seated, Mistress,” he said affably. “I trust you’re feeling
better?”
“Aye, my lord.” Another glance at Captain Blaine
offered Alicen little enlightenment. He was staring into
space.
The duke spared her further conjecture.
“Your unwed state troubles me.” His upheld hand
stopped her immediate protest. “Hear me, Mistress Kent.
Your lack of a husband puts you in grave danger—”
“I’d faced little peril until your arrival, my lord,” she
broke in tartly. William might be her liege, but she’d not
meekly submit to his marriage decree!
“And you’ll be in even more danger when we leave,”
William continued, no change in his expression.
“Therefore, ’tis my wish to see you wed before I depart
Landeyda.”
Unable to remain seated, Alicen rose. No refuge at
the window with the captain there. She gathered her
courage and extended a hand to William in supplication.
“My lord, please let me speak.” She dropped her hand
to her side only when he nodded. Voice low, she stated,
“I’ll not long endure a match to a man who cannot love
me.”
William’s eyebrow rose. “Think you no man would
wed you?”
“I know it in my soul. Orrick, my betrothed, has been
dead to me these five years past. In all that time, no other
has paid me court.” She bit her lip. “Most who know me
fear me.”
She caught Jeremy’s surprised look before William’s
next words drew her attention.
“I can scarce believe they’d dread taking you to wife,”
the duke stated. “You are a gifted, selfless healer.”
“Thus they’ve no desire for me.” At his blank stare,
she asked, “Who would share me with my healing call?
Allow me to go where needed, when needed?” Hands
clenched in front of her, she paced. When she stopped,
her eyes met the duke’s. “God’s truth, my lord, I’d not
abide a man who chained me to him. I vowed to serve
any in pain. I’ll not break that vow to please a husband.”
“But ‘tis a man’s duty to protect his wife,” William
replied. “Your wanderings place you in danger.”
Alicen stared pointedly at Jeremy. “Before you and
your soldiers arrived at my door, little of true danger
occurred.”
“Your concerns have not fallen on deaf ears, Mistress,”
the duke said gently. “Nonetheless, you’ll wed within a
month.”
A visible shiver racked Alicen’s body. “If that should
come to pass, my lord,” she returned evenly, unable to
mask her rising despair, “there’s no telling what will come
of it.”
Jeremy chanced a look at William and saw that his
duke was as discomfited as he at Alicen’s statement.
***
Riding north with Fish in search of enemy
encampments had proven a boon. Jeremy had been
waiting and watching too long, which didn’t appease his
desire for action. Now, after being abroad for three days,
he again felt in command of himself. Their search, though
futile, had distracted him from irksome thoughts—
William’s plan for Alicen to wed. Her reaction to that edict.
His own response to the woman herself.
He resented that his feelings nettled so intensely.
Holding her the day she’d fallen had rekindled a long lost
dream, one he’d shut his heart to after Estelle’s death.
He’d resigned himself to an existence without wife or
children. Without love. Yet the feel of Alicen in his arms
had made thoughts of hearth and home return in a painful
rush.
Hating those needs, he cursed her for evoking them.
She had made him savor her nearness, her womanliness.
It irked that she didn’t acknowledge his manliness in
return.
He’d leave. Go to York and Tynan, then to the field to
win back his lands. Alicen’s memory would fade to naught.
After his victory, mayhap he’d take a mistress. But he’d
never marry her. Wives were unfaithful unless coerced.
His thoughts returned to the healer and his despicable
conduct toward her. He’d bullied her, terrified her into
flight and injury. Desired her. She made indifference and
discipline evaporate. Neither William’s health nor
Kenrick’s threat had unseated her from his mind. ’Twas
maddening.
But having her could never be.
With men’s lives hanging upon her whim, he could
not allow himself to care for her. ’Twould compromise his
duty. A quick tumble was not worth risking lives, and his
feelings would never go beyond lust. He told himself such.
William wished her a good match. As a despised soldier,
Jeremy would not be considered. Not that he desired such
consideration...
“Why is the wench so difficult to blink?”
In reaction to this abrupt outburst, Fish grabbed his
sword. “What?”
Coloring, Jeremy glanced sharply at his subordinate,
but vowed to brazen out his chagrin. “I spoke of
Landeyda’s mistress! A holy terror, she is. She plays
endless flint to my tinder. To hear her, I grow fangs and
horns at a mere hint of battle.”
Fish shrugged and released his sword hilt. “You must
admit Cap’n, whene’er Kenrick’s name is spoken, Sweet
Jesu, your teeth grow long!”
Jeremy’s jaw hardened when his glare brought
outright laughter to his subordinate’s weathered features.
“You see jests where none live, Malcolm. The Duke obeys
her like a trained hound. Christ’s guts, he’s a peer of the
realm!”
“He desires a sure recovery from his injuries.”
Jeremy snorted.
“She’s comely,” Fish stated. “Likely the duke misses
his duchess, and Alicen’s pleasant aspect eases his
loneliness.”
The notion that his soldiers saw Alicen as pretty
unleashed a startling, raging jealousy Jeremy had to fight
down. “’Tis foolhardy of William to blindly follow a wench’s
orders.”
“With respect, sir, the landed lady of whom you speak
is the shire’s finest physician. I’d not think poorly of any
who heed her remedies. In truth, the duke trusts her.”
Jeremy grunted. ’Twas obvious Fish thought Alicen a
saint. A comely saint. Nor was Jeremy himself unaffected.
Despite obstinate denial, his want of her had shaken him.
He wished to do far more than just hold her.
In contemplation, he massaged the bridge of his nose
with forefinger and thumb. Celibacy disagreed with him,
he decided. He’d not been with a woman in months. When
given the opportunity to touch a female, he’d reacted to
base need, naught else.
He smothered a sigh.
They rode into Landeyda’s empty yard half an hour
later, and he recalled Taft organizing men to repair more
of the estate’s wall. Most likely the bulk of the troop was
there. Oddly enoug
h, the stable door was closed. Jeremy
opened it quietly.
Make haste! Alicen needs you! Just as the woman’s
voice filled his head, he heard screams.
***
“You’ve been gathering herbs for three days,” Ned
commented as Alicen unloaded yet another basketful of
plants. He eyed the heaps of thyme, purslane, acorns,
yew root, lemon grass, sweet flag, mallow, and juniper
berries occupying every flat surface and bare floor. “These
will yield a year’s medicinals, I trow.”
“They’ll not last a month,” Alicen said curtly, sorting
her acquisitions. “Not with soldiers about intent upon
war.”
How to explain that she’d worked so hard in part to
feel she still governed herself? William’s insistence that
she marry had at first shocked her. Now it frightened her
witless. Whom would he think suitable? And would that
man allow her to practice her healing art? If not, how
could she live? She shuddered.
“Lay these aside for a little, Ned,” she said more gently.
“I’ll feed the animals and then start boiling the acorns.”
“I could help you with the horses,” the boy offered.
“You’ve worked as hard as I of late. Take some respite.”
So saying, Alicen went about her chores.
Cleaning stalls gave her time to examine the abrupt
change in her life. Could she make William abandon his
plans without revealing the lie of Orrick’s death? Gladly
would she wed a man who loved her, but who could that
man be? None in Sherford, certainly.
Deeply distressed, she failed to hear the stable door
close. But, linked with an unnatural quiet, a sudden
prickling sensation along her skin caused her to turn.
Her tension did not abate when she recognized her
visitor.
“You lied to me, Alicen!” The accusation came in a
child’s tone from an adult mouth.
“However did I lie, Orrick,” she asked quietly. His mien
said he’d be difficult to placate.
“You told me not of the s-soldiers.” Stepping closer,
the lanky man jutted out his lower lip in a pout. “I saw.
Then I...—I heard you took ill. You’re well.”
“I fell and hit my head,” she stated levelly. Showing
no emotion was imperative. “I’ve been abed near a week.”
“Not hit head!” Orrick gestured wildly, then paused
and closed his eyes as if in contemplation. “He said you
bad ill!”
She went cold. “Who?”
“The smith.” Sudden cunning lit his near-vacuous
eyes. “He made me knife. See?” He reached to his hip,
but found no blade or scabbard. Enraged, he tore at his
clothes looking for them. “No! No!” He spun wildly around
before staring again at Alicen. “Left in hut! Want it now!”
She lowered the pitchfork and plucked at Orrick’s
sleeve. “I’ll ride to your hut tomorrow and see it then.”
He slapped her hand away, snarling, “Liar! You not
come. S-soldiers here. Orrick hates s-soldiers. You said
hate them, too. You lie.”
“Orrick, how can you say—”
She had no time to defend herself before he grasped
her by the tunic and slammed her into the stall partition.
Her breath escaped in an agonized whoosh as his weight
crushed the pitchfork handle into her chest. Knees
buckling, she slid down the wall to kneel in front of him.
“Devil spawn,” he hissed. Grabbing a fistful of her
hair, he pulled her to her feet. “S-soldier’s whore. S-
Satan’s whore.”
Pain sharpened Alicen’s senses. He would kill her
without knowing he had. Crying out, she swung hard,
breaking the fork shaft against his knee. He shrieked as
he fell, then lurched up to slap her. The blow turned her
head, making her ears ring, but she managed to scramble
back a step. In hopes of forcing his retreat, she feinted
with the pitchfork’s tines.
Slowed by his injured leg, he nonetheless dodged her
counterfeit thrust then ripped the weapon from her grasp
and sent her tumbling into the aisle between the stalls.
“Liars die!” he vowed, face mottled with insane fury.
He raised the fork to impale her, but Ned, rushing
down from the loft, threw himself at the madman. Both
went down, Ned beneath. The sickening snap of a
breaking bone could be heard as the boy’s arm gave way
under their combined weight.
Alicen and Ned screamed as one. Staggering to her
feet, she tried to drag Orrick from Ned’s inert body but
was flung off with inhuman power. Her senses dimmed
when she hit the floor.
***
Jeremy and Fish were racing toward the scuffle as
Alicen landed hard on her back. They heard the stranger
swear, saw him untangle himself from Ned and start for
her. With a snarl, Jeremy leapt at him and bore him to
the flagstones. He rose, dragging the stranger upright by
the front of his tunic.
“Whoreson!” He hurled his adversary against the
nearest stall, then slammed him into it repeatedly.
Fish had dragged Ned to safety before Jeremy became
aware of Alicen clutching at his arm.
“Captain, stop!” She labored to sound assertive, but
fear pervaded her voice. “Please. Let him go.”
He glanced at her stricken face.
“Please.”
The moment Jeremy’s grip relaxed, Orrick fled. He
moved to pursue.
Alicen’s grip tightened. “I implore you—let him go.”
Jeremy’s muscles bulged from rage, and fear coursed
through him. He could do naught but shudder at what
had nearly occurred. He realized Alicen had released his
arm and, turning, saw her leaning weakly against a stall.
“Who was that man?” he asked her, tone fierce with
turmoil.
She turned away to focus her attention on Ned.
Jeremy saw confusion and terror behind her bold
front, and this tortured emotional struggle startled him.
Whom did she wish to protect? What feelings to control?
And why should her cares be his concern?
“’Twas Orrick,” the boy moaned softly.
Jeremy saw Alicen flinch, and a sudden thought
riveted him. “Orrick? You called your betrothed Orrick.”
The bleakness in her eyes confirmed his suspicions.
Nine
“He is my betrothed,” Alicen said, weary resignation
in her voice.
Jeremy glowered. “I thought him dead in battle.”
She closed her eyes a moment before gesturing weakly
with her hand. “You saw him, saw his actions. Battle killed
his mind. He deserted. He’s been like a child since.”
“A very dangerous child,” Malcolm muttered. He
brushed straw from Ned’s hair and helped the boy to sit
up.
Jeremy silently agreed. At Alicen’s defeated look, he
reached out to her. “Mistress Kent—”
“Offer no solace, Captain.” She pulled away, then said
on a shaky laugh, “William will have you hunt Orrick
down and hang him for desertion, then use this incident
to force me into a loveless marriage.” She lowered her
head into both hands.
Jeremy felt himself flushing. “If we’d not arrived—”
Her head snapped up. “Your arrival incited the attack!
Had you never arrived at Landeyda, I’d not now fear attack
from a man who once loved me. What danger I’ve endured
has been begotten by soldiers.”
Jeremy fisted his hands on his hips and scowled
down at her. “If we bring only danger, mayhap we should
have left you to your fate just now.”
Alicen’s green gaze was watery with unshed tears. “I
thank you for helping us, Captain. But I’ll not recant my
statement. Ere soldiers arrived here, Orrick posed no
threat. Now, he believes I lied and, in his madness, could
seek to harm either Ned or me.”
“He’ll never get close enough,” Jeremy countered.
“So long as William remains here. But he is healing
quickly.” Alicen thought she saw Jeremy flinch, then cover
his reaction with a glare.
The man could be daunting in the extreme, but she
knew he wasn’t as ruthless as she’d first feared. He cared
for his duke, his men, and his horse—a villain cared for
naught but himself. And although he had little use for
her beyond her healing skills, he was no true villain. For
some reason, he sought to intimidate her, but she refused
to show vulnerability to him. With new composure, she
turned her head and glared at him.
“If you think to terrify me, sir, have done. I prefer to
die standing than to live kneeling.” Chin high, she limped
to Ned’s side, bending to gather him in her arms as he
whimpered in pain and fright.
Malcolm rose and moved to stand next to his captain.
Jeremy shook his head. Be damned, vixen, you’ve
more gall than any female I know. What you fear you’ll
not reveal. A bold man would be well matched to such as
you.
Such sentiments made his scowl deepen. He moved
to the stable door, saying quietly to Fish as he went, “See
Taft doubles the watch tonight.” He paused a moment.
“And, Malcolm, no word to anyone as to the man’s
identity.”
“Yes, sir.” The soldier dropped his gaze. “She had it
aright ‘bout our bringing trouble, didn’t she, Cap’n?”
“I fear so.”
Jeremy stared back at Alicen as she held the still
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