Page 29 of The Sword and the Damsel (The De Veres #2)

A lais opened an eye and squinted at the window to see the light of dawn peeking in. Victor shifted in bed beside her. Nearly every day since being reunited, they had started their day making tender love. She hoped today would be no exception. Her body hungered for him with a ferocity she never thought possible. If she’d thought the marriage bed would tame her appetites, she was wrong. Very wrong.

His hand, resting on her breast, began to move, and she felt hot breath and lazy kisses on her neck and shoulder. His arousal pressed against her bottom in the most delicious way, and she squirmed against him, wanting more. He laughed sleepily, pinching her nipple, and letting his hand drift down.

“Eager this morning, aren’t you, wife?” His hand found its destination. “Oh, and so wet for me. God’s wounds.”

He strained against her as his fingers parted her folds and found that secret spot that sent lightning bolts through her. And with that, she lost the ability to form conscious thoughts. Everything was reduced to a wave of blissful sensation.

Was she making too much noise? Perhaps. And she didn’t care. All that mattered was the man turning her and settling himself between her legs. A moment later, he was inside her, and she lost her mind. Everything was heat and longing and belonging. She was his. His. His.

Each thrust brought her closer to the edge. Soon everything was lost in a burst of heat and light. She felt his spasm within her. They collapsed together, a tangle of arms and legs.

“I love starting my day this way,” she said, enjoying the feel of his chest beneath her hands.

“Are you ready for today?” He tucked a stray hair behind her ear.

“You mean for our shopping expedition?”

“Yes. You don’t have to do this, you know.” He must have said it at least ten times last night. If he thought he was going to talk her out of this, he was sorely mistaken.

“I do have to do this. I couldn’t stand to stay behind while you faced him. He’s wronged me as much as he’s wronged you.”

He kissed her forehead. “I know. And I think you’re very brave.”

“You say that as if it didn’t require bravery on your part.”

Smiling and pulling her close, he said, “It doesn’t. Not like it does for you. I’m a fighter. I know I’m at least his equal with a sword, if not better. You, however, are defenseless.”

She pulled back and looked at him. Really?

He thought she was defenseless after everything she’d been through? “Not entirely. After all, I did manage to escape his clutches once all on my own, and I didn’t even have a weapon that time. This time, I’ll have a knife.”

Victor laughed. “See what I mean? Brave. When you were in peril beyond any you’d faced in your life, you fought back with every means at your disposal, ignoring how the odds were against you. You’re the bravest woman I’ve ever met.” He kissed her cheek. “And the most intelligent.”

He kissed her neck. “And the most beautiful.” He kissed her shoulder.

“Mmm. You had better stop or we won’t make it out of here on time to meet the Watch.”

He nipped at her shoulder. “Let them wait.”

“Now you’re being ridiculous,” she said, pushing away with a playful grin. She got out of bed and went over to her trunk, well aware of his reverent eyes caressing her body. As she pulled on her shift, he made a little noise of disappointment.

“We need to finish this business with Robert so that I can have the uninterrupted time with you that I think we both deserve after all that’s happened,” he said, getting out of bed and pulling on his breeches.

Soon they were dressed and downstairs, eating a hasty breakfast before going out to meet the Watch.

Victor took her to a low stone building across a courtyard. When she entered, she saw twenty men arrayed around a long trestle table. The walls were hung with weapons. What was that wicked-looking curved one for, she wondered. It was exciting to see the Watch at work. This was a world she was rarely allowed to enter, being strictly the domain of men. About half of the men were familiar to her—knights that had traveled with them from Winchelsea. The other half were strangers, and they all wore the insignia of the archbishop.

A tall, burly man with a thick black beard stood at the head of the table. When they came in, he bowed and mumbled, “My lord, my lady,” and gestured for them to be seated.

“Gentlemen,” the man said in a voice that carried the length of the room. “My name is Dagobert. I oversee the Watch here in Canterbury. Sir Victor and I planned today’s operation last night, and I will be taking the lead as we carry it out.” He nodded to Victor.

“Men of Winchelsea,” Victor said, “You will follow Dagobert’s orders as if they were my own.” Some of the men shifted, but none of them said a word.

Dagobert pinned a map of the city to the wall with a dagger. “We are attempting to lure out a known criminal by the name of Sir Robert. Sir Victor, can you provide a description?”

“He’s the same height and build as me and looks enough like me to be my brother, but with curly hair. His eyes are a lighter shade of blue than mine.”

The men of Winchelsea, at least, knew very well what Sir Robert looked like. His performance in the recent tournament was memorable.

“To lure him out, Sir Victor and Lady Alais will go on a shopping expedition here,” Dagobert said, pointing at the map. “We have reason to believe Sir Robert may attempt an attack on them if he thinks them unprotected and unwary. We will remain out of sight stationed here, here, and here,” he said, pointing again. “If at any point you see a disturbance or hear either of them yell Sir Robert’s name, you are to intervene and capture the man. If we are unsuccessful at luring him out, we will enter the Black Rooster Inn and take him. Expect armed resistance if we do so. Sir Robert is known to employ armed men, and the inn is also headquarters for a criminal named Matthew who we have been unsuccessful at quelling to date. If you have an opportunity to take Matthew or any of his men, you are encouraged to do so.”

At that moment, Sir Elias swept in the door, and all heads turned. “Yes, please put an end to this Matthew. He has plagued Canterbury and other cities long enough. I will be joining today’s mission to see to it that we are successful.” There were murmurs of surprise at this announcement from the Canterbury men. Apparently, the archbishop’s right-hand man didn’t often bother himself with the Watch.

“We are honored, my lord,” said Dagobert with a bow. Turning back to the men, he continued, “To avoid arousing suspicion, we will stagger when the groups go out. You will all wear plain woolen cloaks to hide your insignia and allow you to blend in with the citizens of Canterbury. If you are wearing armor, please remove it. A stout leather jerkin should suffice for this work.

To maintain the illusion that we are simple men going about their business, group one will be playing dice. Group two will be pretending to repair a broken cart. Group three will be haggling over horses. Any questions?

No? Good. Group one leaves in ten minutes. Let’s divide you up.”

Dagobert went among the men, tapping them on the shoulder and directing them into groupings. “I will lead group one,” he said. “Jacques will lead group two. Sir Elias will lead group three.”

Alais watched as one by one the groups departed. She felt butterflies in her stomach as the moment approached for her to depart with Victor. This was one of the most dangerous things she’d ever done in her life. Why couldn’t she just stay at the archbishop’s palace in safety like any normal woman in her position would?

But then she felt the comforting pressure of the dagger tied to her leg. It gave her courage. She could do this. Especially because Victor would be by her side every step.

I want revenge on Robert for all he’s done to me and to Victor. How dare he try to kill the man I love! I can and will face him one last time.

“Are you ready?” Victor asked at last.

“I’m ready.”

In the courtyard, they mounted and rode at a leisurely pace to the beginning of their route. Tying up their horses and paying an enterprising youth to watch over them, they headed to their first stop—a milliner’s. It was larger and grander than any she’d seen, even in Hastings. For a moment, she forgot her peril and marveled at the array of hats and headpieces in every possible color and design. There were gorgeous gorgets, beautiful barbettes, and cauls with jeweled nets to hold one’s hair in place. There were horned, heart-shaped, and cone-shaped headdresses in every imaginable fabric. There were scarves and wimples in every shade and shape.

She gave Victor a questioning look, and he smiled. “Choose whatever you like, my love.” The shopkeeper looked her and Victor up and down and rubbed his hands together in glee. Alais allowed herself to be swept away as the shopkeeper proudly displayed his wares. She almost forgot the danger she was in as she tried on one headdress after another. By the time she was done, the merchant had three large bundles to deliver to the archbishop’s palace, and the man positively glowed as Victor counted out the coins.

“Was it too much?” she asked tentatively as they strolled up the street to their next stop. “I forgot I’m not supposed to be enjoying myself.”

Victor shook his head. “You know I love to spoil you. Besides, what would I do with your dowry if not spend it on you? I already had more than I could ever need for myself. If hats make you happy, then hats you shall have. I confess I can’t afford three large bundles at this next store, though,” he said, nodding to a jeweler. “But sometimes the best things come in small packages.”

In the jewelry store, Victor took the lead, asking the jeweler to show them his finest pieces and having Alais try on one after another. She could hardly believe how sumptuous and extravagant these pieces were. She felt like a queen as she tried them on.

“I like the rubies,” Victor said after she’d tried on half a dozen necklaces that would not have looked amiss on Queen Eleanor herself. “You always look stunning in red.”

“Oh, Victor. That was my favorite too!”

“We’ll take the ruby necklace and the matching earrings and bracelet,” Victor said to the jeweler who smiled so widely it looked like his face might split in half.

As they left the shop, Alais had a prickly feeling on the back of her neck as if she was being watched. She tightened her grip on Victor’s arm. “I saw him too,” he murmured so that only she could hear. “Let’s get you safely in the dress shop, and I’ll deal with him.”

Her stomach was in knots as they stepped into a large fabric and dress shop with a wide array of gowns in various styles and colors on display. Some of the designs were quite innovative and lovely, unlike anything Alais had seen. “Buy whatever pleases your fancy, my love,” Victor said loudly in front of the overjoyed shopkeeper, handing Alais his purse. “I have some business to attend to.” He kissed her on the forehead and was gone. Alais had a moment of panic before she composed herself. She didn’t like to be separated from him, especially knowing he was going into danger. But this was what they’d agreed to. She would be brave and follow the plan.

Gathering herself, she looked at the shopkeeper. “This is a very interesting design over here,” she said, gesturing. “Would it be possible for me to try it on to see how the style suits me?”

Smiling, the shopkeeper said, “Of course, my lady. It may not be exactly your size, but we can tailor anything to your exact specifications, and, of course, we can make it in any fabric you desire. Here. I have a little room back here where you can change.”

Alais followed the shopkeeper back into the depths of the shop to a curtained-off area. The shopkeeper handed her the dress and went away. As she was tightening the ties at the side of the gown, a strong arm grabbed her from behind, and a hand clapped over her mouth. For a moment, she froze in terror.

“Left you all alone and undefended again, has he?” Sir Robert murmured in her ear.

Alais screamed with all her might and bit his hand.

“Stop that,” he hissed, and she felt the sharp bite of a cold blade at her neck. “You’re coming with me.”