I’ve naught left to say.”
“I’ve heard every word you’ve uttered—”
“And yet you’ll ride out to fight.” She choked back a
sob, hating her weakness, hating his seeing her so
vulnerable.
Leaning down, he placed a soft kiss on her temple.
“That is my duty,” he stated simply. “Yet ‘twill never
change my love for you.”
“Love!” Summoning all her strength, she wrenched
from his arms and spun on him, enraged. “How dare you
say you love me, then put yourself in such danger?”
Trembling uncontrollably, she stepped away when he
reached for her. “Don’t touch me! You declare your love,
yet won’t consider what will happen to me or even to Ned
should you die in battle.” Tears blurred her vision and
choked her voice, but she managed to add, “I’ll not remain
to watch you fight, Jeremy. Ride against Harold’s
champion, and I’ll be gone when you return.”
Anger mixed with pain hit Jeremy like a fist to his
chest. “So that’s the lay of things. I implored you to leave
for safety’s sake, but you’d not. Now, you’re more than
happy to.”
“I stayed because you needed me. Now, all you need
is your glory.”
She buried her face in her hands in a vain attempt to
stem her tears. This time, when Jeremy enfolded her in
his arms, she made no effort to free herself. Instead, she
laid her head on his chest and sobbed.
He rubbed her back and shoulders, whispering
soothing words, easing the tension in her body.
“Ah, my sweet, stubborn minx,” he crooned,
continuing his ministrations. “How can I make you
understand what duty compels me to do?”
Lifting her head from his chest, she fixed him with
glistening eyes. “You cannot make me grasp such
reasoning. Does duty compel you to die, Jeremy?”
He shook his head, then brushed away her tears with
gentle fingers. “Nay, sweetling. But I must fight. Single
combat will spare men’s lives, not to mention the women
and children who now suffer inside Escomb’s walls.”
Alicen’s mind returned to a similar scene in which he
had fought another to spare more casualties, and abruptly
pride in his selflessness warred with her fear for his life.
“Too much strain could reopen your wound,” came
her fierce whisper. “If such should happen...” She lowered
her head back to his chest, trembling. “I cannot bear the
agony of witnessing this. I intend to leave this place of
death as swiftly as Hercules will carry me.”
Jeremy’s body tensed at her words. “Am I naught to
you but a faceless victim who requires tending?” he grated
out. “Do you feel for me as for any man with guts in hands,
pleading that you make him whole again?”
“Nay.” Her arms slid around his slim waist to lock
behind his back. “I’ve given myself to you. None other.
Does that not tell you of my regard?”
He held her closer. “You’ve never spoken of such
feelings, lass. What am I to think?”
“You’ve stolen my heart, Sir Jeremy Blaine. And now
you make sport with it by risking your life unnecessarily.”
His hand beneath her chin lifted her face to his. “I do
not sport with what I hold dear,” he said, then brushed
her lips with a kiss. “Just as I do not sport with my life by
entering into combat. Do not demand that out of love for
you I withdraw from the field. I’ll do so if you ask. Yet this
is the swiftest way to end the war and regain all. All I
want to share with you.”
Her heartbeat accelerated alarmingly at his
declaration. But caution made her ask, “You mean to
share your bed with me as your mistress?”
“I mean to share that and far more with you as my
wife.”
“I, marry a soldier?” she mocked, trying to make light
of her sudden yearning to do that very thing. “Duke
William would have me wed a Sherford merchant. You
must be mad.”
Jeremy shook his head. “Mad, indeed, to think I could
truly win your stubborn heart. Know you not that I would
gladly die for you?”
“I want no man to lay down his life for mine.”
Only the look that briefly flashed in Alicen’s eyes kept
Jeremy from despair. He’d seen a spark of hope and love
shining there for him, and understood that fear he’d be
killed kept her from openly committing her heart. He
sighed. His headstrong, self-reliant healer would require
proof before she accepted that he’d return to live out his
days with her.
“I’ll not allow you to leave,” he stated grimly. “During
the challenge, Harold may attempt escape. The roads will
not be safe to travel.”
“I won’t remain here while you fight.” Alicen raised
her fists and shoved against his chest until he released
her. She backed farther away.
He started after her but halted, arrested by her look
of pure anguish. Holding both hands toward her in
supplication, he said quietly, “Alicen, I need you—”
She jerked as if he’d struck her. “Nay, you do not.
You need your horse and your weapons and your duty,
not me.” Face bleak, she added, “And I don’t need you.”
He looked at her with all the tenderness in his heart.
“You’re wrong, lass. I need you as all living things need
food and water.” Two steps closed the gap between them,
then he reached out both hands to capture her face. “I’ll
die if we’re separated. Those weeks you were at Landeyda
and I at Tynan, I was mad with longing. All who
approached me risked their lives to do so. And it was all
for want of you.”
When he caressed the line of her jaw with his long
fingers, Alicen’s eyelids closed. But her eyes brimmed
with tears when she opened them again.
“I’ve been so long alone, I dare not believe I could be
part of someone’s life,” she said, voice husky. “Should
that wish not come true, I’ll never recover.”
He dropped his hands from her face and gently
grasped her shoulders.
“Alicen, look at me,” he commanded softly. He waited
until her gaze met his before saying, “Today I fight not for
William but for you. I hold my duty most dear, and that
duty is to see you safe, happily wed to me, and the mother
of my children.”
His words struck a chord so deep in her she thought
she’d collapse from the sensation of it. But before she
could respond and tell him of the child she carried,
Michael Taft shook the tent flap to gain their attention.
TWENTY-FIVE
Taft peered inside the tent just long enough to say,
“Time grows short, Jeremy. We must get you armed.”
Jeremy nodded. “Michael, send in Fish, Naismith,
Burke and Weed.”
He held Alicen close, regretting what he had to do.
He’d not risk losing her. Yet
, would her affection die from
his latest plot? He told himself to have faith, to trust her
strong nature. But doubts nagged him.
The soldiers entered.
“Take Mistress Kent and confine her in Duke William’s
tent ‘til my return,” he succinctly ordered his men. He
ignored Alicen’s indignant gasp and her furious
expression. He shifted his gaze from the men to the woman
in his arms. “You know her to be cleverly resourceful
and thus realize you must not be lax in your duties. Know
now that, should she escape you, I’ll execute you to a
man.”
“How dare you!” Alicen cried, twisting in his grasp.
She sought to strike him, but quickly found her arms
pinned behind her. Muttering dark oaths, she thrashed
against him until his embrace immobilized her in a
crushing hold. “You’ll not keep me here against my will,”
she ground out through clenched teeth. “I’ll not stay to
see you die.”
“Nay, you’ll not,” he agreed huskily. “You’ll stay to
see me return in triumph.” Burying his face in her hair,
he whispered, “Trust me, my lady. Naught of this Earth
will keep me from your side.” His hold gentled, and she
felt him shaking. “Forgive me, love. I’ll fight poorly if I fret
over you. Confined, you’ll be safe, not abroad endangering
yourself.”
Alicen lifted defiant eyes to him, then straightened in
his hold. When he released her, she turned proudly on
her heel and left the tent, her escort surrounding her.
Heart leaden, Jeremy called for Taft and Robert, and
they immediately set about their battle preparations. As
Michael and the squire helped him into his mail and
armor, he flexed his sore shoulder, recalling Alicen’s fears.
He’d often borne serious injuries into battle—’twas a
warrior’s way. She saw only danger and pain, not ultimate
victory. And this victory would be most sweet—his lands
and a life far from war’s carnage.
He fervently prayed she’d be part of that life.
“Do you think this will hold?” Taft asked again, this
time coupling the question with a shove to Jeremy’s sound
shoulder. “Cease your woolgathering, man! ’Tis time to
fight.”
Jeremy’s eyes refocused from the future to the
present. “What say you, Michael?”
“Will this extra gusset of mail hold in place?”
Glancing down at his left shoulder, Jeremy nodded.
“’Tis secured to the arming doublet. I see no reason why
it won’t.”
“The bulk will make your armor fit more tightly,” Taft
warned. “Will you be able to maneuver with it?”
“Aye. It won’t hinder me.”
Jeremy rarely bothered protecting an injury. But his
promise to provide for Alicen prompted him to add
reinforcement. A regretful grimace twisted his lips.
Mayhap he’d not have a woman to return to after this
day’s work. She of a certain resented his callous
treatment. But did she resent it enough to refuse his suit?
“Woolgathering again?” Taft cut in caustically. “’Tis
no time for aught but the task at hand.” He dropped
Jeremy’s hauberk over his head and buckled his cuirass
into place. “Purge the woman from your mind, or you’ll
not keep your head on your shoulders long enough to
think of her ever more.”
Jeremy shot his friend an annoyed look. “Don’t
presume to tutor me, Michael,” he growled. “Just get this
damned armor secured.”
In a few moments more the task was completed.
Jeremy strapped his sword to his waist, then took his
helmet from Robert.
“Your shield and mace are on your saddle, Sir
Jeremy,” the young man said respectfully. “Do you require
aught else?”
“Just a moment alone, lad.”
Taft and the squire had moved to the tent opening
when Ned burst in. Jeremy knew he gaped in surprise at
this intrusion even as Ned skidded to a halt before him.
“Captain Blaine, thank Jesu you’re still here,” Ned
gasped, breathless from haste. “I was asked to deliver
this to you.”
Brow raised, Jeremy accepted a leather pouch from
the boy’s trembling hand. He tousled Ned’s blond hair.
“Thank you, lad. I—”
“You’re not to open it ‘til you’re alone,” Ned broke in
when Jeremy’s hands moved to the pouch’s string.
“Please, sir.”
Jeremy nodded, then glanced around. “I was just
about to be so, Ned. You arrived in the nick of time.”
With youthful impetuosity, Ned threw his arms
around Jeremy’s waist and hugged him, even though
unyielding armor kept the man from feeling the embrace.
“Have a care, sir,” he intoned softly. “Don’t let that
evil man hurt you.”
Jeremy returned the boy’s hug and muttered gruffly,
“I’ve no intention of that happening, lad. Put your mind
at rest.” Brown eyes full of admiration turned up to his,
warming him. “Go to your mistress now. She needs you
beside her.”
An uncommon dampness teased Jeremy’s eyes as he
watched Ned depart with the others. He loved the boy
like a son. Perhaps he could adopt him. At least foster
him. Would Alicen approve? The lump he swallowed
turned to a cinder lodged in his heart. Even if she loved
him, would they ever wed? She saw a soldier, not a man
worthy of her devotion. Mayhap he was a fool to think he
could convince her otherwise.
Dismayed, he knelt in front of the small crucifix sitting
on the only table in his tent. It was then he remembered
the pouch in his hands. Almost absentmindedly, he
opened it and reached in to pull out the contents.
His fingers closed around metal, and curious, he drew
the object out to examine closely. It was his dagger. He’d
not even noticed its absence, must have dropped it during
his latest convalescence. But what arrested his sight was
wound around the cross-guard.
Alicen’s amulet.
His breath caught in his chest as he realized why it
had looked familiar to him so many weeks before. It was
the exact duplicate of the pattern on his dagger’s hilt.
“Christ be praised!” he whispered fervently.
Tears of joy filled his eyes as he bent his head,
thanking God for this token of Alicen’s love. He’d not
thought to see such a thing, especially this day. His prayer
done, he put the amulet around his neck and tucked it
safely beneath his arming doublet, against his skin. Then
he rose and strapped his dagger to his side. He knew her
heart was in that amulet, and he would defend it with his
life.
The hair on his nape raised suddenly, but the
sensation was curiously comforting rather than startling.
Best keep your promise to her, Captain, whispered Kaitlyn
O’Rourke. She’s waiting for you.
“My word on it,” he answered
firmly, eyes raised to
heaven.
***
Perspiration clung like a caul to Alicen’s skin. How
long had she awaited word of the combat? It seemed her
pacing would wear a path in William’s fine Persian rug.
Her guards remained outside the tent, one posted at each
corner.
Ned had been so excited about the trial of arms that
Alicen had allowed him to go to the field. His enthusiasm
only made her more keenly aware that her view of such
activities differed vastly from others’. And why should it
not? After all, it fell to her to mend the results of such
folly.
And suffer a terrible loss should Jeremy fail to
triumph.
All manner of fears played through her head like the
notes of a funeral dirge. She contemplated escaping, but
immediately abandoned the idea. Her success would
mean death to four innocent men. Jeremy had given his
word to execute them, and he’d see it through. No, she
had to remain confined until such time as he came to
fetch her.
Or returned to her on a bier.
Have faith, Daughter.
“How can I, Mother,” Alicen cried in a fierce whisper.
“Father died in battle. You lost your life at a soldier’s
hands. Soldiers fight and die. Why should I believe Jeremy
will live?”
He has your amulet and the power of love to protect
him.
“And no other soldier ever died in battle while carrying
another’s love with him?”
I’ll not deny that. But Jeremy has your amulet and his
dagger. A potent combination that will protect him this day.
You are fated to be together, and no power in the mortal
world will interfere with that destiny.
“But how?”
Centuries ago, a Druid high priest had the pieces made
for himself from stones considered sacred to the order.
The arrangement of those stones in both the dagger and
the amulet create a formidable protective force, especially
when the two pieces are together.
Intrigued despite her fears for Jeremy, Alicen asked,
“How did they come to be separated?”
The legends aren’t specific, but some time after the
high priest died, the two pieces disappeared. The amulet
was found in a cairn in Ireland by your great-great-great-
great grandmother, and passed down to her daughter, and
thus through our female line to you. I’ve no idea how
Carroll, Laurie - War Of Hearts.txt Page 39