“She is brazen and foolish,” he said.
“The lady has the spirit of a variant female,” Selwyn said, squaring his shoulders.
Juden cut his eyes at Selwyn. “Mayhap, whether it is a good or bad thing I have yet to decide,” he said, dryly, and then stalked to the gate to intercept Lord Drackett and his men.
Chapter 20
It didn’t take Juden a second to realize Lord Drackett wasn’t amongst his men. He wasn’t surprised the coward would send his own on a suicide mission while he stayed conveniently out of reach. The putrid heartless bastard preferred to send others to do his dirty work.
He observed the flunky and the few men who entered Dandelion with him with indifference. His tone firm, words precise and clipped. He said, “You come at your lord’s command, and I cannot fault you for your loyalty. ‘Tis expected and commendable and shows your allegiance is true, even to a bastard who doesn’t deserve it. I won’t show you any mercy if you persist. You can leave now, and I give my word no one will harm you.”
The flunky said, “Lord Drackett gave me orders. Besides, from one man to another, you know if I tuck my tail and run, me and my men’s fate is sealed regardless. Though my duty is to an uncourageous lord, I myself am a warrior in every sense of the word. We stay and fight.”
“You remain and get slaughtered.”
The man stiffened his back. He met Juden’s cool gaze seemingly unraveled. “Your reputation precedes you, Sovereign VanZandt. I will consider it an honor to battle against you. Perhaps even savor a victory, as your numbers seem few.”
“Things aren’t always what they appear.” It was cliché, but a lesson the man should take to heart.
Juden’s battle cry echoed in the quiet sounding like a wolf’s howl.
The ground quaked as the hillside filled with a great number of VanZandt warriors. The count of men was numerous, fading the green slope in an umbra effect, as riders astride monstrous horses blanketed the area and surrounded Lord Drackett’s men, who waited on the hilltop outside the gate.
Selwyn, Jilst, and Kerr came to Juden’s side. Faison remained at his back.
Juden crossed his arms in front of him, grabbed the hilt of the swords, and unsheathed the massive blades simultaneously causing a frigid wind to whip by and chill the area where he stood in an icy embrace.
The battle was contained inside the inner bailey of the holding where the flunky and his men entered. The other Drackett warriors resisted from joining the battle. Not by their own decision, when they made to go to the aid of their men the VanZandt warriors moved their horses forward until the men where encased in a cocoon. They continued to press forward until Lord Drackett’s men had no recourse except to stay within the tight confines, swords undrawn, or be cut down like penned animals when Juden’s men raised bows and pointed them in their direction.
The fighting swift, brutal, ended quickly when all of Lord Drackett’s men lay lifeless at Juden’s feet. He and his men, though few against many, were no match for the trained guards who embraced battle with a voracious intent defied belief. One by one, the men fought gallantly, to a lost cause, and the result was success for Juden and his guards.
Juden stood looking over the carnage when two shrill whistles signaled for his attention. He stood and faced his man, Tolar, who held the other Drackett men at bay. He raised his arm, made a signal, stepped, and searched amongst the pile of bodies.
“You are letting the others go, Juden?” Selwyn asked. The thought seemed repulsive to him.
“They will live to fight another day,” he said.
Jilst didn’t say as much, he seemed disappointed.
Kerr moved forward dragging the flunky by the collar. He tossed the man at Juden’s feet. “He still breathes.” He pointed his blade at the man’s neck. “A warrior deserves a swift and honorable death.”
“‘Tis a flesh wound. Let him go.” Juden grabbed the man by the collar and hoisted him to his feet. “Don’t think I didn’t kill you out of compassion. You breathe, because I deign it to be. You will go and deliver a message to your lord. Due to his stupidity, many lives were lost unnecessarily while he continues to exist. You tell him this, his time on earth is short.”
Faison brought the man’s horse over. Juden tossed the flunky on his mount, slapped the horse’s rump, making the animal bolt.
* * * *
Juden didn’t pass the threshold into the room before Saxby was on her feet. She attempted to show a measure of restraint and not run and collapse into his arms. Decorum required she show little emotion with eyes and ears observing their interaction. She was still angry with him for bullying her. She waited on him to come to her. He made it clear he didn’t intend to. She understood his point when he looked at her expectantly. Slowly, she walked to him.
It was irritating the affect he had on her. She went and stood by his side, and in one quick assessment, she looked him over. She scrunched her nose at the blood on him, seeing it wasn’t his, she inwardly sighed with relief.
She crossed her arms in front of her chest, stared, and waited on him to say something. Give her some indication he was remorse for his earlier actions. He had been unnecessarily harsh. She acted like a child, fear for his life apparently had the effect on her. There was no need to dwell on why.
Juden being Juden merely looked down at her.
Saxby leaned forward and dropped her voice conspiratorially. “I’m very upset at you.”
“Apparently, not enough you aren’t relieved to see me unscathed.”
“Is that a question?” she said, flippant.
“An observation,” he said coolly.
She waved her had dismissively. This topic was a losing battle. “What of Lord Drackett’s men?”
“What about them?”
That solidified things in her head. The battle had been brutal, lives were lost, all unnecessary evils that didn’t sit well with Saxby. She eyed Juden. She could not blame him. Lord Drackett was responsible for enacting an offense against Dandelion by bringing warriors to their gate. If she pondered matters, which she did while she waited, Juden was right to retaliate. Would any true man do anything differently? She doubted it. Briefly, she wondered how Milo would have handled the situation, and then tossed the thought aside. Milo brought Juden to their home to assist with Lord Drackett and save Dandelion. Juden, obviously, took his duties seriously. She could not fault him.
However, she quickly added to the assessment, his overzealous need to control every measure of Dandelion and her, still unsettled her.
“I thank you for what you did.”
Juden bowed his head. “You’re welcome, Lady Saxby.”
“Lord Drackett is dead?”
“Not yet.” He seemed disgruntled by the thought.
“I see. Perhaps if you care to, we might discuss this unpleasant situation with Lord Drackett and see what steps we can take to end this matter between us and him cordially.”
Milo controlled every aspect of her life during their marriage. Even more now he conveniently held the weight of guilt over her head about the accident. She had been feisty at first, full of fire, and respectful with Milo, because he deserved such as her husband and lord. She wasn’t reared to be ungraceful and act insolent with her husband even though sometimes he deserved such. She became submissive with Milo. She acted reticent about speaking her mind and a puppet to her husband’s commands. She admitted now, frankly, the entire passive façade began to wear her nerves thin. She wanted some control over her life, a semblance of freedom she was accustomed to before coming to Dandelion. “We can discuss it this evening,” she insisted.
“There is no need for such a conversation, Lady Saxby. I already figured it out.”
Saxby lifted her eyebrow. She refrained from going into a tirade about how he continuously refused her request to be kept abreast of matters. “Are we to argue again about your refusal to allow me a say so in matters that involve my household?”
Juden’s lips curled and a feral
grin curved his mouth. He leaned forward, his words a sultry whisper. “Have you already forgotten how accommodating I can be?”
The double entendre of his words activated salacious thoughts. A wave of ripples surfaced strong, strummed through her body, almost making her quiver as their amorous night before burned through her mind.
“That is not what I meant and you know it,” she said. Looking about to see if she was overheard, and then faced Juden again, “You know this.”
Juden chuckled beneath his breath. He raised his hand, as if he meant to touch her, and then dropped his arm. “I’m open to an in-depth conversation about what concerns you, Lady Saxby. Shall we schedule for this evening after I have conferred with my men? Right now, I wish to bathe this filth off me. I do believe a good soak in a steaming bath is in order. As mistress, I do believe ‘tis your duty to assist guest with bathing. Is it not?”
Saxby ignored the flush of heat which made her cheeks glow. She eyed him suspiciously. Juden knew it was customary for the lady of the manor to assist visitors with their bathing. To deny him would have been an affront, not to mention a disgrace, and a shameful display of bad manners.
“You can let me know when the water is heated sufficiently, things prepared, and when you are ready to tend to my needs.” There was the suggestiveness in his tone, explicitly sexual. Finished, Juden turned to leave.
She hurried after him. Juden stopped. She glared up at him to make a point only to find his attention focused on Faison, who he summoned. She spoke quickly and said, “I will prepare your bath, however ‘tis all you will get from me. I’m still perturbed at you.” There was firmness in her tone. Again, Juden smiled down at her in that way of his, a slight rounding of his lips softened the strong lines of his face. He is a handsome devil. Saxby gathered her wits, ignoring the wantonness easing inside her body. “I’m serious.”
“We shall see,” he murmured.
Saxby opened her mouth to respond. Juden turned his back and started talking to Faison. She stood there a moment, gathered her skirts, whirled around, and walked away before she was tempted to poke him in the eye.
The man was too damn cocky. Full of himself, with an over-abundance of ego should have made his head swell and pop, Saxby thought. When she made it to the hall entryway she stopped, turned around, and caught Juden following her with his gaze. Heat radiated off the man, and washed over her body, until she felt as if white-hot flashes turned her body red. His look smoldering, eyes aglow, appearing like silver sparked flames made her boil as he dragged his eyes over her person thoroughly, and ignored her.
He wasn’t going to drive her nuts, she thought. Saxby turned to leave the hall when she overheard what Juden said to Faison.
“I don’t trust Lord Drackett. I want you to ride out immediately, take a few men, and ensure his warriors leave Dandelion boundaries and don’t circle back. Keep them in your sights, throughout the night, if necessary.”
Faison nodded. “Aye, Juden.”
Saxby rolled her eyes hearing Juden’s instructions. Couldn’t he see Carline was a fit of nerves, fearing for her husband’s safety? Yet, he insensitively sent Faison away so soon. She considered intervening and enlightening Juden on the fact he should show Carline an ounce of consideration. Surely, out of his entourage someone else could handle the task.
Juden wouldn’t like it, she didn’t care, and would give him her opinion on the matter. Carline looked like she might faint at the notion Juden would send Faison away and possibly into danger. She made it halfway across the room when Juden spoke again.
She saw him watching Carline, before saying, “On second thought, Faison, send Jilst to the task.”
Then, as if he knew her thoughts, Juden turned in her direction. Saxby felt her heart stutter when he glanced at her as if to say “are you satisfied?” As if he actually spoke the question aloud, Saxby gave him a little smile and nodded. Juden responded by winking at her.
“Oslei give me strength,” she uttered. She hurried to see to the water prepared for Juden’s bath. Though she thought it unnecessary, because now, with the heat raging inside her body, she was convinced she could thaw ice.
Chapter 21
“I’m glad you are not leaving,” Carline said quietly. She studied the floor.
“Not as delighted as me. I assure you. Carline,” Faison waited until she looked up at him. “I require a bath as well. You will see to the task.”
“As you wish and with haste.”
She turned to leave. Faison slipped his arm around her waist, pulled her against him, and swiftly swooped down for a kiss. A hungry, mouth-watering pressing of lips made it clear to Carline what he meant by his next statement.
“I desire a bath and much more. You do understand, don’t you?”
“I believe so.” Her voice was whispery.
She tried to bury her face in his chest and Faison wouldn’t allow it. His fingertips traced the outline of her chin, lifted, forcing her to face him. He intentionally dropped his tone to comfort and pacify the nervous trembling he felt in her body. “You didn’t ask it of me, I understood you needed time before we consummated our marriage.” He thought the way she blushed, all rosy, made Carline look enticingly innocent. He knew she was not, not that it mattered. He witnessed a glimpse of fire inside her, and it interested Faison more. He continued, softly stroking his thumb over her bottom lip, “I’m not sure I can be as accommodating tonight.”
“If ‘tis your wish, Fasion.”
Faison’s forehead set into a deep frown. “Don’t you want your husband? To please me as much I as want to pleasure my wife?”
“I’m not-not sure if I can.”
“The question is do you want to.”
“I do.”
Faison gave her an easy grin. He brushed his lips over hers lightly. “Then that is half the battle. Go and fetch my bath,” he said, and then patted her bottom affectionately to get her moving.
* * * *
Eyes watched the exchange between Carline and Faison intensely, like a hawk setting its sight on an unsuspecting mouse. When Carline left the hall and entered the alcove that lead to the kitchen, the figure kept to the shadows and followed.
A dark form suddenly stepped in front of Carline, blocking her path. The person appeared abruptly, causing her to yelp and clutch her bodice. At the bottom of the steps leading to the kitchen, in the narrow, dim corridor, it was difficult to see who stood before her. “Who is there?”
“Oh, he woos and cajoles you like the silver-tongued devil. And you, the fool, easily fall into his arms, bed, and spread your legs willingly like a whore,” Megatha sneered.
Carline braced herself for the attack. “Faison is my husband, mother. We wed yesterday. I wanted you to be present. You were nowhere to be found and Faison did not want to wait. I apologize. I’m sorry that I—”
—the slap came swift and hard. Carline cried out.
“You ungrateful, little bitch. After all I have done for you, this is how you repay me and show your loyalty? I came to Dandelion and groveled to Milo to take us in after your wastrel father selfishly took his own life and left us destitute. I lowered myself and pleaded to Milo to put a roof over our head and food in our bellies. I did unthinkable things to ensure our protection against the perils we would have faced alone. Now, you have single-handed destroyed what I fought to give you.”
“I-I d-don’t understand.”
Megatha’s eyes grew cold and harder. “Of course you do not, you stupid ninny. All this,” she waved her arm around wildly to indicate the manor. “This could have been yours. But now that you have tied yourself to Juden’s patsy, Milo will turn us away.”
Carline stood frozen and her expression puzzled. “Mother please, Faison is a good man. He will treat me well and I’m sure he will take care of you too.”
Megatha converged on Carline and struck her on the cheek. “You think I want anything to do with a variant? Ha,” she laughed shrilly. “He is but a beggar in my eyes. What do you
know of his wealth? Does he has any at all is questionable. Are you so blind…stupid you can’t see if you were to act the whore with someone it should have been Juden, the great and invincible VanZandt. A ruler of people, sovereign of many who have lands and is wealthier than our King.” Sarcasm dripped from her lips like oil. “By Oslei, I reared a fool.”
Carline blanched. “Juden is my uncle,” she protested, the thought of what Megatha implied grotesque and unthinkable. “You’re an idiot. Have I not taught you anything? In these times, women are treated as commodities, bargaining tools, no more worth than a bag of wheat or expensive gems to men. We must do what we must to ensure our own survival, no matter how distasteful the deed. The wiser few, such as me, learned to use what we have to get our way and secure the comforts of life. What other reason would I have lay in bed night after night and allowed your pig of a father, my first cousin, to pawn me and rut me dry. You think because I enjoyed it? I suffered under the abuse, because I wanted wealth and power as a great mistress.”
“My father loved you.”
Megatha laughed a cruel hard sound. “Your father loved me, servant wenches, stable boys,” she said, eyeing Carline with disdain. “He mostly loved you. You think I did not know?”
“You lie!”
“Tell me, how many times did he come to your chamber?”
Carline whimpered, tried to escape, Megatha grabbed her arm. “You are a slut!”
“No. No, it is not true.” She struggled to get free. Megatha’s grip tightened until her nails dug in her flesh. The burning ran up her arm. She fought against Megatha’s great strength unsuccessfully.
Feeling helpless, Carline remained and accepted the abuse. Hoping her mother would grow weary and cease her wrath. She cried pitifully and waited, while Megatha continued to lash her with evil words, hurtful tales, she said things to made her cringe. She spewed lies Carline continuously denied. Her refusal to admit the truth only acerbated her mother’s ranting.
Enough was enough, and finally unable to listen to anymore of the dreadful accusations, Carline slammed her palms to cover her ears. Megatha slapped her hands away. “You will listen, you fool.” Megatha raised her hand to deliver another blow. She shrieked, as a powerful force grabbed her wrist and flung it away.
Barbour, Carolina - Watch Me, Desire Me (Siren Publishing Allure) Page 14