crying Ned. Though too distant to hear, he knew her words
comforted. The sight riveted him, and when she struggled
to rise with Ned in her arms, he moved to help her.
“Let’s get you to bed, lad,” he said, squatting down to
carefully tousle the boy’s hair.
Alicen began to protest, but his eyes dared her to
stop him. She surrendered Ned without a word.
“My thanks for saving us, sir.” Esteem lit Ned’s gaze.
“’Twas naught, lad,” Jeremy murmured.
Alicen flushed, then cursed her sudden stab of envy.
She could understand Ned’s feelings. Orphaned at eight,
the boy had soon after come to live with her. He’d no
father or brothers to emulate, and Orrick’s madness
repelled him. Jeremy Blaine was, by all accounts, an
accomplished knight. And not everyone deplored soldiers
as she did.
Pushing aside her animosity, she hurried on still-
unsteady legs to open the cottage door for them. Then
she moved to pull back a bench from the table and motion
Jeremy to place Ned on it.
“You’re injured.” Jeremy noted, looking pointedly at
her leg.
She stood tall and avoided favoring the leg. “’Tis
naught.”
“You limp for naught?”
Without reply, she started to turn away, but Jeremy’s
irritated statement made her glance back at him.
“My question was civil. I deserve a civil answer.”
Her instinct was to flee, yet she replied levelly, “I
scraped my knee just now in the stable.”
Setting Ned carefully down, Jeremy straightened to
his full height. “It requires attention. Let me look at it.”
“I must needs attend to Ned.”
Jeremy grunted. “After he’s settled, I’ll examine your
injury.”
At this bold declaration, she cocked a brow. “You have
healing skills, Captain?”
Jeremy clenched his jaw hard. In four strides he had
reached the infirmary. “I’ll speak to William, then I’ll see
to you,” he stated. “Though why I’d aid such an obstinate
shrew bemuses me.” He closed the door firmly behind
him.
Alicen stared at that door for several moments. Why
should her injury concern him? It would not prevent her
treating William or his men. Though the duke still could
not travel, he required merely rest and nourishment. Was
the captain even now disclosing the night’s events? She
shuddered at the possible consequences of such a report,
but forced away her fears and concentrated on Ned.
From a small crock she brought out a brown, thumb-
sized cake of narcotic made from dried lettuce leaves.
“Eat this,” she said, handing it to him. “The pain will ease
presently.”
While waiting for the drug to take hold, she removed
Ned’s sleeve, then wrapped him in a warm blanket. Her
next task was to set his arm.
“The extract won’t numb this entirely,” she warned
as she arrayed splints and cloths on the table.
“It must be set, Alicen,” Ned stated, trust in his dark
eyes. “I won’t shame you.”
She smiled at his resolve. “I’ll be quick.” Grasping his
wrist, she ordered, “Brace yourself with your other arm,
and don’t resist with this one.” When she felt him relax,
she gave a swift jerk and straightened the bone.
The boy’s eyes widened then watered, but he did not
cry out. Only his tense features betrayed pain. Alicen
tested the break, splinted the arm, then secured it in a
sling.
“You were very brave.” She kissed his temple. “I know
how much it hurt.”
“You’d have been brave in my place.” He trembled
suddenly, whispering, “Why did Orrick attack you?”
The question brought dreadful images, but she buried
them.
“He claimed I’d lied to him. And, in a way, I did.” At
Ned’s questioning look, she said, “I convinced him to
stay away but told him nothing of William’s troops.” Her
pounding head made her pause and rub her temples.
“He heard I’d fallen ill and thought I’d lied of that, too.”
“What will he do now?”
Alicen saw Ned’s fear and desperately wished to
reassure him. She could not. Up until this eve, she’d never
imagined Orrick would hurt her. Now madness
overpowered his prior love. A chill made her shiver.
“I’m uncertain,” was all she could say.
Ned squared his thin shoulders and stilled his
quivering chin. “I’ll protect you, Alicen.”
Tears abruptly filled her eyes, but she smiled and
gave him a careful hug. “I know. Now eat. And then to
bed.”
Ned had swallowed the last of his porridge when
Jeremy returned.
“Time for sleep, lad.” He carried the boy to bed,
returning quickly to approach Alicen where she stood by
her medicinals cupboard. “I’ll tend your leg now,
Mistress.”
She bristled. “You give me no orders in my home,
Captain.”
“When I’m in the right, you must listen.” Before she
could protest, he had steered her to a seat on the bench.
“Don’t consider moving even a finger,” he commanded.
He brought hot water, candles and clean cloths to
the table. Thus armed, he drew up a stool and sat.
“Let me see your leg.”
The husky compassion in his voice struck Alicen like
a revelation. Ignoring the comfort she found in that tone,
she shot him a withering look, yet made no move to leave.
Neither did she show him the injury.
Sighing, Jeremy grumbled, “Such stubborn pride,
Mistress. Have you forgotten pride is a sin?”
“Who would know that better than you?” she retorted.
To her complete astonishment, he chuckled, seized
her ankle and carefully bent the leg. With a knife, he
enlarged the hole in her hose, exposing the gash. Dried
blood clogged deep furrows in the skin, but no bone or
tendon showed.
She ground her teeth and remained silent while he
gently probed the broken skin in search of embedded
objects.
“It appears you’ll live, Mistress,” he stated drolly as
he daubed away the blood with a damp cloth. He seemed
to unconsciously knead her cramped calf muscle as he
worked.
“How disappointing for you,” she returned through
her clenched jaw, fighting the languor his ministrations
brought her.
A grin too brief to be more than a trick of the light
softened his hard features. Alicen blinked.
“I must needs endure, I suppose.” He had everything
cleaned in short order. “Which ointment do you use?”
Still bemused, she answered slowly, “In the saffron
jar.”
“Don’t flee while I’m gone.” Upon his return, he
dressed the wound then sat back to survey his handiwork.
“Laudable for one whose skills lie in inflicting injury, don’t
you think?”
His comment goaded, and the fact he’d treated her
injury as she herself would have chafed. He was the
picture of considerate kindness, and she disliked seeing
him as aught but hard.
“You needn’t reward me for my services, Mistress,”
he said, abruptly somber. “’Twas little, in return for all
you’ve done for us.”
He rose to collect her supplies.
“Had I known where treating the Duke would lead,”
Alicen said peevishly, “I’d have slammed the door in your
face the night you brought him here.”
“No doubt you would have.” A slight smile tugged at
Jeremy’s mouth. “Then you’d never have had occasion to
punish me for being a soldier. Make the best of it.”
“’Tis certain I will!” Alicen lurched to her feet. “I’ll dance
with mirth the day you depart and leave me in peace.”
In her rush to leave, she caught a toe on the bench
leg and lost her balance. Her stiff knee could not bend to
catch her and, with a yelp, she pitched headlong.
Only Jeremy’s quickness prevented her fall. She went
just so far as his broad chest as he stepped forward,
grasping her under the arms. Impact robbed Alicen of
breath and strength.
“Easy, lass!” Jeremy said, voice husky. “I have you.”
Reflexively his arms circled her waist, and he gently
pulled her closer. A flood of possessiveness, the like of
which he’d never felt, assaulted him. She was in his arms,
and he wasn’t of a mind to let her go.
He was mad! She was betrothed, albeit to a man no
longer capable of wedding her. Defiantly, his embrace
tightened.
In the time it took to collect both wits and breath,
Alicen felt a comforting warmth course through her. With
a start, she realized it radiated from the hard body pressed
to hers. Memory returned her to the forest after her fall,
and Captain Blaine’s comforting embrace. Then, as now,
this soldier’s body—his scent, his heat—held too much
allure.
Shocked at the path her thoughts raced, she pulled
back. And saw deep turmoil in Jeremy’s eyes. He was
clearly as stunned by their proximity—and equally as
unprepared for it—as she.
He held her gaze for a moment before his eyes
darkened and he lowered his mouth to hers. The kiss
began softly—a tentative exploration—but soon deepened,
became seductively demanding, insistent. His tongue
traced her lips, then plumbed deeper. Startled at this
invasion, she tried to push it from her mouth with her
own. But the sensation of their tongues meeting sent a
thrill down all her nerve endings, and she gave up the
effort. Her lips parted further, allowing him better access.
Her arms slowly encircled his neck.
Jeremy raised one hand to tangle Alicen’s hair in
shaking fingers. The other trailed down her back and rose
again to tease her nape. A groan rumbled from deep in
his chest.
She felt more than heard the sound. And though she
burned at every point their bodies touched, she welcomed
the fire. Had he not drawn her close, she’d have leaned
into him herself. She felt safe in his embrace. And more
alive than ever before.
All the trembling weakness in her legs moved upward.
She molded to him, offering her body to be seared by his.
A soldier had brought about her surrender...A
soldier...As this thought exploded inside her head, Alicen’s
mind cleared. On a strangled cry, she tore her mouth
free from Jeremy’s. A hard push against his chest broke
his embrace, and she bolted to her chamber.
Transfixed, he stood slack-jawed. Sweet Jesu! Alicen
had responded to his kiss, then retreated like an
outmaneuvered general. What in Christ’s name afflicted
him, to engage in such folly? And why her heated
reaction? Could animosity so easily kindle to passion?
His logical mind found no rationality.
But his body burned. He closed his eyes and filled
his lungs with her lingering scent, his tingling fingertips
recalling her silken hair and heated skin. It seemed he
stood there an eternity before wrenching his thoughts
away from Landeyda’s exasperating mistress.
He never guessed that, once safely inside her room,
Alicen sank to the floor, head in hands, and wept bitter
tears.
***
“You oppose this course, Jeremy?” William watched
closely as Jeremy paced the chamber. “It seems last
night’s attack only supports my position.”
Jeremy stopped, gave William a baleful look, then
resumed pacing. “Beg pardon, my lord, but as it came
despite our presence, I fear wedding the woman to some
clerk won’t afford her more protection.”
“Thus, you choose to ignore my wisdom?”
“Nay.” Jeremy would die of mortification if the truth
of yesternight were known.
He’d not slept, using wakefulness to bank his rage at
the assault. By her betrothed! He wanted to kill the man.
And he’d fought to exorcise intimate memories of Alicen’s
soft lips and firm limbs. Furtively, he raised a hand to his
brow, finding it cool to his touch.
“Mayhap I long to return to court and be quit of this
place and its occupants.” A glance at the duke revealed a
disbelieving pair of dark eyes trained upon him.
“Have you taken ill? You’re never on tenterhooks to
return to Tynan. Not since every woman there—save my
lady wife—seeks dalliance with you.” William smiled.
“Campaigns suit you better than court intrigue.”
“Ere I regain my land, Tynan is my home. And home
brings welcome respite from battle.” Jeremy hoped his
words appeased, else William would badger him to say
why he so wished to leave Landeyda.
“Should I enlist Mistress Kent to treat your malady?”
“Nay!” At William’s odd look, Jeremy composed his
voice but knew his cheeks flamed. “Pardon, my lord. ’Tis
only that—”
William sighed. “I know your nature, and I fear my
injury has been more a trial for you than—”
Alicen’s entry halted further comment. Jeremy looked
away, gathering his writing tools.
“Good morrow, Mistress,” William greeted her warmly,
but his eyes were on Jeremy. “I’m pleased you’re hale
despite last night’s attack.”
Alicen shot Jeremy a wary look. “’Tis what I wish to
speak to you of,” she responded, voice tense, cheeks
suddenly burning.
William frowned. “You’ve not taken ill from the
ordeal?”
“Nay, my lord.” She paused, and Jeremy saw her take
a deep breath. “Please, sir, if I may speak. Don’t use last
night to force me to wed. As I was unharmed, what
happened is of little import.”
“Sweet Jesu, woman,” William cried, “a man attacked
you and is still at large. I wish you to be safe when we
&nbs
p; depart.”
Alicen’s tone stiffened. “I’d no need of protection ‘ere
you arrived. I’ll need none after you go.”
“You disparage the gravity of this situation,” William
returned. “As my subject you are under my protection.”
“But I have no wish for a husband to protect me,”
Alicen whispered wretchedly. Her head bowed as she
fought tears.
Both William and Jeremy studied her closely. At sight
of her vulnerable, beaten look, Jeremy’s rage over the
assault returned full force. He knew the pain of a loved
one’s betrayal. And the cur’s attack had forced William’s
hand. Mayhap bringing this Orrick to justice would
change the duke’s mind about a nuptial. He rose hastily.
“I plan to lead a search party immediately, my lord,”
he stated. “We’ll catch the knave if he’s in the shire.”
Alicen winced, her face pale. “Don’t o’erset the recently
wounded on my account, sir,” she said weakly, trying for
mockery and failing. “I’m quite certain the man will not
return.”
William straightened. “How are you certain? Is he
known to you?”
Alicen’s gaze flew to Jeremy’s. Christ be merciful! If
Blaine tells all, Orrick will die! Striving to quell her alarm,
she set her jaw and raised her chin a notch.
“I’ve little recollection of last night,” she stated baldly,
unblinking. “It ensued so quickly. But intuition tells me
he’ll not come here again.” Her look defied Jeremy to
respond.
Uncomfortable silence lengthened as he stared back
at her.
“Then we’ll not squander time in pursuit, but mend
the rest of the walls...To keep out other intruders,” Jeremy
stated as he left the room.
“Sweet Jesu,” Alicen whispered, forgetting William
reclined close enough to hear her epithet. She wrung her
hands in her apron.
“What troubles you, Mistress? Even dismissing last
night’s attack, you’ve been pensive of late.”
Relief over Jeremy’s unanticipated aid didn’t stop her
from saying, “I’ve little more than a fortnight to forestall
marrying an as yet unknown suitor, my lord. Perhaps
that colors my mood.”
William sighed. “I know the danger we have brought
you. The fear. Though I’ll not regret Jeremy’s bringing
me here. Had he not done so, I’d now be among my
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