Carroll, Laurie - War Of Hearts.txt
Page 24
Rebecca’s expression told Alicen the older woman
knew an incomplete account when she heard it. But the
lady asked no questions.
“You both are near to collapse,” she stated kindly.
“We’ll converse more once you’ve rested.”
“I must speak to the earl of the mercenary who
abducted us,” Jeremy stated with sudden intensity. He
had regained his seat as the women talked. “I believe he
raids in Cumbria to expand Harold of Stanhope’s ill-gotten
holdings.”
Rebecca’s expression turned grim. “Your belief is
correct. My husband rode to Penrith three days ago to
discuss that very problem with Brougham’s castellan. He’s
due back at eventide.” When Jeremy sighed in
disappointment, she added, “If I may be frank, neither of
you is fit to abandon my hospitality too soon. You must
rest and regain strength before pursuing a madman.”
Jeremy had straightened in his seat as Rebecca spoke.
“I fear the jackal will escape me if I lie idle too long. If he
is not quickly checked, much of the country will bleed.”
The lady gave a brief nod. “Yet, you can do naught
until my husband returns. Therefore, it pleases me to
offer you the comforts of my home. When you finish your
meal, John will show you to the baths, where you may
cleanse away the remains of your privations.”
“Baths?” Alicen inquired.
Rebecca nodded. “The second Earl of Cumbria built
this castle five generations ago. He patterned its amenities
after Henry the Third’s palace at Westminster. Hence,
the bath room has hot and cold running water. I’m certain
you’ll find it much to your liking.”
“You’re too kind, Lady Rebecca,” Alicen remarked as
she studied the older woman. The latter exuded amiable
gentility, and Alicen found herself warming to her. “I’d
very much like to speak to your physician after I’ve bathed,
if that is possible.”
“There’ll be time enough for such at the evening meal,”
Rebecca responded. “You should slumber rather than
tire yourself with the business of healing.”
Though the statement was couched as a suggestion,
Alicen detected the command of a concerned parent in it.
She was for bed, regardless of whether or not she wished
it.
“I for one could use the rest,” Jeremy interjected. He
smiled wryly. “Since I got naught of it last eventide.”
Alicen shot him look. “If you seek to stir my guilt for
sleeping on our ride, save your breath. As I recall, ’twas
at your insistence.”
Turning a roguish smile toward Lady Rebecca, Jeremy
said drolly, “What man wouldn’t leap at the chance to
hold a slumbering woman in his arms?”
Heat scorched Alicen’s cheeks, and she gripped her
knife and fork so tightly her knuckles whitened. Fleetingly,
she considered using the utensils as weapons.
“You are the most despicable—“ With supreme effort,
she choked back the rest of the malediction.
Jeremy raised his hands in a gesture of capitulation.
“Truce, woman, truce! I merely intended to point out that
some of us gained more sleep last night than others.”
Alicen drew breath to chide Jeremy, but the sight of
Lady Rebecca’s amusement effectively stifled any retort.
Alicen was a guest at Kirkoswald, after all, and had no
right to behave like a vengeful harpy. ’Twould be a poor
way to show gratitude. As for Sir Jeremy Blaine, she’d
have revenge for his ill-conceived jest at some other time.
Swallowing her ire, she smote Jeremy with a look that
would have devastated a less confident man. He repaid
her glare with a wink, then returned to eating while she
pondered her wish to employ her platter to the side of his
head. Mayhap that would put the jackal in a more sober
mood!
The meal ended quietly, although the atmosphere was
charged. The steward, upon Rebecca’s summons,
returned to escort her guests to their baths.
The large, airy chamber was on the same level as the
earl’s apartments. It boasted two high, arched windows
with wooden shutters that could be closed to keep out
drafts. Since the day was sunny, they were open to allow
sunlight to warm the room. Four wooden tubs sat in a
row in the center of the floor. Hot water for the baths was
supplied by tanks filled from pots heated in a furnace
built specially for that purpose. John motioned Jeremy
toward the first tub and Alicen toward the second.
“Charlotte and Agatha will see to your needs,” the
portly steward remarked, indicating with a nod of his head
the two servants who stood next to the respective tubs.
Alicen froze, mortified at the prospect of disrobing in
front of two complete strangers and Jeremy Blaine. She
felt the heat stealing back into her cheeks and knew she
had to leave the chamber immediately or flatly refuse to
bathe.
Charlotte saved her from retreating. The buxom
servant moved to the far wall beneath the windows to
draw a heavy damask curtain along a rod positioned above
and between the two tubs. This effectively partitioned the
chamber into two bathing areas.
Alicen barely had time to breathe her relief before
Agatha was removing the soiled, tattered hose, tunic and
shirt Alicen had worn constantly for close to a week. The
matronly attendant placed them on a low bench, then
turned to her charge.
“I’ll have these cleaned and mended, my lady,” she
said kindly as she helped her step into the brimming
tub.
“They’re nearly beyond repair, I fear,” Alicen replied
ruefully before sinking to her chin in the hot water.
“‘Twill be no trouble,” Agatha assured her, patting
Alicen’s arm. “Now ye just rest yerself and let ol’ Aggie
see to ye.”
“Thank you.” She closed her eyes, having all she could
do not to groan in pleasure as more water poured over
her head. When strong fingers began to wash her hair,
she did moan softly. She’d never been so pampered. Giving
over to the maid’s kind ministrations, she soon found
herself on the edge of sleep.
A very feminine giggle from Jeremy’s side of the
curtain snapped Alicen’s eyes open. Her ears attuned to
his deep voice and the maid’s answering titters, though
they spoke too low to distinguish words. The heat in
Alicen’s cheeks could not be blamed on the bath water.
She pictured the maid bathing the man who, mere hours
before, had held Alicen in his arms. Her mouth went dry.
Having seen most of his body, she knew the temptation
to touch him. Charlotte was expected to touch the very
flesh that so unnerved Alicen.
She envied the servant her opportunity.
Chastising herself for such wanton thoughts, she tried
to attend to Agatha’s efforts. But her mind kept picturing
>
the activities on the other side of the curtain, and she
found even Agatha’s personal attentions less than
diverting.
For his part, Jeremy enjoyed Charlotte’s care, but
did not intend to partake of the services she offered
beyond his bath. With teasing hands she’d removed the
bandages from his aching ribs, stroking his body,
wordlessly admiring his physique. Her next touch was
blatantly to the issue. Pushing her firmly away, he shook
his head and stepped into the tub.
The heat of the water combined with Charlotte’s now
less than enthusiastic massage, eased his knotted
muscles and lessened his aches. He knew his ribs
required rebinding, but decided against asking Alicen to
do it. He’d taxed her sorely earlier and thought it unwise
to request favors after enjoying a jest at her expense.
Remembering her expression when he’d remarked on
holding her, he smiled. Then he chuckled.
The woman was a vision to savor with her hackles
up. The emerald fire that leaped into her eyes made risking
her fury a worthwhile challenge. And Jeremy never ran
from a challenge. He couldn’t explain why he’d made such
a bold insinuation to Lady Rebecca, yet he didn’t regret
it. After all, Alicen had spent the night in his arms. That
unique circumstances had led her to it was a minor point.
And holding her had brought him pleasure.
The sounds of her bath progressing only a few feet
away fired his thoughts. He imagined her naked, her body
caressed by heated water. And then by his own heated
hands. This vision enticed him, making him shift to ease
an increasing discomfort. The water felt far hotter than it
had moments before. His tight throat forced him to
swallow several times. Blessedly, this calmed him
somewhat.
But his disquieting thoughts took the smile from his
mouth.
Careful, lad, he warned himself. You think to tread on
territory best left unexplored. Far better to dally with this
servant and forget Alicen. William will wed her to a
steward.
There could be no gain in seeking pleasure with Alicen
Kent. He must remain her nemesis, most definitely not
her lover.
His jaw set. Recent events had unbalanced him. He
had to regain his feet, stop Kenrick and see William safely
to York. Vital tasks. Nothing—no one—could interfere with
those duties. Not even the woman who had bedeviled him
for weeks, so much so he wondered how his life would
progress when he left her behind.
Fifteen
They slept the afternoon away, she in an airy chamber
near Lady Rebecca’s apartments, he in the guardhouse.
When Alicen awoke near dusk, she found Agatha bustling
about the chamber, lighting candles and laying out
garments on the bed.
“Yer clothes will be ready when ye depart, my lady,”
the matronly servant stated. “Lady Rebecca said to give
ye these for while ye remain.”
Alicen stared, momentarily stunned, at the lovely
garments Agatha had brought.
“Surely the lady has no wish for me to wear these,”
she gasped, consternation bringing her brows together.
“They are far too fine.”
“Nay, Mistress, the lady chose these herself. They’re
her daughter’s things. Yer meant to wear them.”
Without another word, Agatha set about dressing
Alicen in a delicate linen chemise. She then slipped a
long-sleeved tunic of green sendal over Alicen’s head,
fastening it at the neck with a bronze brooch. A sleeveless
surcoat of light yellow topped the tunic, and a leather
belt with a bronze wolf’s head buckle circled Alicen’s waist
and drew the garments close. Short hose, held by garters
below her knees, and house slippers completed the outfit.
“Ye look beautiful, my lady,” Agatha breathed. “I’ll
dress yer hair now, if ye’d like.”
“Please, just leave it,” Alicen begged, unaccustomed
to such a fuss over appearances. “I’d prefer you to simply
tie it back.”
“As ye wish, Mistress.” The servant pursed generous
lips, then added, “But if I meself were blessed with such
rich chestnut tresses, I’d style them to attract a handsome
swain.”
Alicen swallowed. “A simple style will do.”
Obedient, the chambermaid brushed Alicen’s hair
until it shone, then tied it back with a braided band. Giving
a final pat, she stepped back to view the effect and nodded.
“Lovely.”
“Thank you,” Alicen said with heartfelt sincerity. “I’ve
never enjoyed such care.”
“’Tis an honor to serve ye, my lady. Of a certain ye’ll
turn yer gallant knight’s head.”
The servant’s comment puzzled Alicen. Then
realization dawned, and her heart sank. Jeremy! He’d be
joining her at supper and would likely laugh at her
pretentious manner of dress. After all, she was but a
simple country healer. He’d likely delight in watching her
play the fool. Determined not to provide him such
entertainment, she set her features and prepared to ignore
all his caustic barbs.
She need not have bothered.
Silence fell as she entered the hall. It seemed every
man in the room, from lordly retainers to young pages,
stared at her, and she soon found herself surrounded by
admirers. Unused to such attention, Alicen struggled to
keep her wits and not bolt in panic. There was no time to
worry about Jeremy’s reaction to her.
Her appearance had stunned that particular knight
to utter speechlessness. In the midst of an intense
discussion with the just-returned Earl of Cumbria,
Jeremy stuttered to silence, staring toward the hall’s main
entrance.
“Your lady is a lovely woman,” Edward remarked.
Jeremy’s gaze snapped back to his host. “She is not
my lady, Your Grace.” He noted how Alicen’s entrance
had stirred the men, but didn’t look at her again. “She
treated William’s wounds and has harbored him since
his injury.”
“Ah.” Edward’s smile was sly. “A business alliance.”
Jeremy shrugged. “Naught else, my lord. Now, as to
the plans for pursuing Kenrick...”
***
The hall was nearly empty when Edward and Jeremy
finished their stratagems. Satisfied, he bid the old man
good night and made for his bed in the guard room. He
halted when Alicen rose from her seat in a window
embrasure and stepped down to him.
“You’ve decided upon a course?” she asked promptly.
It was impossible not to enjoy seeing her in courtly
attire. She wore such fashion well. Forcing down an
appreciative smile, he answered, “Aye, we ride on the
morrow.”
“Then best we both retire.” She moved past him toward
the gallery. “The chase will be hard. Most likely this will
be th
e last good rest we’ll enjoy in many days.”
Her use of “we” did not escape him, but he had no
intention of allowing her to accompany him. It was too
dangerous.
“You’re staying here.”
At this, she spun to face him, eyes narrowed. “Nay, I
ride with you. Someone may need me.”
Her words made his muscles go rigid, as if to resist a
blow. “You’ll only slow us down,” he ground out. “You’re
not coming.”
Alicen’s flush warned of a temper about to explode.
“And your injuries will pose no hindrance? You should
remain behind, since you’re too reckless to properly care
for yourself.”
“I’ll not allow my injuries to hinder me,” he snapped.
“Just as I’ll not allow you to hinder me.”
“I ride as well as any man! I’ll no more slow the pursuit
than you will. And you’ll need a physician if there’s
fighting.”
“Edward’s man accompanies us.”
Alicen’s chin tilted up. “I’ll not stay behind, no matter
that you wish it so. You cannot detain me here.”
“Aye, I can,” he growled, determined to have the final
word. He stepped closer. “There’ll be danger, and I’ll not
risk men to put your safety ahead of their own.”
She went completely still, then retorted in a quiet voice
tempered with steel, “My will is my own, and that’s to my
liking. I go where I choose.”
She looked as though she were ready to strike
something, and Jeremy wisely chose not to test her anger.
He took a slow breath to temper his vexation. “Woman,
you’re a sore trial for me.”
“A trial of your own making, sir. By your choice you
escort me. Yet you’ve no claim upon me, none of any
kind.”
He laughed in pure exasperation. “And does Orrick
still lay claim to your attentions?”
All the color drained from Alicen’s face.
“I loved him,” she whispered. “Before the horrors of
battle stole his mind, and he returned to me a child. I
lied to protect him from you.” Lowering her gaze, she
asked, “Will you use my deception to leave me here on
the morrow?”
“Most likely.”
His deliberate statement got the reaction he sought.
Building anger replaced her despair. Again, their gazes
locked. They stood toe to toe, no quarter given. She