by Anne Herries
When his body slid up hers and she felt his hot hardness probing at her, she opened wider for his entry. He slid into her warm moistness and for a moment stilled, but she pulled at him, wanting all of him, needing him deep inside her, her knees clenching his thighs as she offered herself to him.
For a moment there was pain, but it was swiftly over and forgot as he surged into her and she rose to meet him. Zander moved slowly, with care, pausing now and then to allow her to feel the pleasure building deep down. Heat pooled low in her abdomen, feeding on the flames of desire until it reached a roaring flame and then burst into showers that ran all over her body, making her buck and writhe beneath him as he moved faster and faster to their climax.
When it was over, they lay still for a moment, totally spent, and then he rolled to one side, taking her with him so that she lay half across him, one leg curved over his body, her face against his chest. His skin was damp with sweat and she licked him, tasting the salt and smiling, as he looked at her, one eye half-closed.
‘I am spent,’ he murmured. ‘’Twill be half an hour at least before I am ready again, my greedy little wench. You’ve drained me.’
Elaine laughed, feeling a new confidence as she looked at him and saw the satiated expression, the soft loose mouth and heavy eyes that spoke of his satisfaction.
‘Have I pleased my lord?’ she teased and heard him growl.
‘Carry on like this and you will get no sleep this night,’ he murmured.
‘No, no, I merely tease,’ she said and snuggled into his body.
Elaine drifted into sleep and knew that Zander slept, too, his breathing shallow and even before she slept herself.
Chapter Fourteen
When Elaine awoke she lay wondering what was different and then smiled as she remembered Zander’s passion of the previous night. Moving her hand across the bed, she discovered that the sheets where he’d lain were cold. He must have left the bed some time before.
Why had he not wakened her?
Fear ran through her. Had he broken his promise and gone off to meet with his one-time friend?
Jumping from the bed, Elaine ran to the window and looked down. She felt instant relief as she saw men training in the courtyard below. Zander was fighting with Sir Robert. The last time she’d seen them fight Sir Robert had looked the stronger, but this time he was being forced to retreat by the skill and deftness of his opponent.
Despite the icy cold morning, the men were wearing only leather jerkins over their naked torsos and tight leggings with long boots. Both used a shield to good advantage and the fight went one way and then the other, but after a few sharp thrusts from Sir Robert, Zander always attacked and advanced.
Even as she watched, Sir Robert cried enough. The two men were laughing, clearly the best of friends. They sheathed their blades and embraced, then Zander turned and glanced up at Elaine’s slitted window, almost as though he knew she watched. He held up his hand and she waved back, smiling as she called for her ladies to help her dress.
When her sheets were thrown back the evidence of her night of passion was plain for all to see. Marion smiled and nodded, looking at her with satisfaction.
‘If you were a maid before, you are a woman now,’ she said. ‘What will you have to break your fast today, my lady?’
‘Bread, honey, some dates and a little cheese,’ Elaine replied. ‘I am hungry.’
Her ladies smiled and went away to fetch the food she’d requested. Marion remained to help her into one of her second-best gowns: a tunic of soft-green silk, covered by an over-gown of velvet in a darker shade. She brought a belt of gold leather set with studs of bronze and fringed at the ends. On her head, Elaine wore a band of green velvet rolled with white silk, and a veil of gauze hung at the back to cover her hair, which she had swept back from her face with combs of bronze.
Her mirror was small and of burnished silver, which gave her only a hazy reflection of her face, but she felt that she must look well for she had never been so filled with life and happiness.
‘You look wonderful,’ Marion told her. ‘As a bride should look the morning after her wedding night.’
‘Thank you, dear Marion,’ Elaine said and laughed. ‘I feel wonderful.’
Elaine did not feel like staying in her chamber or working at her sewing. Despite the frosty air, the sun was shining, calling her outside. She asked Marion for her surcoat and slipped it over her gown. As she walked down the stair of her chamber, she felt like singing aloud. Her body had surely never felt this good and her mind was free of the doubts and fears that had clouded it for so long.
A few servants were working in the hall as she passed through. The great open fireplace had been made up with fresh logs and a fire was already burning. A housecarl was burnishing some armour and two maidservants were giggling in the corner as they swept the stone flags and sprinkled fresh herbs and rushes.
Elaine was aware of a feeling of happiness about her, as if her people knew that things had changed for the better.
As she went outside, she saw that some of the men were still training, others were watching, as were Zander and Sir Robert. The craftsmen were at work in the outer bailey and she could hear The ring of hammers as the blacksmith mended anything from a wheel to a sword or a ploughshare. The armourer was also busy making body shields, shaping helmets and sharpening the swords the blacksmith had honed in his fire. The cellarer was counting his barrels, while the saddle maker was busy stitching his leathers. The smell of bread baking and meat roasting were familiar smells, as was the sight of men and women going about their business with a laugh or a smile.
Perhaps it was just Elaine, but she sensed that the atmosphere was different. Everyone was in a good mood. It was almost Christmastide and some men were dragging in a load of greenery, which would be used to decorate the hall. The fresh sharp smell made Elaine think of the last Christmas with her father, when they’d exchanged gifts on Christmas Eve and roasted an ox, a whole sheep and twenty capons so that all their people could share the feast. She touched the silver cross that lay beneath her tunic as she went up to Zander.
If her husband continued to make love to her with the same passion as the previous night, she might have a child to share their celebrations the next year.
Zander turned and looked at her. For a moment he was frowning and her heart stopped. Was he angry again?
His frown disappeared and he smiled, making her feel as if her bones would melt with pleasure.
‘Elaine, I told your ladies to let you sleep.’
‘They did not wake me,’ she said. ‘I was ready to get up—but it is too pleasant a day to stay in my room and sew.’
‘What would you like to do?’
Elaine thought for a moment, then, ‘I should like to go foraging for herbs and berries. We dared not venture beyond the castle while you were away—but now, yes, I should like to gather a party of my ladies and your men and walk in the woods.’
Zander hesitated, then nodded. ‘It shall be as you wish, my lady,’ he said. ‘Gather the ladies you would take with you. I shall assemble my men—and we will take food with us. It shall be a day of rest and pleasure—and this evening we shall feast.’
‘Thank you.’ Elaine looked at him shyly. Did he guess how much her heart fluttered when he looked at her like that? Did he know that she wanted to run and laugh and sing, because of the way he’d loved her the previous night? ‘We shall not keep you waiting long.’
She ran back into the house, calling for Marion.
The woman came hurriedly towards her. ‘Is something wrong, my lady?’
‘No, everything is perfect,’ Elaine said. ‘We are going to have a day foraging. Zander and his men will escort us and keep us safe. Fetch Alice and Bess and Mary—and tell them to bring their baskets. I am sure Bertrand will come, too. Zander is arranging for food so servants will follow and we shall picnic in the woods.’
‘A day of celebration,’ Marion cried, eyes sparkling. ‘It is but two day
s to Christ’s Mass and everyone is excited. Shall I tell those who remain here that they may embroider or spend their time playing games?’
‘Yes, why not? Zander’s men who remain here will draw up the bridge after we leave, but those who have no duty may enjoy themselves, as they will.’
Elaine fetched her own basket and saw her ladies scurrying round to fetch cloaks, gloves and hoods. It was cold out, but the sun would make it a pleasant day. Some of the housecarls must continue to work, for the food must be prepared for tonight’s feast, and a guard must always be kept on the walls in case of attack, but it was the time to be merry and enjoy life.
It was quite a large party that set out for the woods a little later that morning. Elaine rode her own palfrey, but the other ladies rode pillion behind a groom. Ten of Zander’s men-at-arms were to accompany them and five servants followed with a cart. They would prepare food and set out stools and cushions for the ladies and knights to sit when they ate their meal.
Everyone was laughing and talking, and a piper sat on the cart making music as they travelled, his merry tune sweet on the frosty air. As they passed the village, the women came out to wave and smile and Zander surprised Elaine by stopping to speak with them. He took out a purse of silver coins and gave them to the village headman, who had come out to show respect to his lord.
‘This is for your people so that they may enjoy Christ’s Mass,’ Zander said. ‘On the eve of Christ’s Mass we feast at the Manor and there will be food for those who come to the door.’
Cheers greeted his announcement and women called blessings on his name as the little cavalcade rode on. When they reached the woods, they dismounted, the grooms leading the horses while the women and some of the knights dismounted to walk through the woods.
Soon, they were pairing off and Elaine saw Marion walking happily with Bertrand. Every other moment someone called out that they had made a find: herbs, nuts and berries that would add flavour and variety to their food. All The ladies had been trained from girlhood to know which fungi were edible and which poisonous. The big flat mushrooms they occasionally found were just one of the delicious fungi to be discovered in the woods. One of the knights had brought a special dog with him, and his dog discovered a nest of truffles: two large and one smaller. Their pungent smell and the delicious taste would make a wonderful addition to their feast. Truffles were often hunted with pigs, but given the chance the pigs would eat them before the men had a chance to dig them up, whereas a dog would simply bark and scrape at the ground. Many roots found in the woods and hedgerows were edible and the rosehips that still clung to the stems of dog roses were still of use, though perhaps past their best. Elaine found some nuts, which had fallen into the leaves at the foot of a hazel tree and, when she cracked one, the kernel was still sweet and full.
‘We missed the best time of year, but just to be here wandering at will without fear is lovely,’ she said and smiled up at Zander. ‘It is what I have missed for a long time.’
‘I truly hope that life will be happier for you in future, Elaine,’ Zander said and took her hand. He carried it to his lips to kiss, his look making her heart thud in her breast. ‘And for all of us.’
Someone had begun to sing. Elaine turned to look and saw that the women had set down their baskets and formed a circle. They were dancing while the men clapped and chanted the words of the song.
‘Come and join us, lady,’ Marion called. ‘My lord, too.’
Elaine laughed and ran to her, then Zander came and took her hands. Now some of the other knights had taken the other ladies by the hands and they began to skip to the music and laugh as they enjoyed the spirit of Christ’s Mass, which had come upon them all.
It was nearing the most holy night in the year—the night when the Saviour was born and God blessed mankind. This was surely the time to be happy and forget all the troubles that had beset them these past weeks…
Elaine thought that she would never forget her day in the woods. She always enjoyed foraging with her ladies, but this had been a special day and she was filled with a newfound delight in her world as they rode back to the manor house late in the afternoon. The drawbridge was let down to admit them, and though Zander questioned Sir Robert, who had been left in charge, nothing untoward had happened.
The men who had been in the woods were allowed to refresh themselves and then took the place of those who had been guarding the ramparts all day, just as the ladies who had been playing in the woods took up their duties at table. Everyone was talking and laughing.
Course after course of rich food was brought to table. In the kitchens the housecarls were sharing the same delights as their lord and lady at the high board, which was not the case in every big house. They looked at one another and smiled, praising their lord for his generosity and congratulating themselves on having a just and fair master.
When Elaine said goodnight to her ladies and went upstairs to her chamber, she was feeling very tired, but determined not to fall asleep before Zander came to her. She hoped that he would not be too long, though she knew he intended to make a tour of the ramparts before he retired for the night. Just because it was a time of celebration they could not afford to relax completely. Zander did not wish to fight at such a holy time, but he could not know what his enemy was planning.
She did not have long to wait. Before the candle had started to flicker, Zander entered and came to her. Elaine went to greet him, lifting her face for his kiss. She gave him her hand and led him towards the bed, where they had found so much pleasure the previous night. Her heart was racing as she let her robe slither down over her hips and stood before him naked. He moved towards her, sweeping her up and carrying her to the bed.
Elaine gazed up at him, her lips curving in a smile of welcome. ‘Last night you pleased me,’ she said huskily. ‘Tonight I would have you teach me how to please my lord.’
‘You always please me,’ he said and bent his head to kiss her lips. ‘But I shall teach you all the ways we may please each other.’
‘Will you teach me to dance, as your men did?’ she asked and her eyes danced with laughter. ‘I should like to dance with you that way sometimes.’
‘You are a wicked wench,’ he murmured and drew her close, his lips taking hers. ‘And all that I could ever desire in my wife…’
Elaine smiled, welcoming him as he began to caress and love her—and yet there was a part of her that longed for something more. A sign that she was as important to him as he was to her. He wanted her, desired her—but did he truly love her?
‘My lord…’ Zander turned as he heard his servant’s voice and smiled, going to greet him with outstretched hands. ‘Janvier! You are well? I have been anxious lest Newark should refuse to listen and perhaps have you beaten or worse?’
‘I think he was in two minds at first,’ Janvier told him and smiled. ‘Had it not been for an incident at table he might have sent me away or had me hung, but in the end he called me his friend and promised me anything I wanted within reason. I told him you would make peace with him and he said he would consider it.’
Zander was astonished. ‘You must have done something extraordinary for Newark to be so grateful.’
‘It happened as we supped that first night. A young man called Stronmar was sitting close to the earl at table, eating, laughing with his mouth full. Suddenly, he started to choke and could not breathe. Everyone was astounded, but I grabbed him by the stomach and thumped him hard in the back. A lump of hard bread flew from his mouth and he could breathe again.’
‘You saved his life?’
‘Yes, my lord. Some thought I was attacking him and they were all for seizing me, but Newark saw what happened and was grateful. He told his knights to stand back and, later, before we retired for the night, he thanked me privately and I would swear there were tears in his eyes.’
‘You acted swiftly as always.’ Zander frowned. ‘But I wonder why the life of one man should affect him so powerfully—the man you saved is a
n ill-favoured brute, as I recall.’
‘I believe Stronmar is Newark’s bastard son—the child of a peasant woman. It is not acknowledged openly, but someone told me later that it was so.’
‘Ah, now I understand. Newark’s wives have given him only daughters.’ Zander nodded. ‘You have done well, my friend. I thank you. We must hope that Newark will accept my invitation to make terms. If Philip is biding his time, planning his next move against us, I cannot afford to be at odds with Newark.’
‘All we can do is to watch and wait,’ Janvier said. ‘If Allah wills It all will be well.’
‘I wish I knew what Philip was planning,’ Zander said and frowned. ‘It seems odd that we have heard nothing of him.’
Philip lifted the carved oak chest and threw it across the room. He’d torn down hangings and smashed anything that would break when he discovered the trick Anne had played on him that first morning, but she’d left little of value behind her. Her best gowns, her silver, jewels and trinkets had gone with her—as had a bag of gold coins and a silver chalice from his chest.
‘Damn the bitch,’ he muttered. ‘If I catch her, I’ll break her scrawny neck.’
At the moment his anger was directed at his sister. He’d trusted her to use her arts to break Elaine’s will-power for long enough to make her his bride. Somehow she, her maid and his sister had all slipped away in the dead of night. Had they gone together? Had Anne helped Elaine to escape—or had she discovered the escape and panicked, fleeing before he could wreak revenge on her?
Philip knew that Elaine had gone to Sweetbriars. She was alone and vulnerable and he could take her when he chose, but he did not know where his cheating sister had gone. She’d robbed him of his gold and of his revenge on the man who had always been better at everything than Philip. Zander was stronger, cleverer and luckier in every way.