Tears stung her eyes but she ignored them and kissed him. “You truly love me.”
“I truly love you.”
She kissed him again and whispered, “I love you.”
He returned her kiss more feverishly. “You alarmed me when first you spoke those words.” He paused and resumed their kiss, only to pause again. I dared not believe my own emotions and I dared not hope that you could return that love.” He kissed her full and hard before pausing again. “And then I wished—no, longed—to hear you say those words again.”
She obliged him. “I love you.”
“Truly?” he asked with a soft laugh as he nibbled at her neck.
“Truly,” she giggled when he struck a sensitive spot.
He hoisted her up into his powerful arms and carried her to the bed. “We need no clothes, wife.” And in seconds they both had each other stripped naked.
Eric came down on her, covering her with the length of him.
“You trust me, Faith?” he asked, his body already moving slow and steady over hers.
“Aye, I trust you, my dark lord,” she said, her body responding in kind to his familiar rhythm.
He tempted her lips with kisses that left her full yet aching. “Then this night you will surrender completely to me.”
“I always surrender to you,” she said softly, running her fingers through his hair to grasp hold of his head and draw his mouth down to hers. “Tonight we both surrender completely.”
Their kiss started a wave of pleasure that built in intensity with every touch, every move, every word. There was not a place their hands and mouths did not explore on each other. There was not a word that was spoken that did not speak of their love. There was not a moment shared that each did not fully surrender to the other. They made love as only two people who deeply love each other could, unselfishly and willingly. And together they shared a climax that took them beyond the stars and back.
They lay wrapped in each other’s arms, their bodies replete, and their heated flesh glistened and scented with the aftermath of potent lovemaking.
“I love the devil,” she giggled after her breath calmed and she ran her hand lovingly over his chest.
He sighed, feeling more satisfied than he could ever remember. “True enough, but the devil possesses something he never did before.”
“What is that?” she asked, curious.
“Faith.”
She looked up at him with joyous eyes. “And that Faith is yours forever.”
“What a lucky devil I am,” he said with a laugh and a grateful heart.
She snuggled against him, resting her head on his damp chest. “We are both lucky.”
Eric would not argue with that. He had not known true joy, pleasure and contentment until he met her. And while he was certain she felt the same way, there was one dark cloud hanging over them and he wanted it gone and out of their lives forever.
“When two people love, they trust,” he said.
She raised her head, her glance curious. “This we have already agreed upon.”
“Then trust me, Faith.”
“I do,” she insisted.
He shook his head. “Nay, if you trusted me you would tell me the truth about the attack.”
Her body grew taut against him. I told you of the attack.”
“You told me what you wanted me to hear. What is it you are reluctant to tell me?”
Her reluctance suddenly dissipated, wrapped in the protection of her husband’s love and strength, and this time she finally surrendered her fear to him.
“It was so dark that night and when I think on it, I know it was no darker than any other night and yet.” She sighed. “It was the darkest of nights for me.”
Eric gave her a reassuring squeeze.
“The man grabbed me from behind and I struggled. It was when he knocked me to the ground and fell on me that I realized he wore the brown, coarse wool, hooded robe of a cleric and my eyes caught the heavy cross that hung down from around his neck. It was that cross that kept my attention as he spoke. He told me that the devil resides in all women and that it was his duty to purge their souls of evil. That was when he began to cut me.” She stopped, unable to go on.
Eric spoke calmly and firmly, yet beneath he raged with fury at the terrifying ordeal she had lived through. “No one will ever hurt you again. I give you my word on it.”
“I do not worry, my lord, I know you will always protect me.”
“With my life, if necessary.”
She would never want him to surrender his life for her, but she made no mention of it. He was a warrior—a man of pride and honor—and she respected his way.
Eric sought further confirmation of his suspicions. “This is why you fear men of the cloth?”
“Aye,” she admitted with a nod.
“I suspected as much.”
She looked at him with surprise. “Does nothing escape your attention?”
“Nothing,” he confirmed seriously. “I grew suspicious when I realized you avoided the chapel. Then I recalled you suddenly took ill the day a traveling priest visited. But the single thing that disturbed me most was what Bridget had told me.”
“Which was?”
“She told me of your words that night when you cried out for God to save you from the devil. You were speaking of the priest in the room.”
Tears sprang from her eyes and she fought them. “I thought he had come back to finish purging me of the evil. I was so frightened. I knew that if I named the priest I would be condemned and persecuted. And I could not say for sure that the cleric who attacked me was the one who served the keep.”
“So you kept the horrifying knowledge to yourself.”
“I had no choice. It would have done me little good to accuse a man of the cloth. No one would have believed me, they would have thought me crazy or worse. My only recourse was to remain silent and keep my distance from the cleric.”
“No other attacks followed yours?”
“None,” she confirmed. “Tongues wagged, as is common, and soon there was talk that I had met” —she halted for a moment and turned sorrowful eyes on him— “my lover and that he had attacked me in a fit of rage.”
“And since no other such attack followed, the gossip was accepted as fact.”
She nodded. “It took time to recover from the damage done and at first I thought the task impossible, especially when I realized no one cared that I recover. My own tenacious will made me fight.”
He lifted her to lie across him. “I like your tenacity.” He sealed his declaration with a sound kiss.
She gently laid a finger to his lips as if requesting he remain silent as she spoke. “After the attack I wondered why I wanted to live. Death would have been easier for all concerned, especially for me. After I healed, my stepsisters would turn their heads from me and people would whisper as I passed by and each time I would wonder why I fought so hard to remain alive.” Tears filled her eyes. “Now I know why. I was meant to love you.”
His large hands, so strong and swift when in battle, reached up gently to capture her face and bring her lips to his in a soft kiss. “I am sorry for the pain and sorrow you suffered, but I am so very glad that you fought for your life. You have made life worth living for me. I had thought I had achieved all I had fought hard to gain and when I met you and realized how very much I loved you, I realized what I had achieved was nothing compared to loving you.”
He wiped at the tears that started to spill from her eyes and kissed her with a gentle intensity that sent their hands exploring, their bodies responding and passions soaring.
They remained in the healing cottage all night, talking, feasting and loving. Toward dawn Faith heard the guards outside change for the second time. Her husband slept silently, his arm and leg draped over her, and she felt safe and content.
She had hoped and often prayed the dark lord would love her as much as she loved him, but then he insisted he loved her more. And when she made to protes
t, he warned her that it was not wise to argue with the devil.
Devil.
He certainly was no devil. He was a kind, good and caring man and if she dared tell him so he would probably laugh, as would his men. But then none knew him as intimately as she did—there is where she discovered his true nature. She would keep her secret and let them all think him the Irish devil, but she knew the truth and that was all that mattered.
She snuggled against the warmth of his hard body and his arm tightened around her and she drifted into a peaceful slumber.
Colin greeted them in the great hall early that morning. The keep was just beginning to stir and few were about and Faith realized that Colin had news to tell her husband.
“I will take Faith to our bedchamber,” he said to Colin. “Meet me in my solar.”
“Go with Colin,” she insisted of her husband. “Rook will be with me.”
Eric looked to Colin and though no response was heard or gesture exchanged that Faith could make note of, Eric turned and took her arm. “I will see you to our chamber.”
“Is something wrong?” she asked as they entered the bedchamber.
“I am about to find out,” he said, running a quick, cautious eye around the large room. “You are to stay here until Borg comes for you.”
She nodded.
“Rook,” he said, his voice firm. The dog immediately gave him his full attention. “Watch your master.”
With that final command given he gave Faith a kiss, a smile and a gentle pat on her backside and headed out the door.
Eric made a brief stop at Borg’s chambers, instructing him to guard Faith and telling him he would be in his solar with Colin. He then proceeded to the solar, wondering what news Colin had for him. He understood from the concerned look in his friend’s eyes that it would be better for Faith not to be alone. And Eric had no intention of taking any chances with his wife’s life.
Last night had been like a dream and he still had to remind himself that it was all real, that he had a beautiful, courageous wife who loved him. He had never expected such happiness from his marriage. Marriage had always been simply a minor part of a larger plan. And love had never been part of his plan; but then he had thought love fleeting, an emotion that was impossible to find and possess. That had all changed with Faith. He found and possessed a deep love with her and she was now a major part of his life and his plan. Together they would forge a future and spawn a family that would carry his name on for generations and generations, establishing roots deep in Irish soil.
He entered his solar alert and feeling good.
Colin grinned. “A night of lovemaking does wonders for the disposition.”
Eric laughed. “That it does, especially when it is shared with a woman you love.”
Colin gave him a hardy slap on the back. “The devil finally sees the truth of it.”
“The devil can be stubborn at times.”
“At least he is no fool and admits the truth when he sees it.”
“With the help of friends,” Eric said, and Colin nodded with a smile.
Colin followed Eric to the chairs in front of the hearth, and as they sat he said, “I have news.”
“I thought as much.”
“It seems that the priest who arrived the evening of the murder left the castle grounds before dawn that morning. When I questioned several servants in the Donnegan party I was informed that their priest had stayed at a nearby village to hear confessions and give the sacrament. He only arrived this morning. His name is Father Peter and when I spoke with him he insisted that he had not stepped foot on Shanekill soil until this very day.”
“Do you think he lies?”
Colin shrugged. “It is possible.”
“I respect your opinion, Colin. Tell me what you think.”
“I think the priest tells the truth, but I also think that the murderer remains within the confines of the castle walls.”
“Any ideas of who the person could be?”
“Someone with the Donnegan party,” he answered. “Faith is too well liked and respected here for anyone to be foolish enough to do her harm.”
“I agree,” Eric said, rubbing his chin in thought.
“You have your own ideas?”
“Does it not strike you odd that Faith’s family seems so indifferent to her? They care naught for her. If her fool of a father had a brain he would have realized many years ago that she could have been an asset to him. Yet she was treated as if she were worthless, chattel he simply wanted to dispose of.”
“The man is a pompous idiot and his wife cruel-hearted and it does my heart good to know the devil rescued her from such a pitiful fate.”
“I think it was fate that rescued the both of us,” Eric said. “And I will not question fate, though I will thank her. She gave me a special gift I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
“Besotted,” Colin said with a laugh.
“Completely,” Eric agreed.
“Does Borg now guard her?”
“Rook does for the moment; Borg will be there presently.”
“Perhaps we should talk with Faith of this. She may provide an insight we have overlooked.”
“A good suggestion,” Eric agreed, “but first tell me more of this priest, his garb, his manner and if he wears a heavy cross around his neck.”
Colin looked at him oddly.
Eric leaned forward in his chair and in a whisper, as if he wished no one to hear his words, related the story of Faith’s attack to Colin.
Chapter Thirty
Bridget joined Faith shortly after Eric left and she knew all too well Borg would soon follow. She thought to protest all this unnecessary attention, but realized it would do little good. Her husband intended to have his way and once the dark lord made a decree, his word became law.
Faith did insist that Bridget no longer needed to serve her but Bridget had other ideas: “I feel the need to be with you, my lady.”
Faith sensed the young woman needed to talk and sat quietly while Bridget combed her hair, after having already helped her change into a soft green shift and tunic.
“The night I tended you, I always felt there was more that I should have done for you.”
“You did all that you could, all that you were permitted to do,” Faith assured her.
Bridget shook her head. “I feel I should have done more.”
Faith turned around on the bench and took Bridget’s hands in hers. “Nonsense. If it were not for you I would have died. You helped save my life that night and I have been forever grateful. And I am even more grateful that we can be friends now.
“Friends with a lowly servant?” came the sharp disapproval from the open door.
Both women turned to see Lady Terra entering the room.
“What nonsense do you speak?” the woman demanded of Faith.
Faith stood, her stance full of self-confidence and her tone firm. “This is my home and I do as I wish here. And you were not invited to enter my chamber.”
“How dare you speak to me with such disrespect.”
“How dare you disrespect me in my own home.”
“A home you have no idea how to run properly. Why, you did not even have the decency or manners to join your guests last night.”
“Manners and decency had nothing to do with my absence from the hall,” Faith said. “My husband and I simply chose not to share a meal with you and Lord William.”
The woman grew incensed. “How dare you insult me.”
Faith walked right up to her. “This is my home, I dare anything I choose. Now you will leave my chambers and await my presence in the hall. I will speak with you there, but only if you keep a civil tongue.”
Lady Terra grew red with indignation and, as was her way, she made ready to raise her hand. Rook made his presence known with a bark and a snarl and the woman immediately changed her intention and fled the room.
Bridget clapped her hands and cried out with joy. “You are most brave, my
lady.”
Faith turned a pale face to Bridget. “Not that brave. My legs are trembling, my hands shaking and I feel light-headed.”
“You should sit,” Bridget said and moved to help her. She was not fast enough, but Borg was. He ran into the room and caught Faith before she hit the floor in a dead faint.
Eric entered the room, followed by Colin, to see Borg placing his unconscious wife on the bed. He hurried to her side.
“What happened?” he demanded, sitting down beside her and taking her limp hand in his.
“I saw Lady Terra leave here in a snit and I hurried to see what it was about,” Borg explained. “Faith was dropping to the floor when I entered the room and I made it to her just in time.”
Eric looked to Bridget who had placed a moist cloth on Faith’s forehead.
“Lady Faith and Lady Terra had words,” she said, and with a smile, added, “And Lady Faith ordered her from her chambers.”
The three men grinned.
“A true warrior she is,” Borg praised.
“Brave and courageous,” Colin said.
Eric finished with, “And she is mine.”
“The devil always gets the choice ones,” Colin grumbled.
“Lucky he is,” Borg said.
“And grateful he should be,” Bridget said, startling all three.
She trembled when the dark lord cast his intense blue eyes on her. “You are right, Bridget, and I am very grateful Faith is mine. Now tell me why she fainted?”
Faith began to stir and Bridget rinsed the cloth once again and returned it to her forehead. “I suppose the confrontation with Lady Terra upset her.”
It was not the answer he wanted to hear. “She has been feeling well otherwise?”
Borg’s hearty laughter interrupted her answer. “How can she not be with child? You never leave the poor girl alone.”
The Irish Devil Page 32