Impostress

by Lisa Jackson

  He had given Elyn a choice. She could stand trial or join a nunnery. To no one’s surprise, she’d become suddenly devout. He was lucky to be rid of her. “Why do you care? You never trusted Kiera.”

  “I felt something wasn’t right about her.” Morwenna shouldered her bow. “But I don’t doubt that she loves you, Kelan. I see the misery etched upon her face. ’Tis a pity, for you will never find a woman more devoted to you than she is.”

  “The liar.”

  “Aye. The liar.” She climbed astride her little mare and cast Kelan a glance that was far older than her years. “A piece of advice, brother. Do not lose this one, for I believe what Kiera feels for you is true love. And believe it or not, you aren’t the most lovable creature in all of Wales.”

  “Nay?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow, trying to tease and failing.

  “Especially now. You are so damned miserable that it’s a wonder any woman, especially one with any mind whatsoever, would find you bearable.” With her final remarks, Morwenna spurred her mount toward the castle, and Kelan listened to her horse’s hoofbeats fade. She was right, he thought, and hated the inner admission. He was torn and miserable and, oh, God’s teeth. He kicked at a pebble and set it flying into the bole of a mossy oak.

  Once before, he’d left Penbrooke, intending never to return. But the draw of his home and family was too strong, and he’d found a way to have his father lift the banishment that he’d suffered. And now ... how he wanted Kiera. By the gods, he lay awake each night thinking of her, of the way she smelled, of her laughter, of the feel of her warm flesh pressed to his.

  But his pride would not allow him to go to her. He’d only agreed that she could stay at Penbrooke until she had her child; then she would leave. But not with the babe. The child, his heir, was to stay here.

  But it will be a bastard, for you have never been married to Kiera.

  Unless you claim it as your own.

  Kelan gritted his teeth. Silently he rued the day he’d first seen her, the shy bride behind her thick veil. From the first moment he’d laid eyes upon her, he’d been smitten. And she had proved herself, had she not, throwing her body between Wynnifrydd’s knife and Elyn’s heart? She’d nearly died herself for her act of bravery, but could he trust her? After all the lies?

  Climbing upon his steed, Kelan scanned the horizon, watching the winter-white clouds skim over the hills and forests. For the first time in his life he didn’t know what to do. His heart ached each day at the thought of Kiera’s lies, of her betrayal ... and yet the thought of living without her, of being unable to see her smile, or not feeling the gentle bite of her sharp tongue when they argued, or ...

  He kicked his horse and felt powerful muscles unleash beneath him. The wind screamed against his head, but no matter how fast the beast raced across the grassy fields, he couldn’t outrun his own mind and the sorry fact that he was still in love with a woman who had betrayed him to his very bones.

  “I’m leaving.” Joseph’s voice reached her through the fog and Kiera opened a blurry eye. Her chest ached from the wound, her head thundered, and she felt the weight of doom upon her heart. She was locked in this chamber, allowed to wander the floor, but not allowed to join the rest of the keep in the great hall. Twice daily, she was allowed to walk outside on the curtain wall with a guard. Absently she rubbed her abdomen, which was not yet showing, but Kiera knew her child lay within. The child Kelan had demanded. The babe she was to abandon. The thought gave her new misery, a pain so deep she couldn’t bear to contemplate it. Though the babe was not yet born, she loved it with every breath she took, every beat of her heart. Could she ever leave it here to its father’s charge, never to lay eyes on its sweet, innocent face? Oh, God. She saw that Joseph was staring at her with sad eyes, as if he, too, felt her pain. “Where will you go?” she asked.

  “I know not. I’m banished from Lawenydd and Elyn is gone.” He offered her a sad smile. “Mayhap I’ll join a band of outlaws.” He was sitting at her bedside, and now he rubbed his hands upon the knees of his breeches. His eyes darkened a shade. “I still have something that is unfinished.”

  “Brock of Oak Crest,” she said miserably, for Joseph was determined to run the bastard to the ground. “Could you not go to Serennog? Join Hildy? I think she is lonely after being banished by Father.” Another tragic result of their deception.

  “I think not.” He straightened. “‘Tis time. Farewell, m’lady,” he said as he stood. Kiera watched him leave and she felt a deep loneliness. Penbrooke was not her home; she was only staying until the babe was born.

  And then what? Will you return to Lawenydd without your child? To live in a castle where your father will never let you forget your betrayal? That thought stung. She couldn’t be separated from her baby. No matter what. And she couldn’t go home. Llwyd of Lawenydd had been more than angry when he had heard of his daughters’ plan. Not only had he banished Hildy, but he had supported Kelan’s decision and forced Elyn to the nunnery. He had made it very apparent that Kiera was not welcome at Lawenydd. She was an embarrassment, a soiled woman, a liar, and little better than a whore.

  Before she’d left, Elyn had suggested that Kiera go to Serennog to meet Geneva, the sorceress.

  But she couldn’t leave her child.

  Nor could she take her baby. Kelan would hunt her down to the ends of the earth. Above all else he wanted his child—her child.

  She couldn’t stand it another second. This idleness when she was left with only her tortured thoughts for comfort. Her wound was nearly healed and she’d spent too many days locked up. Painfully she dressed herself and let herself out of the room. The guard was at her door. “I want to see the baron,” she insisted.

  The sentry shook his head. “You know he won’t see you, m‘lady. ’Tis his rule.”

  “Then it must be bent. Please, Paul, take me to the solar.”

  “He gave instructions that you were to be locked up here.”

  “And I need to talk to him.”

  “I can’t go against his wishes,” the sentry said as Tadd rounded the corner by the stairs.

  “I can,” he said as if he’d heard the entire conversation. He took Kiera’s hand. “I’ll take responsibility, Paul.”

  “But—”

  “I said, I’ll take responsibility. Come, m’lady.”

  “You’ll infuriate fhe lord,” Kiera said.

  “Maybe he needs infuriating.”

  “You need not do this for me.”

  “Mayhap I’m doing it for him,” Tadd said, one edge of his mouth curving up. “Asides, he’s not growled at me in two days. ’Tis time to give him a reason to be angry.” Gently he tugged on her arm, his jaw set in determination as he guided her down the stairs to the great hall. “My brother is miserable without you,” he explained as they entered the hall, and he motioned to a serving maid for wine. The girl hurried out of the room. “And I’m sick of his short temper.”

  “So what are you going to do about it?” Kiera asked as Nell appeared with two mazers and a jug of wine.

  “The only thing I can.” Tadd took one cup, handed it to Kiera, and held his own aloft. “Lady Kiera of Lawenydd, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  “Wha-what?” she sputtered, nearly dropping the mazer as the door swung open and Morwenna and Kelan appeared in the doorway.

  “You heard me,” Tadd insisted, a little more loudly. “I just proposed to you.”

  “What the devil’s going on here?” Kelan demanded, striding into the great hall. His countenance was grim; his eyes were blazing, his lips thin and flat.

  “I was just asking the lady to marry me,” Tadd explained with a crooked smile. “Here, let me pour you a cup, brother, and you and Morwenna can toast us.”

  “What?” Kelan roared. “Marry her? What nonsense is this?”

  “ ’Tis not nonsense.” Tadd seemed pleased with himself. “I just asked her to be my bride.”

  “And what did you answer?” Kelan’s eyes bur
ned into hers.

  “I hadn’t just yet.”

  Morwenna grinned. “What an inspired idea. Then Kiera can be close to her firstborn, married into the family, and any other children she and Tadd have will be related and—”

  “Stop!” Kelan looked at everyone in the room. “Do I appear such a fool that you would think I can’t see through your plan? This is a shallow attempt to dupe me again, to force my hand.”

  “Nay, brother,” Tadd said, his smile falling to the side. “It is a simple answer to a hard problem. My offer is sincere.”

  Kiera closed her eyes. Could she do it? Marry a man she didn’t love? The brother of the only man she knew she would ever want? “ ’Tis true, Kelan. You have left us all with few choices. I would do anything to stay with my child. To think that you would take my babe from me rips my heart out. I’ve thought of leaving, of trying to escape, because I find it impossible to live here in this keep, knowing you are nearby, wanting you, hoping that you will find it in your heart to forgive me. ’Tis foolish, I know, but I love you and I always have loved you, from the moment you lifted my veil in the chapel. I would do anything for your forgiveness, but you cut out my heart by demanding my child.” Tears rose in her eyes. “Would that it were not so,” she said, seeing the impassive set of his jaw, “but if Sir Tadd means it, aye, I will marry him, just so that I can be a part of my child’s life. Of your life.” Her knees threatened to give way as she saw Kelan swallow hard. He blinked and looked away.

  “How can I trust you?” he asked, his voice husky.

  “ ’Twill take time. But we have it, Kelan. Let me prove myself.” She fought the urge to break down altogether. “I promise you I will be forever faithful. Either to you because I love you, or to Sir Tadd because he has made a noble gesture.”

  She waited, her heart barely beating, her breath stopped in her lungs. Kelan stared deep into her eyes. “God forgive me for being a fool,” he ground out, then reached for her. “Aye, Kiera, I will keep you, marry you, and give my child his rightful name,” Kelan said, breaking into a smile. “And this time I will make sure that the correct name is on the marriage contract, and that there are no veils so I can be certain I get the right bride!” he joked.

  From the comer of her eye she saw Tadd grin and let out a breath of relief.

  “And I vow, Kelan,” she said, staring into his eyes once more, “to never lie to you again. I will love you forever.”

  Epilogue

  The bells chimed loudly through the winter air, echoing against the wide curtain walls, ringing to the nearby hills. Kiera stood at the archway to the chapel at Lawenydd. Kiera’s sisters stood beside her: Elyn, dressed in a nun’s habit, and Penelope, happy that her father’s anger was slowly lifting.

  Her father had grudgingly forgiven Kiera as the alliance with Penbrooke was sealed, and Tadd, Morwenna, Bryanna, and Daylynn were in attendance to witness their brother marry Kiera of Lawenydd, the woman he loved. Even Hildy had been allowed to return for the ceremony.

  Kelan, dressed in black, took her arm and they walked inside, where the priest was waiting. Candles burned and flickered, and the few guests stood until they reached the altar, where Kiera and Kelan repeated their vows.

  But this time Kiera of Lawenydd was wearing her own wedding dress and a sheer veil that allowed her to see all of the angles and planes of her husband’s face. This time, as she knelt at the altar, she spoke each word loudly and with conviction. This time she meant them.

  And when it was time to stand and have Kelan lift her veil, she smiled into the dove gray eyes of her husband and kissed him soundly, with all the love in her heart.

  For this time, she knew, her marriage to Kelan of Penbrooke was forever.

  Dear Reader,

  I hope you liked Kelan and Kiera’s story. I had a lot of fun writing Impostress! I love transporting myself back to medieval Wales, to a time of knights, castles, wayward women, and strong men. I love feeling the mist on my face and seeing a dark fortress through bare-branched trees. Most especially I love the characters and hate to see them leave.

  So I’ve decided that they should stick around a bit, at least on the periphery. I’ve got two new books in the works, sequels to Impostress. Temptress is scheduled to be available in 2004 and Seductress in 2005. As you may have guessed, these will be stories about Kelan’s family, especially his sisters ... and, well, maybe Tadd, of course.

  Temptress is Morwenna’s story. You probably picked up that Kelan’s hot-tempered oldest sister has a mind of her own and a past that she won’t face. Remember Carrick of Wybren? The man who broke Morwenna’s heart? He’s back! With a vengeance.

  In the opening of Temptress, a wounded soldier near death is found in the forest surrounding the castle Morwenna is running. The soldiers bring the half-dead, unrecognizable man to her.

  Though it’s impossible to tell, she suspects the muscular warrior is the blackhearted Carrick, but he is so battered, bruised, and broken even she can’t be certain. The one thing she is sure of is that the unconscious warrior intrigues her to no end and she can’t leave him alone. There’s an aura of danger surrounding him, one she can’t resist. Just as years before she hadn’t been able to resist Carrick of Wybren.

  Morwenna’s torn, but must know the truth. She has to discover the soldier’s true identity and uncover who is responsible for his wounds. Even if it means putting her own life in peril. Why was he left to die? What was he doing so close to her castle? Is it good luck or a bad omen that he’s now within her keep? Can she keep control of her wayward heart? And, most important, is he truly Carrick?

  Temptress is a story of seduction, mystery, and, of course, undying love. Many of the characters from Impostress will appear again, and so I hope you pick up a copy when it’s available.

  Let me know what you think of Impostress. You can reach me through my Web site: www.lisajackson.com. I have contests running and more information on Impostress as well as my other releases. Also, be sure to check into www.themysterymansion.com for contests, fun and games, and a peek at a haunted Welsh castle. There’s a secret passage that leads back to thirteenth-century Wales!

  In the meantime, I’ve enclosed an excerpt of The Night Before, my most recent contemporary romantic suspense novel from Zebra Books. It’s on the stands now and guaranteed to chill your blood as well as warm your heart. Just turn the page.

  Keep reading!

  Lisa Jackson

  www.lisajackson.com

  Turn the page for an excerpt from

  another contemporary suspense novel

  by Lisa Jackson

  The Night Before

  Available from Zebra Books

  Pain thundered through her head. As if a thousand horses were stampeding through her brain. Her tongue was thick and a bad taste lingered in her mouth and there was something more ... something bad, a sensation of oppression that seemed to pin her to her bed. Her heart was pounding wildly, her skin soaked in sweat, faint images of her dream ... of Josh ... of ... walking up the brick path to his house cutting through her consciousness.

  Her shoes crunched against dry leaves. The wind rattled through the branches of the oaks, billowing the Spanish moss. Somewhere nearby a dog barked and the smell of cigar smoke hung in the air. You shouldn’t be here. Go! Run! Up the steps to the brick house that used to be her home. The door was cracked. A slice of light spilled onto the front porch. An invitation in a dark, sultry night. Don’t do it. Don’t go inside!

  Dear God, what did 1 do last night? Caitlyn opened one bleary eye just a slit. She was so thirsty ... and her entire body ached. Too much alcohol ... Way too much. She was in her bedroom. The ceiling fan whirred overhead as dawn began to filter past the curtains. Images of the night before were hazy and out of sequence. She’d gone out to meet her sister ... yes, that was it, because ... she needed to get out, to unwind.

  Yesterday was Jamie’s birthday.

  Eerily, as if a dozen children were singing off key she heard,

&n
bsp; “Happy birthday to you

  Happy birthday to you

  Happy birthday dear Ja-mie—”

  Caitlyn’s heart squeezed. Her daughter would have been five.

  If she had lived.

  She closed her eyes again as raw pain tore through her. Jamie. Precious, precious baby. Snatched away when she was barely three—a cherub-faced toddler. Oh, Lord, Caitlyn missed her child. So badly that at times she found it impossible to move forward, to go on with her life. Now, on the bed, squeezing her eyes against the truth, she felt the familiar ache of the loss, so deep it scratched at her soul.

  “It was your fault, Caitlyn. If you’d been half a mother, this never would have happened!”

  Josh’s accusations tore through her brain, bringing the guilt, the ever-present sense that she should have done more, that if she’d tried harder she would have somehow saved her child.

  Don’t even think about it. Don’t listen to him and for God’s sake, don’t believe his poison! You know you did all you could to save her.

  She let out her breath slowly, breathed deeply again, remembered what Dr. Wade had said about letting go of the negative energy, of finding herself, her new purpose. Slowly the grief subsided to a small, dark pain that lay just beneath her headache.

  Man, it was a monster. She must’ve really tied one on.

  Another sharp image sizzled through her brain.

  Josh was in his office, but he wasn’t moving. No. He was slumped over his desk, his arms at his sides, his neck twisted so that he faced the door. Blood had oozed from his arms, staining the carpet. His mouth gaped open, his skin pale, his eyes unblinking as they stared at her.

  She sat bolt upright. God, what kind of a dream was that? Her heart slammed against her chest. Pieces of the nightmare slid through her brain only to disappear.