not have destroyed d?Ambray completely??
Warrick shrugged, looking again toward the spot where Rowena had stood, but was
now gone.
?Mayhap I am growing tired of constant war. Too many things have been neglected
in the pursuit of it. My daughters have lacked proper guidance, my lands are
barely known to me. God?s blood, I traveled warily across Seaxdale to reach
Tures and did not even know ?twas my own fief. And I have neglected the getting
of a son?
?Oh, aye, and you are so old that ?tis nearly too late to?
?Go to hell, Sheldon.?
The older man chuckled before his expression turned serious again.
?I am sorry about Isabella. I know you were pleased in your choice of her.?
Warrick waved that aside.
?Verily, I should be furious with the lady, and with her father for forcing her
into deceit when he knew her heart was well set on another. But instead I feel
almostreliefto have it ended, particularly since ?tis plain that she would not
have suited me as well as I had thought.?
?And mayhap you have someone else in mind already to replace her??
It took a moment for Warrick to realize whom Sheldon referred to, but then he
scowled.
?Nay, you are mistaken. Never would I honor that little witch with?
?Aye, you wouldif she gives you the son you desire.?
A picture of Rowena with a babe in her arms came to Warrick?s mind and filled
him with such longing he was shaken by it. But the precepts he had lived by for
half his life had refused to let anyone escape retribution after doing him a
harm, much less benefit in the end.
He shook his head adamantly.
? Tis inconceivable that?
But Sheldon held up a hand, interrupting yet again.
?Speak not words that you will then feel forced to adhere to.?
And before Warrick did so anyway, he added ?I will see you anon, my friend.?
Warrick stared after Sheldon with his darkest scowl yet. There had been times
when he had regretted that his manner kept him almost friendless, except for
Sheldon, who had known him from before his tragedies and understood what drove
him. Then there were times when he was quite certain ?twas better to be
friendlesslike now.
Chapter 32
Warrick was not in one of his better moods when he entered the hall late that
afternoon. And there was Emma to remind him that he had not yet seen to the
matter of her transformation. He called her to him now as he headed for the
empty hearth area. There were only two chairs amongst the many stools, reserved
only for him and his guests, or for his daughters. That he motioned Emma into
one of them as he took the other brought a wary look to her face, and made him
realize that she did not consider herself a member of his family any more than
he had ever thought of her as such.
That he thought of it now did not bother him unduly. Bastards were a fact of
life, and very few ever rose above the stigma of their births or the serfdom of
their mothers, unless they had a royal sireor no legitimate siblings.
Emma was, as far as he knew, his only bastard, if he did not count the one
growing in Rowena?s belly. Though she must be nigh six and ten, he had only
known of her existence these past few years. Possibly he would have done better
by her if he had given her more thought, but he had rarely been home since she
had come to his attention, and rarely had he had other than war on his minduntil
now.
He stared at her, noting what Sheldon had so easily seen, that she was indeed
more like him than either of his other two daughters. There was strength in her
face and bearing which the other two lacked. Even her eyes and hair were exactly
the shades that his were, except whereas his eyes could be coldly chilling and
most times were, hers held a warmth that lent a certain beauty to her face.
He noted also that she did not fidget under his direct regard. Had he stared at
Melisant this long without speaking, she would have burst into tears. Beatrix
would have started volunteering excuses for whatever she had recently done wrong,
without waiting to hear an accusation made. Emma just quietly sat there and
stared back at him, though she was unwise at ease. Courage, then, that he had
not expected. Mayhap she would do well for young Richard after all.
Warrick did not think to ease lightly into the subject. His first words to her
were ?Sheldon de Vere has a son who wants you.?
?Is it Richard you speak of??
He nodded.
?Had you knowledge of his intent??
?None.?
?But I take it you have had some converse with him, else he would not have asked
specifically for you.?
?He has sought me out each time he comes here with his father.?
?To steal kisses, no doubt.?
Warrick snorted.
?Are you still a virgin, girl??
Her cheeks pinkened, though her gaze remained locked to his, and her lips turned
down at the corners.
?No man here will even look at me, for fear of you.?
Warrick grinned at her chagrin.
?I am pleased to hear it. Richard will no doubt be even more pleased. But before
I agree to give you to him, you will have much to learn so you will not bring
shame to his family.?
She stared at him incredulously.
?You intend to have me taught the ways of a whore??
He frowned.
?What have I said that could lead you to think so??
?You say he wants me and you intend to give me to him. If not as his leman, then
what??
Warrick?s lips turned down in disgust, but at himself.
?I suppose I cannot fault you for thinking so. But ?tis his wife you will be, if
you can be taught the ways of a lady.?
?Wife?? She merely mouthed the word without sound, her surprise was so great.
But when the implications of that word fully sank in, her face lit up with a
radiant joy, her smile nigh blinding.
?To Sir Richard?? r.
?If? he started to reiterate, but she would have none of that.
?There is no if, my lord. Whatever needs be learned I will learn. Doubt it not.?
For the first time in his life, Warrick felt pride in one of his children,
something he had not expected to know until he had a son. Her determination he
did not doubt. Her capability, however, remained to be seen.
But for her sake, he wanted her to succeed. To that end, he was now reluctant to
order Rowena to the task of teaching her. Rowena?s current behavior might not
speak of held grudges, yet was there much that he had done to her that she might
still resent. He had done naught that had not been deserved, yet the way a woman?s
mind worked was not to be trusted. The possibility was there that she might
teach Emma incorrectly just to get even with him.
?Lady Roberta wouldst be the likely choice,? he remarked thoughtfully, but
before he could state why she would not be acceptable, Emma did.
?She would not do it,? Emma said, some of the radiant glow leaving her face.
?She despises me, andand I am not so sure she knows aught more than stitchery.
Tis all she finds important?
Warrick?s chuckle cut her off.
?There is much to be sa
id for a fine stitch, but I mention the lady as the
likely choice only in that she is already employed in that capacity, and so ?twould
be idealyet do I agree that she would object to teaching you. As an alternative,
I believe Rowena can help you in this area do you ask her.?
?But she has so many duties now? She did not finish because he was frowning
again, and he was frowning because he had not realized he had overburdened the
wench. Rowena had said nay, that she was not being overtaxed in her laborsyet.
But had she lied to him? What did he know of servants and what was considered a
normal work load? He had never had the directing of anyone other than his men.
But now that he thought of it, even Mistress Blouet had looked at him strangely
when he had mentioned everything that he wanted Rowena to do. All he had
considered at the time was to give her tasks that he felt she would object to,
because they were as near to wifely duties as he could think of. Putting her in
the weaving room had merely been an afterthought so it would not appear that she
served only him.
?Her other duties will be lightened to give her ample time to devote to youif
she agrees to the task.?
?I will be most grateful for her help, but should you not be the one to approach
her on this matter, rather than I??
Warrick grunted.
?She would not do me any favors, Emma, and for me to insistsuffice it to say,
you are like to get more from her in asking than I would get for you in ordering
her to teach you.?
It occurred to him, finally, that his daughter had not once questioned his
choice of tutor, and he asked ?You knew she was a lady??
?Twas Emma?s turn to frown with her correction.
?But she still is. Tis not something you can take from her merely because you?
She blushed, amending ?I am sorry, my lord. Was no one to guess? We have
wondered why you treat her so, but ?tis your affair.?
The censure in her tone had him nearly growling.
?Exactlymy affair and not to be questioned, so wonder about it no more.?
But he knew before he finished speaking that ?twas guilt that had struck a sour
note in him. God?s blood, now Rowena even made him feel guilt, when he had, in
truth, been more lenient with her than she deserved. When he thought of what he
could have demanded of herher very life! Nay, he would not feel guilty over his
treatment of her.
To speak of the devil, Rowena came up from the kitchen just then, drawing his
attention instantly with that damn red chemise, which he promised himself he was
going to burn one of these days. She noticed him almost immediately as well,
only she then turned swiftly about to return whence she came. Running from him
now, was she? Aye, mayhap she felt she ought to after the foolishness she had
instigated that morn with Isabella.
But now that he had seen her, he knew he could no longer concentrate on Emma, so
he dismissed her with the admonishment to wait until after he was gone on the
morrow to make her request of Rowena. Thusly he would not have to order Rowdna?s
duties lessened; they would be so with his absence. And hopefully when he
returned from killing d?Ambray, she would have developed a routine of working
with Emma that he could then allow to continue.
No sooner had Emma left than Rowena reappeared and headed toward him with a
pitcher of ale in one hand and a tankard to receive it in the other. She was
managing to surprise him again with her willingness to serve him without being
summoned to. Or did she feel she needed to do some amends making? Aye,?twas
likely that, and rightly so. God?s blood, the wench had bitten him without a
thought to how he would react. And it had been no small nibble either. The
muscle that she had sunk her teeth into was still sore. Her daringhe admired,
damned if he did not. But she was not to know that. She?
? came to a sudden halt halfway to the hearth, her attention gone elsewhere.
Warrick turned to see what had distracted her, but ?twas no more than Beatrix
entering the hall with a servant in tow. Yet when he looked at Rowena again, she
appeared stricken for a moment, then resigned; then even that she shook off. He
glanced at Beatrix again, frowning, unable to see what had caused Rowena to
react that way. And then he noticed the cerulean blue bliaut his daughter was
wearing, a gown much too fancy for one of such tender years, nor what he was
accustomed to seeing her wear. Twas deeply cut in front, designed mayhap to
display a special chemise underneath, though the chemise Beatrix wore with it
was unremarkable, obviously not a match to the outer gown.
He made the connection, but wished he had not. The bliaut was Rowena?s, cut down
thought he would feel when he had first decided to give Rowena?s clothes away to
trample her pride and self worth? He was uncomfortable with what he did feel
instead. The gesture had worked. She was actually hurt to see her clothes on
another. And now he had the urge to rip the gown off Beatrix and hand it back to
Rowenawhich, of course, he could not do.
Devil be damned, he liked not these thirfgs she made him feel. More guilt now,
and ?twas becoming annoying that such an unfamiliar feeling was getting in the
way of what had been a perfectly plotted revenge. Which was why he snapped at
Rowena when she finally reached him.
?I am sorely displeased with you, wench.?
Her eyes flared slightly before she replied briskly ?So I can see, my lord. You
wear your emotions most eloquently as usual.?
His scowl got a little darker as he pointed out ?Yet you do not tremble before
me.?
She shrugged, setting the ale down on the table next to him instead of offering
it, as she?d intended.
?You point out frequently how stupid I am.?
?Or very clever,? he said sourly.
She laughed at that.
?As you wish, my lord. I am adaptable.?
?We shall see how adaptable you are after we discuss your most recent
transgressions of the morn. Mayhap you thought I wouldst forget your behavior
before the Lady Isabella. You bit me, wench.?
Rowena made a valiant effort to conceal her grin, but failed.
?Did I??
?You know very well you did. You also disobeyed me.?
That had a more serious sound to it, so she quipped ?And a good thing, too. ?You
might have wanted the lady to find me in your bed, but I would have been quite
embarrassed by it.?
?That matters not?
?I see,? she cut in stiffly, her amusement gone completely.
?Then I am to assume that humiliation is no longer to be used as a means to
punish me, merely will it be mine now to experience at any time.?
?Do not put words?
She stopped him yet again.
?Nay. I understand perfectly.?
She whipped around to leave him, but he caught her long single braid as it swung
past his face. He pulled it slowly until she was forced to bend over, their
heads nearly touching.
?Indignation is misplaced in a serf,? he said in soft warning.
?Did you forget you are my serf??
She waited
a half breath before she whispered back ?Never would I forget that I
am yours, my lord.?
Her sapphire eyes held such sensual promise as they met his that, coupled with
her words, Warrick?s manhood warmed and swelled in full appreciation. He
wondered if she did it apurposeor if she even knew what effect she had on him.
Were they alone, she would find out quickly enough.
He released her braid, needing distance between them before he made a fool of
himself by carrying her straightaway to his bed. But she did not move back as he
expected, and her fingers lightly touched the back of his hand in what was
clearly a caress.
?May I ask a boon, my lord??
He stiffened, recalling how Celia had always waited until he was so hot to have
her that he could deny her naught. Even so, he said ?Ask.?
She leaned even closer to whisper by his ear ?You have made it my duty, but what
I want is to explore your body at my leisureas I did before. Will you lie down
for me without chains to bind you and let me touch you as I would like??