In My Wild Dream

by Sasha Lord

  Kassandra gasped and ducked her head against Cadedryn’s chest. The anger emanating from the woman washed the wine from her mind and filled it with trepidation. Why was Lady Corine here? She should be at the castle with the other gentry!

  “I am enjoying the festival in the way that all men do,” Cadedryn acknowledged smoothly, putting only a slight distance between him and his tigress. “You have not answered my question. What brings you here, dressed in a mask and veil?”

  “I . . . I . . . I was seeking a special present for my mother,” she stammered, casting about for an excuse that would ring true. “What is the horrendous creature on your shoulder?” she demanded.

  Kassandra bristled, but kept her face hidden in Cadedryn’s shirt. If Lady Corine recognized her, she would be ruined, and while her own reputation was not of great concern to her, if Kalial heard that she had cavorted in a red dress in the midst of a peasant festival, she would be furious. No matter what enjoyment it would give her to trade insults with Corine, she was not willing to upset Kalial to do so.

  But how dare Corine call Triu-cair horrendous!

  “And you feel you have a right to chastise me, madam?” he replied coldly.

  “Indeed. I have every right, for we are to be betrothed.”

  His eyes narrowed. “The papers have not yet been drawn up.”

  She flicked her hand in dismissal. “I told you that as soon as you were assured your position in court, the king would give his acceptance. You know full well that uniting our lands is important to King Malcolm and partly the reason he has reinstated your title.”

  “My path to acquiring acceptance might have been expedited by our possible union, but I regained my title through my own honor and valor.”

  She shrugged. “Nonetheless, it is time for us to proceed. It is inappropriate for you to cavort so publicly with such a woman so near to our announcement. It is highly insulting, especially considering your father’s misbehavior.”

  Kassandra frowned as she felt Cadedryn flinch.

  “Have your whore,” Lady Corine finished in a waspish tone. “But keep her hidden away and remain discreet. I will not tolerate any rumors prior to our wedding.”

  “I will do as is appropriate,” he answered coolly. “And I expect the same from you.” He looked pointedly at her mask and veil, suspecting she had just come from a tryst of her own.

  Corine’s eyes narrowed. “I will accept you keeping a mistress, but I insist you stay away from that wench Kassandra. She is a disruptive chit who is not fit to share my table.”

  That made him angry. He pushed his tigress behind him and glared at Corine. “How dare you presume to tell me what I can and cannot do. Remember your place! If I avoid the woman it will be only because I choose to do so, not because you have ordered it! She is fair and kind, which is more than I can say for you.”

  Kassandra’s heart slammed in her chest.

  “So you do like her!” Corine accused. “Are you considering abandoning our plans and running off with Lady Kassandra?”

  “Of course not! She is a young, uncultured distant relative of the McTavers who knows more about horses than clothing. She is totally unfit to be a countess, but what I decide to do on my own time will be my own affair.”

  Corine sniffed and turned away, quickly melting into the crowd.

  Kassandra stumbled, her heart plummeting to the floor. Uncultured distant relative? Horses! Her rage rumbled and she shook with the effort to contain it. Unfit to be a countess!

  Triu-cair screeched, aware of the rising anger about to explode in his mistress. He scrambled off Cadedryn’s shoulder and scurried across the dance square to hide under the stage.

  “You bastard!” Kassandra screamed as she slammed her fist into Cadedryn’s back. Reputation be damned! He was despicable! She swung her fist and crashed it against his temple, then followed it up with a hefty kick to his shins.

  Cadedryn shouted and grabbed his back, his head, then hopped back. The force of his tigress’s attack was not only completely unexpected, it was also powerfully accurate. “What are you doing?” he asked in stunned bewilderment.

  “You idiot!” she screamed and pummeled him again, her red hair flying, blinding her. She felt the satisfying thud as her right fist hit his chest, but her left missed him completely as he stepped nimbly away.

  Not to be deterred, she started kicking and grinned with satisfaction when he yelped in pain.

  “Whooo heee!” a man next to them shouted as he began to clap. “What a red-haired hellion!”

  Kassandra gasped and ducked her head. Oh no! Her terrible temper! “Triu-cair!” she called as she picked up the hem of her dress and dashed across the dance square. The weasel scrambled out from under the stage and took a flying leap to land on her shoulder.

  That way! He pointed as he grabbed her hair like a pair of horse’s reins. They raced through the crowd, darting in between revelers and leaping over benches. Behind them, Kassandra heard Cadedryn shouting for her to stop. She rounded the corner and leaned against the wall, gasping for breath. “That scoundrel!” she panted as she held her hand to her chest. “To think I was starting to regret my deception, wishing that he knew that Kassandra and his kitten were one and the same. He deserves everything I have done and more! Much, much more.”

  Triu-cair held his tiny paws over his eyes.

  “Don’t act shy,” Kassandra grumbled. “If my best weapon against him is his own lust, then I shall not hesitate to use it. His only interests appear to be his ambition and his passion.” Anger and excitement raced up her spine. “I cannot appeal to his ambition, but I can appeal to his lust, and I need to do something spectacular to punish him for his loathsome words. I’ve got to think up something extraordinary . . . something unexpected.”

  Triu-cair peeked out and looked at her with one incredulous eye.

  Kassandra flicked her hair over her shoulder and shook out her skirts. She had hidden her true colors for too long.

  She was a redhead, and that meant she had fire in her blood.

  Chapter 14

  The next afternoon Cadedryn found a note on his pillow.

  Curtis walked in behind his friend. “Love letter?” he asked.

  Cadedryn picked it up and turned it over, searching for a seal that would indicate the sender, but the wax was plain. He cracked it and quickly scanned the missive.

  “Well?” Curtis asked. “Who is it from?”

  “My tigress.”

  “Who?”

  “My new mistress.”

  Curtis looked at him curiously. “I am pleased to hear that your interest in Lady Kassandra has faded, but I must caution you against starting a liaison at this sensitive time.”

  Cadedryn walked over to his chest, located a fur-trimmed cape and swung it over his shoulders. “My personal relationships have nothing to do with the king.”

  Curtis clenched his fists and glared at his friend. “Everything matters to the king.”

  Cadedryn raised an eyebrow. “I am surprised you find my affairs of such interest.”

  “You are ruining our plans!” Curtis shouted.

  “Our plans?” Cadedryn asked pointedly.

  “Your plans affect me,” Curtis clarified, flushing a deep red. “I have received great honor by being your closest friend, now that you are an earl. Just like you, I want to assure my position in court.”

  “You can marry and elevate your status,” Cadedryn pointed out.

  Curtis shook his head. “I have no desire to wed. ’Tis you who must marry in order to more firmly establish your family.”

  Cadedryn opened the door and motioned for Curtis to precede him. “At this moment, I do not want to speak about marriage. My mistress requests my presence. I have to cut our visit short, for I am anxious to see her again.”

  Curtis reluctantly followed him. “Must be an exceptional wench.”

  Cadedryn smiled. “Quite exceptional. A flame-haired beauty.”

  “Red hair is a sign of inner
demons and far cry from an appropriate choice for an earl. Your infatuation will subject Corine to ridicule.”

  Cadedryn spun around, glaring. “Corine?” he hissed. “Are you on such familiar terms with my intended that you call her by her given name? You are no longer children, thus such familiarity is forbidden.” Cadedryn cocked his head and leaned forward. “I saw her in the village last night, dressed for a rendezvous. Could it have been you she was seeking?”

  Curtis paled.

  “Have you trespassed where you should not?” Cadedryn whispered.

  Curtis thrust his chin forward and his eyes glittered with anger. “Such as your father did to mine? My father loved Lady Morgana, yet Liam stole her away, then flung her reputation and honor to the vultures before he ran off with that peasant.”

  “That peasant was my mother, and I warn you to hold your tongue!” Cadedryn shouted. “Answer me, Curtis. Have you renewed your relationship with Lady Corine?”

  For a heartbeat, Curtis did not answer. Then his face smoothed and he smiled disarmingly. “What are we doing arguing about members of the fairer sex? I am here to help you achieve your goal, and I want nothing more than to see you and Lady Corine Fergus wed. My worries come from deep concern and respect, for your title is as important to me as it is to you. I do not want your lust ruining a decade of planning, for now is not the time to annoy the king. Will you please consider forgetting the red-haired woman, if only for the year? Then you can resume your liaison with discretion, or simply find another pretty face.”

  Cadedryn stared at Curtis warily.

  Curtis patted him on the shoulder. “ ’Tis not the time to have a disagreement. Our dreams are coming true.”

  Dreams. Cadedryn shifted away from Curtis and resumed walking through the hall. “We will not speak of this again,” he warned. “I will do as I wish with my mistress. I have my reasons for enjoying this particular lass, but I will not jeopardize my position for anyone—not her, not even you. However, I fail to see how taking my pleasures could cause harm.”

  Curtis’s eyes flickered with anger, but he ducked his head to shield his expression. Only after Cadedryn strode down the steps did he look up again with a snarl upon his lips. “You fool!” he hissed. “You are letting this woman disrupt everything we have worked so hard to achieve. How could you insult Corine after all I have sacrificed to give her to you?” He pressed his head with the palm of his hand, thinking hard. Finally, he lifted his gaze and stared at the soldiers milling around the courtyard. “I will not let you make the same mistake your father did, throwing everything away for a pair of pretty thighs. First you simper after Kassandra and now you pant after this mistress. I cannot allow it! My father bade me to protect Morgana’s family over a decade ago, and I did everything I could, even befriending her young daughter and committing a mortal sin. Once again, I must see to it that no one hurts Morgana, or Corine—especially not another wench!”

  Kassandra was hiding in the upper loft, awaiting Cadedryn’s arrival with bated breath. She giggled, excited about the day. She intended to drive him crazy, and she was looking forward to the culmination of her plans.

  She gasped and scrambled underneath some straw as Cadedryn’s shadow crossed the threshold. She peered down through the slats and watched as he entered and glanced around, searching for her. Before long, he spotted another sealed note she had placed among some riding leathers.

  Cadedryn picked up the note and examined the wax once again. Impatient, he ripped it open, then scanned it quickly. He frowned and reread it, then cursed loudly.

  Kassandra held her hand to her mouth to stifle a giggle. This was working out exactly as she had planned!

  Cadedryn shoved the missive into his inside shirt pocket. His tigress had worded the note almost exactly as the first, but it asked him to meet her behind the hounds’ kennels. This time he walked more slowly, clearly confused but intrigued. He took care to peruse the people he passed, scanning their faces for a familiar visage.

  Kassandra rolled on her back and laughed aloud. He was on a long treasure hunt, and she was the final prize! She flung a handful of hay in the air and closed her eyes as the yellowed stalks tickled her face and sprinkled her hair. How would he react when he found out she was playing a game with him?

  Cadedryn circled the kennels, but saw no one. He looked inside the empty doghouses, but found nothing. Just as he was about to become discouraged, he spied a bit of lace peeking out from underneath a rock. He pulled it free and chuckled. It was lace plucked from a woman’s undergarment.

  He held it to his nose, breathing deeply. It was definitely hers. He nudged the rock with his boot, and grinned when he found another note. As he tucked the lace into his inner pocket, he scanned the newest set of instructions. The tavern, it read. Find the next clue in an upstairs room in the village tavern.

  His groin stirred and his mind raced as he pictured what might be awaiting him in the tavern bed. Spinning on his heel, he cut through the garden and headed for the village.

  “Hello, Cadedryn,” a woman called out as he passed by.

  The familiar voice caught him unawares, and he slid to a stop. Spinning around, he expected to see his tigress, but caught his breath when he saw the elegantly dressed Lady Kassandra sitting demurely on a garden bench.

  “Milady,” he acknowledged as he blinked several times in surprise.

  “You seem startled,” Kassandra said as she tilted her head slightly to the side and stroked a curl of her black wig that lay against her neck. “Is everything all right?”

  “Of course. You simply surprised me.” His piercing eyes scanned her pale features. His mistress’s resemblance to Lady Kassandra was uncanny. Even the tone of her voice sounded similar, despite his tigress’s husky accent. His heart pounded and he was torn between resuming his quest and sitting on the bench with her.

  “Are you going somewhere?”

  “Yes,” he answered slowly. “I was supposed to meet someone in the village.”

  She inclined her head. “It must be important. You seem to be in a hurry.”

  “Yes,” he repeated, then bowed and glanced up at her mischievous face. Was she up to something? “Are you waiting for someone?”

  She wrinkled her nose in thought. “I suppose so.”

  “Your relative?”

  She laughed. “Oh, definitely not Kalial!”

  “A friend?”

  “Ummm . . . no. Not a friend.”

  He frowned. “A gentleman?”

  She gave a tiny shrug, and her blue eyes twinkled.

  Jealousy raced through him and he took a quick stride toward her, then placed his hands on either side of the bench. “Have you had another dream?” he growled as he hovered over her, only inches from her face. “Have you changed your interest to another man? I suggest you leave the men of the court alone, for they are not the type you should wed. You said you wanted love and devotion, but men at court are interested only in money and power.”

  Kassandra leaned back and looked at him curiously. “You are no different,” she reminded him.

  “Exactly. Which is why I beg you to leave us alone. You should not be involved in twisted court politics.” He touched her cheek. “You deserve more, milady.”

  Shivering under his caress, Kassandra nodded. “We leave soon,” she whispered.

  His heart cracked and he looked at her with confusion. Why were her words like a knife plunged into his gut? “Good,” he forced himself to reply.

  Kassandra looked away.

  “Until our ride?” he reminded her.

  She tilted her head and gazed directly into his murky green eyes. “Until we meet again,” she said suggestively.

  He gave her a funny look, then nodded and walked quickly away, missing Kassandra’s wickedly gleaming eyes.

  Cadedryn entered the village seeking his tigress while shaking off the unwelcome surge of jealousy about Lady Kassandra. How could two such entirely different women send him into such turmoil? It was uncanny
and completely unnerving.

  Turning down two streets, he located the tavern and ducked inside the shadowed entryway.

  The tavern keeper hustled over. “Milord!”

  “A room has been reserved in my name,” Cadedryn informed him, then handed him a coin.

  “Indeed! Upstairs and to the left. A lovely lady, indeed!”

  Cadedryn took the stairs quickly, then strode to the door the man had indicated. His heart thumping, he took a stabilizing breath, then flung the door open.

  A long, red tapered candle burned on the table, its light barely illuminating the room. Cadedryn closed the door behind him and padded inside. The candle wavered, then burned brighter, shining on a pair of red stockings that lay draped over the bedsheet.

  Cadedryn pivoted, searching the dark corners for his tigress, but to no avail. His heart thundered and blood rushed through his temples. Where was she? Why was she leading him on this merry chase? With slow, deliberate steps, he approached the bed, knowing he would find another letter.

  This time he tore it open, his amusement beginning to change to ire. Enough was enough!

  The market, it read. The glove maker’s stall.

  And at the bottom, a hint of encouragement . . . getting close.

  He burned the missive in the candle flame, watching the white parchment blacken and curl as he debated his next move. He was not a puppy to be led by a string. She should not be taunting him thus. She should make herself available like a good, obedient mistress. But beneath his anger was a grudging salute. If she thought to get his full attention, she definitely had it.

  He wound his way out of the tavern and navigated the streets, still littered with the remnants of last night’s revelry. There were two markets in the village, one for the villagers where fruits, vegetables and common goods were sold. The other contained fancy items for the ladies of the castle and the visiting dignitaries. The Ladies’ Market, as it was called, was known throughout the kingdom for its exceptional wares, for only master tradesmen were allowed to hawk their goods there.