“Perhaps as a sort of penance, a continual reminder of his wrongdoing?”
“Then this would be the room in which he took his life.” She gave a violent shudder. “Can you reach it? Is there any sort of lever or fastening? Could something be hidden within?”
Dominic handed her the candle. Stretching onto his toes, he was able to reach the sculpture. He searched it with his hands, following every contour and even pushing on its reflective eyes. “Nay. It’s just a decoration.”
“A rather odd decoration.”
“Did you not say he’d gone mad?”
She nodded.
“Shall I smash it? It frightened you. ’Tis only right that the dragon be slain.”
She smiled at his foolishness. “Nay. Leave it be. But let’s sleep in the outer room.”
Dominic followed her into the larger room. She returned the candle to the mantle and slipped beneath the weight of their combined cloaks. Rowena tried not to shiver, but her skin was chilled, her emotions turbulent and raw.
Dominic blew out the candle before he joined her on the fur. His strong arms slipped around her and Rowena clung to him. He didn’t mention her odd confession and Rowena was grateful. He knew her defenses were slipping. Like a lazy cat, he simply waited for her to emerge from her hiding place.
You’re mine already.
The silken taunt followed her into sleep.
Chapter Eleven
A ticklish sensation drew Rowena from sleep. She stretched and shifted, arching her body against the hard warmth of Dominic’s back. Sleep receded gradually like fog on a warm spring morning. He was still sleeping soundly, his fingers interlaced with hers. One of her arms nestled beneath his neck and the other circled his waist. Their interlocked hands pressed against his chest, and Rowena could feel the steady beating of his heart. A strand of his hair rested across her nose, causing the subtle irritation that had awakened her. Burying her face fully in his thick dark hair, Rowena allowed herself one long contented moment before she rose to face the day.
Dominic continued to sleep even after she disentangled her fingers and slipped from their bed. She dressed quickly, glad for the quiet moment to gather her thoughts and sort through her feelings.
Warm echoes of sensation reminded Rowena of their lovemaking. He was always tender and considerate when they touched. He overwhelmed her at times, but even at his most passionate Rowena could sense his determination to bring her pleasure.
If only she could trust his feelings as much as she trusted his touch.
Raking her fingers through her tousled hair, she tried to work some of the tangles from the long strands. She understood his agenda. He’d made no real attempt to hide his purpose. He wanted Pendragon Castle, meant to have it by whatever means necessary.
The thought made her sad and intensified the loneliness that had been part of her longer than she could remember. It was odd. Edwin wanted nearly the same thing, and it filled her with rage. Dominic’s determination made her long for something more.
She looked down into his sleeping face and felt compelled by the power and nobility stamped upon his features. Sunlight gilded his night black hair and accented the healthy color of his skin. His dark eyelashes rested in dense crescents against his cheeks. She had never noticed how long they were before. One thickly muscled arm and shoulder rested on top of his cloak. Even relaxed, his shape was impressive.
He’d make a strong and competent lord, but what sort of husband? He was kind and protective now, perhaps a bit overbearing. But once he had Pendragon Castle, his motivation for treating her kindly would be gone.
Even if she decided to consider him as husband, his past still loomed between them.
I’m not a murderer.
Had he made the statement with a bit too much vehemence the night before? There had to be an explanation, but how would she ever broach the issue?
Thora confirmed that he’d been betrothed to a woman named Monica, but the rest was speculation. Rowena needed facts.
Pulling on her slippers, she shoved her troubled thoughts aside and went to check on the friar.
Brother Leland continued to sleep in blissful oblivion. His skin was cool and supple. There was no sign of fever or complicating condition.
She lit a rush torch from one of the candles and crossed into the adjacent cell. The stone dragon stared down at her. Its faceted eyes seemed to glower with menace. She’d wandered through the deserted monastery countless times and never noticed the odd decoration. Fair Fiona had drawn her attention there. Why?
“Are you certain you don’t want me to slay it?”
She smiled. “I’ve explored the monastery on several occasions. I can’t believe I never noticed it before.”
“You can’t see it unless you’re exiting the cell, and you had no reason to enter until last night.” He joined her in the tiny room. “How fares your patient?”
“Brother Leland is the same,” Rowena told him. “He hasn’t awakened.”
Dominic took the torch from her hand and held it aloft. The dragon’s eyes gleamed. “Does this concern you?”
“Not overmuch.” She stepped closer, tilting her head to examine where the figure protruded from the wall.
“When do you expect he will be able to travel?”
Rowena paused and faced him. Her hands tangled in the material of her skirt. She didn’t want to incite his anger but Brother Leland must be protected. “His location must remain a secret. If Edwin realizes where he is, he will try to finish what he began.”
“Were you finished here?” She nodded and stepped out into the corridor. “How many know his whereabouts?”
“Thora, a few of the kitchen staff, and of course Nan and Bert.”
She entered the friar’s cell and knelt beside his makeshift bed. Pressing the back of her hand to his forehead, she watched his breathing and noted the color of his skin. He appeared frail and haggard. She pressed her lips firmly together, hiding the way they trembled.
Domenic reached into the cell to set the torch in the iron sconce but remained in the doorway. “The tale will have spread far beyond those few by now.”
“What do you suggest?” She was almost afraid to ask. He was being uncharacteristically cooperative.
“I think we should finish what Edwin began.”
Rowena gasped in horrified disbelief until Dominic laughed.
“Not literally. We should spread the word that Brother Leland didn’t survive the beating. We’ll have to return to the castle of course, but we could arrange for someone else to tend the friar. Many of my men will be departing in the next few days. One of them could slip up here and not be missed.”
“You’re leaving?” Rowena was embarrassed by the panicked quality in her voice, but the words were spoken before she could restrain them.
He crouched before her, his weight balanced on the balls of his feet. “You’ll not be rid of me so easily. I’m sending some of my men with Ezra to his new fief. I’m the captain of your personal guard. I would be shirking my duties were I to leave your side.”
She hadn’t bothered with her veil, and his hand slipped into her hair. Rowena leaned into the comfort of his caress, resting her cheek against the cup of his open palm. “I’m frightened,” she whispered. “I knew Edwin was obsessed with Pendragon Castle, but it wasn’t until I saw what he had done to Brother Leland that I realized he’ll do anything.”
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with his other hand and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll deal with Edwin. You concentrate on helping your friend.”
She pushed to her knees and melted into his embrace. He was strong, capable of protecting her, and she was ready to be protected. She clung to him, pressing her face into the warm crevice where his throat met his shoulder.
He shifted to his knees, drawing her more tightly against his body. Stroking her hair, he rocked her gently. “I’m here. You’re safe. I’m here.”
She clung to him and drew his warm scent deeply
into her lungs. Her body trembled, and her spirit ached to take the final step and surrender to love. Easing back just far enough to look into his face, Rowena searched his eyes. Could she trust him with her heart? Did she dare…
“We’ll find our way through this together.”
His mouth covered hers in a slow, sweet kiss. Rowena reveled in the warm slide of his lips and the gentle sweep of his tongue. The kiss was meant to comfort, not arouse, and she felt her anxiety melt away.
“We should return to the castle.”
His warm breath brushed her lips as he spoke, and Rowena shivered.
“I’ll stay with Brother Leland until you’ve made arrangements. I’m not comfortable leaving him unattended.”
A long, loud sigh illustrated his frustration. He rose to his feet and looked down at her. “And I’m not comfortable leaving you here alone.”
“I’m not unconscious.” She shifted back to sit beside the friar. “Find someone we can trust with Brother Leland’s care and send him to me. When he arrives, I’ll return to the castle.”
He was obviously displeased by her determination, but he didn’t argue. He folded his arms over his chest. “You’ll need to appear suitably distressed by the death of the friar. I’ll spread the word when I arrive that he is not likely to survive the day. Then you’ll confirm to everyone that poor Brother Leland didn’t recover from the beating he suffered at the hands of Edwin.”
“I understand.”
“I’ll not be gone long,” he promised. “Don’t leave the monastery until I return. I’ll bring someone back to tend the friar, and I’ll escort you back to the castle myself.”
“As you wish, my lord.” She punctuated the sentence with a smile, and he responded with a quick nod.
Rowena sat beside Brother Leland, allowing her mind to wander as she listened to the steady cadence of his breathing.
“Where am I?”
She turned her head to meet the friar’s sightless eyes. Her heart leapt with hope, and she reached for his hand.
“Oh Brother Leland, thank God you’re awake. It’s Rowena. How are you feeling?”
“Pitiful. Where am I? What became of Nan? Oh, the poor child. That animal—”
“Nay, Brother Leland. Edwin tricked you. He didn’t harm Nan. He only made you believe he had. Nan is safe, and so are you. We’re in the old monastery.”
“Then you must take me away. I’ll not endanger you or the people of Pendragon. He will search for me. I know he will.”
“Nay, he will not. Sir Dominic is going to spread the word that you have passed away. Edwin will believe you dead, so there will be no reason for him to search.”
He chuckled and then groaned. Pain twisted his expression. “You were always clever.”
“I’ll give you something to ease your pain. Your body needs to mend.” Relief did summersaults through Rowena’s stomach as she gathered another dose of Cook’s mixture. She tried to concentrate on the joy, but guilt hovered in the shadows, launching hot, stinging darts into her heart.
“He has to be stopped,” the friar whispered. “He has become obsessed with the legend.”
Slipping one arm behind his shoulders, Rowena held a cup to his lips and helped him drink the potion. “I know what Edwin is about, and I’m so sorry you were…”
Her voice broke on a sob, and Rowena couldn’t go on.
“You’re not to blame, Rowena,” Brother Leland whispered.
“If he didn’t want my castle so badly, he would never have harmed you.”
He moaned softly as she removed her arm and allowed him to settle back against the blankets. “It is more than the castle. Edwin wants it all. He wants to solve the riddle, lift the curse and find the Dragon’s Tears.”
“You speak of these things as if they exist.” His features relaxed, his eyes drifted shut, but she doubted that the herbs could have taken effect so quickly. “Do you believe in the legend?”
“You would be shocked by what I believe,” the friar mumbled and then slipped back into unconsciousness.
* * * * *
Storm clouds gathered on the horizon. Rowena stood in the opening of the monastery and looked out over the forest below. The original builders had cut back a wide swath of trees, making any approach to the entrance obvious, but shrubs and vegetation had reclaimed the clearing over the years. Thunder clamored in the distance, and the sweet smell of rain drifted on the breeze. If Dominic didn’t hurry, they’d be caught by another storm.
He arrived a short time later with Sir Ezra.
Rowena smiled at Dominic’s friend. “Thank you for coming.” He was slightly taller than Dominic, but not so heavily muscled.
Ezra bowed, sunlight gleaming in the strands of his curly blond hair, before he stepped into the gloomy interior of the monastery. “Always at the service of a lady.”
“I decided Ezra alone could be trusted with this secret, so he has temporarily postponed his departure for Granville Cross,” Dominic explained.
“Will this not draw suspicion? It is widely known that he is anxious to claim his holdings.” She glanced between the two men, each so handsome and virile yet nearly opposite in coloring. They made a striking contrast.
“The men have been long away from their homes,” Dominic said. “I released them for a time and told them to await Ezra’s summons.”
“I’d already decided that arriving at Granville Cross with a small army would likely lead to unnecessary resistance. Even Dom’s men believe we have parted ways. Only we three are aware of the deception.”
“Again, I thank you. Brother Leland is very dear to me.” Rowena explained what Ezra would need to do and then reluctantly followed Dominic from the ruin.
“We’re racing a storm.” Dominic echoed her earlier thought. “Let us away.”
Rowena fell into a sullen silence as they rode. He’d not mentioned her emotional outburst the night before. Was he avoiding her embarrassment, or did he prefer not to talk about love? There was much left unsaid between them. How in creation would she ever ask him about Monica?
“What is troubling you?”
Fidgeting in the saddle, Rowena considered her options. Which issue should she broach first? Which was more important? Her feelings for Dominic would be easier to sort with Monica banished from their lives.
She took a deep breath and blurted, “Have you ever been wed before?”
Dominic chuckled, his dark blue eyes assessing her. “I wondered when we would arrive at this conversation. Tell me what you have heard, and I will tell you what is fact and what is nonsense.”
She liked the idea immensely. “You were betrothed to a woman named Monica.”
“Fact.”
“She was wealthy.”
He hesitated. “Her wealth was a fabrication, but I didn’t know that when William negotiated the betrothal.”
Tension gathered within her, but Rowena pushed on. “You wanted her for her wealth.”
He shook his head. “Nonsense. I was in love with Monica.”
His easy admission stung. Rowena snapped her face forward and fixed her eyes on the trail ahead. “I thought you didn’t believe in love.”
She felt the brush of his fingers against her hand and turned her face back toward him.
“I never said that, Rowena.”
He smiled, and her heart fluttered madly. She quickly averted her gaze as heat spread up her neck and across her cheeks. She was much too susceptible to his charm.
“Now surely there is something more interesting than whether or not I loved the girl.”
She nodded and her fingers tightened around the leather reins. “They say you killed her.” She quickly looked at his face, searching his eyes for a response.
“Utter nonsense.” He sounded absolute. His gaze met hers without hesitation. “I was not even present when Monica died.”
Relief washed over her with staggering sweetness. “How did she die? Nay, go back farther. How did you meet? What was she like? Why do people
believe you are responsible for her death?”
It was as if shutters slammed closed over his eyes. Rowena watched as the openness vanished and his expression turned tense and harsh.
“It was long ago. It has no bearing on our future.”
“Our future?” she challenged softly, hurt by his withdrawal. “I trusted you with things I’ve told no one else, not even Thora. Everything you’ve wanted to know, I told you. I explained all the shameful—”
Rowena’s words were suddenly cut off by her startled cry. Searing pain shot through her left shoulder as the sharp head of an arrow penetrated her flesh. She cried out again as her entire arm went numb and she could no longer control her hand. Sensing her fear, her palfrey tossed its head and pranced to an insecure stop.
Dominic vaulted from his horse’s back long before the beast could stop. He caught Rowena as she slipped from her saddle with a ragged gasp. Fire shot through her breast, down her arm and up the side of her neck. She sobbed. Panic exploded within her even more powerful than the pain. Had the arrow been poisoned? Why did it hurt so badly?
“It hurts,” she whimpered, unable to contain the tears. “It should not hurt this much.”
Dominic sank with her to the forest floor. His hands were trembling. Rowena had never seen fear in his eyes before, but he was frightened now. Oh God, do not let me die!
Frantically grasping for his dagger, Dominic cut back the edge of her cloak to assess the damage. The arrow had entered her chest several inches below the shoulder, but the head appeared to be lodged against her shoulder’s bone. He cursed.
“I cannot remove the shaft unless I push it through and break off the head. I don’t think that’s possible.”
Calm! He needed to be calm. If she realized how frightened he was, it would only increase her panic.
“I cannot feel my arm.” She sobbed, clutching the useless appendage against her waist with her other hand. “Oh God. The arrow must have been poisoned. My head…is spinning.”
Terror spurred him into action. Dominic braced her shoulder with one hand. “Forgive me, my love.” He snapped off the portion of the shaft protruding from her chest. Her harsh cry made Dominic clench his teeth. All color drained from her face until her skin appeared gray.
Tears of the Dragon Page 17