Carolyne Cathey (20 page)

A shadow cut off
the moonlight.

Eleanor inhaled a
tight gasp and spun to the black shadow in the doorway, wondering who had come
for her--Kyle, Brigham, or Lady Mellisande?

"Rupert!" 
Michael leapt to his feet.  "Look, mum.  'Tis Rupert and King
Edward."

The shepherd
stepped into the small hut.  "I'll answer fer Lucinda 'bout Brigham."

Embarrassment
battled Eleanor's fear.  What must he think of her?  A liar, for certain, since
Kyle had claimed her to be his woman after she had denied the same.

Edward scampered
behind Rupert's heels and Dwinna and Michael let out a squeal of delight.

Rupert took a
step into the cottage.  "Brigham's the devil hisself."

Lucinda grasped
Rupert's arm.  "Nay!  Don't even breathe such a thought.  If he should
hear ye--"

Rupert's laughter
caught Eleanor off-guard.  "Aye.  He'd have his fun with me."  His
shadow slid up Eleanor's legs and torso as he sauntered toward her across the
room.  "O' course, not the way he has with Lucinda, here.  He takes her
favors in exchange fer food, like ye do with Lord Kyle."

The casual
comment struck another blow to Eleanor's already bruised pride.  She opened her
mouth to protest, then fell silent.  His words had smeared both her and Lucinda
with filth.

Rupert stopped in
front of her and lifted his hand to swipe at his nose, then sniffed. 
"Don't get me wrong, none.  Yer not to blame, neither one o' ye.  Ye have
to do the men's biddin'.  'Tis the way of women."

Eleanor stiffened
at his version of the truth. 

Rupert shifted
his stance and the odor of sheep and smoke filled her nostrils.  "But as
fer me, he'd have fun doin' things to make me scream with pain."

Eleanor's insides
withered at his mention of sadism and torture.  Brigham and the pale hoax of a
lady seemed to have warped tastes in common.

Lucinda urged
Rupert toward the door.  "I don't mean to speak unneighborly, but if ye
should be found here after dark like this, we might be accused o' plottin'. 
Remember what happened to Amy's and Martha's mates when Brigham found them drinkin'
together at Amy's cottage?"  Lucinda eyed Eleanor.  "They was whipped
'til they died.  Brigham said they was plannin' a con . . . con . . ."

Rupert nodded. 
"Conspiracy.  Aye.  I remember."  He took a step as if to leave, then
paused.  "But let me tell Eleanor this afore I go."  He met her
gaze.  "Brigham plots against our lord, I'm certain of it."

Eleanor's
battered heart forgot to beat.

"He's
gathered a band o' renegade knights.  I'm not certain where, but some of us
guess they stay at the old ruins nearby.  After Brigham takes all from us he
can threaten and steal, he puts it on a wagon guarded by his mercenaries and
takes the road north."  Rupert shrugged.  "Why would he do that
unless he plans somethin' not right?"  He shook his head at his own
question.  "Nay, he plots evil, he does."

Foreboding crept
up her spine to prick her memories.  Like Kyle's look of surprise when Brigham
had first mentioned the betrothal . . . Lady Mellisande who played false with
Kyle and pretended to be other than her true self . . . Kyle's obvious distress
with the agreement, then his shouted claim he had never intended to marry Lady
Mellisande.  What about the King?  And the dragon?  Confusion muddled Eleanor's
thoughts.  But one thing she knew for certain, she must tell Kyle about the
renegades. 

Lucinda tugged on
Rupert's arm.  "Ye'd better go now, Rupert, afore yer caught." 

He leaned down to
scoop up his puppy.

"Aw, Mum! 
Me and Dwinna wants to play with King Edward."

The sound of
Michael's regret further tore at Eleanor's heart.  He deserved his own pup. 

So's yer
wee-uns don't have to fight the dogs for scraps to feed their bellies.
  The
memory of Lucinda's angry words stopped her nonsensical wishes.  How to help
her family? 

Then another
certainty burst like a hot flare.  In spite of her bungling, she dare not run
away from her duties, neither the one assigned from above, nor the more earthly
one owed Lord Kyle.  She could not leave until the peasants wiped tears of
despair from their eyes, then brightened with joy.  But how to achieve such a
feat she didn't know.  She must trust in a wisdom beyond her own. 

Her renewed
purpose both strengthened and saddened, for she stayed near Kyle a while
longer, but she could never have him.  A painful knot pressed against her
breastbone.

King Edward leapt
to the floor and sat on Eleanor's bare feet, warm against her cold toes. 
Despite her anguish, Eleanor smiled as she picked up the squirmy ball of fur
and held him up for Rupert.

He stepped near
and held out one of his hands, for the other arm he kept at his side as if
holding something beneath his tunic.  The dark reflection of his gaze met
hers.  "'Tis a shame the master has taken a likin' to ye, though I cain't
blame him none.  But if he changes his mind, me offer still stands.  I been
thinkin' 'bout ye all day."

Heat replaced the
chill on Eleanor's cheeks.  If he only knew.  Kyle hated her now and would
punish her, not love her.  Apprehension of the severity of that punishment
tightened her lungs.

The puppy whined
and nuzzled under Rupert's arm.  "I almost fergot why I came."  He
handed King Edward to Michael while he reached under his tunic to a bulge
beneath his arm.

"Give this
to Lucinda.  Seems a lamb strayed too far from the fold and fell in the fire
and got roasted.  We had to be real careful the smell didn't let on what we men
were doin', so ye must be sure not to tell.  I brung a hunk of meat fer Lucinda
and her little uns.  'Twill be a long time afore we dare try that again." 
He handed her the greasy meat.

"Oh,
Rupert!  How kind and brave.  I--"

"What goes
on here?"

"Lord
Kyle!"  Eleanor squeaked out his name as she hid the meat behind her back
and spun to the door.  The mere sight of him caused her pulse to throb an
erratic rhythm.  What would he do to her?  Would he be even angrier because she
ran?

Kyle blocked the
moonlight except for a silver glow that outlined the magnificence of his
shape.  Then the light increased as he ducked under the lintel and took a long
stride into the cottage.  Moonbeams glinted on something long and slender from
his hand.  A sword! 

"Eleanor?" 
Kyle raised his weapon.

Her heart thudded
for her to hide, her mind cried "too late", so she stood, immobile. 

"I'm here,
my lord."  Her voice shook and showed her fear, not the bravery she
intended.

Kyle scanned the
dark cottage like a predatory animal.  "Where is Brigham?  If he
dared--"

"Brigham?  I
know not, my lord."  His question caught her by surprise.

"But I heard
a man's voice.  I saw Brigham behind you in the great hall, and then later when
I couldn't find you, I--"

He stepped toward
her and the released wedge of moonlight spilled across Rupert.  Kyle let out a
cry of rage and grabbed Rupert by his tunic.  "I told you to stay away
from my woman!"

Eleanor opened
her mouth to protest, then remembered the meat!  Desperate to protect Rupert's
secret, Eleanor backed to Lucinda and urged the chunk into her hands. 
Lucinda’s footsteps retreated to the adjoining room where the animals would
live--if they had any.  Even in the pale light, Eleanor saw Rupert's sudden
pallor as he stood a prisoner within Kyle's hold. 

"Lord Kyle,
I . . . I only came to . . . to fetch me pup.  He . . . he ran over here, 'tis
all.  I'll take him home now."

Michael plopped
Edward onto the ground before he and Dwinna ran past her toward where Lucinda
had absconded with the meat.  Maybe they would eat the evidence before Kyle
noticed.  Her pulse pounded in her ears from the fear of discovery, from the
guilt of deception, from the regret of impossibilities.

"Eleanor,
come here."  Kyle held Rupert as if he might never let him go, his sword
still clenched in his other fist, his breath and tone harsh.

Fearing Kyle
would smell the meat on her fingers, she rubbed her hands on the back of her
gown in time with the thumped beat of her pulse.  She took a step forward, then
stilled with remembrance.  War.  Her interference had resulted in the threat of
war.  Her pulse increased.

Moonlight washed
Kyle's face.  His angry gaze locked onto hers, and she didn't know whether to
run to him or away from him, so she did neither.

"Lord Kyle,
forgive me.  I--"

"I said,
come here."

She took a shaky
step and prayed for her legs to hold her upright.

"Did he
touch you, Eleanor?"

"Rupert? 
Nay.  'Tis so, my lord."

"What else
transpired here?"

If he caught her
in a lie, he would never believe her again.  And yet, she must protect Rupert. 
"He . . . he asked me to still consider his offer when you tire of me and
toss me out.  He believes I'm still your woman, Sire."

Kyle grinned a
distrustful kind of smile.  "Oh, does he now?  And what say you,
Eleanor?"

Pain cramped her
heart.  He ridiculed her.  If he meant this as part of her punishment, then he
succeeded.

"I asked you
a question.  Do you belong to me?"

"Aye, my
lord.  I'm your servant until the debt is paid."

Kyle winced, then
his mouth thinned in anger as he shook Rupert.  "Did you hear, Rupert? 
She is mine until the debt is paid, which is forever.  Now, get out and don't
come near her again.  Do you understand?"

"Aye,
milord." 

As soon as Kyle
released his hold, Rupert scooped up King Edward and escaped into the night.

Forever.
 
His anger reached deeper than Eleanor had imagined.  But after the turmoil she
had caused, she shouldn't have expected any less.  Tears pricked her eyelids as
she swept her gaze over the small room of light and shadow, thankful Lucinda
and the children hadn't re-entered to witness her humiliation.

"Come,
Eleanor.  I'll take you to my chamber.  As you reminded me, you have a debt to
pay."

Agony twisted in
her chest.  "I expect punishment for my horrid behavior, my lord.  But my
moral code demands I serve you in a way other than sharing your bed.  'Tis not
beneath you I belong, but beside you.  To do otherwise betrays the dream."

"The dream. 
Eleanor, we've had this discussion before now."

"I'll share
your bed, milord."

Eleanor inhaled a
tight breath and spun to face her sister. "Lucinda!  How dare you offer
yourself to Lord Kyle!"

"'Tis me own
debt, Eleanor, so me should be the one to repay it."

Eleanor clenched
her fists so as not to strangle her impudent sister.  "Lucinda--"

"Ye said yer
moral code--"

"But, he's
mine!"

Kyle threw back
his head and laughed as if relieved, obviously enjoying her jealous display,
her wanton admission.

Before she could
sort out his change of mood, Lucinda planted her fists on her hips and shot
Eleanor a glare.  "'Tis me own debt, sister.  Look around ye.  Me and mine
are starvin'.  Look at our bed.  Dirty rags on a cold floor.  I'll tell ye
'bout me own morality.  I'd give aught to have a warm, soft bed and a handsome
man to share me body with, a place for me wee uns to sleep, and food in our
stomachs."

"But . . .
but, I love him!"  The thought of another woman with Kyle drained the
blood from her brain and left her woozy.

Eleanor heard a
rumble from Kyle's chest that sounded much like an animal-like growl of
satisfaction.  He clasped his hands behind his back and cleared his throat. 
"I'm touched by your offer, Lucinda, but 'tis Eleanor I want.  She has
bewitched me, you see."  He paused and threw her a sly glance.

Eleanor realized
that at least her blood had returned to her head, for her face burned like a
hot brand as she struggled to sort out his shift in attitude from testy to . .
. to relieved, to . . . to his usual seductive self.  And she knew from experience
she must beware, for he played by unfair tactics, relentless in his attacks to
undermine her already weakened wall of discipline that threatened to crumble
with his next hot breath.

Kyle stood, legs
apart, his head tilted downward as he visited with her sister.  "As to
your food, Lucinda, I'll make certain you won't starve.  And as for a man with
whom to share your body, I had the miller in mind, unless you have another you
desire.  Perhaps 'twould be better to mate you with Rupert so he will cease to sniff
around my woman.  What say you?"

"The miller,
Sire?  Ye wish me to wed the miller?"

He nodded. 
"Aye.  You know how to brew ale, and Harold, the miller, has grain to
brew.  'Twould be a profitable match, don't you agree?"

A smile blossomed
on Lucinda's face, the first Eleanor had seen.  "Aye, milord!"  She
gave a wobbly curtsy.  "Harold and me are good friends."

"Aye.  I'd
heard as much.  And Brigham will not bother you again, 'tis a promise."

Eleanor's mouth
dropped open and she knew her eyes widened from her amazement over what Kyle
had done.  She studied Lucinda's face.  Happiness radiated from the depths of
her sister's eyes.

Kyle chuckled. 
"You'll have so much plenty, Rupert won't have to sneak you stolen
meat."

"You
knew?"  Eleanor inhaled too fast and choked. 

Lucinda stood as
still as a statue, her face as white as the moonlight.

Eleanor studied
Kyle's face for signs of returned anger, but the corners of his eyes crinkled
with his smile.  He understood.

The love Eleanor
felt for Kyle burst the boundaries of her heart.  Like the strong current of
the Avon River that rushed to the sea, Eleanor longed to rush to Kyle.  She
turned into his arms and buried her face against his chest.