by Sarah Winn
Her condition explained why his uncle had decided to declare Daniel his heir. Kendrick probably feared a child with Isabel would have the mother’s malady. He couldn’t help feeling sorry for the man.
“Do you know Lady Isabel’s maid, Tess?” he asked Wilmont.
“Aye, she seems a jolly sort.”
What did he mean by that? Daniel felt his face twist into a scowl and turned away to hide his displeasure. He chided himself for feeling anger over the possibility Tess dispensed her favors to others in the castle. He knew she must. No woman could be as skilled in lovemaking as she was without having had a good deal of practice. But sometimes she seemed almost innocent, especially when he took special pains to pleasure her. Perhaps the country bumpkins here at Tewsbarrow didn’t know that pleasing the woman would make the bedding more pleasurable for the man.
He realized how little he actually knew about Tess and renewed his questioning of Wilmont. “Does she come from Tewsbarrow?”
“Do you mean Tess or Lady Isabel?”
Daniel realized it would sound peculiar for the baron’s heir to be asking about a lady’s maid. “Lady Isabel.”
“Aye, her father was the steward for Lord Kendrick’s eastern manor. He died sudden like, leaving a wife and five children. Lady Isabel was the eldest. Lord Kendrick married her and now takes care of the whole family.”
His uncle must be a better man than Daniel had thought to have a defective bride palmed off on him and still support her family.
* * * *
Isabel waited impatiently for Kendrick to come for her. She wished she could wear something besides the plain cloak she wore every night. She would love for Daniel to see her in a fine gown bedecked with some of her jewelry. But a lady’s maid did not have such finery. Besides, Kendrick had given her all her finery. It wouldn’t do to wear his gifts to impress another man, would it?
But Daniel seemed impressed enough with her unadorned self. Just thinking of the thrills he gave her each night caused her pulse to race. As Esmeralda’s pupil, Isabel had gotten the impression making love was a carefully controlled game the woman played, but with Daniel she was rarely in control of herself, let alone him. And she liked it. She truly liked it. After Kendrick’s beddings, she hadn’t believed that possible.
What makes lying with Daniel so different? Is it his youth and strength or his determination to pleasure me? Could any like-minded man do the same? If she didn’t get with child now, she’d have an opportunity to find out, but the idea of a string of lovers did not appeal to her. She couldn’t imagine any other man being Daniel’s equal.
She heard her door opening and schooled her features into the put-upon expression she wore for Kendrick’s benefit.
* * * *
Daniel had told a servant to bring ale and food to his bedroom, claiming he sometimes awoke during the night feeling hungry. He’d also left a brace of candles burning and was wearing a sleeveless robe as he waited impatiently for Tess. Tonight he intended to talk a bit before bedding her.
At last, she entered the room, and he went to her, caught her in his arms and kissed her tenderly. Then he led her over the table where a tray rested with an ewer of ale and cheese and fruit. “What’s this?” she asked, looking a bit disconcerted by this deviation in their behavior.
“I thought you might like some refreshments,” he said, while enjoying this opportunity to feast his eyes upon her.
“I ate a full meal tonight.”
“Wouldn’t you like to talk a bit before we go to bed?”
“Ah—I don’t have a lot of time.”
He cupped his hand under her chin and tipped her face toward his enjoying the opportunity to see her in the better light. Her heart-shaped face had skin any noble lady would envy. And what color were her eyes? A dark blue? No they were more like spring violets. He wished he could see her in even better light.
He settled into a chair near the table and pulled her down onto his lap. “Let me get to know you better, Tess.”
“It seems to me we know each other as intimately as a man and woman can.” She began to trace his jaw line with one finger.
He tried to ignore the distraction. “Where do you come from?”
“Here—I mean, near Tewsbarrow. My father used to work for the baron.”
“Used to?”
She stopped rubbing his jaw. “He passed away.”
“Was he a freeman or a villein?”
She looked a bit offended by the question. “A freeman.”
“Then why do you work as a maid? Surely a marriage could have been arranged.”
“My family needs help. I was lucky to find a position at the castle.”
“So, how long will you family need your help?”
“I don’t know.” She leaned away from him, toward the tray, and poured ale into a cup. Then she held the cup up to his mouth and tipped it against his lips. Some of the ale ran from the corner of his mouth. She ducked her head and lapped it up with her tongue.
When she tried to pour more ale into his mouth, he redirected the cup to her lips. After she’d accepted a mouthful of the ale, he pulled her head toward his. “Now let’s share it.”
She readily covered his lips with her own, and the yeasty taste of warm ale mingled with their entwined tongues. He found her far more intoxicating than the ale. He tried to pull her closer, to turn her body so her chest would rest against his. Her bottom twisting on his lap brought his cock to full attention.
She issued one of her delighted giggles, forcing a puff of her breath into his mouth. While keeping her lips pressed against his, she turned until she had straddled his thighs. After pushing her cloak and his robe out of her way, she pulled away from his mouth. He gasped in surprise as she dripped ale onto his chest. Then he sighed in pleasure as she licked it off. The slightly rough texture of her tongue caused tingles to run from his chest to his groin.
When she again held the cup over his chest, he stayed her hand and asked, “When do I get to taste more ale?”
She looked puzzled for just a second and then grinned impishly. Holding the cup out to one side, she leaned over it until one of her breasts dropped into and filled it. When she pulled the cup away, the nipple glistened with the amber liquid, and Daniel quickly slipped one hand under her breast and led it toward his mouth.
He licked at the droplets and then fully enclosed her nipple in his mouth. As he sucked, he heard the cup clang against the metal tray. She began to moan shrilly and her body writhed as she sought to snare his cock. Finally her hand closed around it and led him to her warm nest. He had to release her nipple so she could fully encase him. He threw his head back, braced his hands against the chair arms, and raised his hips in bursts of power that threatened to bounce her off his cock. But she held to his shoulders and countered his thrusts until he felt himself touch her innermost regions.
Now he felt like he truly knew her as intimately as a man can know a woman. How can I ride away from her in a week’s time?
* * * *
Were they doing it in the chair? Kendrick couldn’t see them well there, especially with that damn cloak flowing about her. Even so, their jerky movements and guttural noises stirred his juices.
Finally, Daniel shrugged his robe aside and stood with Isabel in his arms. The slut laughed delightedly and wrapped her legs around his hips. At the bedside, he paused to push her cloak from her shoulders. For a moment they stood silhouetted in the firelight, two perfect bodies tightly bound together as they poked their tongues in and out of each other’s mouths.
They seemed to kiss a lot. He’d never thought much of kissing. But then, he’d never thought he’d like to watch another man with a woman either. Two women, of course, but watching these two aroused him like nothing had in a long time.
Perhaps it was their youth, their perfect bodies. With his crippled leg, Kendrick couldn’t carry Isabel about like Daniel was doing. She probably couldn’t get her legs around Kendrick’s rotund body. They were experiencing
a kind of union he’d never known, would never know. But he could share it with them by watching.
* * * *
On the bed, Isabel smiled up at Daniel who was propped up on his elbow and gently stroking her cheek. No one had ever treated her as tenderly as he did—some of the time.
“You are so beautiful,” he said in a soft voice.
“Am I?”
“Surely you’ve heard that many times.”
She shook her head. “Actually, I haven’t.”
“Then the men here must be blind.” His smile faded as he continued to stare down at her. “Have you had many lovers, Tess?”
How am I supposed to answer that question? She’d presented herself to him as a wanton, but she didn’t think he’d like for her to be too experienced. And what if he asks further questions about my supposed lovers? Evasion seemed her best course. “Have you?”
He thought for a moment before saying, “I’ve known other women, but never one like you.”
“And I’ve known other men, but never one like you.”
He kissed her cheek. “Ah, sweetums, I hate to think of leaving you.”
It was definitely time to change the subject. “Tell me about Bettany. Is it grander than Tewsbarrow?”
“It’s larger. There are more retainers and important visitors often come seeking the baron’s patronage.”
“There must be much frivolity.”
“Everyone comes to the great hall for the main meal of the day, and by Tewsbarrow standards it would seem like a great feast. But the real feasts occur when special guests are present. Then servants bring one wonderful dish after another, and musicians and acrobats perform.”
“Acrobats? What are they?”
“They’re very agile men who walk on their hands and jump on each others’ shoulders and sometimes turn over and over like a speeding cartwheel.”
“Oh, yes, I saw some of them at a fair once. They were marvelous.”
“Have you ever thought of leaving Tewsbarrow? There are many marvels out in the world.”
He looked so earnest she had to look away. “I can’t leave here—my family.”
“There are many ladies at Bettany who need maids. If you got a position there, you could earn more and help your family more.”
“It’s so far. I’d never get to see them. They mean a great deal to me.”
“But if you came to Bettany, we could be together. Don’t I mean anything to you?”
As she looked back into his eyes, pondering how best to answer, he said, “I think I lov—”
She hastily placed her fingers over his lips before he said words that would surely make her cry. “We can only have the here and now, Daniel. Let’s not spoil it by lamenting over what can never be. Now kiss me, for I must return to my own bed soon.”
* * * *
Behind the wall, Kendrick nodded in grudging admiration. Isabel had handled the young fool well. Nevertheless, he decided he’d best keep a sharp eye on her when it came time for Daniel to leave Tewsbarrow. The young could be such fools for love.
Chapter 5
The next day, Daniel cut his tour of sheep folds short and headed back to the castle without Wilmont. Enough was enough. Besides his head was so full of thoughts of Tess, he couldn’t concentrate on any more of Wilmont’s droning lectures.
He didn’t want to disturb his uncle, so he stayed outside, stopping by the barracks in a search for Sir Robert. One of the soldiers told him Robert had been sent on an errand for Sir Alfred. Not wanting to get caught up in another lecture from Sir Alfred, Daniel went for a stroll in the outer ward until he found a sunny spot by the side of the washhouse that looked comfortable.
The stone foundations of the washhouse were wider than the wooden upper walls, making a comfortable ledge to sit upon. Steam for the heated laundry water escaped through cracks in the wall. The smell of strong lye soap permeated the air and he could hear the washerwomen talking and laughing among themselves.
He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes as he lifted his face to the sun, and thought of Tess, beautiful, wonderfully-willing Tess. Had there ever been another woman like her? He could see himself being perfectly happy to spend the rest of his life with her.
Of course, that wasn’t possible. He was to become a baron, and she was a lady’s maid. They could never marry. But couldn’t other arrangements be made? Men of substance often kept a leman. Of course, he had little substance at the present time, and who knew how long it would be before he came into his inheritance? A knight during peacetime had scant prospects of winning a fortune, and a woman like Tess wouldn’t wait forever. Someone would surely make her an offer she couldn’t afford to turn down.
But suppose I leave her with child? Her marriage prospects would be ruined; she might even lose her position here at the castle. He hadn’t given that possibility a thought. How reckless of him. He’d need some way to keep in touch with her. At least, tell her how to contact him if the worst happened.
She probably didn’t know how to write, so she’d have to use a scribe to send him a message. Father Clemens was the only one he knew about at Tewsbarrow. Tess wouldn’t want to ask a priest to write such a letter. They would need a code, some innocent sounding message she could dictate to the priest that would tell Daniel she needed his help.
As his mind tumbled through possibilities, he heard one of the women inside the washhouse say, “Hello, Tess. Did you come for Lady Isabel’s laundry? Yer basket’s on the shelf.”
The woman must have been standing near the wall for though Daniel had heard her clearly, the reply she received was indistinct. But he knew his Tess was just a few feet away and if he moved quickly he’d be able to see her in daylight for the first time. Maybe they could even steal a moment to talk.
He rushed around the corner of the washhouse and stepped in front of the open doorway just as a robust woman carrying a basket of folded laundry approached. “See ye later, Tess,” someone called out, and the woman turned to wave a farewell. With her head turned, she didn’t see Daniel and her basket banged into his chest.
She turned back, her eyes wide with alarm. “Oh, sir, I’m sorry.”
He stared at the wrinkles around her eyes and the hair streaked with gray for a long moment before asking. “Is your name Tess?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What are your duties here at Tewsbarrow?”
“I’m Lady Isabel’s maid, sir. Is there something I kin do fer ye?”
He shook his head and started to turn away. Then he turned back and asked, “Is there another servant here named Tess?”
“No, sir, I’m the only one.”
Daniel turned away, not wanting anyone to see the distress on his face. The woman who comes to me every night and makes such joyous love has lied. Who is she? What is she up to?
With quickening steps, he went through the postern gate and out into the fields beyond the walls. Hopefully a brisk walk would help him calm down so he could get through another boring evening with his uncle before he saw her again. This time he wouldn’t be put off by her beguiling ways. He’d find out what the hell was going on.
* * * *
Isabel rested her back on pillows propped against her bed’s headboard as she dissolutely poked a needle in and out of a small piece of embroidery. Her mind was so full of Daniel, she could barely think of anything else.
Surely he was the handsomest knight in all Christendom. And sweet, and kind, and loving—but he could never be hers. That thought brought a tear to her eye, but she hurriedly brushed it away and told herself to be grateful to have this short time with him. What if they’d never met, if she’d never known what it felt like to blissfully lay in a man’s arms? She still had five more nights to steal to his room. She must make the most of them.
Her maid entered the room carrying a basket of laundry.
“La, my lady, it’s a beautiful day, lots of sunshine with just a bit of a nip in the air. Don’t ye feel up to a short walk? It would do
ye a world of good.”
“No, Tess. Lord Kendrick wants me to stay abed until I’m completely recovered.”
“Supposin’ ye’re with child? He expect you to stay abed for the full time?”
“We have no reason to think that’s the cause of my illness.”
“Only thing I can think of to make a woman sick one minute and right as rain the next. You stay in your room much longer and ye’re gonna miss meeting the master’s young nephew. He’s a fine looking gentleman, but a strange ’un, if ye ask me.”
“Strange? What do you mean?”
“I met him on the way back from the washhouse. He asked me what my name was and then if I was the only Tess at Tewsbarrow. What kind of question is that?”
Isabel threw her head back on her pillow and squeezed her eyes tightly shut. Now Daniel knew her name wasn’t Tess and that she’d lied to him. Can I think of another lie to explain this one? He’d be quick to doubt anything she said.
Perhaps her best course would be to tell Kendrick what had happened. But he’d undoubtedly stop her from going to Daniel’s room. She’d never see him again. Never have a chance to say goodbye, to tell him she’d always remember him.
“Here now, my lady, are ye having a bad spell?” Tess rushed to her side and patted her shoulder. “No need to cry. Ye’re a strong young woman. Ye’ll get over this little illness.”
Isabel felt a cloth being pressed into her hand and used it to wipe away her tears. She had to get her emotions under control, so Kendrick wouldn’t know anything was wrong, and she could see Daniel one more time.
* * * *
Kendrick no longer walked with her down the shadowy hall to Daniel’s room, but Isabel had to wait for him to come and tell her the way was clear. She paced while she waited. What will I tell Daniel? He was sure to be angry with her. Last night he’d practically declared his love.
Surely, he hadn’t meant it. Young noblemen did not fall in love with lady’s maids. Did they? He’d suggested she leave Tewsbarrow and go to Bettany so they could be together. That didn’t mean he was considering marrying her.