realization, for she should not care either way.
Warrick was ignoring her again, his mind on his waiting guests. Rowena could not
ignore him as easily, though her mind was likewise on his guests. But even as
her worry increased about how this new situation would affect her, her eyes were
fastened to Warrick?s splendid nakedness, the long bare flanks so thickly
muscled, the tight curve of his buttocks, the muscles bunching and rippling on
his broad back with his movements. Strength and power in every hard line, and?
beauty, aye, there was beauty in such stark masculinity. In no wise could she
deny it, nor the need still coursing through her to feel that splendid body
pressed tightly to hers.
He turned slightly before he bent to put on his braies, and she saw that the
same need was still prevalent in him also, though he was ignoring it just as he
was ignoring herat least that was what she thought until her eyes drifted up
again to find that he had caught her in her blatant scrutiny of him.
He came back to the bed then and, without a word, caught her behind the neck and
drew her toward him until his mouth was grinding hard against hers. Her heart
thudded with relief, but before she could get her arms even halfway around him
to urge him back into the bed, he released her. His visage was a terrible
mixture of desire and anger just then, anger, no doubt, because she was tempting
him to ignore his precious Isabella. Obviously the temptation was not quite
enough.
In that she was not entirely correct.
?Stay exactly as you are, wench,? he ordered harshly.
?I will return ere the fire dies from those sapphire eyes, and we will see if
you can fulfill the promise in them.?
He did not see the blush creep up her cheeks as he turned away to finish
dressing with haste. She was not supposed to be as easy to read as he was, but
obviously this once she had hidden naught from him. It made her feel more
vulnerable than she had at any other time with this man. It was one thing for
her to admit to herself that she could want him, did want him, at least right
then. It was something else again to let him see it for himself without her lies
to convince him of it. Lies? Mayhap earlier when she had been in control of
herself, some of her actions and words had been lies, but they were not lies now.
He left the room without looking toward her again. Vaguely she noted that he had
yanked on a bare minimum of clothing, none designed to impress a long awaited
bride. In fact, she thought smugly, he looked quite sloppy and harried, and with
his emotions still on the angry side, the cruel lines of his face were well in
place. He would be lucky if his lady bride did not take one look at him and
burst into tears.
The thought made Rowena smile, but only for a moment. Then her anxieties
returned with a vengeance. No matter how Isabella reacted to Warrick, she was
still here to wed him. A bride?s fear was the last thing that could stop a
wedding from taking place, so it would happen, and that meant Rowena?s situation
would change, and no matter how she looked at it, she did not see her own lot
improving with the change.
She might still inflame Warrick?s lust, but he would now have a wife to slake it
on, leaving only his subtle cruelties and little revenges for Rowena. Without
the intimate contact that his lust had brought so far, she would have no hope of
altering his treatment of her. Verily, it would only get worse.
She had been ordered to stay in his bed, but she could not. She got up, dressed
quickly, then paced the floor in her agitation, awaiting his return. But he did
not come back as soon as his parting words had predicted. And whatever desires
he had stirred to life in her were long since cooled.
She finally curled up on the hard bench of the window embrasure to do her
fretting. Twas not long before she drew the definite conclusion that it would
behoove her to reevaluate the possibility of escapemayhap during the excitement
of the wedding.
Warrick returned suddenly without warning, only he was not alone. The woman who
followed on his heels was tall and richly gownedand pale as new parchment. She
was hauntingly lovely in her paleness, with her raven hair and dark green eyes.
She was also terribly nervous about something, though there was a resigned,
determined look to her.
Rowena noted this with wide eyes. She could not understand why Warrick had
brought the lady here, when if Rowena had followed his orders she would still be
lying naked in his bed. He could not have forgotten that, could he? Nay, he
looked toward the bed first, and when he found it empty, his eyes searched until
he located Rowena tucked deep in the embrasure.
She saw immediately that he wanted something of her. She sensed it the same way
as before, when he had been chained in front of her and she had felt she could
read his thoughts. But she could not grasp what it was that he wanted this time,
until she heard what Isabella began saying.
The woman was afraid, aye, and with reason. What she was confessing to Warrick?s
hard back was why she did not love him. And now Rowena knew exactly what he
wanted of her. He wanted to show Isabella that what she was telling him mattered
not at all to him, but just to say so would not suffice. Rowena was not sure if
?twas only his pride he wanted to protect, or if he also wanted to relieve the
lady?s anxieties. Either way, he obviously had hoped he would find Rowena where
he had left her, a position that would have spoken more clearly than words.
She was not sure why she wanted to aid him or even how she could, but she stood
up to reveal herself to the other woman. That, unfortunately, was not enough.
Isabella was too deeply into her explanation to care that a servant was present.
She was trying earnestly to make Warrick listen to her, while he would not even
turn around to face her, but continued to watch Rowena instead.
Rowena approached them both, but she stopped before Warrick, telling him without
words that he could make use of her presence however he chose. What he chose to
do was face Isabella now with Rowena behind his back, but he put his hand behind
him until she took it, then drew her closer until she actually leaned against
his back. What this tableau would appear like to Isabella, if she deigned to
notice, was Rowena shyly hiding behind Warrick, with him trying to reassure her
without actually drawing attention to her.
Mayhap it was a bit too subtle for Isabella, for she had not even paused in her
lengthy explanation of how she and someone named Miles Fergant had loved each
other since childhood. Rowena could have been invisible for all the norice she
was getting. Better to have just brazenly returned to Warrick?s bed, mayhap even
stripped off her clothes again. She smiled to herself at the absurd thought,
then almost laughed aloud when it occurred to her that Isabella still might not
have noticed thatbut Warrick certainly would have.
The moment of whimsy put her in a mischievous state of mind that she had not
experienced in a goodly number of years. She considered wrapping her arms around
&nb
sp; Warrick?s waist from behind. Nay, too bold. She slipped her hand out of his
instead, saw his back tense, but he relaxed when he felt her hands settle on his
sides, just above his hips. Her fingers were not actually noticeable, but she
was no longer even thinking about giving Isabella something to see. Twas Warrick
she felt like teasing now, and tease him she did, running her hands slowly up
his sides, feeling him stiffen, then try to stop her movement by pressing his
arms tight to his sides. She merely worked her fingers loose and moved them down
to his hips.
She almost burst out laughing when she heard him suck in his breath. But when
she brought one hand back to pat his buttock, he startled her by swinging around
and pinning her with a look that for once she could not read. She gave him an
owl eyed look of innocence in return, which brought the tiniest curve to his
lips before he recalled himself and glared a warning at her. She was supposed to
be aiding him in dealing with Isabella?s confession, not distracting him from
listening to it.
And then they both noticed the sudden silence behind them, just before Isabella
asked impatiently ?Warrick, who is that woman?? J
He turned back around. Rowena stuck just her! head around his wide shoulder.
?She is my prisoner,? was all Warrick offered in answer.
I
?Lady Rowena of Kirkburough,? Rowena added at about the same instant, well aware
that he would not have, and aware too that he would not like it that she did.
She was right. The rejoinder he came back with made her flinch.
?Lady before she became my prisoner. Now she is the wench who will bear my next
bastard.?
Rowena sank her teeth into the back of his armhardto thank him for that
unnecessary disclosure. He moved not a muscle to acknowledge he had even felt it.
?I see,? Isabella said coolly.
?Do you finally? Good. Mayhap now you will explain why you found it necessary to
follow me in here with this tale of childhood lovers when I expressly told you
in the hall that I was not interested in hearing it. Think you that your love is
a requisite of our marriage??
The brutal coldness in his tone made Isabella pale even more. Rowena, behind him
again, winced and felt a moment?s pity for the other woman.
?II had hoped to make you understand,? Isabella said miserably.
?Indeed do I understand. You love me not. I care not. Love does not happen to be
what I require of you.?
?Nay, Warrick, you do not understand at all. I cannot wed you now. II am already
wed to Miles.?
A long silence followed. Rowena was shocked. She could not begin to imagine what
Warrick must feel.
His voice, however, was amazingly mild when he finally asked ?Then what do you
here, with your father, who seems to think he brought you here for a wedding??
Rowena stepped to Warrick?s side, too curious now to miss a word of this. The
lady was wringing her hands, but Rowena was surprised to see that Warrick did
not seem to be as disturbed by this news as he should be.
?When my father found me in London, Miles was sent to York on the king?s
business, so not with me. II could not tell Father the truth. He had forbade me
to see Miles again after he had refused his suit. He wanted you for a son
bymarriage. No one else would do.?
?Lady, I cared not for your father?s approval to wed you. Twas your consent I
asked for, and you gave it.?
?I was forced to give it. For the same reason, I could not tell my father I had
wed with the king?s blessing. Miles is Stephen?s man. I have given up much to
have him, but he is all I want. But my father, he would kill me if he knew what
I had done.?
?Think you that you have less to fear of me??
Rowena was sure the woman was going to faint, so horrified did she become at
that question. Rowena could have kicked Warrick herself for deliberately
frightening Isabella. And she did not doubt ?twas deliberate. She knew him well
enough now, and was too familiar herself with his ways of quick retaliation.
Isabella, obviously, was not.
Seeing someone else being the recipient of f VVarrick?s enmity was strange. Even
stranger was her desire to defuse his anger for his own sake.
?You will like his dungeon, Lady Isabella,? she said into the tense silence.
? Tis really quite cornfortable.?
Warrick looked at her as if she had gone mad. But Isabella just stared at her
blankly, not understanding what Rowena was implying.
?Well, you are going to toss her in your dungeon, are you not, my lord?? she
continued.
?Is that not where you put all females while you wait to see if they are?
?Rowena,? he began warningly.
She gave him a sweet smile.
?Aye, my lord??
Whatever he would have said would not come out while she was smiling at him like
that. He made a sound of exasperation instead, but when he glanced at Isabella
again, his expression was not as dark.
?So you hied yourself to London to wed your sweetheart?? he said to Isabella.
?Tell me, my lady, was this your plan when you journeyed to me, or did it
precipitate when I was delayed in meeting you??
Rowena held her breath, praying the woman?s answer was not going to add another
mark to her own list of transgressions. She was not that lucky.
?Miles had joined my escort that noontide. I had not seen him for months. I had
been without hope. But when you were not there with your men, it did seem
fortuitous I mean Miles and I, we saw it as our only?
Isabella finally stopped, flushing furiously, but added after a moment ?I am
sorry, Warrick, truly. I did not mean to deceive you, but my father was so
desirous of a marriage to you.?
It was uncalled for, outrageous, but Rowena simply could not resist interjecting,
? Tis too bad he could not wed Warrick himself.?
She regretted the impulsive remark immediately. Levity was misplaced with such a
serious subject. Warrick could not appreciate it and would be enraged with her.
Isabella must think her crazy. And then Warrick burst into laughter. His eyes
caught Rowena?s surprised look and he laughed even harder. Twas Isabella who did
not appreciate it.
?How dare you make light of this?? she demanded of Rowena.
?My father is still like to kill me when he?
?Not if Warrick breaks your betrothal contract,? Rowena pointed out.
Warrick stopped laughing at that suggestion.
?God?s blood, ?twould start a war. Better she gets the beating she rightly
deserves and I assure Lord Reinard I am not aggrieved over the loss of her.?
?That does not relieve her plight,? Rowenc reminded him.
?Do you imagine, wench, that her difficulty is now a concern to me??
Rowena ignored that.
?The alliance was gooc enough for you, my lord. Are your daughters spoken for,
that one of them could not form tht alliance in your steadif the family has
unwed sons??
Warrick shook his head at her in bemusement.
?Get you gone about your duties, Rowena, ere you think to promise away my castle
as well. This matter does not concern youexcept for your own indirect part in
itwhich I am not li
ke to forget.?
?Ah.?
She sighed, unimpressed with the warning.
?I see I am due for more of the dragon?s fire?
?Go!? he cut in, but his expression was not daunting. In fact, it was just short
of breaking into a grin.
She smiled at him for good measure and heard Isabella say before she closed the
door on them ? Twas an excellent suggestion she made, Warrick.?
?I am not surprised you wouldst think so, lady, as it solves your dilemma nicely.
It does not, however, get me the son I desired.?
Rowena did not wait around to hear the lady renew her apologies. But she left
wondering about the sex of the babe she carried. A son would be nice for a
firstborn, but a son was what Warrick wanted. The question was, would a son gain
her an offer of marriage, or guarantee her losing her firstborn child?
Chapter 31
Warrick was not sure what complexity the wench was perpetrating on him, but he
had already drawn the conclusion that he did not mind it. What Rowena hoped to
gain with her strange behavior he could not guess. Not that it mattered. What he
had planned for her would not changewell, mayhap only slightly, for he no longer
had any desire to make her suffer. Her puckish wit was also a pleasant surprise.
As solemn and determined as she had been at Kirkburough, he would not have
expected a playful side to her.
Kirkburough?twas not her town, nor would it be now. But for the first time, he
wondered who Rowena was and where she had come from.
?Have you spoken to the lady yet about Emma??
Warrick turned from watching his men testing their skills against Sheldon?s
knights on the training field. For a moment he had no idea what his friend
referred tountil he saw whom Sheldon was staring at. Rowena was crossing the
bailey to the washhouse, her arms piled high with linens. So easily was she
noticeable, her long braid glittering in the sunlight, her bright red chemise
only visible at her neck, arms, and feet, but such a contrast to the drab dun
bliaut she wore. In no conceivable way did she look like the servants around her.
?Twas almost ridiculous to call her so, yet he would continue to do so,
regardless of how others sawi heror called her.
He was chagrined, however, that he had cornpletely forgotten the new task he had
agreed to give her. Obviously, when she was near him, his thoughts gravitated in
Lindsey, Johanna - Prisoner Of My Desire Page 22