by Alexa Aston
And submit to marriage with a stranger.
Obviously, he was a magnificent warrior. His build and graceful movements alone would have told her as much but when he revealed he was a member of King Edward’s royal guard, that told Cassiana just how skilled Landon de Blays actually was. All of England knew that the king, a master soldier in his own right, surrounded himself with the best knights in the land. Not only had the monarch put his trust in this man next to her to guard him and his family, but somehow de Blays had accomplished something extraordinary for the king to gift him with a prized estate such as Briarwood.
Servants bustled inside the keep. Cassiana waved Messina over with her free hand since de Blays hadn’t released his hold on her yet and introduced the faithful servant to Lord Landon and his new status as their liege lord.
“Stop whatever you are doing and see that the solar is prepared at once for the earl.”
“Of course, my lady. I will have new bedclothes put on and see that firewood is laid in the grate.” The woman looked to de Blays. “Would you like a bath before you dine, my lord? Cook is providing the returning men with something to tide them over. You would have time for a bath before the evening meal if you wish. I’m sure you’d like to wash the grime from you after fighting in France.”
“Thank you, Messina. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”
The servant blushed and hurried away. Did the man affect all women? Cassiana tugged on her hand, wanting it returned to her so she could get hold of her confusing feelings.
“In good time, my lady.” He patted her hand and then kept it in place.
He led her to the great hall, where the trestle tables had been pulled from the walls and benches placed beside them. She saw bread and ale had been provided to the returning men and those who’d been dismissed early from the training yard. Conversation flourished.
“Would you care to see the records room now? You can meet our steward. That will give time for your bath water to be heated.”
“Lead the way.”
Cassiana took the nobleman to what she thought of as her favorite room in the keep. She loved how orderly and neat Hobart kept everything, lining up ledgers by the year on the shelves that lined one wall of the room.
Hobart lingered at the desk, an open book in front of him as he scribbled away. He glanced up and started at the sight of the stranger.
“Hobart, I have brought the new Earl of Briargate to meet you.”
The steward rose, casting a sympathetic look her way. From her introduction, Hobart would know that Tobyn wasn’t coming home. “My lord.” The steward inclined his head.
“You are Briarwood’s steward, I take it?”
“Aye, my lord. I have been for nigh on ten and five years. My father served the Campion family before me.”
“I am Landon de Blays. I will certainly be counting on you to help me as I transition into my new position. I have much to learn regarding the management of an estate, especially one as large and productive as Briarwood. You will be the perfect man to teach me all I need to know.”
Relief swept across Hobart’s face, knowing that he would be kept on in his current position. “I can go over any of our ledgers with you, my lord. Lady Cassiana would also be quite helpful in this matter. She knows as much about—”
“We’ll set a time to discuss matters,” Lord Landon said. “I look forward to hearing about the estate from you.”
He led her from the records room. This time she yanked her hand from his possessive hold and stomped a foot. “I’m no halfwit, you know. I can be quite helpful to you if you’ll let me.” Her eyes narrowed. “Or do you think you already know so much that you have no need of my advice?”
De Blays shrugged. “Frankly, I prefer the advice of men. Your captain of the guard and steward are being generous when they flatter you, my lady. Although I know you have lived your entire life at Briarwood and have helped out somewhat since your father was incapacitated, I insist upon seeing the expertise of those in charge regarding—”
“Are you joking?” she interrupted. “Do you think I have played at running Briarwood? You told me your friend, Nicholas Mandeville, held me in high regard. That the king was pleased at how I managed to make Briarwood thrive.” Cassiana crossed her arms. “This didn’t happen by itself, Lord Landon. I have been actively involved in every aspect of the estate. For years. My brothers were gone. Or dead. My father remained bedridden and chose to see no one other than Syndor, one of our servants who helped me care for him in his last years.”
It infuriated her when he gave her a sympathetic look. “That’s all well and good, my lady. Now, though, you’ll have time to concentrate on domestic matters inside the keep. As a woman should.”
“While you dabble at being the earl?” Her breasts heaved in anger. “You know nothing of how to run Briarwood, my lord. You are merely a soldier. A very good one, I’m sure, but you yourself told me you’ve always lived at court. Do you know when ploughing and sowing occur? What about butchering and smoking? Or shearing? Have you any idea what is happening right now on your land?”
The nobleman flushed a dull red. “Nay, but I will learn.”
“I’ll tell you what your people are involved with. They’ve spent all of last month and this harvesting the wheat crop. This is the most difficult time of year. They cut and carry bundles called sheaves and every man, woman, and child on the land has worked long hours during the autumn harvest. If they don’t get it done in time, the wheat can be destroyed by the cold and rain. Our people and that of nearby villages might starve. Bread doesn’t simply appear upon a table, Lord Landon.”
When he stared at her, speechless, she continued. “The tying has begun, where we tie the sheaves and move them to a huge shed to dry. Then the winnowing must occur. Do you even know what that is? Workers thresh the wheat to separate the grain from the stalk and then separate that from the chaff. And I won’t even go into the milling.”
His lips twitched in amusement. Her rage almost boiled over but she contained it and fell silent.
“Are you finished?” he asked calmly.
“Aye. For now,” she said grudgingly.
Lord Landon placed his hands on her shoulders. Cassiana could feel each finger as it burned through her cotehardie and smock, almost singeing her flesh.
“I, too, am no halfwit. I’ve always been a quick learner because I’ve had to be. Mayhap I misspoke and judged you too quickly, my lady.” A shadow crossed his face. “My sister and our queen are the only women I have ever felt any respect for. The ladies of the royal court are nothing but deceitful and hypocritical. They play every man false and are not to be trusted. I’m used to only hearing them gossip about one another and fashion. Not a one of them would have cared one whit about what you speak of.”
His hands fell from her shoulders. “Forgive me. You are to be my wife. I hope we will learn to understand—even come to eventually trust—one another.” He paused. “Your brother told me that he sought a husband for you and that all you wanted from a man was respect. I find respect is something to be earned.” He gave her a tight smile. “You have shown me a small slice of how knowledgeable you are about Briarwood. My regard for you has certainly risen.”
She ignored his apology. “You . . . spoke to Tobyn?” Her heart grew heavy as she began to truly feel her brother’s loss.
“Aye. We traveled from Northumberland to Flanders on the same ship and shared much of ourselves with one another.” His eyes shone at her. “Your brother loved you, Lady Cassiana. Very much. In our very first conversation, he did nothing but sing your praises. He even thought if you were chosen to lead the English into battle, the French would have never stood a chance.”
She smiled. “I can hear him saying that.”
Lord Landon added, “You would have been proud of Sir Tobyn in action. I fought near him at Sluys. He was a brave knight and took out many of our enemy before he fell.”
Emotion overcame her and her voice broke as Cassi
ana asked, “How was he killed? Where is his body?”
The new earl gazed at her wordlessly, his anguish obvious, and then murmured, “Not now,” as he drew her to him and gently stroked her hair.
Tears blinded her as great sobs escaped. Not even her beloved father’s death had affected her so. She found herself grateful to be engulfed in Lord Landon’s arms as she wept against him for some minutes, trying to come to terms with the death of her last sibling.
Finally, her tears subsided. She would be strong, as a Campion should. As Tobyn would have expected. This man had obviously befriended her brother and she must treat Lord Landon with more respect.
“I’m sorry. I have taken out my anger at Tobyn’s death on you. You had nothing to do with it or being named the new earl.”
His thumbs brushed against her cheeks, wiping the tears away. “Losing someone you love is difficult.”
“Have you ever lost someone?”
His jaw tightened. “That is something we might discuss at a later time,” he said dismissively and released her. “Might you accompany me to the solar and help me from my armor?”
Cassiana threw back her shoulders, once more in charge of her feelings. She didn’t plan to show weakness to this man in the future. “Of course, my lord. Follow me.”
He smiled at her then, a smile that caused her heart to stop and then leap within her chest. “Since we are to be married, mayhap you might call me Landon. At least in private.”
The radiance of his smile melted any simmering anger away. “All right. Landon. Follow me.”
Leading him to the solar, she noticed his eyes sweeping over everything they passed and put herself in his position. A man who had never possessed a title or home, arriving at what had been named his, seeing it for the first time, carefully taking in his surroundings. She might not know much about Landon de Blays, but this knight was to be her husband. They would share in caring for Briarwood and its people and act as stewards until the time their oldest son would step in.
A chill passed through her.
She would have to lay with this man. Many times over the years. He would get her with child. Or children. Babes that she would give birth to. Dread filled Cassiana as she thought of all the times she’d watched her mother in agony. Of the little ones she’d lost and how Cassiana had watched the light fade from her mother’s eyes that final time. How she wrapped the newest, tiniest Campion to keep her warm and held her close, praying the girl wouldn’t die. She pushed the painful thoughts aside. She wasn’t wed to Lord Landon yet. There would be time enough to worry. Other matters must be addressed now.
They arrived at the solar as Messina shooed away the servants who’d brought up the buckets of water, their eyes turning to study the stranger.
“Your bath is ready, my lord.”
“Much thanks, Messina.”
The servant exited the solar and Lord Landon looked to Cassiana. “I have no squire. Might you serve as one temporarily and help me from my armor?”
“Aye, my lord.”
“Landon,” he reminded her.
He set down his helm and Cassiana began the process of helping him to remove his armor. It was superior in quality, the best she’d ever seen, and she guessed the king must have provided it for his royal guard.
“I would recommend a squire to you since you have none,” she began. “Justin Cecil has fostered at Briarwood the past five years. He was acting as Tobyn’s squire and had to remain behind since no horses or squires were allowed to set sail. He is a bright lad. Eager to please and well-mannered.”
He placed his cuirass on the nearby table. “If you believe the boy to be the best choice, then I will accept him into my service. I’ll speak with him after we dine this evening.”
She’d forgotten how long it took to remove the gear since she hadn’t done so for her brothers in several years. Finally, Lord Landon stood in his clothes.
Which were beyond filthy.
“I’ll see that your clothing is washed.” Cassiana frowned. “You don’t have anything else to wear?”
Chuckling, he said, “An army on the move is not one which packs extra apparel for its soldiers to wear. I do have another change of clothing at Windsor.”
His words surprised—and saddened—her. “You have no other possessions?”
“Nay. I’ve lived a most simple life up until now. I’ve never needed or even wanted much beyond a sharp sword and a swift horse.”
“The Briarwood stables are large. You will have many mounts to choose from. Oh, dear,” she fretted. “I don’t have time to wash and dry your clothing before the evening meal where you address the people for the first time. I hate for you to bathe and put them on again once you’re clean.” Then a thought occurred to her.
Cassiana hurried into the bedchamber and opened a trunk. Kneeling, she began going through it. Lord Landon came to stand next to her.
“Though Tobyn was several inches shy of your height, you and my father are of a similar size. The last few years of his life he didn’t dress in everyday wear.” She removed a gypon of rust and held it up for his approval. “This should do. I can quickly make any adjustments that are needed for I am good with my needle. Still, we’ll need to have several new items made up for you, including something special for the wedding.”
“Our wedding,” he murmured.
She looked up at him and sensed the heat rising in her cheeks. “Aye. Our wedding. Until then, we can make do with what my father left behind.” She paused. “Justin is almost as tall as Tobyn was. I will see that he receives my brother’s clothes. That will be good use of them.”
Locating pants to accompany the gypon, Cassiana returned to the solar and placed them on the table. Then it hit her. As the ranking noblewoman of the keep, she would need to assist him in his bath.
Already, her future husband was casually stripping away his clothing, tossing it to the ground until he stood naked. His bare, muscled back and tight buttocks looking as if hard stone had come to life as flesh. Quickly, he eased into the large wooden tub and sighed.
“Let me assist you. Landon.” His name felt odd on her tongue. Other than her family members, she was used to addressing members of the nobility with their title. Yet, this was the man she would wed. She must become accustomed to calling him by his Christian name.
Retrieving a low stool, where a cake of soap, a wash cloth, and bath sheet rested, she draped the sheet over the back of a chair and placed the stool next to the tub. Landon already splashed water over his arms and chest.
“I can do most of it,” he told her, taking the soap and cloth from her.
Not knowing where else to go, Cassiana sat upon the stool, averting her eyes and yet totally aware of every move he made.
Landon soaped his face and scrubbed it thoroughly with the cloth before rinsing it. He lathered his arms and chest. She had seen soldiers bared to the waist in the training yard but none had the sleek physique of this royal warrior. Her mouth became so dry that swallowing seemed impossible. Landon continued to move quickly and efficiently, lathering and scrubbing. He bent his knees and then lifted a long leg, dark with fine hair, resting it on the edge of the tub. Cassiana studied it from the corner of her eye. His calves were a thing of beauty. She longed to run a hand along them.
What was she thinking?
“You’ll have to help me with my back,” he said, bringing her from her reverie. “I can’t reach it as well as I’d like.”
She took the wet cloth and cake from him, drizzling water over his shoulders and down his back. Lathering the cloth well, she moved it across his shoulders and up and down his back, growing warm as she did so. His muscles rippled as she ran the cloth along them. She wished to touch him with her bare hands and tried to expel those wicked thoughts.
Suddenly, he stood and took the cloth from her and slid it along his firm buttocks. Her eyes fell to his manhood. Before he could see her gaping at him, she turned away and busied herself, placing another log on the fire. By
the time she completed the task he’d once more sat.
“Would you like me to wash your hair?” she asked tentatively as she returned to the tub.
“Aye. ’Twould be a luxury.”
Cassiana lifted one of the two remaining buckets that sat beside the tub. “Slide toward your feet,” she told him.
Landon raised his knees and moved toward his feet before tilting his head back. She stood behind him and poured warm water over his hair and then worked the scented soap into it, kneading his scalp as she dragged her fingers through the mass of dark, unruly hair. A sudden tightening between her legs startled her, as her womanly core seemed to pulsate with life. The longer her fingers ran through his locks, the more it tightened and tingled.
“Ah, you’ve a pleasant touch, Cassiana. I feel as spoiled as the king himself.”
It was the first time he had used her Christian name. She hadn’t given him permission to do so but it only seemed fitting since he had requested her to use his when they were alone. Somehow, hearing her name come from his lips was as if she heard it for the very first time.
“A nobleman should feel as a king inside his own castle,” she responded, surprised she could even voice words, much less in an order that made sense. This man was having a strange effect on her, scrambling her thoughts and arousing new feelings within her. She seemed to be floating outside her body, watching another massage his scalp.
“I’d like to shave,” he said. “Does your father have a razor I might use?”
“Aye.” Pushing herself to her feet, she located the razor and brought it to him. “Lather your face. I shaved my father when he no longer could.”
Landon did as she requested and Cassiana took his chin in hand, saying a quick prayer of thanks to the Virgin when the knight closed his eyes. She didn’t know how steady her hand might have been under his penetrating stare. Slowly, she drew the blade over his cheeks and chin, dipping it into the water several times to clean it. He tossed his head back, exposing his throat to her as the blade glided along.