by Amber Dane
He seemed more relaxed now and that strangeness he’d had earlier was gone. He was back to his normal quiet self. Alexa pressed her lips tight. ‘Twas well known those of the chivalric code were prone to silence, not talking much. But she enjoyed talking with him and needed something to distract her from the heat he had stirred in her earlier.
She blurted the first thing that came to mind.
“Is it true you disemboweled men in battle?”
“Aye.”
His answer came quick and Alexa could only gape at him. The stories about him were-
“The stories you have heard are true.” Rourke’s eyes darkened as he watched her hand move unconsciously from her belly to her chest.
His brows knitted as he settled his gaze on the pulse at her throat. She was afraid and it bothered him. Yet, he said naught of it as she sat straighter and cleared her throat. That hand swept back some bangs from her brow as she tilted her head to the side.
“Someone train you to do that?”
“We are trained by many before knighthood. However, what I learned with my axe, I learned from one man in particular.”
She met his eyes then.
“’Twas the same man that gave me this.” Rourke stood and swiftly moved aside the fur robe to expose his naked stomach. He touched a finger to the scar that started at his belly. “Satisfied?”
He let out a sigh of irritation at the pity and anger in her wide eyes. He did not want her pity.
So the man that had wounded him still lived and the bad blood between them, by her husband’s expression was quite fresh yet. Alexa wondered who this man could be.
There was so much that she did not know about him and she vowed to uncover all his secrets one day.
She would know who this now ex-friend was just as she would get to the root of who this woman was that had so soured him. Alexa did not question her intent convincing herself if she was to bear their child and grow old and die in her home; she would make the best of it.
“I would know the name of this man whom you carry around such hate for.”
In one stride he was in front of her, his meal forgotten. He did not look angry, but a nerve jumped in his forehead.
“My turn. What do you know of Emma?” Rourke had expected her to protest over his change of subject, but she didn’t and surprised him when she answered his inquiry.
“Emma! A whiz of a seamstress and a sweet girl and companion to Lisbeth.”
“I thought Camm was that to you both?”
Alexa stood and stepped around him going to the chest to remove her gown for bed. “Camm is more like a sister to us. But Emma- when she came, Lisbeth took a strong liking to the girl and they became fast companions.”
“And Camm did not mind?” Rourke got on the bed and lay back, his arms folded under his head as his eyes watched her run behind the partition to undress. Heat slammed him.
“Nay. She welcomed the young girl. As did I. Emma She was more…ladylike than I and I was glad she was there for my sister to enjoy the things I despised. That’s why it was a surprise to us all when she up and disappeared one night. When we asked her family, they had no idea either. At first we suspected foul play. But she was too sweet to have enemies.”
“None are too young and sweet, hellion, to have enemies.”
Alexa emerged from behind the partition in the light shift. Her lashes lowered and Rourke caught the nervous gaze she shot his way. He waited for her to climb on the bed. She did and jumped when he reached over to undo her thick plait. She froze then after a moment, her fingers moved with his to unravel it.
Rourke let the silky strands slide through his fingers and he lifted a handful to smell the light scent. He hardened.
“Why do you ask after her?”
Rourke continued to stroke her hair and told her of what had happened at the hut. Sadness and disbelief settled over her. “I promise you, Alexa. The person who committed these crimes will be found and dealt with.”
She turned to him, sadness in her eyes for Emma and nodded. With a sniff and toss of her head, she surprised him again when she pressed her hand to his chest.
“Aye, you will.”
Something rose in Rourke’s throat and choked him. He said nothing, covered her hand with his and brought her forward and covered her mouth with his in a hard possessive kiss.
TWENTY-FOUR
The next morning Alexa was plagued by Rourke’s odd behavior last night. She’d noted the concern he’d tried to hide over not having caught this person trying to harm her. His suspicions came to her again and shook her head. It was not possible. Besides, with poor Emma now dead, this only proved the person or persons had reaches beyond the manor and evil in their heart. Camm possessed not a single bone of evil in her person. Alexa fussed about the chamber some more. Soon it would be time for her to go down for her afternoon practice.
Her thoughts were interrupted by soft footfalls coming down the hall. Moving from the chest, Alexa walked to the door just as a soft knock came. She opened it. Ashen and breathless, Camm stood there.
Concerned, Alexa pulled her maid inside the room and clasped her hand in hers. “Camm! Pray tell, what is the matter? You look like a ghost.”
The sun was just breaking through the clouds and a bright ray split through the crack of the window covering and fell upon them. Alexa sat Camm on a bench and soothed the wisps of stray hairs from her maid’s face. When the maid calmed and was able to speak, she balled the cloth she held in one hand and spoke earnestly.
“Oh, mistress! Forgive me. Something gave me fright just now when I came past the North tower.”
Alexa frowned over her words and gave her a quizzical look. “What were you doing over there?”
Camm grabbed one of her hands and held it to her breast as her eyes filled with tears. “I-I was” she gulped, blushing. “I was meeting my man there, mistress.”
Alexa smiled then and caressed her cheek. Camm and the blacksmith’s son had a long standing relationship and why the two had never married, was still something Alexa had never been able to get a straight answer on from Camm. She dropped to her haunches and lifted Camm’s chin with the hand the maid was not squeezing to death.
“What could have frightened you so with Jacob near?”
Jacob was a burly young man that did plenty work around the manor and the fields and still maintained his status in the household.
“At first I thought ‘twas Jacob playing a trick, mistress. Trying to frighten me, you know. But, soon enough he grew fearful himself.”
Alexa’s tone did change then and she sighed when she finally managed to get her hand free from Camm’s cold tight grip. Alexa stood, rubbing her smarting hand and asked, “Do go on. What happened?”
Camm turned wide blank eyes upon her then. “No-Not really sure. Just that someone or something passed over us. A cold chill, worse than any winter I have ever felt brushed against my cheek. Right here, mistress.”
Camm grabbed her hand again and pressed it to the spot on her cheek and Alexa felt her shiver under her, as though her cheek were still cold. Alexa knew by the wild look in her eyes that she was remembering. She pulled her maid up and pulled her into an embrace.
“It was probably just a cold draft, Camm.” Alexa said in a comforting tone.
Camm pulled away, gasping. “Nay, mistress! I felt it as surely as I just felt yours, but much colder. I tell you, the touch was as smooth as a baby’s bottom and could freeze even the devil’s blood. Something or someone has stirred the spirits there.”
Alexa felt her mouth drop open as her maid launched back into her arms sobbing. For years the superstitions about the old tower had swirled and grown around the manor. But no foundation or truth to them. Her parents never used it. She and Lisbeth had been forbidden to tread there and steered clear of it. Alexa had ventured close, and would have entered on many occasions, had it not been for Lisbeth’s whining and frequent threats to tell on her. As they’d grown older, she’d forgotten about w
hat secrets the lone tower held. Until now. When Camm had calmed, Alexa asked where Jacob was.
“He was called away by your husband, mistress. Seems my lord wants to plan a rough joust before the frost.”
Alexa gave her maid a fresh cloth to wipe away her tears. “Are you feeling better now?’ she asked Camm gently.
With heavy sniffles and eyes red rimmed, Camm nodded. ‘Aye. Thank you. You should come see for yourself, mistress.”
Looking at her face, Alexa felt pain lance her heart seeing the real fright in her maid’s eyes. Camm had been like a sister to her and damn Rourke’s hide! What did he know? Looking at the open door, the guard was not there and Alexa smiled.
“Perhaps Jacob will tell my husband about what you saw.” Alexa said licking her lips nervously. Why should she be nervous? He had not forbidden her from venturing anywhere else other than the practice room. Although she knew better. ‘Twas time she was able to walk freely about. They were getting along better to some sort of degree. At least she was trying. Alexa bit her lip.
“Jacob called me a fool and said ‘twas my imagination, mistress. He said the lord would think it so himself were he to speak of it to him.”
Her maid looked so forlorn, her bottom lip stuck out and trembling. Alexa sighed. She knew Camm better than anyone and she hated to see her so upset. Having to accept the Norman as her new lord had been pretty taxing and the treatment the man had bestowed upon his new bride- well- Alexa felt even worse. She should have known it would have affected Camm too. Her mind made up, she placed a secure hand on her maid’s shoulder.
“Aye, Camm. I will see for myself. Nay. I will worry about my husband later.” Alexa said and exited the room with her maid.
The wind was always more brisk up on this part of the manor and was even more so on this cold winter day. Her ancestors had intended to fashion a castle after the ones they had seen go up during King Edward’s time. A partial rampart led to a causeway that connected the two made of wood and the walls that were made of partial stone, which Alexa used her hand to lean upon as she inched her way along the unfinished side with Camm behind her. Coming to the thinnest part of the plank floor, she stood just inside one of the embrasures that had a gaping hole in it on one side. The workmanship could be noted in every stone and Alexa tried to picture the tower complete. ‘Twould have been a beautiful structure. Camm’s cough brought her back.
“Is this the spot, then?” Alexa did not know she stood dangerously close to the edge as Camm waved a shaky hand out in front of her.
“Nay, mistress. Over there more. That’s it. Right there.”
Alexa frowned when she felt a cold draft move up her gown. That was definitely the wind. She stood still and looked all around. She looked out over the fields. What a view. She could see the whole of her lands from this post. Her ancestors had the right idea. Had the embrasure been complete, there was not one piece of Barnett lands one could not see facing this north side for an enemy wishing to attack. Turning back to Camm, Alexa tucked a loose strand of hair that had blown free, back behind her ear and shouted across to her maid.
“I must say, Camm. I can see what you two must have been looking at. ‘Tis absolutely breathtaking. I never came up this high before.”
“What’s that, mistress?” The wind snatched at her maid’s words and brought the strangled tone to Alexa’s ears and she gave Camm an odd look.
“The view of course. That is what you were trying to do up here, was it not?” There was not aught more to do or a better place to cuddle for warmth in your lover’s arms and be in intimate, Alexa thought as her gaze swept around them. She gazed back out onto the cultivated lands and caught her breath. She would know him anywhere. Even from this distance Rourke’s form caused a tingle to ripple through her and she shuddered. The sun had fully risen and his hair looked like spun white gold from here. He was surrounded by Goran and a few other men. He moved away from the circle of men in their direction. She had little time. She sighed and turned back to Camm as her maid called to her.
“What was that, Camm? I couldn’t hear you. The wind is so strong up here. I’m coming back to you now.” She shouted and just as she started to inch back towards her, she saw Camm step towards her. “Nay. Stay there. I am coming back to you.” Alexa shouted her warning again with a wave to stop her, and then she stopped when she saw the look on her maid’s face.
Camm looked like a different person. Her pretty face twisted with an ugly sneer and the look in her eyes made Alexa’s blood run ice-cold.
Alexa shook her head with a laugh. She was letting Rourke’s suspicions get the best of her. Camm was like a sister to her. Yet, she heard the uncertainty in her own tone when she asked, “Camm? Camm, are you well?”
“I should have killed you first.” Her maid’s cold words smacked her right in the face.
TWENTY-FIVE
Rourke scanned the grounds and watched Jacob with a cautionary eye. Although he liked Barnett’s blacksmith, his son’s disposition did not sit well with Rourke and it hadn’t since the day he’d first met the boy. Something about the young boy had always seemed off center, missing or dead in the boy’s eyes. Eyes that kept shifting to the ground whenever Rourke looked his way, like now. With his hands clasped behind his back, Rourke studied the boy through his peripheral as he and Goran walked the group of men through their duties in preparation for the short practice joust he’d planned.
Something cold swept over his cheeks and Rourke lifted his head as the wind whistled and he found his gaze turning back toward the manor high wall facing the north side. A movement drew his gaze to the area where the dilapidated tower stood and his heart lurched and skipped a beat. He stopped walking so abruptly, the others behind him nearly fell over as they stumbled around him. Only Goran stepped to his side.
“Rourke?” Goran questioned, worriedly at the look on his friend’s face. When he got no response, he turned and quickly dismissed the men. He tried to get Rourke’s attention again. “Rourke?”
Rourke uttered one single word. “There.” And was off running.
Alexa tried to decipher what she’d just heard and could only stare at Camm as her mind tried to make sense of what her maid had just told her. Surely she had not heard her correctly and that Camm simply had misspoken. The wind after all was nigh howling, whistling around them, and snatching long tendrils of her hair out of her neat double plait.
“Camm?” Alexa finally managed to mutter.
Alexa drew back as she watched the woman a year younger than herself, that she’d grown up with side by side, and whom she and Lisbeth had loved, transform. The loathing blazed from her maid’s eyes as they stared at her. Camm’s façade of the loving maid evaporated and she took a menacing step in her direction.
Alexa felt a deep anger start to build within her and she tried again. “Camm?”
“’Tis Cammilla, you stupid bitch!” Camm screamed with venom.
The woman she’d known was gone and Alexa struggled with the sudden grief that assailed her as it mingled with the rising tide of fury over such betrayal. She could not believe it and wanted to so badly explain her maid’s behavior, even as truth and the missing pieces started to fall into place.
“Camm, what have you done?” Alexa shouted across to her.
The cackle that came from Camm’s mouth had Alexa balling her hands into fists.
“Lisbeth? My father?” Alexa said in a painful accusing whisper. Blood roared in her veins as she took a step toward Camm.
Camm continued at a hurried and well-practiced pace, with large steps in her direction. A second of alarm washed over Alexa as dawning came to her and she felt the wind at her back. There was no place to go but down.
She had walked into a trap.
Camm’s sneering grin widened and Alexa knew the maid knew she’d just figured it out. “You planned this.” Alexa whispered hoarsely what they both already knew.
“Aye, you high and mighty whore. And well too. You’re not so smart now are
you?”
Camm let loose a wild and crazy laugh. She was almost upon her and Alexa calculated her movements and what she could do next. There was not enough room were she to try to subdue the maid on this thin piece of wood plank. But a shove in the right direction….Alexa did not take her eyes from the advancing woman and planted her feet as firmly as she could in the little space allotted.
“My father and Lisbeth loved you. We all loved you. How could you have done something so horrible?” Alexa snarled as white spots of anger swam before her eyes. She wanted to wrap her hands around Camm’s neck and squeeze the life from her.
“How could you have done something so horrible?” Camm repeated in a mocking deep tone. “Your voice is so manly and sounds like it’s full of rocks. God, how I hate the sound of it! All these years of ‘Camm do this’ 'Camm do that’ ‘yes mistress’, ‘no mistress’. Sickening is what ‘tis.’
Alexa stood there in disbelief. She had never known this woman at all. She had fooled them all. “We were always good to you and did nothing to hurt you. We treated you like a sister.”
The mask of rage twisted Camm’s face as she stopped. A sneer curled her lip as she said, “Treated me like a sister? How aptly put. Do you know what 'twas like to watch all of you? The both of you enjoy this and that, the finer things that should have been mine too. ‘Twas not fair.”
Alexa frowned over her words. “What do you mean?”
"You are just as blind and dumb as your mother was. We have the same father! I was born right here under her nose and her cruelty to my mother knew no bounds. She worked my poor mother into an early grave and kept me on to see after her brats! Aye, 'tis no wonder we were close."
Alexa's blood pounded in her ears. "That’s a vicious lie!"
Camm cackled. "I wanted it to be known but our father threatened to send me away or worse. I chose to show him or worse. His lies took all I loved away. My mother! He’d no right to do that to her. To me! He had no right. So I took away everything he loved. I just erred by not getting rid of you first."