by Scott, Tarah
Sir Bryant's touch had been light, sweet, then demanding and passionate to the point that she had nearly gone out of her mind with need. A shiver snaked down her back. She had lost control even knowing the duchess was in the room…even knowing Sir Bryant was only using her. Riana turned a bend in the hallway and made a quick right turn up the third floor stairs. It wasn’t that she could perform while the duchess looked on that bothered her, but that she had enjoyed it for the second time.
Riana gave a mirthless laugh. The noble knight had married her because he believed she held secrets that could harm the duchess. But the question still remained—why marry her before finding out what she knew? Did he plan on using Siusan as the duchess had? At the third floor, Riana turned right again and started up the stairs. Determination churned her stomach. She tired of living in fear. One way or another, she was going to find a way to get Siusan out of Arundel before Sir Bryant and the duchess finished with the duke.
She stepped from the stairs into the hallway and slowed when she saw no guard outside Siusan’s door. Surely the duchess wouldn’t leave her unguarded? She inched open the door and stepped into the anteroom.
“Siusan?”
No answer.
Other than the tiny fire that burnt in the hearth, the room looked as if no one had been there. Riana crossed to the door leading to Siusan’s bedchamber and entered. This room, too, was empty and, aside from the goblet of ale on the small desk, looked unused. Where could Siusan be? Fear swept through her. Had the duke decided he’d waited long enough to have Siusan? Riana whirled. Something in the corner of her eye caught her attention and she started towards the bed. A man’s boot peeked from behind the thick leg of the bed. She took three more paces and stopped. One of the duke’s men lay unconscious on the carpet.
Riana dropped to her knees at his side and pressed two fingers to his neck. A strong pulse beat. He wasn’t dead, only rendered unconscious. Why? She rose and scanned the room. Nothing looked out of place. She hurried to Siusan’s armoire and yanked open the doors above the drawers. Siusan’s woollen dress and cloak were gone. By all that was holy, had Siusan left Arundel? Riana turned. Aside from the unconscious guard, there was no sign of a struggle or ransacking of the room. Had Glen escaped prison and returned? Even if some miracle had freed him, he couldn’t have entered Arundel undetected, and he wouldn’t take Siusan without telling her.
If the duke had come for Siusan, he wouldn’t have taken her clothes. In fact, he would probably have taken her virginity here in this bed. Riana shifted her attention back to the unconscious man. Only someone who wasn’t supposed to be here would leave him in this condition. A memory flashed through her mind of Sir Dunbar’s wink when he’d excused himself from the room earlier. “I have business to attend to.”
Riana drew a sharp breath. His business had been Siusan. Her mind reeled. Sir Bryant had fucked her while in the presence of the duchess as a distraction—just as Riana had used him as a distraction. He was rescuing Siusan.
Not rescuing. Ensuring Riana’s cooperation. Siusan was Sir Bryant’s leverage, just as she’d been the duchess’ leverage. A dozen questions rushed to the surface, but the most important was, was being owned by Sir Bryant better than being owned by the duchess?
His ownership brought with it his touch. A flutter brushed the inside her stomach. Sir Bryant saw her as an opportunity to better his station in life. How could he elicit such emotion in her? Once she outlived her usefulness, he would lose interest. Her heart twisted at the thought of him abandoning her for another woman. Riana forced aside her riotous emotions. Being discarded by Sir Bryant was the lesser of two evils. He would not force her into the bed of other men, and more important, he would not take Siusan into his bed either.
* * * *
Relief and trepidation flooded Bryant when he took the final step down the stairs into the great hall and found Riana seated at the table, ready to go. He met her gaze and read in her eyes that she knew her sister was no longer at Arundel. He remained quiet and escorted her to the horses that stood ready and, surrounded by fifty of his men, they rode through the gates of Arundel. They would remain in sight of the guards on the battlements until they reached the trees.
Bryant kept their pace leisurely as he fell back from the lead to come up alongside Riana. “How did you know?”
Gaze straight ahead, she pulled her cloak more tightly about her. “I found the guard unconscious in Siusan’s bedchamber.”
Bryant wondered that Sir Dunbar hadn't killed the man, but his mentor was probably right in not giving the duke reason to accuse them of murder.
“Where is she?” Riana asked.
Her voice was cool, strong, but he didn’t miss the worry.
“They have a two hour head start. They will ride to Chilgoriam Castle.”
She snapped her head in his direction. “That is a day’s ride.”
Bryant nodded. “We cannot risk the duchess catching us before we reach the safety of the castle.”
“You play a dangerous game, knight.”
He laughed. “Aye, Lady. We are well matched.”
Surprise flickered in her eyes. “I will not give you any information until I am certain Siusan is safe.”
Her reply implied she knew something, but would she admit otherwise? Her reaction when they were with the duchess had told him she understood he meant to have her secrets. Had that knowledge given her time to form the reply she believed he wanted?
“We will both benefit, Riana.”
She remained silent, and he hesitated, wanting to speak of what had happened with the duchess. Did she now understand that the consummation had simply been the best ploy to keep the duchess distracted while Sir Dunbar whisked away her sister?
Would she loathe him if she knew how much he’d wanted her, despite the fact the duchess looked on? Even now he grew hard with the memory of how she had ground her mound against his mouth as he devoured her. The way her mouth had closed around his shaft while he sucked her sex had driven him mad. He wouldn’t have cared if the whole world watched while they tasted each other. He shifted in his saddle, his erection suddenly uncomfortable. He had fucked her only an hour ago, yet he wanted her again.
Deep in the night, Bryant realised Riana had fallen asleep on her horse, and brought his mount up alongside hers. He grasped her waist and pulled her across his thighs. She cried out and fisted his gambeson.
“You are safe,” he whispered into her hair, and cursed his foolishness in not insisting she acquiesce when he’d suggested earlier that she ride with him.
She pushed at his chest in an obvious effort to straighten, but he pulled her trembling body closer.
“I can ride,” she said into his chest.
“Be still,” he growled.
She hesitated, then relaxed in his arms. “How much longer?”
“It is nearly dawn,” he replied. “Four, maybe five hours, yet.”
She snuggled closer and he pulled her cloak more tightly around her. After a moment’s silence, she said, “Mayhap the duchess has not given chase because she is sure my mother will bear a son. If she believes Fyvie Castle will remain hers, she may let us go.”
Bryant didn’t believe the duchess would take such a gamble, and was surprised Riana would be so naïve. But he only replied, “Perhaps,” and breathed deeply of her hair. A hint of vanilla still lingered. He could get lost in that smell. His cock pulsed. If she noticed his arousal—he laughed mentally. In a moment she would be unable to miss his desire. His shaft would be hard as a rock and screaming for attention.
A soft snort brought him up short and he realised Riana had fallen asleep again. Bryant released a slow breath. This would be the longest four hours of his life.
Chapter Fifteen
Emotion tightened Riana’s chest when Chilgoriam Castle came into view in the distance. Fast-moving clouds swung low on the horizon and seemed to skim the round towers that stretched heavenwards. If God himself stepped from the mist onto the battleme
nts, that would be no greater miracle than the fact they had encountered no trouble since leaving Arundel. Was it possible the duchess had truly let her go? Was Chilgoriam Castle now home?
She glanced at Sir Bryant.
He smiled gently. “We are home,” he said, as though he had read her mind.
Her heart fluttered and she couldn’t stop her gaze from dropping when she felt her cheeks heat. He edged his horse closer and he grasped her chin, tilting her face upwards so that she was forced to meet his gaze.
“You are safe,” he said.
He released her and, before she had realised his intention, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her from her horse and across his lap.
“My lord!” She seized the front of his gambeson.
Sir Bryant laughed, rich and deep, then bent and kissed her hard. His shaft stirred against her abdomen and she gasped. He broke the kiss, eyes glinting with mischief…and desire.
“We have been travelling a full day,” he said.
He slid his gaze down her neck to the swell of breasts above her bodice. She cast a wary glance at the men riding beside them. Sir Bryant’s face filled her view, then he dipped his head and she shivered when he trailed his tongue across her breasts. He sucked a nipple between his lips through the fabric of her dress. She moaned and his length hardened against her belly. Moisture pooled between her legs.
By all that was holy, she’d gone without a man far longer than a day, many times before, yet her body acted as if it was starved for the feel of velvety steel inside her channel. He sucked harder and desire streaked from nipple to her sex. She wriggled, quite without willing it, and he lifted his head, locking his eyes with hers.
A corner of his mouth twitched. “Are you uncomfortable, Lady?”
She narrowed her eyes. “I am riding a horse, sir, and surrounded by your men, whose cocks must surely be aching at the display of their master nearly fucking his wife in front of them.”
Sir Bryant blinked, then his eyes darkened and he said in a low voice, “When I decide to fuck you in front of my men, you will see the difference.” With a growl he pulled her hard against him and didn’t allow her to move from his lap until they halted inside Chilgoriam.
* * * *
Relief flooded Riana at sight of her sister, sitting at the table in the great hall as if she had sat there every day of her life. Siusan shot to her feet and flew across the room and into Riana’s arms. Riana forced back tears as she held her close, and the tension eased a fraction with her acceptance that her sister was truly safe.
Riana grasped Siusan’s shoulders and held her at arms’ length. The linen veil that covered her head and fell across her shoulders looked newly washed, and not a hair of the honey-coloured braid peeking from the sides of the fabric was out of place. Not a speck of dirt was visible on her gown or the sleeves of the kirtle beneath the fabric. If Riana didn’t know better, she would think her sister had just stepped from a bath and been attended by the finest of lady’s maids.
“You look well,” Riana said, and sent a look of thanks at Sir Dunbar, who sat at the table across from her.
He nodded acknowledgement.
“I am well,” Siusan answered. “Sir Dunbar was very kind. We had a true adventure.”
Riana snorted a half-laugh, then glanced behind her to ask Sir Bryant if she and Siusan could speak alone. Sir Dunbar now stood with him, along with another man, and they were in deep conversation. Riana hesitated, a dozen questions suddenly surfacing. They had arrived safely at Chilgoriam Castle—their luck was beyond belief—but did he believe it would last? His conversation with the two men looked serious. Had something happened? Was there something she should know? The three men and Sir Bryant strode towards the door.
“My lord,” she called.
He glanced over his shoulder. “Mrs Carpenter will settle you in,” he said, then disappeared out of the door with the other men.
She halted. Had something happened? Was something wrong? Her heart rate accelerated. Or was the business of delivering her and Siusan to Chilgoriam simply finished? Her cheeks warmed with embarrassment, but she forced a smile and put her arm around Siusan. What had she expected? She and Siusan were safely away from Arundel. That was more than she had hoped for…and all that he had promised.
* * * *
Riana leant back in the chair that sat before the hearth in her bedchamber and sipped the cider Mrs Carpenter had placed on the table beside her. “Perfect.” Riana murmured.
“Your dress is fresh,” Mrs Carpenter said.
Riana looked up at the housekeeper, who smoothed an edge of the olive green kirtle lying on the bed.
Gratitude rippled through Riana. “You are kind,” she said.
The old housekeeper’s welcome had been genuine. She had fussed over Riana, fed and bathed her, freshened one of the two kirtles Riana had brought with her, and insisted that the young girl assisting with the bath plaited her hair once it was dry. These were people she could work with…care for.
“You should rest a bit.” Mrs Carpenter raised a brow. “You want Sir Bryant’s first night with you in Chilgoriam Castle to be memorable.”
Riana kept to herself that it was unlikely the first night in Chilgoriam would be any more memorable than the first night and morning at Arundel. Though she would gladly wipe those days from her memory and start anew here in Sir Bryant’s home. Despite her trepidation, anticipation hummed through her. Mrs Carpenter and the female servants had expressed satisfaction that their lord had brought home a mistress. The housekeeper clucked that he had taken his sweet time in finding a wife. Riana couldn’t be certain how the rest of the household would respond to her, but once she took her place as mistress of Chilgoriam, the dream would be a reality. After, that is, she took care of the final order of business.
Chapter Sixteen
At the sound of the door opening behind her, Riana turned from the hearth in Sir Bryant’s bedchamber. He stood in the doorway.
“Good evening, my lord,” she said. “You are well?”
A corner of his mouth quirked. “Aye.”
He entered the room, closing the door behind him, and crossed to the bed. He unstrapped his sword, laid it on the dresser beside the bed, then stretched out on the mattress.
“The duchess can no longer harm you or Siusan,” he said.
Riana nodded. “I am grateful.”
“Grateful? Hmm. How grateful?”
She couldn't be angry at the question. She owed him her gratitude, and the amused twinkled in his eyes stated he would take her gratitude in any form she gave it. How much more gratitude would she have to give for the request she was about to make?
Riana walked to the bed and sat on the edge beside him. “The duchess cannot hurt us. But she can hurt Glen.”
He nodded, clearly waiting for her to ask outright.
“I have nothing more to offer. I am yours to do with as you please…”
“I imagine you would again take matters into your hands if I did not deal with the matter.”
“I cannot abandon him.”
“He risked prison for you.”
“I had no idea the duchess would imprison him,” Riana burst out. “Had I known…”
“We will buy his release,” Sir Bryant said.
“The duchess cares nothing for your money.”
“True, but the warden will.”
Riana flushed with memory of the man, his hands on her body, mouth on her cunt when Sir Bryant burst into the room.
“I must tell you what you want to know,” she said.
Sir Bryant grasped her wrist and pulled across his chest. He brushed her cheek with a thumb. His trailed his finger downwards over her chin and along her neck. Gooseflesh raced down her arms. His feather-light touch skimmed across the exposed curve of one breast, then the other. He dipped his finger into her bodice, brushing her nipple. She shivered. He tugged down her sleeve, exposing a breast. He palmed the weighty flesh. His gaze shifted to her mouth an
d he leaned close.
When he had nearly reached her mouth, Riana said, “My lord.”
His eyes lifted to hers.
“We must speak.”
He tugged her skirt thigh-high and reached between her legs. He brushed a thigh with his fingers, then slipped them between her already moist folds.
“Is this what I need to know?” he asked. “How wet you are for me?”
Her heart raced. She wanted him. Wanted to feel his length deep inside, to know she was safe in his arms…would always be safe. But a man’s cock had never saved a woman. He plunged his fingers into her channel. Pleasure ripped through her.
“What you need to know,” she said in a breathless voice, “is that Her Grace murdered Lord Marr.”
The fingers inside her stilled.
“What?”
“Lord Marr,” she said. “The duchess is responsible for his death.”
“He was killed by a robber,” Sir Bryant said.
“The murder was made to look like a robbery.”
Sir Bryant removed his fingers from inside her and straightened, forcing her to sit up.
“You certainly know how to shrink a man’s cock to the size of a sausage.”
Heat crept up her cheeks.
He eyed her. “You could not have waited five more minutes to tell me this?”
“My lord, I—”
He barked a laugh. “Ten minutes, then.”
She didn’t reply, uncertain whether or not his look of frustration was truly tinged with amusement as she perceived.
He studied her. “This has weighed on your mind.”
“You must know the truth,” she replied.
“So that I may be certain I made a good bargain.”