.”

Caryn nodded, more uncertain by the moment. Nervously wetting her lips, she tried not to think what would happen once Marta had gone.

“He is a good man,” the old woman said. “No matter what happens, do not forget that.” Marta left the room, her footsteps slowly fading, and Caryn’s worry increased.

She started to pace, but in less time than it took to cross the floor, the latch flew up on the door and her tall dark husband strode in.

He had bathed, she saw; his thick black hair curled damply at the back of his simple brown tunic.

He looked as handsome as he always did, as proud and determined—and not an ounce of his anger had faded.

“I wondered would you try to escape. Had you, I would have dragged you back in here by the hair of your head.”

Caryn swallowed hard. “I did not wish to escape.”

“Oh?” A bold black brow arched upward. “I should think a wife who betrays her husband would hardly wish to bed him.”

A heaviness settled in her chest. “I did not think to betray you.”

Ral ignored her words as if she hadn’t spoken, but a muscle jumped in his cheek. “Where I am from, we sleep in naught. Remove your garment so that I may see you.”

The heaviness grew, becoming a sharp-edged pain. When she just stood there, staring into the handsome face now twisted with malice, Ral stepped forward. His fingers bit into the soft linen fabric and he ripped the gown down the front. “I said remove it!”

She did as he said with trembling fingers, letting the gown pool softly at her feet, leaving her naked, keeping her head held high and willing herself not to weep.

“Turn around. Slowly. I would see what you have kept hidden from me for so long.”

She did as he commanded, careful not to look at him, wishing her heart didn’t hurt and that this night could be different, that it might be filled with caring and passion as she had imagined .

“I would know why you betrayed me,” he said when she faced him once more, his gray eyes hard and probing. “You are not Stephen’s whore, are you?”

She should have been angry at his words. Instead her insides felt leaden. “Nay.”

“Get in bed and open your legs.”

Something clenched inside her. She felt a burning behind her eyes, and though she tried to will it not to, a tear slid down her cheek.

“I will do whatever it is that you wish, my lord. But I would have you know that I did not intend to betray you. Leofric said that the Ferret was a cutthroat. He said good knights and men-at-arms had fallen to his blade. I was worried for your safety and for that of your men. I did not think it mattered, which of you put the Ferret’s raiding to an end. ”

Removing his clothes with angry, jerking motions, Ral suddenly went still. He tossed aside his tunic and turned in her direction. “You are saying you know naught of the bounty?”

“What bounty?”

Ral searched her face, her big dark eyes and soft trembling lips.

He saw the pain etched in her features, the regret, and the sorrow.

The bounty was not common knowledge, though ’twas no secret, either.

Still, he had not told her the importance of his mission, had never bothered to explain.

The anger in his heart began to ease, allowing the haze of his fury to fade, allowing him to think.

“The king has offered the land,” he said, “the demesme between here and Malvern, in return for the head of the Ferret.”

Caryn straightened. “The land you promised to the people of the village?”

“Aye.”

“Dear God in heaven.”

“You are saying you did not know?”

“I meant only to help you,” she said softly. “ I would see Malvern’s men dead before those of Braxston Keep.”

Ral studied her long and hard. “Why should I believe you?” He wanted to. Christ’s blood, he had never wanted anything more. Her eyes came to rest on his face, velvet brown in the light of the candles.

“Because I loathe Stephen de Montreale even more than you do. Because I love the people in my village and I would never wish them harm. Because you are my husband, and I wanted you returned safely home.”

Did she mean it? Did he dare to trust her again? Yet the look in her eyes told him she spoke the truth. Ral took a steadying breath and something eased around his heart.

He reached toward her, ran his knuckles along her jaw, saw her uncertainty and the hope that sprang to life in her face. “Get into bed. What you have said does not change what must happen here this eve.” He pulled back the covers. “Only the way it will happen.”

Something in the gesture must have helped to ease her fears for some of the tension drained from her shoulders. “Aye, my lord.”

She did as he instructed, climbing up beneath the blankets, then watching as he walked to the door and called for a servant to bring them some wine.

A few minutes later, a page appeared, carrying a jug and two tall pewter goblets.

Ral waited for the boy to leave, filled the goblets, then strode to the side of the bed.

“Drink this. ’Twill help you to relax.”

She accepted the drink with hands a little unsteady, then did as he instructed, downing a goodly portion while he drank only a sip. Instead he pulled off his chainse, untied the garters on his chausses and removed them, and joined her naked on the bed.

She was staring at the covers, her face turned modestly away. He cupped her chin with his hand and forced her to look at him .

“Again we have suffered misunderstandings. I would not see it happen again.” He felt her agreement in the faintest nodding of her head. “From this day forward, you are my wife. Your loyalty belongs to me.”

“My loyalty has been yours since the day I learned the truth of what happened to my sister.”