Carroll, Laurie - War Of Hearts.txt
Page 36
Her smile was more poignant than joyous. “I am, dear
friend. Yet, ’tis fear I feel crowding in against the joy.
Fear that Jeremy may not live to see his child grow to
manhood.”
Wordlessly, Saldi grasped her shoulder and gently
squeezed. “No one knows God’s will. But we must greet
each new day with hope. Hope remains always.”
He rose quietly from the stool beside the bed and left
her.
His words heartened Alicen.
Life grows within you despite your attempt to prevent
it, her mother’s voice said softly in Alicen’s mind. Such
events happen for a reason.
Should ill befall Jeremy—though she refused to
believe it would—the child would be evidence of the love
that filled her soul.
The opening door startled Alicen from her
contemplations. Jeremy entered, burdened with a tray
of food, and she felt herself suddenly quivering at sight of
him.
“Where are my clothes?” she demanded, stifling her
desire to invite him into bed for a long, passionate greeting.
“Somewhere you can’t find them,” he replied casually,
a slight smile tugging the corners of his mouth.
“I wish to have them now.”
“Haste is unnecessary.” He set the tray down on the
table. “You’ll not leave until you’ve eaten.”
Newfound energy lent acid to her voice. “Captain, you
cannot order me about. I intend to go to the infirmary at
once.”
“The men will doubtless enjoy their angel of mercy
clad much like Eden’s inhabitants before the Fall.” When
Alicen drew the blanket closer around herself, Jeremy
grinned. She’d regained her spirit, he decided happily.
“Dishonorable cad,” she fumed. “’Tis always your
wretched way to practice stratagems.”
“I’ll return your garments after you eat. They are
cleaned and dry.”
“I demand my clothes now!” Alicen balled her fists in
temper.
He bent to the tray, then set it on her lap. “Food first.”
“But the wounded need me.”
Her beseeching tone pulled his gaze to hers. “Antonio
is with them. They’ll endure until you’ve taken
nourishment.” He sighed. “Think, Alicen. Die, and your
skills die with you. By resting when you require it, you’ll
treat a far greater number of patients.”
“What of last night? While I slept, grievously injured
men needed attention.”
“They were tended. You’ve trained your workers well—
unless the case is grave, they can function without aid.
Be proud of their skills and take some much earned
respite.” He sat on the stool. “Will you feed yourself, or
must I?”
She glared at him before looking to the repast he’d
brought. “The devil take you, Captain.”
Jeremy chuckled. “Of a certain, you feel much better.”
And looked very appealing in her state of undress.
Mayhap he could convince her to allow him—
A soft knocking stayed his lusty thoughts. Stifling a
sigh, he rose to open the door. ‘Twas Rhea, carrying
Alicen’s clothes. He ushered the white-haired midwife
inside.
“I’ve informed her she must eat before dressing,” he
told Rhea in a whisper calculated to carry to Alicen’s ears.
He knew it had when she sniffed in affront. “I’ll leave you
to see that she carries out my command.”
“That won’t be necessary, Captain,” Alicen retorted
icily. “I’ll yield to your tyranny, if for no other reason than
to be rid of your tormenting manner.”
Jeremy bowed and gave her his most charming smile.
“Then I’ll trust you to see to your own needs before
returning to your duties.” He nodded to the midwife. “I
must needs speak to the armorer this morn. Enjoy your
meal, Mistress Kent.”
He could feel Alicen’s burning gaze as he left the
chamber, but her animosity warmed rather than angered
him. He’d forced her to attend to herself before anything
serious befell her, and this heartening fact pleased him.
If he could not prevent the reality of Durham’s desperate
need of her skills, he could at least keep her fit to perform
them.
“’Tis good to see you rested,” Rhea commented as the
door closed after Jeremy. A smile squeezed her face’s
myriad wrinkles into lines of joy. “Your Captain Blaine is
so gallant to you.”
Alicen flushed. “The man is intolerably arrogant. And
he’s not my captain. His heart and soul belong to William.”
“He loves you deeply.”
Alicen hid in a show of anger the hope those words
brought. “He forced me to stay here, then had the gall to
confine me until I ate. Is there no end to his treachery?”
“Treachery?” Rhea asked, bemused. “The captain
knew you to be overtaxed. We all saw it, but he acted to
keep you from harm. Knowing you’d not stop until you
sickened—as you very nearly did—he intervened.”
“Interfered, you mean.”
Rhea shook her head as she sat down beside the bed.
“The two of you love each other. Can you not admit such
truth? Why deny what your heart knows?”
Alicen bowed her head. “Rhea, I’m so afraid for him.”
The hoarse statement hung in the air as she subdued
her raw feelings by attending to the meal. Mouth-watering
smells lured her despite her distress, and she set about
eating. After all, she’d given her word that she would.
Spiced wine washed down fresh bread, eggs, hot cakes
and thick slices of ham. In between bites, she motioned
to the tray.
“Have you broken your fast?”
Rhea nodded. “At dawn. I’ve just come for a short
while. Ned is on tenterhooks to see you. I told him I’d
return to the wards within the hour.”
Alicen smiled. “Tell Ned I’ll meet him in the infirmary,
and we can talk while I work.”
“Captain Blaine would do well to chain you to this
bed.”
Alicen flushed but kept her own counsel. Truth to
tell, Jeremy had only to ask and she would spend every
night beside him. But he hadn’t asked. He’d tricked her
into a night of passion, then taken advantage of her
physical condition to keep her with him last night.
Although he’d likely saved her from illness by making
her rest, his methods angered her.
“Why must he be so overbearing?”
“Mayhap since you rarely listen to quiet advice.” A
gentle smile lit Rhea’s face.
Blushing fiercely, Alicen drained the dregs of the wine
and put the tray aside. “I need my clothes, Rhea.” If I’m
not dressed and out of this bed before Jeremy returns, I
may not let him leave this chamber all day.
Twenty-three
Jeremy crumpled William’s urgent missive in his fist.
Harold had escaped to Escomb, taking refuge in his
fortress, and William planned to lay
siege to it by week’s
end, regardless of the weather. His promised week’s rest
would be only three days. He and Jason Warrick had
orders to report to camp in the morning.
That was, if Jason lived to ride on the morrow, Jeremy
pondered darkly as he caught sight of his confederate
entering the hall with Alicen on his arm. The pair laughed
and talked as if fast friends.
That thought stabbed. As he strode across the hall
toward them, Jeremy saw Jason help Alicen from her
wet cloak, giving it and his own to a servant before again
offering her his arm. She flashed Jason a smile and tucked
her hand into the crook of his elbow. It took all Jeremy’s
self-control not to bellow for them to cease being
so...so...familiar. He’d worked himself into a near rage by
the time he intercepted them.
“Warrick, I need a word with you,” he stated harshly.
Shooting Alicen a glare, he added, “Alone.”
Jason turned to Alicen with a surprised look that
melted into a captivating grin. “Leave it to Blaine to deprive
me of your company, Mistress, but I feel this has the
smell of import about it.” He covered the hand she rested
on his elbow with his free one. “Please allow me the first
dance with you this eventide?”
Alicen laughed. “Well you know there’ll be no dancing
tonight.”
“A pity, that,” Warrick said, “as Christmas is but two
days off. I grow tired of just the yule log burning in the
great hearth. We must needs have dancing.”
Alicen glanced at Jeremy before saying, “‘Tis grim
business we’ve all been about for so long. It bleeds the
soul of happiness.”
“There’s truth to that,” Jeremy growled. “But until
this war ends, there’ll be little of consequence to
celebrate.” He crooked a brow at Warrick. “If you will?”
Turning, he walked out, with Jason Warrick right behind
him.
Alicen watched the two soldiers stride off. She
appreciated Jason’s humor. Although he often didn’t
consider the consequences of his actions beforehand, his
heart was merry, and he made her laugh. Also, she
enjoyed being treated as his friend.
And though Jason turned most every woman’s head,
he was not as handsome in Alicen’s opinion as her heart’s
desire. Both men stood the same height, but Jeremy’s
massive shoulders were nearly a handsbreadth wider than
Jason’s broad ones. Jason carried his size well, yet
Jeremy’s fluid grace made Warrick look almost awkward.
Alicen’s throat constricted. She loved Jeremy with all
her heart, but terror in thinking of him possibly dying in
combat clutched her vitals, made her weak with dread.
Made her deny her love to protect her soul should
something happen to him. Sweet Jesu, what a coil this
was! Thinking of the babe that grew within her calmed
her somewhat. She would have to be brave for their child.
***
As soon as they were out of sight and hearing of those
in the great hall, Jeremy rounded on Warrick.
“What were you about just now with the healer?” he
snarled.
Jason blinked. “Naught of import, man. We met by
chance at the gate.”
“And I surmise you gallantly escort—on your arm—
any and all you meet at the gate?”
“She said she’d been in the village,” Warrick stated
with a shrug. “I’d been riding patrol. We returned the
same time. So, we rode to the stable, the rain caught us
in the courtyard, and we had to run for the keep. Naught
else.”
“Warrick, I’m warning you, stay away from Alicen
Kent.”
“To what do you refer?” Warrick’s tone had hardened.
“I witnessed your entrance into the hall just now. You
made untoward advances.”
Jason’s face flushed. “I shared a jest with the woman!
Where’s the harm in that?”
“I know your whoring ways, Warrick. But be advised—
do not play this lady false.”
“Play false?” Sudden realization lit Jason’s eyes. “You
stubborn ass. I’ve no designs upon your lady.”
“You’ll stop at very little to lure a woman to your bed.
But give Alicen a wide path.”
“She is capable of deciding for herself. What claim do
you have to her?”
Jeremy felt the color drain from his face, and he
dropped his voice to a threatening rumble. “If you misuse
her, I’ll kill you.”
Warrick started to laugh, but sobered instantly. “So
that’s where the wind sits. Still, you o’erreach yourself to
say I’ve poached on a private sanctuary.” He raised a
deprecating brow. “I enjoy Mistress Kent’s company. She’s
a pleasant, learned woman, quite unlike the courtiers
you and I have tupped in the past. I’ve no wish to fight
you over a wench, nor is my intent to seduce the healer.
If, however, she finds she also enjoys my company, I’ll do
naught to discourage her.”
He started to smile, but Jeremy’s fisted blow wiped
that expression from his face and stretched him out on
his back on the flagstones. He stared up stupidly at
Jeremy.
“Heed me well, villain! Slake your lust with Alicen,
and you’ll die by my hand. I swear it.” Jeremy held himself
rigid to quell the urge to beat Jason senseless. Several
labored breaths calmed him further before he said,
“William has ordered us to ride at dawn. The siege of
Escomb begins at week’s end.”
He said no more, but stepped over Jason’s inert body
and strode back to the hall.
***
Alicen rose from her seat as Jeremy neared the high
table, yet her question died unasked when she saw his
look. Something was terribly wrong. He did not speak to
her or even glance her way, but crossed the hall in stony
silence to sit with Michael Taft, who’d arrived from
William’s camp just before dusk.
“The captain looks furious.” Rhea sat beside Ned and
Liza on Alicen’s right. “What mishap sparked such
venom?”
“I know not. He stormed up, demanded a private word
with Captain Warrick, and left with him.” Alicen paused,
then her eyes widened. “Where is Warrick? I fear the two
have come to blows.”
“They would never fight,” Ned insisted. “They’re
friends.”
“Friends or no, intuition tells me that is what
happened.” She gently touched Ned’s shoulder. “I’ll return
anon.”
Alicen found Jason sitting propped against the
passage wall, cradling his head in his hands.
“Captain, what befell you?” She knelt. “Are you badly
hurt?”
Jason raised his gaze with an effort and stared bleary-
eyed at her.
“I fell and hit my head,” he muttered, recoiling from
the touch of her hand. “’Tis naught to concern you,
Mistres
s.”
From the purplish mark spreading across his jaw,
Alicen doubted the truth of his statement, but she had
no desire to have her suspicions confirmed. “Can you
stand?”
“If you assist me.”
She helped him gain his feet, then saw he’d be unable
to walk alone and leaned him back against the wall. “Stay
here. I must get some men to aid you.”
She hurried back to the hall and enlisted the services
of the two nearest soldiers, leading them to where Jason
swayed on wobbly legs, and giving instructions for them
to put him to bed.
“I’ll see to him in the morning,” she added.
“Gone on the morrow,” he muttered. “Leave for
Escomb.”
“What?” Alicen’s voice was sharper than she realized.
“We ride at dawn,” he stated with a bit more clarity.
His words sent ice through her blood. Jeremy would
return to the field on the morrow. Chills assailed her at
the thought. She tried to force her fears back into the cell
in her heart where she’d locked them, but failed. He’d be
fighting, perhaps bleeding or—.
Suddenly, she realized she stood alone in the
passageway. The soldiers had already helped Captain
Warrick to his bed.
***
Jeremy, glaring at the small group from Sherford,
watched as Alicen quickly departed. His anger deepened.
Her concern for Warrick prompted her to search for the
blackguard. Jeremy clenched his flagon of ale so tightly
his knuckles whitened.
Why should I be angered, he told himself. The woman
has never responded in kind to my declarations of love.
She keeps me always at bay with her sharp tongue and
quick wit.
He swallowed the drink without tasting it, observing
Alicen’s return. When she again left, this time with two
soldiers, he followed, arriving in time to overhear Warrick
tell her of the siege. Was her obvious pallor caused by
concern for Jason? Or for him?
“Are you lost, Mistress?”
The sudden sound of Jeremy’s voice behind her made
Alicen jump. She whirled to face him. “Do you enjoy
startling people, Captain?” she snapped. Her anger
surprised her, especially since her fear for him had her
near collapse.
His brow raised mockingly. “I merely asked if you were
lost. What is so startling about such a question?”