?Lady before she became my prisoner. Now she is the wench who will bear my next
bastard.?
Rowena sank her teeth into the back of his armhardto thank him for that
unnecessary disclosure. He moved not a muscle to acknowledge he had even felt it.
?I see,? Isabella said coolly.
?Do you finally? Good. Mayhap now you will explain why you found it necessary to
follow me in here with this tale of childhood lovers when I expressly told you
in the hall that I was not interested in hearing it. Think you that your love is
a requisite of our marriage??
The brutal coldness in his tone made Isabella pale even more. Rowena, behind him
again, winced and felt a moment?s pity for the other woman.
?II had hoped to make you understand,? Isabella said miserably.
?Indeed do I understand. You love me not. I care not. Love does not happen to be
what I require of you.?
?Nay, Warrick, you do not understand at all. I cannot wed you now. II am already
wed to Miles.?
A long silence followed. Rowena was shocked. She could not begin to imagine what
Warrick must feel.
His voice, however, was amazingly mild when he finally asked ?Then what do you
here, with your father, who seems to think he brought you here for a wedding??
Rowena stepped to Warrick?s side, too curious now to miss a word of this. The
lady was wringing her hands, but Rowena was surprised to see that Warrick did
not seem to be as disturbed by this news as he should be.
?When my father found me in London, Miles was sent to York on the king?s
business, so not with me. II could not tell Father the truth. He had forbade me
to see Miles again after he had refused his suit. He wanted you for a son
bymarriage. No one else would do.?
?Lady, I cared not for your father?s approval to wed you. Twas your consent I
asked for, and you gave it.?
?I was forced to give it. For the same reason, I could not tell my father I had
wed with the king?s blessing. Miles is Stephen?s man. I have given up much to
have him, but he is all I want. But my father, he would kill me if he knew what
I had done.?
?Think you that you have less to fear of me??
Rowena was sure the woman was going to faint, so horrified did she become at
that question. Rowena could have kicked Warrick herself for deliberately
frightening Isabella. And she did not doubt ?twas deliberate. She knew him well
enough now, and was too familiar herself with his ways of quick retaliation.
Isabella, obviously, was not.
Seeing someone else being the recipient of f VVarrick?s enmity was strange. Even
stranger was her desire to defuse his anger for his own sake.
?You will like his dungeon, Lady Isabella,? she said into the tense silence.
? Tis really quite cornfortable.?
Warrick looked at her as if she had gone mad. But Isabella just stared at her
blankly, not understanding what Rowena was implying.
?Well, you are going to toss her in your dungeon, are you not, my lord?? she
continued.
?Is that not where you put all females while you wait to see if they are?
?Rowena,? he began warningly.
She gave him a sweet smile.
?Aye, my lord??
Whatever he would have said would not come out while she was smiling at him like
that. He made a sound of exasperation instead, but when he glanced at Isabella
again, his expression was not as dark.
?So you hied yourself to London to wed your sweetheart?? he said to Isabella.
?Tell me, my lady, was this your plan when you journeyed to me, or did it
precipitate when I was delayed in meeting you??
Rowena held her breath, praying the woman?s answer was not going to add another
mark to her own list of transgressions. She was not that lucky.
been without hope. But when you were not there with your men, it did seem
fortuitous I mean Miles and I, we saw it as our only?
Isabella finally stopped, flushing furiously, but added after a moment ?I am
sorry, Warrick, truly. I did not mean to deceive you, but my father was so
desirous of a marriage to you.?
It was uncalled for, outrageous, but Rowena simply could not resist interjecting,
? Tis too bad he could not wed Warrick himself.?
She regretted the impulsive remark immediately. Levity was misplaced with such a
serious subject. Warrick could not appreciate it and would be enraged with her.
Isabella must think her crazy. And then Warrick burst into laughter. His eyes
caught Rowena?s surprised look and he laughed even harder. Twas Isabella who did
not appreciate it.
?How dare you make light of this?? she demanded of Rowena.
?My father is still like to kill me when he?
?Not if Warrick breaks your betrothal contract,? Rowena pointed out.
Warrick stopped laughing at that suggestion.
?God?s blood, ?twould start a war. Better she gets the beating she rightly
deserves and I assure Lord Reinard I am not aggrieved over the loss of her.?
?That does not relieve her plight,? Rowenc reminded him.
?Do you imagine, wench, that her difficulty is now a concern to me??
Rowena ignored that.
?The alliance was gooc enough for you, my lord. Are your daughters spoken for,
that one of them could not form tht alliance in your steadif the family has
unwed sons??
Warrick shook his head at her in bemusement.
?Get you gone about your duties, Rowena, ere you think to promise away my castle
as well. This matter does not concern youexcept for your own indirect part in
itwhich I am not like to forget.?
?Ah.?
She sighed, unimpressed with the warning.
?I see I am due for more of the dragon?s fire?
?Go!? he cut in, but his expression was not daunting. In fact, it was just short
of breaking into a grin.
She smiled at him for good measure and heard Isabella say before she closed the
door on them ? Twas an excellent suggestion she made, Warrick.?
?I am not surprised you wouldst think so, lady, as it solves your dilemma nicely.
It does not, however, get me the son I desired.?
Rowena did not wait around to hear the lady renew her apologies. But she left
wondering about the sex of the babe she carried. A son would be nice for a
firstborn, but a son was what Warrick wanted. The question was, would a son gain
her an offer of marriage, or guarantee her losing her firstborn child?
Chapter 31
Warrick was not sure what complexity the wench was perpetrating on him, but he
had already drawn the conclusion that he did not mind it. What Rowena hoped to
gain with her strange behavior he could not guess. Not that it mattered. What he
had planned for her would not changewell, mayhap only slightly, for he no longer
had any desire to make her suffer. Her puckish wit was also a pleasant surprise.
As solemn and determined as she had been at Kirkburough, he would not have
expected a playful side to her.
Kirkburough?twas not her town, nor would it be now. But for the first time, he
wondered who Rowena was and where she had come from.
?Have you spoken to the lady yet about Emma??
; Warrick turned from watching his men testing their skills against Sheldon?s
knights on the training field. For a moment he had no idea what his friend
referred tountil he saw whom Sheldon was staring at. Rowena was crossing the
bailey to the washhouse, her arms piled high with linens. So easily was she
noticeable, her long braid glittering in the sunlight, her bright red chemise
only visible at her neck, arms, and feet, but such a contrast to the drab dun
bliaut she wore. In no conceivable way did she look like the servants around her.
?Twas almost ridiculous to call her so, yet he would continue to do so,
regardless of how others sawi heror called her.
He was chagrined, however, that he had cornpletely forgotten the new task he had
agreed to give her. Obviously, when she was near him, his thoughts gravitated in
only one direction.
?With Isabella?s coming and going, there was no opportunity?
?Say no more,? Sheldon interrupted what was in truth a lame excuse.
? Tis appalling the treatment you have had from that family, and young Miles,
the boy must be mad to think he could steal your bride and not die for it. ?Tis
a shame. I know his father and?
?God?s blood, Sheldon, do not put deeds to my hand that have not entered my head.?
Sheldon stared at him so incredulously, Warrick flushed to the roots of his hair.
?You cannot mean to actually let the boy live after the ill he has done you. You?
Are you feeling quite well, Warrick??
Warrick was scowling before Sheldon finished, because his friend was absolutely
serious in his concern.
?I am in no wise addled, damn it. Merely do I not care overmuch that the lady is
lost to me. The alliance stands, since I have now promised Beatrix in my stead.
Lord Reinard is as satisfied as I with the end result. Verily, what have I lost
but the lady herself, who was already bespoke in her feelings, so would no doubt
have turned shrewish on me. In truth, I must thank Miles Fergant for his daring.?
Again Sheldon just stared, prompting Warrick to growl ?How is your arm, my
friend? Grown as rusty as mine has these past weeks??
Sheldon finally laughed.
?Do I dare refuse such a pleasantly expressed offer??
?I would not recommend it.?
?Then have at me,? Sheldon said, drawing his sword.
?Just do not suddenly forget that you are forgiving the Fergant whelp. The last
time you substituted me for one of your enemies, I did not rise from my bed for
a fortnight.?
Warrick cocked a brow as he drew his own sword.
?That bedridden time lengthens each time you make mention of it. Is it sympathy
you seek, or a light practice??
?The day you give anyone a light practice?
Sheldon did not finish as he met Warrick?s first swing. The clang of their
blades joined the others on the field, but soon only the two rang out as their
men quit their own sport to watch. Rowena watched through the open door of the
laundry, ignoring the bedding she had brought there to wash. Near the inner gate,
a messenger who had just arrived was now reluctant to deliver the challenge he
carried, when he was directed toward the two seasoned knights hacking at each
other in what appeared mortal combat.
High on the castle ramparts, Beatrix also watched her father, hoping he would
trip or err in his offense, thereby making a fool of himself. She was so furious
with him, she had already slapped two servants and caused her beloved Melisant
to cry.
Twas the horrid disappointment in having his betrothed arrive when Beatrix had
begun to think Isabella never would, and expecting the worst, a wedding within
days, only to be told a few hours later that her father was not to wed, that she
was insteadand into that family. The Malduits might have been good enough for
her father, but she could have aspired to a more lofty title, more power, more
wealth, an earl at the very least. But nay, she was to have a stripling of a boy,
only just knighted, who could not hope to inherit for many a year. She would not
even have her own castle, but was expected to live with her father by marriage.
Twas intolerable, and all because he decreed it so. She would, must make him
sorry for it. That he would dare do this to her?
Warrick sat up slowly, his pride more bruised than his arse. Sheldon stood over
him laughing, and with good reason. Never in Warrick?s life had he been taken so
unawares, like a squire with his first wooden sword in hand. Damn that flaxen
haired wench and her eyedrawing red chemise, not to mention that delectable body
it covered. He had no more than caught that flash of red out of the corner of
his eye, just enough to be drawn into looking furtherjust enough for Sheldon to
knock him off his feet as their blades connected low, the unprepared for impact
sending him backward, flat on the ground. And now she stood there, having
stopped across the yard to stare at his ignoble position on the ground, looking
as if she might be concerned, when ?twas more like she was fighting not to laugh,
as Sheldon was doing.
?You realize, do you not,? Sheldon said ?that my prowess in downing the dragon
will travel?
?Go to hell,? Warrick grunted as he rose to his feet, but added with a tight
smile ?Or better yet, do you care to try that again??
Sheldon backed up, still grinning.
?No fool stands before you, friend. I will take my laurels and quit whilst?
?A messenger, my lord,? Warrick?s bailiff interrupted at that point.
Warrick turned impatiently to the messenger, noting that he was too clean to
have traveled very far. He took the rolled parchment handed to him without the
least change in expression to indicate that he recognized the seal.
The messenger waited to repeat the words that he had set to memory, but the Lord
of Fulkhurst had no need of them, as he was reading the missive himselfor
pretending to, the man thought, smirking to himself. He assumed this since the
lord was not reacting properly to his master?s words of challenge. He was no
longer nervous either, after witnessing the Lord of Fulkhurst?s clumsiness on
the field. The feared dragon of the north obviously depended on his men to win
his battles for him.
The messenger was less sure of that opinion when Warrick met his gaze directly
with the most chilling gray eyes he had ever encountered. The renowned dragon
had a cruel look about him, too, damned if he did not.
?If your lord is so eager to die, I will oblige him, but at my leisure. You will
have my full answer anon.?
And with a wave Warrick dismissed the man.
Sheldon barely waited for the man to turn away before he asked with lifted brow
?Is it anyone I know whom you mean to dispatch??
?You do not know him, but you have certainly heard of him. Tis d?Ambray, and
with a new change in tactics. He now requests we meet at Gilly Field two days
hence to end the war between us with individual combat.?
Sheldon whistled through his teeth.
?The man must be as lacking in wits as his father was, to think you would not
know Gilly Field is a ripe setting for trickery. I had heard the same challenge
was issued to Walter Belleme, the old Lord of Ture
s. But when Belleme rode out
to accept, he was ambushed and murdered. Twas how the d?Ambrays gained Tures and
all it entails.?
?I am aware of that,? Warrick replied.
?And I have taken that prize from his collection. I had even entertained the
thought of letting him have the peace he sued forafter Ambray Castle is lost to
him.?
?So that is your next campaign, his own stronghold??
?Aye, but obviously I delayed too long in the taking, giving him ample time to
consider treachery as an alternative.?
?Mayhap, though you must admit, Warrick, that you are not an easy foe to stop
once you set out to destroy an enemy. Tis well known that no one prods the
dragon without getting burned. It has made more than one man consider murder
instead of fair means to defeat you, especially when Stephen will not lift a
hand against you.?
?Why should he? Half my enemies are his enemies, and he delights that I rid him
of them without cost to him.?
?True,? Sheldon agreed, then asked curiously ?Were you serious, that you would