"Your way! Everything has to be your way,” she gritted between her teeth, struggling to get loose. His way was probably best, but she wouldn't admit it. How she would have enjoyed sticking Miles like the pig he was. But that could start a war for which Nicholas was not yet ready. Fortunately, his cooler head had prevailed.
"Your wife has spirit, but no brains,” Miles sneered, backing away from Nicholas and Julie. She could see he was hesitant to turn his back on them. “If she were my wife, she would be black and blue for a month.” He turned to his guard. “Get the horses ready."
The man nodded and hurried off.
Nicholas said nothing to Miles’ insults, just kept his eyes fixed on the other man. Perhaps he agreed with his brother-in-law about the state of her brains. He certainly wasn't releasing his grip on her.
"You can let go. I won't attack him again.” For now.
He unwrapped his arms and turned her to face him. He stared down at her, his amber eyes glowing with some emotion she couldn't determine. “In the future, do not act without thought,” he murmured, his gaze never leaving hers.
"I thought it was a good idea at the time.” She broke eye contact and held out his sword.
Taking it from her, he jammed it back in its scabbard. “The idea was good, the time was not.” His pragmatism struck her as a bit heavy handed, and although it didn't please her, she knew he was right. How he did love giving her orders or correcting her thinking.
"I'm going to talk to Eleanor now,” Julie said. “She should refuse to go with him or let him take the children."
His expression darkened. “The two of you are not to make any foolish plans. You will leave Miles to me."
Julie smiled sweetly. “Oh, I will. I'm sure Eleanor doesn't want him.” An idea had begun germinating in her head. But it definitely wasn't foolish.
Miles stood by the door impatiently waiting for Eleanor to join him. He watched the interplay between Nicholas and Julianne with envy and amusement. The girl had spunk. Not that he thought this a good quality, nay, the contrary. It was the kind of thing he would really enjoy beating out of her. The thought of whacking her bare backside hardened his manhood. He licked his lips. Mayhap he would indulge his fantasies, when that bastard Nicholas was out of the way. His army would put an end to Nicholas's possession of that tempting morsel of womanhood...and to his possession of Barstow Castle. Somehow, he would placate the king about the loss of one of his favorite knights, mayhap with some fanciful tale of treason. Next, he would convince Henry that he, Miles, should become the Baron of Barstow. Was not his son Richard named as Nicholas's heir?
Once he had killed Nicholas, everything would fall nicely into place, he thought smugly, as he watched Eleanor hurry across the great hall clutching the hands of Richard and Simon. Soon he would have all that Nicholas possessed, including the rebellious Julianne. He could hardly wait.
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Chapter 14
Julie stood racking her brain for some way to keep Eleanor at Barstow Castle as Miles ordered her and the children out of the keep and into the upper bailey. Grooms brought their horses and stood silently holding the reins.
Nicholas swallowed his pride and asked Miles to allow his sister to stay, but Miles laughed in his face and roughly slung Eleanor into her saddle.
"I think not, milord. She belongs to me now, and you have no say in her welfare.” He slapped the reins on Eleanor's horse's flank and the animal trotted off. Then he turned to Richard and Simon. “Up, you two,” he ordered.
"Aye, Father.” Richard had learned how to avoid beatings. Miles smiled.
"Me too, me too,” echoed Simon, lifting his arms for a boost. Miles’ grin grew broader.
He seemed pleased enough with his sons—at least in public. But from what Eleanor had said, Julie suspected his patience with the boys was short-lived, and his blows were not softened by their youth. She watched sadly as the group rode away.
Back in her solar, Julie sent for Lily and all the young ladies and maids in the keep. When they arrived she checked the corridor, then shut and barred the door.
"I have something to discuss with you.” She let her gaze connect with each pair of curious eyes until she came to Lily. The ancient wisdom she saw there was awesome. If she were truthful, it frightened her too. Since learning Lily had the power to keep her here or send her back to the future, Julie felt the easy relationship they had once had, becoming more strained. Could she say or do something that would turn Lily against her? Although Julie did not believe in witches, she was developing a healthy respect for the woman Nicholas believed to be one.
"What is it?” whispered Gwyneth, the bravest of the girls.
Julie glanced at Lily who leaned against the stone wall, a half smile playing around her lips. She probably knew exactly what Julie was going to propose.
Pushing that thought aside, Julie took a deep breath and began. “You all know Lord Nicholas and Lord Miles are enemies, don't you?” The way gossip raced around the castle it would be surprising if they didn't.
They nodded, eyes wide with curiosity.
"And this latest quarrel will likely cause a war between them."
Again they nodded, but fear had replaced curiosity.
"I know a way we can help protect ourselves when the fighting begins. Are you willing to listen?” Julie remembered the guard who had tried to stop her the first night she was here. The memory of his leering mouth, his small piggy eyes and rancid breath made her shudder. What if Nicholas had not intervened? Would the guard have treated her like any kitchen maid who foolishly wandered around at night? Women in this time knew of no way to stop enemy soldiers from beating and raping them. They were powerless against the strength of men.
"Sweet Mother Mary!” Alda wrung her hands. “There is nothing we can do against soldiers but hide, my lady."
"That might not be necessary if you are willing to try my idea.” Alda was a little featherbrained, but her view reflected the current thinking.
Gwyneth spoke up. “What is your plan, my lady?"
"I want to teach you to defend yourselves."
They stared at her as if she were crazy. It probably did sound impossible to medieval women, but she could teach them what their counterparts in the twenty-first century knew about self-defense. Oh, how she wished Eleanor had been able to stay and learn to defend herself.
Julie caught Lily's eye. She nodded encouragement.
"Tomorrow, after the chores are done, you will all come to my chamber. Bring a pair of men's hose if you can. It is easier to work in those than a skirt. A shift will do for the top. No one will see you because you'll change in here and we will bar the door. Questions?"
"I have one, Lady Julianne.” Gwyneth's inquiring mind couldn't wait until tomorrow. “What will you teach us to do?"
Julie smiled. “It would take too long to explain. Tomorrow I will show you."
She swore them to secrecy, then shooed them out to pursue their daily tasks. After they had all gone except Lily, Julie collapsed on a stool. “Will I be able to teach the art of self-defense to women who have done nothing but submit to males all their lives?"
"I guess you won't know until you try."
"You're right, of course, it's just...” Just that she didn't know quite how to start.
"Would you like me to find you some wooden swords like the boys use to practice fighting? You could begin there, with something they would understand.” Lily's expression did not tell Julie if she were serious or just humoring her.
Julie's doubts grew. “Teach them to fight with swords? I don't know how myself."
"But I do.” Lily's mouth relaxed into a smile. “Of course, most real swords are too heavy for girls, but it will give them some grace of motion, help them believe they might defeat a man at something as foreign to them as swordplay. And you could teach them karate. I believe you told me you once took lessons. That would be a good beginning."
Julie nodded and started for the door.
Lily's next words halted her in her tracks. “There is one more thing we need to discuss."
Feeling like a butterfly too close to someone with a net, Julie said cautiously, “What?"
"You have not made love with Nicholas though you sleep in his bed every night."
"I don't think that's any of your business, Lily. My relationship with Nicholas is not up for discussion.” Amazing how Lily zoomed in on something Julie would rather not talk about.
"But this is very important, Julie.” A worried frown appeared between Lily's brows. “I think it's part of what you have been brought here to do."
"I'm to seduce a man whose heart belongs to the woman whose body I'm using. I think not. I have my pride.” And she'd rather that pride wasn't tested.
"Your desire is also his desire. Free your conscience. It is your fate to make love."
"I don't believe in fate. People should make choices based on facts."
"Are you sure?” Lily's earnestness was disconcerting.
"Do you have proof I'm wrong?” Julie realized how silly this question sounded but this whole topic made her jittery.
Lily's eyes blazed and Julie stepped back from the awesome power she saw burning there. “I don't need proof. I believe."
"Well, I don't. Can we leave it at that? I won't talk about Nicholas and me, but I do need your help with my women. Can I count on you? For more than the sword bit, I mean."
"Of course,” Lily murmured. “My reason for being here is to help you."
"So far, you've had a peculiar way of showing it. Why did you bring me back to this time? Nicholas is a great warrior and his men love him. Couldn't he have taken care of Miles without my being here?"
"I cannot tell you my reasons. Suffice it to say, your presence right now is crucial."
"I fail to see how.” They were getting nowhere. Every question she asked drew a blank.
"You will know, eventually."
"Oh, great. I can hardly wait. Listen, about Julianne. Because she died, Nicholas brought me here to help keep his son safe from Miles. But we arrived in the wrong year.” Because she needed Lily's help, she refrained from accusing her of being the one who had made the mistake. “Now, there's no son to care for, and Julianne is alive, at least, I think she is. Even if you send me back, Nicholas can still defeat Miles. Then he and Julianne can safely have their baby. Probably this time things will go better than before.” She wasn't really sure they would, but if one got a second chance, it had to be for a good reason, didn't it?
"You think so, do you?” Lily's expression gave Julie pause for thought.
"They will, won't they?"
Lily's rueful smile alarmed Julie.
"What aren't you telling me? Besides just about everything."
"There is much I cannot tell you right now. Just remember, Julie, that history usually cannot be changed. Rearranged a little, but the outcome must always be the same."
"Nicholas and Miles didn't fight the last time, so...” She paused. This was dreadfully confusing. “You aren't saying Julianne will have to die again, are you?"
Lily shrugged. “We shall have to wait and see."
Julie felt alarm rise like bile in her throat. “You can't control the outcome?"
"I'm afraid not. Guide it a little, perhaps, but essentially I'm almost as much in the dark as you are."
"But you do know some of what will happen?” Julie hoped so. From fearing to be with Lily, she had gone to fearing to be without her. Lily controlled the amulets and thus, Julie's lifeline back to the future.
"It's pointless to speculate further. We'll have to wait and see."
Julie snorted. “Typical of you, Lily. Platitudes, but no answers."
Lily just stared silently at her, and Julie realized she would say no more.
"I had a talk with Lily today.” Julie laid her gown carefully over the trunk where her clothes were kept. She really needed to do something about fashioning hangers and a rod to hold them. Storing them in the trunk made the room neater, but only added to wrinkles and odor retention.
"Oh?” Nicholas pulled off a boot and dropped it next to his side of the bed.
How normal we seem, she thought. Husband and wife undressing, sharing events of the day with one another. In their case, appearances were deceiving, as Lily was so fond of pointing out.
"I tried to pin her down about the future, but she says she knows only a little more than we do. Can we believe her?"
Nicholas yanked off the other boot and dropped it beside the first with a thud. A thoughtful look on his face, he yawned and stretched his arms above his head.
He didn't answer her question, just said, “I have a pain in my neck tonight.” He glanced at Julie.
She glared at him. “Are you referring to me?"
"Nay. Sir Edgar whacked me across the shoulders with his sword during practice today. I thought you might like to rub it.” He grinned.
"You thought wrong.” If she touched him, she'd be in trouble. And she had humiliated herself enough the last time.
"I surmised as much. All right, we will discuss Lily. I told you, she is a witch and can not always be trusted.” He pulled his linen tunic over his head and dropped it next to her gown on the dark oak chest.
Julie sighed. “So far, she's caused a lot of trouble.” Her gaze strayed to the garment he'd discarded. Only a few good tunics remained in the chest. Undoubtedly, she was expected to produce some new ones. But to his credit, he'd not brought that up. Good thing she liked to sew and had in the past made herself a number of dresses. If she took an old tunic and removed the stitching, she could probably use it as a pattern.
Good grief. She'd begun to think like a wife already and she couldn't afford to do so. When she returned to her own time, he'd be lost to her forever. To fall in love with Nicholas would only result in tears and heartbreak.
"Speaking of Lily, she offered to help me...” What was she doing? Lulled into a sense of false security by their easy exchange, she'd almost told him about her plan. How could she explain about teaching the women of the castle to defend themselves from male aggressors? He'd just order her to cease such foolishness immediately. That would be his view of her idea—foolishness. In his world, women hid. In hers, they fought alongside men.
"Help you do what?” He dropped his leggings on top of his tunic and stood there naked. She gulped. His body was as beautiful as his face. Every muscle defined his strength and made her think of a Greek statue, only darker. Much of his skin had been exposed to the sun during swordplay, not to mention the lance, and bow and arrow. And he was master of them all. She'd watched him from the wall walk, her body growing warm and moist with desire for what she could not have.
"Put out the candle and cover yourself,” she said sharply, not answering his question. She slid under the coverlet and turned her back on him. She had to hide the admiration and desire in her eyes.
The room went dark and the bed sagged with his weight. Before she could grab the edge of the mattress, her body rolled downhill and came up against Nicholas's. His arm closed around her and she was trapped.
"Julie.” His voice was hoarse, full of need.
"What, Nicholas?” she whispered back.
He didn't answer, but the hand lying across her stomach moved and found her wrist. His fingers began to trace small circles on the sensitive skin.
After a moment, he said in a ragged voice, “Do not tell me this is unwise. I know it."
"Why should I bother? You'll kiss me, then run away."
She felt him stiffen. He added softly, “Nay, dearling, not this time."
His lips, which looked so hard most of the time, were soft as they moved kiss by tiny kiss across her shoulder, up her neck, behind her ear. His powerful hands turned her gently toward him so he could caress her eyelids and the tip of her nose before reaching the place they both desired. His lips opened and his tongue lightly stroked the seam of her lips. She wondered what had changed his mind about all this, but did
n't ask for fear he'd stop.
His mouth teased hers and while his tongue learned her mouth, his thumbs explored the planes of her cheeks, her eyelids, the curves of her ears. Everything about him was exactly as she had once imagined her knight would be. Only more so. She felt cherished.
Her hand lay over his heart, and she could feel it beating as fast as hers. His muscular thigh captured her legs, keeping her firmly in place. And each stroke of his tongue and thumbs vibrated her nerve endings all the way to her toes. If only this moment could last forever.
Finally, he pulled away, took a deep breath and whispered, “You are beautiful, sweeting. You are soft in all the places I am not. Every inch of you is perfect. You are a miracle."
She hugged him. No one had ever called her that before. His deep voice sent shivers along her nerves. Feeling a need to protest, she stammered, “Not really, but..."
He hushed her again with his mouth, holding the kiss so long they both came up gasping. He stared down at her, although she could have been nothing but a shadow beside him. Awareness of his gaze sent prickles down to a hot and very moist part of her body.
"Julie, I..."
She must have tightened her grasp on his shoulders, because he chuckled. “Nay, I am not leaving. I want you, but I have never taken an unwilling woman. You must choose what I will do next."
It was her turn to stare at him. She had wanted courtly love. Now her knight was asking her permission to make physical love to her. So wonderful she was probably dreaming.
She placed her hands over his where they rested on each side of her face. The strength they possessed had been replaced with an unbelievable gentleness. With a sigh, she moved her hand to lie against his faintly stubbled jaw. “I want what you want, Nicholas."
She'd bared her heart to him. Not something she'd planned to do. Not something she ought to do. Keeping her distance would be safer.
"This is what I want, Julie, not what I should do, but what I cannot keep from doing.” How strange, he'd practically echoed her own thoughts. They were in tune both physically and emotionally.
He gathered her in his arms, closer than she'd thought possible. He was hard everywhere, including the part of him she ached to have touch her, join with her. There was so much of him she felt dwarfed beneath his body as he pressed harder against her chest and belly. Involuntarily, she arched into him. He groaned and slid a hand down to cup her breast, his thumb rubbing her nipple. She dipped her tongue in his ear and he groaned again. Encouraged that she pleased him, she licked her way around until her mouth found his again. It felt so right, so amazingly wonderful to have his lips against hers.
The Amethyst Amulets Page 16