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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © Samantha Holt, 2018
Borderland Bride
Samantha Holt
Chapter One
Northumbria, England 1368
Inhaling deeply, Jake clutched at the reins of his mount, slowly releasing his grip as the forest stilled around him. Alone.
The scratching of the scruffy hound interrupted the quiet, and Jake studied it with a wry smile. He’d be lucky to catch a rabbit, let alone a boar, with this flea-bitten mutt. The hound ceased his scratching and froze, his ears perking up. Jakes hands tensed on the reins once more, his muscles bunching as his pulse beat beneath his skin.
A howl breached the silence and the hound darted off through the undergrowth. Jake kicked at his mount. Hell, the mutt was quick. He could just pick out the sounds of scuffles and grunts under the heavy pounding of hooves. He grinned. Mayhap he would catch a boar after all.
The hound stopped unexpectedly, grinding to a halt in the dirt. His mount reared as they came upon a wall of bodies in the clearing. Jake looked at them in distaste. They were coarsely dressed and in need of a bath. The stench of them pervaded the fresh forest air
The men turned, one by one, and he noted the sweat upon their brows and their heavy gulps. Were they hunting too? Whatever they were kicking at, they knew well enough they should not have been.
He glared at them. “You are poaching on Lord Dominic’s land.”
They jumped simultaneously as his voice echoed through the silence and scattered in all directions. Jake cursed. Damn peasants knew his brother forbid hunting on his land.
Jake grabbed at the reins, making to give chase when a flash of color in the undergrowth caught his eye, a pale blue in amongst the fusion of greens. He jumped down and stepped gingerly over to where the peasants had stood. The blue fabric of a woman’s gown winked up at him. A swathe of auburn hair covered her face, the tumbling curls tangled around her. Gold strands glinted under the sunlight that crept through the trees and he gulped.
She lay unmoving, hands splayed on either side of her head. Jake’s stomach churned. If the peasants had found her like this it was likely they meant to relieve her of any possessions.
He knelt down beside her, noting the expensive fabric of her gown and delicate hands. Aye, her soft skin gave her away as a noble lady and it was likely any jewels she had were long gone. But what was she doing out here alone?
Carefully, he pulled aside her tresses. His heart gave jolt at the sight. She had taken a beating, one side of her face swollen and puffy. Great purpling welts circled her neck, fingerprints clearly visible. He cursed again. Had he just come across some murderous outlaws rather than the harmless peasants he had thought them to be? Anger boiled inside of him. If he had but given chase, he could have brought at least one of them to justice.
God’s blood, he dare not imagine what her last moments must have been like.
His throat tightened. What to do with her? He could not just leave her to rot in the woods. Jake studied her face once more with a sigh. A shame so fine a beauty should meet such an end. Even with the swelling in her face, it was clear she had been blessed with striking looks. Her unmarred cheek offered up smooth and creamy skin, and her dark lashes stood out in stark contrast. A slight scattering of freckles marched across her nose, just visible under the dried blood. Jake smiled sadly. He never understood why most women hated freckles. He thought them wonderfully enticing.
Brushing a finger across her cheek, Jake was surprised at the warmth of it. God’s teeth, if he had only come across her moments before he could have stopped such an atrocity. He pictured the men’s faces and swore he would avenge her. He would bring the outlaws to justice.
As he drew his hand away, an eyelid fluttered open. His heart leapt. Her other eye couldn’t open - it was too swollen to do so - but he could see the immediate panic in her expression. She struggled to turn onto her side to escape him, her injuries hampering her movements.
Fearing she would do herself further damage, he spoke soothingly to her. “Have no fear, lass. I’ll not harm you.”
Either her fear had consumed her or she didn’t understand him, because she continued to try to scrabble her way across the leaf-strewn ground, the dried foliage crunching as her hands clawed desperately at the soil.
Hastily, he wrapped his large hand around one arm, attempting to keep her still. She continued to struggle, in spite of her obvious pain, but her movements were limited and had little effect on his strong grip. Unsure of how to reassure her of his intentions, he grabbed at her other arm, trying to get her attention.
“Calm down, lass. I wish to help. You’ll do yourself an injury.”
She fell limp in his arms, not relaxing under his assurances, but seeming to tire of her exertions. The fear remained visibly etched on her face, but Jake took the opportunity to tuck an arm under her legs and the other under her neck so he could pull her into him. Jake thought she would scream, her mouth worked as if she meant to, but no sound came out.
He hauled her into his embrace, noting the blood that marred the side of her gown. Lord, she had suffered a thorough beating. His clenched his jaw, trying to control his anger lest the lass see it. Not that she could be much more afraid.
He held her for a few moments as her open eye clung to his face, awaiting whatever terror she expected him to release upon her. He attempted a reassuring smile but it had little effect. Och, not surprising. Jake was not known for smiling.
The panic in her face subsided, though it still lingered behind her pale blue eyes. He continued to murmur reassurances to her, hoping the message would eventually seep into her fear-stricken mind.
Exhaustion claimed her swiftly, her arms going limp, her eyelid growing heavy. She fought it, trying to keep her gaze fixed on him, a warning glint visible. His mouth twitched. She was a stubborn one. If she lived long enough, he suspected she would be a handful.
Clicking to his mount, he clambered to his feet, the auburn-haired maiden hanging lifelessly in his arms. The white destrier padded faithfully over and he tugged on the reins, gently pulling the steed to the ground so he could mount him easily with his delicate burden.
Jake directed the steed towards Thornewall, whistling to the hound, all the while praying the woman did not die in his arms. If he could keep her alive long enough, he could send for his brother’s physician once they reached Thornewall Castle. She could well have internal injuries and he could not risk aggravating them, so he forced himself to keep to a gentle trot, the dog nipping at his heels. At least they were but a few miles from his brother’s keep. As her soft body brushed against his chest, he clenched his jaw and willed the beautiful damsel to live.
~* * *~
They travelled rapidly across the rugged Northumbrian countryside, but the beauty of the jutting rocks and hills swathed with purple heather was lost on Isabel. Darkness and pain encompassed the whole of her world. She wished to block out her surroundings, to sink deeper into nothingness, but a tiny part of her mind insisted on fighting. She could feel her body jostling but she couldn’t comprehend the reason behind it.
H
er side stabbed in pain with each inhalation and it seemed as if every part of her throbbed. However, the worst pain was in her ears. She was aware of a rushing sound - as if she stood next to a huge waterfall - and it produced the most agonizing ache.
It took all Isabel’s willpower to prize one lid open. Fear drummed in her heart as she focused hazily on the large man that towered above her, his gaze intent on the horizon.
She became conscious of his arms wrapped carefully around her, holding her onto his lap, and Isabel recalled his face swimming in front of her, as she had lain prone on the forest floor. He had spoken to her, of what she knew not, for she had been unable to hear him through the rushing in her ears. At some point the realization had pierced her terror, he was trying to help her.
Isabel latched her gaze onto the large man, the sight of him calling up the strength to work through the pain. From her vantage, she could not see his eyes, but the strong set of his jaw stood out, lending him a powerful but handsome appearance. He had a prominent nose and sun-kissed skin. Her open eye traced the cut of his chestnut brown hair, just long enough to brush at the collar of his hauberk. It was ruffled, as if he had just whipped off his helm, and if she were well enough, she suspected she would have fought the urge to run her fingers through it.
His eyes flicked down to hers, a look of concern etched into them. Did he expect her to die? The warmth of his eyes belied his strong appearance, the color not far from the brown of his hair, and they served to steel her determination.
She would yet live.
In defiance to the men who had hurt her and in defiance to those who would try to harm her should they ever find her, she would yet live.
~* * *~
They approached Thornewall from the flat moorland, the great keep casting them in shade as it loomed from the hills. It was hard to think of his brother as one of the most powerful men in Northumbria. Thornewall Castle was a reflection of that power, with a great stone wall, four round towers and an imposing gatehouse. The drawbridge was down and Jake uttered his thanks, not wishing to waste one moment getting the injured woman to aid.
Working his way through the cottages that clung to the mound, he turned his head from the attention the pair garnered. Looks of pity and curiosity crossed every face when they saw the unfamiliar, battered woman. Peasants emerged from their huts at the sound of hooves, crowding the path leading up to the castle.
The maiden’s good eye had remained focused on him since she had awoken, but currently her gaze darted about, warily taking in the inquisitive stares. She burrowed against him as much as her injuries allowed, mayhap trying to shield herself from the villagers prying, and Jake’s chest panged. He drew his mantle around her as best as he could, attempting to hide the evidence of her beating, but it was difficult to hide the marking on her face, and he didn’t doubt gossip would run rampant about the mysterious noble lady in the arms of their master’s brother.
As his horse thudded across the wooden bridge that spanned the dry moat, the Captain of the Gate shouted down to him from the ramparts.
“Greetings, my lord. The lord awaits you inside.”
Jake nodded his thanks. “James, there are outlaws afoot in Coxleigh wood. Send out a party and see if you can’t hunt them down. They number at five. A rough bunch. You’ll not mistake them.”
“Aye, my lord.” He eyed the woman as they reached the portcullis. “I’ll lead them personally.”
Jake nodded again. If anyone could track them down, James could. He gritted his teeth. If only he could go off and hunt them down himself…but he could not bring himself to leave the maiden.
Passing through the second gatehouse and past the guardroom, he could see his brother, Dominic, awaiting him on the short set of stairs that led through to the Great Hall. Dominic waved a greeting to him, a wide smile on his face.
The smile faded as he noted the woman in Jake’s arms. He raised an eyebrow as Jake handed her down to him.
Dominic took the woman tentatively, directing a questioning look at his brother.
“Brother, you shouldn’t have…” His mouth turned up with a wry smile. “I know I said I wanted a wife, but I had rather hoped she would be in one piece.”
“Not now, Dominic.” Jake frowned. “I happened upon her in the woods. ‘Twas a fine thing too as the curs that attacked her may well have finished the job had I not.”
The woman looked hazily between the pair and Jake wondered if she realized she was no longer in his arms. Jake and Dominic had similar coloring, but there the similarities ended. Jake stood a good head taller and was broader, while his brother had a lean strength to him. Jake considered his own looks too coarse and women found him too tall, whereas Dominic attracted the eye of many a maid with his long hair and classic looks.
Sliding from his mount, he held his hands out to take her back but Dominic held her firm, eyeing the pale skin of her cheeks.
“We shall send out a search party and hunt down the outlaws.”
“Already done,” Jake told him tersely.
Dominic rolled his eyes. “Aye, of course. Then I shall see her to my solar. She will rest better there. Have you sent for the physician already too?” he asked with a teasing grin.
Wriggling in Dominic’s arms, the lass looked increasingly disconcerted.
Jake glowered. “Nay.” Reaching for the woman, he pulled her from his brother’s grip and settled her safely back into his hold. She flattened her cheek against his chest and ceased fidgeting. “You can fetch the physician and I’ll place her in my chambers.”
“As you will, Brother. Och, the first fine maiden to visit Thornewall in years and here you have her marked as yours already.”
“She is not mine,” he snapped. “I just do not trust you with a woman in your chamber.”
“Come now, even I would not stoop so low as to seduce an injured woman.”
Jake shook his head in resignation. For all his teasing, Dominic was right. He was an outrageous flirt, but honorable and would always do right by a woman. Jake just felt an unwitting attachment to the lass and was loathe to part from her.
“Are you to fetch the physician or not?”
“Aye, aye.” Dominic jumped onto Jake’s horse, directing it towards the gate. “See that you do not frighten her to death with your brutish manners, Jake, or all your efforts will be for naught.”
Jake ignored his brother’s words, anxious to get the woman to a place of rest. Flicking a glance down at her, he noted she was still awake. The wariness in her expression had abated but still she refused to tear her gaze away from him.
Spinning on his heels, he walked back across the courtyard to one of the inner towers. He ducked under the entrance, immediately feeling the chill that forever hung in the dark stone of the stairwell. Making quick work of the narrow, winding steps, he reached the guest chambers in short order.
Though on occasion used for guests, they were generally considered his chambers. Jake spent much time acting as custodian for his brother while he was out on business.
Jake placed the woman down on his canopied bed, carefully pulling his arms from underneath her, and though she settled into the sheets, her face still held a guarded expression. How was it she was still awake? Her injuries no doubt caused much pain but she seemed unwilling to sink back into her exhaustive state.
She had said nothing since he had found her. Mayhap she was too fearful of him. He stepped back, dropping his shoulders in an attempt to make himself less intimidating. With his great height in such a little room, he cut an imposing image and he attempted another smile to soften it.
Her gaze latched onto his mouth and she licked at her own swollen lips as they moved silently, the faint rasp of breath seeming amplified in the silence. Jake ran a hand through his hair. God’s blood, where was the physician? He suspected, given the chance, the woman would fight courageously to live, but with such extensive wounds, he could not be sure pure will would defeat the shroud of death that hung about her.
Uncomfortable under her gaze, he crossed his arms. Now he looked defensive. He uncrossed them and willed his feet not to pace.
“What’s your name, lass?”
Her head shook marginally, her brow furrowing.
“Your name?”
Again, she remained silent, her good eye clouded with confusion.
Jake considered her. God’s teeth, what if her mind was addled? He had heard of babes being born simple after having the breath stolen from them during birth. Mayhap the brutes had strangled her enough that her mind might never be whole again.
The wooden door opened abruptly and he let out a breath as the physician entered, quickly followed by Dominic. The maiden stared up at them all, her face paling. Her hand reached out tentatively towards him, her mouth moving without a sound.
With a gulp, he took her hand, her cool fingers inexplicably burning against his palm. He gave them a little squeeze and smiled. “All will be well, lass.”
The physician glowered up at him. “You need to leave, my lord.”
“Aye, aye.” He gave her hand one last squeeze and reluctantly released it. It dropped to her side and he cast his eyes over her before meeting the physician’s stern gaze. “Do all you can for her.”
The smaller man nodded seriously before ushering the two men from the room.
~* * *~
Isabel watched the large man follow the smaller one out. Brothers, mayhap? They both had the same dark hair but their features were not at all similar. As she had lain in the long-haired man’s arms, aching to be back in the other man’s, she had sensed a bond between them, even though she still could not hear what they said. Sweet Mary, but her ears hurt! Would the pain never end?
She didn’t like parting from the dark-haired knight. He offered her an odd sense of comfort with his grim smiles and worried brow. The fear of nearly dying still lingered and she suspected it always would. Dare she ever venture into the woods again, or would she hide away for the rest of her days? She fisted her hand around the sheet. Nay, she would not let those ruffians cow her courage.
The Borderland Legacy Page 1