by Alexa Aston
So she took charge like a knight riding into battle.
Her hands came to rest upon his chest. She felt his heartbeat racing rapidly against her palm. She cupped his cheek, the one with the tiny scar on it. Her other hand crept to his mouth. Her fingertips brushed his lips. Then she took both hands and fisted them in his hair, pulling his face down to hers.
Their lips met. Hot desire, something she’d never known, raced through her limbs, dissolving her bones. Michael’s arms enfolded her, drawing her near. His tongue slid along the seam of her lips, teasing her, opening them for an adventure she had yet to experience. Then his tongue thrust into her mouth, dancing with hers, dueling, possessing her with a heat that spread throughout her body. Every sense came alive.
Elysande’s fingers pushed deeper into his hair as his hands roamed her back and slipped to her buttocks. He squeezed them, pulling her against him. She felt his manhood, hard against her, frightening her and yet bringing a sense of wonderment. She aroused these feelings in him. He caused her to burn with want of him.
Again and again his kisses branded her. His lips moved to her throat, burning a hot trail to the swell of her breast. His stubble scraped the tender flesh as his hand cupped her breast. It swelled, filling his palm. Elysande thought she might go up in flames and burn the stables to the ground, so great was the heat generated between them.
Suddenly, it ended. Michael’s mouth was gone. His hands fell to his side. A winter’s cold seemed to embrace her now that his warmth had fled.
“Michael?” she asked, not knowing how to form any word beyond his name.
He cradled her face, stroking his thumbs against her cheeks.
“You’re perfection, my love. My one true love. My sweet Elysande.” His last words were but a whisper.
She heard the strong emotion in them, causing his voice to go low and thick.
He kissed her once again, hard and swift, then pulled away.
“God forgive me,” he muttered and stormed from the stall.
Chapter 6
Merryn watched as Avelyn escorted the children from the great hall. They had just broken their fast, and now Avelyn took them to explore the keep. Mary’s younger daughter had taken to her de Montfort cousins as if she’d known them from birth. Merryn knew the girl would make an excellent mother to her own babes one day. Merryn had promised her children that, after their cousin gave them a tour of Hopeston Castle, they could go and meet the new foal in the stables.
For now, she had other concerns. Merryn sensed something was wrong with Elysande as she watched her pick at the bread in front of her. Her new niece-by-marriage had impressed Merryn with her kindness and intelligence. She was glad Geoffrey had accepted the invitation to visit Hopeston. Merryn had looked forward to becoming acquainted with his sister and her two daughters, especially since they were only two days’ ride from Kinwick. She hoped to host these relatives and allow Mary to revisit her childhood home. She had no memory of Mary even though she must have been present when Merryn visited Kinwick in her younger days. Being three years younger than Geoffrey, though, she couldn’t recall anything from her childhood about his two older sisters. They would have left Kinwick before Merryn turned five. She already felt she had a sister in Mary and had decided to firm up plans for them to visit the de Montfort estate. Mayhap at Christmas. ’Twould be lovely to bring some of the family together.
Merryn glanced over at Mary’s second husband. Lord Holger was another matter. She was glad Geoffrey engaged the man now in lengthy conversation as they broke their fast. The nobleman hadn’t warmed to his wife’s relatives. Merryn had overheard Holger bitterly complaining about the cost of Elysande’s wedding and how many guests had been invited. His already reddened face turned a brighter scarlet as he got worked up over the situation.
Geoffrey took her hand, bringing Merryn from her reverie.
“Lord Holger and I are going to ride about his estate. Would you care to join us?”
Her husband gave her a lazy smile and squeezed her hand. Merryn could tell he held back laughter. She had already revealed her feelings about their host last night after they saw the children to bed and lay entangled in each other’s arms.
She smiled brightly. “I’ll leave riding to you gentlemen. I’d prefer to keep company with Lady Mary and hear more about the wedding.”
Holger belched loudly. “Come along then, de Montfort. We can leave the womenfolk to their talk. Though how they can converse endlessly about something as uninteresting as a wedding has me baffled.”
The two men left the great hall and Merryn turned to her left. “Elysande, would you like to take a walk about the keep with me?”
The young woman tossed aside the bread she played with. “I’d enjoy that, my lady.”
Merryn placed her hand on Elysande’s shoulder. “Please. Call me Merryn, for we are family.”
She caught sight of the tears that welled in Elysande’s eyes. “Family which I’ll probably never see again,” she muttered, her mouth turning downward.
Rising, Merryn tugged on her niece’s elbow. “Show me a quiet place where we can speak privately. I believe you have need of a sympathetic ear.”
Elysande stood and slipped her arm through Merryn’s. “We could go to my bedchamber.”
“I would like that.”
They made their way to the room. It had a large bed and two chairs placed under a single window.
“This is a lovely room,” Merryn said. “Do you share it with your sister?”
Elysande nodded as she seated herself. Merryn took the remaining chair.
“I can’t imagine how you’re feeling,” she began. “Geoffrey and I grew up on adjoining estates. We knew each other from childhood and were best friends. Our friendship turned into a deep, abiding love.” She smiled. “To this day, my husband is still my best friend and greatest confidant.”
Merryn studied her niece. “But you are in much different circumstances, I gather.”
“Aye,” Elysande said, wiping her sleeves against her eyes. Already, they were red and swollen as if she’d cried many tears this morning.
“I know you’ll miss your mother and sister. But it could be a great adventure,” Merryn said encouragingly.
“That’s true. I’ll miss Mother and Avelyn beyond words. We’re close and always have been. Mother has told me to ask Hendry if Avelyn might come and stay with us.” Elysande shrugged. “But I have no idea if that would be allowed. I only met him once, several years ago. To be frank, I didn’t think much of him.” She gave Merryn a rueful smile. “’Twill most certainly not be a love match as you and Uncle have.”
Merryn took the girl’s hand. “I am one of the few blessed in that regard. I loved Geoffrey from the time I was only half your age, and our love grows stronger with each passing year. But that doesn’t mean that other couples who wed as strangers never find love. My parents did. You and Hendry could be one of those couples.”
Elysande burst in tears. She stood and ran to the bed and fell upon it. Her loud sobs and shaking body caused the bed to shake.
Now, Merryn was getting to the root of the problem. Instinctively, she knew what ailed her niece.
She crossed and sat on the bed, gently stroking the girl’s hair, murmuring soft words of comfort. For some minutes, Elysande cried as if her heart would break in two. More than most, Merryn knew that kind of pain. The seven lonely years she’d spent without her husband in her bed, not knowing where he’d vanished, gave her a unique perspective.
When Elysande began to quiet, Merryn asked, “So you love another? Is he also from the north, whence you came, or will you leave him behind when you leave the south?”
The girl raised her tearstained face, surprise written across it. “How did you know?”
She took her hand. “Women just do. So who is this man?”
“M-M-Michael.”
Merryn had not expected this answer. “Our Michael? Michael Devereux?” She wanted to point out that they’d just met, b
ut she understood the heart wanted what it wanted. Though love usually bloomed slowly, sometimes it sprang instantly between a man and woman.
“Aye.” Elysande sat up. “I don’t even understand how it happened so fast. He appeared in my life only yesterday. He stayed with me all day as Morningstar foaled.”
“You shared a meaningful experience that bonded you in a special way.”
“And . . . and . . . we kissed,” Elysande admitted. “Last night. When we went to the stables to check on the horses. We both feel the same way.” Her mouth began to tremble. “Yet we know nothing can come of it.”
Again, Merryn found herself surprised, yet it made perfect sense. Both Michael and Elysande were intelligent, attractive, and compassionate souls. They’d been drawn together during an emotional time. It saddened her that they couldn’t be together so their new love could blossom.
“I kissed him,” Elysande shared. “I’ve never kissed any man, but all I wanted to do was kiss him, Merryn. And he returned the kiss.” She expelled a long breath. “It was . . . magical. I know he loves me and I love him. But then he left, begging God to forgive him.”
She jumped to her feet and began roaming the room. “And I’m miserable. I don’t want to wed Hendry. I already know how ill-suited we are. I live for horses—and he doesn’t even like them! He is weak in spirit and body. We should never have been matched together.”
Elysande angrily wiped the tears from her cheeks. “I don’t want to go live in the north. And I’m very afraid of Lord Ingram, Hendry’s father.” She threw her hands in the air. “What am I to do?”
Merryn enfolded Elysande in her arms. “There’s nothing you can do. Michael is an honorable knight. A man of his word. He would never come between you and this Hendry.” She paused. “You must go through with your marriage. ’Tis what your father wanted. You must honor his wishes and the betrothal contract.”
Merryn broke their embrace and looked her niece in the eye. “And you will mourn in your heart for a long time. Mayhap the rest of your life. But your fate is in your own hands, Elysande. Only you can decide to be a good wife to your new husband and a nurturing mother to the babes you’ll bear him.”
Merryn laid a palm against Elysande’s damp cheek. “Sometimes, we must set aside our own longings to serve others. I know that’s not what you want to hear, but I advise you to put your feelings for Michael aside. Try and make a new future with your husband. Don’t look back. You’ll only be miserable if you wallow in something that can never be returned to you. Look ahead.”
Elysande buried her face into Merryn’s shoulder. “You’re right. But it hurts so much.”
“I know.”
*
Merryn spent another hour with Elysande, sharing a bit of her own story. She explained how she had managed Kinwick in Geoffrey’s absence, especially after his father’s death.
“I had no one to guide me. I couldn’t show weakness. I had to trust my own instincts.”
“But you’re lucky, Merryn. Uncle Geoffrey came home to you.”
“Aye, he did.” She gave Elysande a smile. “And who knows? Your own story is yet to be written. It may turn out much differently than what you anticipate.”
Merryn rose to her feet. “Come. I need to find the children and see what trouble Hal has caused.”
“I’ll take them to see Morningstar and Happy as I promised Alys. She is a dear girl.”
“That she is. I know she thrives under Queen Philippa’s tutelage, but I sorely miss her.”
They located Avelyn and all three children near the training yard. They watched the knights at work as Geoffrey’s men sparred with Holger’s soldiers. Ancel immediately asked if they could go to the stables and meet the new foal. Elysande agreed, never looking at the men close by. Avelyn decided to accompany them. Merryn felt with two adults and two older children in tow, mayhap the four of them could keep Hal in line.
She watched them leave and then located Michael. The tall knight tutored a younger man, holding his sword and demonstrating how to swing the weapon for maximum effect. Merryn’s heart went out to the knight. He was a good soldier and an even finer man. She had thought to pair him with a woman only last week. Now, she decided upon their return to Kinwick that she would play matchmaker and find a young woman that would help him forget his brief encounter with love at Hopeston Castle. She believed that if he turned his attention in a different direction and married, he could find some happiness of his own.
Merryn returned to the keep. She found Mary and spent a few hours with her in the solar. The two women sewed as they chatted like old friends. Merryn caught glimpses of her husband in his sister, especially around her mouth.
She finally excused herself, needing to find the children. She’d left them with their cousins long enough. Merryn went back to the inner bailey and found Geoffrey returning from his ride with Lord Holger.
He linked his arm through hers. “Take a stroll with me. We can share about our day.” Geoffrey leaned close to her and softly confided, “Mine? ’Twas awful. Holger is boring and as stupid as a tree stump. Frankly, it’s an insult to the stump to say that. I’m sure the stump is far more intelligent than Holger could ever be.”
Merryn giggled, snuggling closer to her husband as they sauntered along. “I learned something very interesting today. Your niece is in love with Michael and he with her.”
Geoffrey abruptly stopped. “Our Michael? Michael Devereux? Why, they only just met.”
Merryn pulled him along. “Which makes it all the more tragic. She’ll marry in a few days’ time and he’ll return to Kinwick, miserable as she is as she rides away to the cold, barren north. But,” she confided, “I’ve decided to find Michael a wife to help him forget this quick interlude. He’s so good with Hal, and he’ll make a find husband.”
“Nay,” Geoffrey warned. “Stay out of it, Merryn.”
His words baffled her. “Why?”
“I hate to thwart your plans, but Michael needs to find a special woman to be his bride.” Geoffrey sighed. “I hate to break his confidence, but I know ’twill go no further.”
His words intrigued her. “What do you know?”
“You remember I told you that Michael fostered at Sir Lovel’s with me.”
“Of course. He was a page when you became a squire. And then you went to fight as a knight in France and didn’t see him upon your return since you came straight to Kinwick.”
Geoffrey stopped to nuzzle her neck. “Because I had to come home to you, my love.”
His touch thrilled her, but curiosity pulled at her. “So, go on.”
“Michael will inherit a title and quite a large bit of property upon his father’s death. Our Sir Michael will become the Earl of Sandbourne.”
“Michael’s to be an earl? Well, I must say that doesn’t surprise me. The way he carries himself. His intelligence and kindheartedness. He will make the best of earls. I’m so pleased.” She paused. “But why hasn’t he shared this? ’Tis nothing to be ashamed of.”
“He simply wanted to be one of the men and not be treated differently. So, I’m sorry, but your scheming is no good. Michael will need to marry a woman of his own class, one who’ll make a good countess and be his perfect helpmate.”
Merryn frowned. “Then it makes me even sorrier that it can’t be Elysande. She’d be an ideal match for him. I rather like this feisty niece of ours.”
Chapter 7
Elysande dressed with care. Today marked the arrival of her groom and his relatives. She wanted to look her best. She glanced down and admired the dark blue surcoat and the slashes of slate gray that ran through it. She sat on the bed and slipped on the soft leather shoes that came just above her ankles. She supposed she should save them for her wedding tomorrow, but she hadn’t wanted to break in a new pair of shoes on such a long day. She’d worn these for a few hours each day for the last week and they finally had begun to feel comfortable. She hoped by tomorrow they wouldn’t give her any problems.
Avelyn bounded through the door. “Oh, that color looks lovely on you, Elysande. Hendry is going to fall madly in love with you the moment he sees you.”
But she didn’t want Hendry to be in love with her.
She only wanted Michael Devereux’s love.
Elysande swallowed hard, forcing down what wanted to come back up. She hadn’t eaten much the past two days. The little she did manage to eat constantly threatened to spill from her.
“Let me do your hair,” Avelyn said, leading her to a chair. “You know how I enjoy dressing it.”
Her sister brushed Elysande’s long, blond locks and braided her hair before coiling it around her ears and head. Avelyn’s gentle touch soothed Elysande. She closed her eyes and tried to focus on the sensation of the brush gliding along.
Yet all she could see in her mind was Michael and his piercing blue eyes. All she remembered was the taste of his kiss.
She forced her eyes open and sat patiently, waiting for Avelyn to finish. Elysande knew that she needed to take Merryn’s advice and push aside all thoughts of Michael. Her focus should be on her upcoming wedding and the man who was her betrothed.
“There.” Avelyn stepped back and admired her work. “You’ll not only steal Hendry’s heart but every man’s.”
They heard the sound of a horn. The pit of her stomach grew cold.
“They’re here.”
Elysande acknowledged her sister’s words with a brief nod. She tried her best to stir some excitement within her as she accompanied Avelyn to the great hall. They entered to a flurry of activity. So many people had crowded into the room, it looked as if they were about to celebrate the Christmas season. Numerous guests had arrived for the wedding during the past two days. She had no idea who many of them were or why they’d been invited. The buzz of so many conversations made her head begin to ache.
Little Hal raced by, a look of mischief on his face. Avelyn excused herself and chased after the boy.
Elysande stepped further into the room and glanced about. She didn’t know if she’d even recognize Hendry in this mob. She supposed he would have grown taller during the past four years. She prayed his skinny arms and legs had filled out some. Then she sensed eyes upon her and turned.