Seductive Secrets (Secrets of the Heart Series Book 2)

by Elizabeth Rose

  “All right.” Hazel stepped up to the doorway. “Aren’t you going to escort me, Brother?”

  “Toby will do that,” said Conrad, calling out Toby’s name. His squire hurried back into the room out of breath, with Conrad’s sword in his hand.

  “Was there something else, my lord?” asked Toby.

  “Aye. Take Hazel down to the competition and secure two spots right in the front row for the ladies.”

  “Of course,” he said, escorting Hazel from the room. As soon as they left, Conrad rushed over and closed the door.

  “What was that all about?” he asked.

  “What was what?” Willow acted as if she really didn’t know what he meant. She collected her crown and placed it on her head.

  “You know damned well what I’m talking about. You seduced me; it wasn’t the other way around.”

  “I never said you seduced me. That was Hazel who said it.” She continued to fuss with her crown.

  “I was the one to stop it before we both made a big mistake.”

  “Mistake?” The hurt in her eyes was evident. “Is that what you call what happened between us? Because it was something special to me.”

  Now he honestly felt like a cur because he didn’t mean it that way. “I didn’t mean it was a mistake.”

  “Then why did you say it?” She batted her long, lush lashes looking so innocent and sweet that it made him want to pull her into his arms again and protect her from men . . . that is, men like him.

  “I’m not sure why I used that word.”

  “Our words are important. We need to choose them wisely, or else someone might misinterpret what we are trying to say.”

  “Aye, that’s true,” he told her.

  “Yesterday, I might have kissed you to thank you for watching over me, but you were the one to carry me over to the bed, throw me down, and cover me with your body as well as with your kisses.”

  “I – well, I guess I did do that.”

  “And I wasn’t the one to pull off my clothes. That was you, too. The way I see it, it was a good thing that it didn’t go any further. After all, if my father ever heard about this, I would shudder to think what he’d do to you.”

  “Your father,” Conrad mumbled under his breath, envisioning Rook’s angry face – three times – as he and his triplet brothers all hunted him down for touching his daughter when Conrad was supposed to be protecting her instead. He supposed he was to blame. A knight never acted that way with a lady. What the hell was the matter with him? “Lady Willow, I beg you to keep this between us and let it go no further.”

  “I agree,” she said, taking his arm. “After all, I would hate for anything to happen to you. You just need to learn to control your lust, and it’ll be fine.”

  “I will,” he said with a nod. “Please excuse my inappropriate behavior and let me escort you to the lists for the competition.”

  “Thank you, Lord Conrad. And don’t give it another thought. Now, let us go to the competition so I can see who might win my hand in marriage.”

  As Conrad headed to the door with Willow gliding along at his side, he wondered what just happened. He’d entered the room expecting to get an apology from Willow, but he ended up apologizing to her instead. Aye, the wench had a way with words and the power of persuasion. Once again, he fell for her tricks. The odd part was that he was now convinced that the whole thing really was his fault.

  Chapter 11

  Willow watched the competition with Hazel at her side. Each round was hand-to-hand sparring between two competitors. The winner of each round moved on to go up against another competitor until there was one winner in the end.

  “My brother is doing quite well,” said Hazel. “I hope he wins.”

  This was the last round. It was down to Conrad and Sir Bedivere. While Willow wanted to see Conrad lose, just to teach him a lesson, she didn’t want Sir Bedivere to win. Now that she was being offered as one of the three brides, she didn’t want Bedivere to choose her. Sure, she could always say she wouldn’t marry him, and the earl would have to honor her wish, but there were only going to be three winners. She didn’t want one of the spots to be wasted by the likes of him.

  “I hope Conrad wins, too, Hazel,” said Willow, reaching out and squeezing the girl’s hand for luck.

  “You want him to win?” Hazel sounded confused. “If he wins, he might choose to marry you.”

  “I realize that.”

  “Then, you want to marry my brother? I don’t understand.”

  Neither did Willow. Before yesterday, she had thought she’d never marry someone like Conrad. But after their intimate time in Imanie’s hut, she started to think it wouldn’t be so bad. She was attracted to him, and he said he had feelings for her. Envisioning herself married to Conrad was a lot easier than thinking about being Sir Bedivere’s wife.

  “I never said that.” She released Hazel’s hand. “I suppose I just don’t want Sir Bedivere to win.”

  “Ah, I understand. He is quite a frightening man.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Willow curiously.

  “He is always staring at me. And yesterday, when I made a trip to the garderobe, he was watching my every move from the corridor outside the great hall.”

  “What did you do?”

  “On the way back to the solar, I took an alternate route so he wouldn’t see me. He frightens me, Willow.”

  “He probably frightens every woman he meets. If he wins, I pity the girl who will be his wife.”

  “Hello, Lady Willow.” Sir George came up and squeezed in between them on the wooden bench.

  “Good morning,” she said, smiling at him, trying to be pleasant. Sir George was a baron who had land and money. He wasn’t ugly and would be a good catch for any girl to marry. “I’m sorry you didn’t win the competition,” she told him.

  “It’s all right. There are still two events to go,” he told her. “And when I win, I am going to choose you for my bride.”

  “You are?” she asked in surprise. Hadn’t Conrad told her none of the men would want her for anything but a tryst?

  “Of course. Why do you even have to ask?”

  “No reason.” She looked out, watching Conrad and Bedivere sparring. Bedivere seemed to be getting tired. Conrad had the upper hand. All he had to do was unarm his opponent, and Conrad would win the event. “It’s just that Sir Conrad doesn’t seem to think anyone will want to choose me as their bride.”

  “What? You’ve got to be jesting,” said Sir George with a chuckle. “You are the most beautiful of the three.” Sir George looked out to the field, put his hands up to his mouth and shouted. “Lochwood, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “What?” Conrad looked from the corner of his eye, having heard someone call his name. He’d been in such deep concentration that he hadn’t even noticed until now that Sir George was sitting in the lists, so close to Willow that she might as well be on his lap! “What do you mean?” he called back, trying to fight and pay attention to what was happening in the list at the same time. He was only one strike away from unarming Bedivere. But when he looked over his shoulder at Willow, his opponent moved forward, getting the upper hand.

  “You said no one would want to marry Lady Willow,” Sir George called out, loud enough for everyone to hear. “I assure you, I want her for my wife. I’m going to win and claim her as my bride.”

  “No, you’re not. I am,” Bedivere shouted to Sir George, distracting Conrad even more. He didn’t like the sound of this. There was no way he was going to let either of the men marry Willow. He had to win this round.

  “Look over here, Lochwood,” Sir George shouted.

  When Conrad glanced back over his shoulder, Sir George had his arm around Willow. He winked at Conrad. That upset him so much that Conrad didn’t see the winning blow coming until Bedivere unarmed him.

  “The winner is Sir Bedivere of Gaunt!” shouted the announcer. The crowd cheered, and Bedivere held his sword up ove
r his head.

  “Tough luck,” said the man. “Lady Willow is as good as mine.”

  That was all Conrad needed to hear. He picked up his sword and gripped it tightly, wanting to fight the knave again. He might have done just that if Earl Alnwick hadn’t run out from the stable waving his hands above his head. “It’s gone!” he shouted, sounding frantic.

  “What’s gone? What are you shouting about?” asked Lord Beaufort, rushing out onto the practice field.

  “It’s my ruby. Someone has stolen my ruby!”

  The crowd became restless, and Lord Beaufort had to raise his hand in the air just to be heard. “Don’t anyone move!” he called out. “There is a thief among us, and no one will exit my castle walls without being searched.”

  Conrad looked back over his shoulder. Willow, Hazel, and Sir George were gone.

  “Thank you for the escort, Sir George, but Lady Hazel and I are going to the garderobe, so there is no need for you to come with us.” Willow tried to sound convincing.

  “We are?” asked Hazel, not understanding that Willow was trying to get away from the man. Because of Sir George, Conrad had lost the challenge. At one time, this might have made Willow happy, but today it made her sad. She found herself wanting Conrad to win, and he didn’t. Now there were only two spots left. If he didn’t secure one of them, she would have no chance of marrying him at all.

  “Sir George,” called out Sir Chester, running across the courtyard to meet them. “Did you hear? Someone has stolen the earl’s ruby.”

  “It’s gone?” Willow’s heartbeat picked up in pace. That was an expensive stone and very important. Without it, the earl would lose his castle to John of Gaunt, and there would be no chance of making alliances with the Scots. “When did it go missing?” she asked.

  “Sometime yesterday, I guess,” said Chester. “The crowd is in chaos and everyone is up in arms about this. The earl won’t let anyone leave until they are searched. Look, they are closing the gate now. The rest of the competitions are being postponed until the morrow.”

  The crowd filled the courtyard, being trapped inside the castle walls. People pushed and shoved, and Hazel covered her head and screamed, hunkering down on the ground.

  “We’ve got to get you out of here,” said Willow, pulling Hazel to her feet. The girl was frantic and started crying. Willow figured she was frightened of the angry crowd. “Take my hand,” she said, grabbing Hazel and pulling her toward the keep. When the guards moved forward in a line with their weapons drawn, Hazel turned pale and looked as if she were about to swoon.

  “Willow, I can’t breathe,” said Hazel, gasping for air.

  “Hazel, what is the matter?”

  “I feel trapped! I have no air. This happens when I am in small, enclosed places.”

  People pushed from all sides now, and Willow started feeling faint as well. She spied the stable nearby and knew of only one way to get Hazel out of the crowd and into an open area where she would feel safe.

  “We’re going for a little ride with the wind in our hair. You will have all the air you need in a few minutes.”

  “Where are you taking me?” asked Hazel, as Willow pulled her into the stable, yanking open the stall gate, and quickly throwing a bridle on her mare.

  “We are going somewhere where we will stay until the frenzied crowd calms down.”

  “But you heard what Sir Chester said.” Hazel tried to catch her breath and held a hand to her chest. “They are searching everyone. They won’t let us leave.”

  “They won’t be able to stop us.” She pushed a bench over to the horse and nodded. “Now get on the horse.”

  “But it isn’t saddled.”

  “We don’t need a saddle. We’ll ride together and leave through the hidden postern gate. We’ll stay in the secret garden until the earl opens the gates and the crowd dissipates.”

  “Aye, I like the garden,” said Hazel, calming down at the thought. “Willow, please don’t leave me. I don’t want to be alone. I’m frightened.”

  “There’s nothing to fear. I’m sure Lord Beaufort will find the thief. We are safe.” She mounted behind Hazel and took the reins. “Now hold on because as soon as we go through the postern gate, we’re going to ride fast. I don’t want your brother seeing us and confining us to our chamber again.”

  “Nay, we don’t want that,” said Hazel with a shake of her head. “Thank you, Willow. I’ve never had a true friend before. I feel as if you are my friend to risk being caught and punished just to help me.”

  “I feel that you are a friend, too, Hazel.” Willow said the words to calm the girl, but it wasn’t the only reason. In her heart, she wanted to help Hazel because she had started to care for the girl. And in these past few days, she felt she’d made a new friend, too.

  “What do you mean you don’t know where Lady Hazel and Lady Willow are?” growled Conrad, pushing his way through the frenzied crowd in the courtyard while the guards searched one person after another looking for the ruby.

  “I was with you, my lord. I didn’t know it was my job to watch over the women. I was attending you during the competition like any good squire would do for his lord.”

  “You’re right, Toby. I didn’t mean to lose my temper. But watching over Lady Willow is proving to be a challenge. Mayhap I should pull out of the competition.”

  “Aye, please do,” said Sir Bedivere, breaking through the crowd with a ribbon in his hand for winning the sword event. “That would be best since you can’t seem to keep track of a simple wench. Once Lady Willow is my wife, she won’t go anywhere unless she is right at my side. I will tie her to me if I have to, but she won’t be off batting her eyes and smiling at other men, I assure you of that.”

  “She is not a hound, Bedivere. And if you think I’ll pull out of the competition so you can have her, you’ve got another guess coming.”

  “Face it. She doesn’t want you, Lochwood. If she did, she wouldn’t keep running from you, would she?”

  Something about the man’s words hit Conrad hard. Willow did seem to keep avoiding him, even more so since their intimate moments last night.

  “Let’s go, Toby,” said Conrad, plowing through the crowd, stretching his neck, looking for the girls. He felt as if he were failing miserably as guardian to Willow. He also felt as if he’d not seen much of his sister in days. Hazel had times when she became very frightened or extremely sad. She needed constant supervision. Once she went to live at Naward Castle with Lord Rook, she would have it. But for now, he needed to keep a closer eye on her. He’d been so preoccupied with Willow that his sister’s care had fallen at the wayside. He wasn’t happy about this at all.

  “They’ve got to be here somewhere,” said Toby, looking in all directions. People shouted, and others pushed. Dogs barked, and little children cried. It all made Conrad’s head hurt.

  “Check their solar, Toby. If they are there, stand post outside their door until I return.”

  “Where are you going, my lord?”

  “If they were in this commotion, Hazel probably started acting odd again.”

  “Odd? How so?”

  “It doesn’t matter, Squire. Check the chamber, but if I know Willow, that is the last place she’d go.”

  “Then where do you think they went?”

  “There’s only one place I can think of that is calm and serene. After last night, I doubted Willow would ever return there, but something tells me she took my sister to the secret garden.”

  “You’re saying they left the castle walls? But the gate is closed. No one is being let out.”

  “A simple gate cannot stop a determined, cunning woman like Willow. If she wants something, she will get it one way or another. And I am willing to bet, this is one of those times.”

  Chapter 12

  As soon as they got through the hidden postern gate and on the trail in the woods leading to the secret garden, Hazel stopped trembling. That told Willow she did the right thing by taking the girl away from the
chaos at the castle. She didn’t like to see Hazel suffer like this. It wasn’t right.

  “Mayhap, we can stay here for a little while, and you will feel better.” Willow hopped off the horse and helped Hazel to dismount. She made sure to tie the reins of the horse to a tree so it wouldn’t run off like it did when she was here with Conrad.

  Conrad. Just looking toward the cottage, she felt her heart break. She had never been turned down by a man before and didn’t know how to react to what happened. Then again, she’d never gotten so close to making love before either. Lost in her thoughts, she wasn’t paying attention to Hazel. When she looked back, the girl was bent over pulling weeds again.

  “What are you doing?” asked Willow. “We are here so you can calm down and relax. We’re not here for you to work like a servant.”

  “But I enjoy gardening,” Hazel told her, sounding as if she meant it. “By working with the earth, it helps me to forget my troubles.”

  “Oh, I see,” said Willow, not sure she understood it at all. When Willow wanted to relax, she took a hot bath or sipped on spiced mead lounging in the orchard. But seeing the smile on Hazel’s face, she decided to let the girl do what she wanted.

  “If you really want to pull some weeds, you can clear out the bramble by Imanie’s grave. It is so overgrown, I can barely see the wooden cross that my cousins and I placed there.”

  “I could?” Hazel looked up with wide eyes and held her hand to her heart. “I would be honored.”

  “I’m sure Imanie would be honored as well. Wherever she is.” Willow yawned and stretched, looking back at the cottage, wanting to get out of the sun.

  “You seem tired, Willow.” Hazel kept her head down as she weeded a trail toward Imanie’s final resting place.

  “I didn’t sleep very well last night,” she admitted, wanting nothing more than a few minutes to close her eyes.