After he had some bacon.
Chapter Twenty-six
“Father Rune has disappeared,” Nevis told Leo in the privacy of his tent. “His room is empty, and the other priests have no idea where he is.”
“Is he no longer at Vindemar?” Leo asked. He’d been traveling all day with Ana’s father, visiting nearby villages and vassals. Upon their return to Vindemar, he had gone to his tent to remove his chain mail and helmet. Normally, he only wore armor if he was going into battle, but it had seemed necessary now that he’d made himself a target. With his lightning speed, he could usually avoid an arrow. But only if he saw it coming.
“We were having him watched,” Leo insisted as he hung up his armor. “What happened to the soldier—”
“He was found asleep outside the chapel.” Nevis held up a hand to stop Leo’s angry reaction. “He was drugged. Someone grabbed him from the back, put something over his mouth and nose, and everything went black. I believe him, for he was staggering about even after we woke him up.”
Leo narrowed his eyes. “Then the priest knows about potions.”
“It looks that way,” Nevis agreed. “I had the keep and grounds searched, but there was no sign of him.”
Leo paced about his tent. His gut warned him that Father Rune had been responsible for yesterday’s murders in the dungeon. The jailers had trusted the priest enough to let him in, and the first jailer had died without any defense wounds for he’d been caught entirely by surprise.
“Everyone in the vicinity should know by now that I’ve taken over the duchy,” Leo thought out loud as he paced. “If the priest has truly left, then Ana and her father may no longer be his targets.”
Nevis gave him an exasperated look. “Why did you make yourself the target? That damned priest could be planning to kill you while you travel around.”
“That’s what I’m hoping for.”
Nevis groaned. “You’re endangering yourself for a woman you’ve known for only a few days.”
“Shouldn’t a man protect his wife?”
Nevis snorted. “It’s a marriage in name only. You can’t even touch her. And she’s already had one affair. What makes you think she’ll—”
“Enough!” Leo shot his friend a warning look. “You will not speak of her that way. She’s mine.”
Nevis blinked. “Holy shit. You’re in love with her.”
“Don’t be ridic—” Leo stopped. Was he? No, not possible. Not when he didn’t know who exactly she was. Not when she didn’t trust him enough to tell him the truth.
“Leo!” General Harden barged into the tent. “A soldier just arrived from the troop we left on the Woodwyn border.”
“Where is he?” Leo headed for the exit.
The general put up a hand to stop him. “I took him to the medic. He’s wounded, but he told me everything before he passed out. A band of elves attacked. We suffered heavy casualties, but managed to capture an elf, and he boasted that their army is about to launch a massive attack—”
“How massive?” Leo asked.
“Don’t know, but we should move out—”
“I understand.” Leo paced across the tent. As Lord Protector, his first job was to protect the country. But at the same time, he didn’t want to leave Vindemar until the matter of the last assassin was taken care of and he knew Ana and her father were safe. And then he had orders from the king to deliver them to court at Ebton.
He turned toward the general. “Are you fully recovered from the poison? Can you lead?”
General Harden snorted. “I should box your ears for even asking. I taught you everything you know, you little whelp.”
Leo smiled. This was the General Hard-Ass he knew and loved. “Then you’re in charge. Move out at dawn. The entire army, except for Nevis’s troop and my personal guard.”
“Aye, my lord.” The general gave him a curt salute, then left the tent.
Nevis looked annoyed. “I have to stay behind?”
“I thought you were worried about my safety,” Leo told him wryly. “I have to take my bride to Ebton without getting us killed.”
Nevis rolled his eyes. “I could be killing elves, but I have to play chaperone for the newlyweds.”
“Jealous?”
“I can shake her hand. Can you?”
“Bastard.”
With a smirk, Nevis strolled from the tent. “I suggest you take a bath before meeting your wife.”
Leo glanced down at his dirty and sweaty clothes. It had been damned hot with all the armor on. And all his clean clothes were in the dressing room.
He strode through the camp with four of his personal guard following at a discreet distance. All through the camp, soldiers were busily packing up for the march at dawn. Part of him wished he were going with them. Life with the army was all he’d known since the age of eight.
But now he had a wife. And a home. He studied Vindemar as he approached. It was one of the largest fortresses in Eberon, as large and fine as the royal court at Ebton Palace.
With an inward wince, he realized just how big a threat he was to his uncle. He had a huge amount of land and wealth now at his disposal. He had the vassals and men of Vindalyn who owed their allegiance to him, and he had the loyalty of the royal army. He was more dangerous to Uncle Fred than the elves of Woodwyn, pirates of Tourin, or dragons of Norveshka.
This could only mean that the assassination attempts would never stop. No matter how many times he pledged his loyalty to his uncle, the king would still want him dead. If he openly attacked the king’s men, it would be treason, and that would give his uncle a legitimate reason for executing him. Not that Leo would ever accept that without a fight, but he was reluctant to plunge the country into civil war, not when there were three neighboring kingdoms that would invade at the first sign of weakness.
No matter what happened, he didn’t want to end up like his cousin Tedric, the heir to the throne. Five years ago, Tedric had been banished from court and sentenced to live in a crumbling old castle with a handful of guards, essentially a prisoner, waiting for his father to die.
As Leo crossed the drawbridge, the Vindemar guards saluted him, a silent reminder that he was now in charge. In the courtyard, the men bowed, the women curtsied. But he didn’t miss the wary glances cast his way or the worried whispers. Even though Ana’s father had assured everyone at breakfast in the Great Hall that the transfer of power was his idea and had his blessing, there were still some lingering suspicions as to why the Beast had suddenly become the Duke of Vindalyn.
Ana’s guards were not outside the bedchamber, which could only mean that she wasn’t there. As he entered, he heard voices coming from the dressing room. With his hand on the hilt of his sword, he peeked through the door.
It was Edmund, flirting with Ana’s maid as they made room for Leo’s clothes on the shelves.
“That’s not necessary,” he said, leaning against the doorjamb.
They both jumped and quickly made a bow and a curtsy.
“I should start fetching water for my lady’s bath.” Gabrielle grabbed a bucket and ran into her adjoining room.
Edmund sighed. “You scared her away.” His nose wrinkled. “You’ll scare your wife, too, looking like that.”
Leo snorted. “Amazing how all my bachelor friends are suddenly experts on marriage.”
Edmund grinned. “Are you saying I’m one of your friends?”
“Sod off.” Leo scowled as he eyed the bottom shelf. Two of Ana’s linen gowns had been folded up to make room for his shirts and breeches. “You shouldn’t have done this. I won’t be here that long.”
Edmund motioned to the folded gowns. “Gabriella said it didn’t matter, that those were her work clothes. We didn’t disturb her fancy gowns.”
Next to Leo’s stack of shirts was a stack of Ana’s nightgowns. Seeing them side by side made his heart tighten. He was truly married.
He dragged a gloved hand through his sweaty hair. “What did Lady Tatiana do today?
Do you know?”
“She slept till noon.” Edmund chuckled. “I heard she fussed at Gabriella for not waking her up earlier.”
“I told her maid to let her sleep late.” Leo had figured Ana needed more rest after all she’d endured the day before. She’d narrowly missed an arrow meant for her and a poisoning, and then she’d been coerced into a sudden wedding.
“She spent the afternoon in the library reading,” Edmund continued. “Gabriella said she plans to take a bath here before meeting you at supper in the Great Hall.” He gave Leo a skeptical look. “You’re planning to bathe, too, right?”
“I’m on my way to the bathhouse,” Leo growled as he stuffed clean clothes into a knapsack. “Why don’t you make yourself useful and help Gabriella bring water up here?”
“Yes, my lord!” Edmund dashed through the bedchamber and out the door, no doubt eager to resume his flirtation.
Alone now in the dressing room, Leo dropped the knapsack, then dug through the stack of Ana’s nightgowns till he found the extra-sheer one. With a smile, he placed it on top.
Knapsack in hand, he headed into the bedchamber. He slowed as he passed the upholstered chair, recalling how oddly Ana had acted when she thought no one was looking.
He tossed the sack onto the seat, then ran his fingers over the same area she had touched. There was definitely something hidden in the upholstery, and it had been inserted through an opening in a seam. Slowly he pulled it out. A folded sheet of paper.
Was it a love letter like the one in his desk drawer in his tent? But if his wife wasn’t Lady Tatiana, like Captain Bougaire had claimed, then she hadn’t written that letter.
Slowly Leo opened the note.
Our dear sister, Luciana …
The first line came as such a shock, he stood frozen for a few seconds. When he read it again, a swarm of questions swooped across his mind like a horde of bats fleeing a cave. Was this his wife’s real name? Was that why she’d asked him to call her Ana? Was Ana short for both Luciana and Tatiana? Had his suspicions been correct? Were the two of them twins?
He quickly read the rest of the letter, searching for clues. The four females who had signed the letter considered Luciana their sister. If Ana had grown up with them on the Isle of Moon, it would explain why she’d made the sign of the moons. And if there had been twin girls, it would make sense that Lucas Vintello had hidden one of them. Twins, especially girls, were never allowed to live in Eberon.
But if Luciana had taken Tatiana’s place, where was Tatiana? Hiding or … dead?
And Ana could speak to the dead.
A chill ran down Leo’s spine. Surely his imagination was going wild, and none of this could be true.
In the letter, the four sisters wrote about the Game of Stones and Ana’s prediction of meeting him. Their story matched the one Ana had told him, so that much appeared to be true.
How much was true? How much was deception? When she’d defended him in the courtyard, was that how she truly felt? When she’d hugged him last night, had that been sincere?
By the Light, he hoped so. He wanted it too much for it to be a lie. He wanted her. He wanted her to love him.
Dammit to hell. What was happening to him? He couldn’t allow himself to get weak over some sappy feelings. Not when the king would keep trying to kill him. He had to remain strong if he was going to survive.
He folded the letter up and inserted it back into the hole. Out of sight, out of mind. He wouldn’t mention it to Ana. If she didn’t trust him enough to tell him the truth, then so be it. He just needed to keep his distance.
After all, it was a marriage in name only. He could never actually live with her. It was foolish to hope for more.
* * *
Her new husband was ignoring her.
Luciana pushed her food around her plate and took another sip of wine. The Great Hall was packed tonight with nearby vassals, merchants, and tradesmen who had come to swear allegiance to the new duke and toast the newlyweds.
The atmosphere at Vindemar was tense with excitement. The level of curiosity was so high that no one even attempted to hush their voices. By the time Luciana had walked to the Great Hall, she’d heard most of the gossip. Everyone was wondering if somehow the Lord Protector had coerced her father into giving up the duchy. Had he threatened the poor duke with his Beastly powers?
And she hadn’t missed the sympathetic glances aimed her way. How on Aerthlan had Lady Tatiana survived a wedding night with the Beast?
Now from her seat at the high table, she could spot the furtive glances. Once everyone realized she was somehow miraculously alive, they turned their attention to Leo.
She did, too. He looked as handsome as ever. His dark-red hair was still damp and curling around his ears. Was it as soft as it looked? Were those dark whiskers lining his jaw soft or prickly? How would she ever know if she couldn’t touch him? With a pang of annoyance, she drank more wine.
He was definitely ignoring her. He’d left the bedchamber this morning without even telling her good-bye. Now, at her father’s insistence, he was sitting in the larger chair at the center of the dais—the duke’s chair. Luciana was seated at his right, and her father at his left.
She’d tried to look her best tonight. Freshly bathed, wearing her golden gown, her hair gathered at the nape of her neck in a sparkling golden net. But Leo had hardly seemed to notice.
With a sigh, she reached for her wine goblet. During the entire meal, he’d been engaged in deep conversation with her father. Apparently the army was leaving in the morning. She’d tensed for a moment, believing Leo was leaving, too, but he appeared to be staying. Relieved, she took a long drink of wine.
Perhaps it was a good thing that Leo and her father were getting along so well. It would help to dispel the rumors that the Beast was forcing them into compliance.
The dinner dragged on as more and more toasts were offered. At first, the guests simply wished her and Leo a long and happy life. Then a guest wished them a healthy child. As if that could ever happen, Luciana thought with dismay as she drained her goblet.
Not to be outdone, the next toast wished them three children. The next toast half a dozen. The next one ten. Each time the cups were emptied, the servants refilled them, and the guests became more rowdy.
“Two dozen children!” a red-faced merchant yelled, and everyone gave a cheer, then drained their cups.
Two dozen? May the goddesses help her. Luciana drank more wine.
When the singing started, her father stepped off the dais to join some old friends in song. Luciana shook her head as the noise reverberated painfully in her head. Ouch. That hadn’t helped. Now the room was swirling.
“Let me take you back to our room,” Leo whispered.
She blinked and turned toward him. “Why? The dinner’s not over yet.”
“You hardly ate. But you’ve had a lot of wine.”
“Ye mean ye noticed?” She pressed her knuckles against her mouth. Had she messed up her accent? Surely not.
“I notice everything you say and do … Ana.”
Was he inferring something? With her clouded mind, she couldn’t tell.
“Let’s go,” he whispered. “No one will question why the newlyweds want to retire early.”
She frowned, trying to decipher that. “Oh, I see. They’ll think we’re getting started on the two dozen children. But don’t they know…” She slapped a hand against his chest. “This is all we can do.”
He circled a gloved hand around the sleeve of her forearm. “Do you wish we could do more?”
“Now, there’s a pointless question.” Her gaze met his. He had the loveliest green eyes. “Ye—you’re far too pretty to be a Beast.”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “You’re not making me sound very manly.”
“Oh, you’re very manly.” She pressed her fingers against his rock-hard chest. “But pretty, too. I tried to look pretty for you tonight.”
“You’re more than pretty. You’re a
bsolutely beautiful.”
She smiled, and a giggle escaped. “Oh.” She covered her mouth. “I’m not used to drinking so much wine. We always water it down at the con—” She winced. “I’d better go to bed.”
He stood. “I’ll take you.”
“There’s no need.” She waved a dismissive hand as she rose to her feet. When she stumbled, he swooped her up in his arms. She gasped and the Great Hall filled with cheers.
Leo announced to the crowd, “We bid you good night.”
As the cheers rose in volume, Luciana buried her face against his shirt. By the goddesses, this was embarrassing.
Still carrying her, he stepped down from the dais and headed for the nearest door.
“Leo, put me down. I can walk.”
“I like carrying you.” He strode down the hallway toward the bedchamber. “I dream about holding you in my arms.”
What a sad pair they were, she thought as she leaned her head against his shoulder.
Before she knew it, he had deposited her in the dressing room and closed the door. Gabriella helped her out of the golden gown and into a nightgown. After washing her face with cold water and brushing her hair, she felt much more clearheaded.
“Good night, Gabriella.” When the maid retired to her room, Luciana cracked the door and peered into the bedchamber. Leo had lit a fire in the hearth, and he was already stretched out on his blankets on the floor. Maybe he was already asleep. He’d put in a long day, unlike her.
She tiptoed toward the bed.
“I like that nightgown.”
With a gasp, she turned toward him, then glanced down. Good goddesses, it was the sheer nightgown again. “Good night.” She ran toward the bed and slipped underneath the coverlet.
“Are you feeling better?” he asked.
“Yes.” She stared at the canopy overhead.
“Then we can talk.”
She winced. “About your day?”
“About you.”
Oh, no. She pulled the coverlet up to her chin.
“I told you about myself. How my parents died and my nanny died. I’d like to know about you.”
How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days Page 26