Courtly Love (28 page)

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The councils spanned ten days and it was not until they were finished that Serena realized only a few days remained of their stay at court. By way of celebrating the completion of the councils, William ordered three days of festivities which would include hawking and a boar hunt. Serena was ecstatic because, save for the short forays she and Catherine had made, she had felt virtually a prisoner in the castle. Three days of glorious freedom! Well, almost. Serena would still have to attend the queen in the evenings, but the days would be her own.

"I can hardly believe it, Gyles!" Serena enthused as she shook out a lavender riding gown. "Matilda has excused me from my duties, so I will be able to ride for three days."

"Yes, well, take care you do not abuse that lovely seat of yours," Gyles warned with a trace of humor— the first he had shown in days. "You are hardly accustomed to living in a saddle."

"And you are, no doubt," Serena retorted with a grin. "Fear not, Gyles, I easily withstood the journey from Camden and I doubt a three-day ride will cause me any distress."

A playful slap on her buttocks brought Serena upright with a shriek and then she was lifted high in Gyles's arms and carried to the bed.

The sun, having been absent for the better part of a week, decided to lend its presence to William's festivities, and the day of the hunt promised to be crisp but clear and bright. The day lifted Serena's spirits even higher for during the past night, Gyles had lost his remoteness and been the tender husband she had long desired.

They broke their fast and then, with Bryan and Catherine, proceeded to the stables where their saddled mounts awaited them. Jocularity was the order of the day and as the courtiers set out, their laughter rang through the trees. Serena rode beside Gyles until a wild boar was sighted, then with a light admonishment to be careful, watched as he spurred his mount forward to be in on the kill. Catherine drew abreast of Serena and together they watched their men ride off.

"What pleasure they derive from this sport I fail to understand," Catherine said as Bryan disappeared.

"They are knights, men born to action and violent outlets for their feelings. They become restless when their tether is shortened and tempers flare when they are too long confined," Serena answered with a smile. "The king understands this. 'Tis far better they kill a boar than set upon each other."

"While we vent our restlessness on tapestries!" Catherine bristled.

"Catherine! Is that defiance I hear?" Serena asked in amusement.

Catherine ducked to avoid a tree limb. "No, not defiance, Serena, rather a sense of injustice at being dominated by men and restricted because I am a woman."

"Do not let Bryan hear that, or he will lay all the blame on me for your mood," Serena laughed.

" 'Tis amazing, Serena, but Bryan almost understands my feelings. He says what I feel is akin to what he does whenever he is slighted because he is a Saxon."

Serena nodded in agreement. "My brother is most observant." Then, with a sigh; "I only wish Gyles could understand as easily as Bryan does. But he tries, I know."

"Oh, yes, he certainly does try," Catherine commented drily. Immediately Catherine bit her lip when she caught the hurt expression on Serena's face.

"You do not know Gyles, Catherine. He is really a good man," Serena rebuked softly.

I know him only too well
, Catherine thought bitterly, but aloud he said, " 'Tis only that he frightens me, Serena, you know that. I meant no insult."

"None is taken." Serena smiled. "Bryan tells me you will soon be visiting Broughton."

Catherine nodded, her face suddenly aglow. "Bryan plans to speak to your father and then offer for my hand. I have already written my mother and told her what to expect."

"Will your parents object?" Serena's brow furrowed briefly.

"No. They are most anxious for me to be wed. And from what I have written my mother, Bryan sounds like St. George! Now what parent could reject such a suitor?"

Serena laughed along with Catherine. "You have made such a change in Bryan. He is far less angry now and takes to his wineskin less often. Tis a relief for me and I know Father will be pleased." From ahead came an excited shout and the high-pitched squeal of an animal in pain. Catherine and Serena exchanged a meaningful glance and then urged their horses toward the source of the excitement.

The clearing was ringed by a dozen men, some mounted, others on foot holding the reins of their mounts negligently in their hands. As Serena and Catherine entered the clearing along with the other women, Gyles was kneeling beside a dead boar from whose chest the shaft of his spear protruded. In one easy motion, Gyles pulled the knife from its sheath and slit the boar's neck, severing both arteries so that the life blood gushed onto the white blanket of snow. Savagely, Gyles lopped off the ears and tail as trophies of his conquest.

Serena had seen this sight many times before and normally it would not affect her, but there was a triumphant savagery in Gyles's actions and when he stood and his green eyes caught Serena in their gaze, she felt a shiver of apprehension course through her veins; for in Gyles's eyes there glittered a blood-lust and hatred that could not be denied. Even the lines of his face seemed to have changed; normally impassive, Gyles's features had hardened and set into a grim mask of barely controlled rage. A changeling, Serena's thoughts raced madly. No longer the gentle lover of the night past, but a brutal man possessed of ravening emotions. Within their locked gazes Serena felt a surge of emotion and she imagined she could hear Gyles's unspoken words. "I hate!" those eyes seemed to tell her. "There is too much vengeance within me to be appeased by anything in this world!" Fear ran icy fingers up Serena's back as she stared mesmerized at the gory prizes in Gyles's hands.

From Serena's left came a low, seductive laugh and Serena swiveled in her saddle to see Elspeth, black eyes dancing, fixing Gyles with a provocative stare.

"Congratulations, Lord Gyles!" Elspeth's husky voice flooded the clearing. "As usual you are the first to draw blood."

Gyles's mouth twisted into a smile as he walked to Elspeth and dropped the bloody offering in her hand. "With my compliments, Lady Elspeth."

Elspeth leaned forward to murmur something to Gyles and Serena's chin lifted defiantly at the intimate gesture. If 'twas revenge for her behavior with Henry, Gyles was bent upon, Serena was not about to give him the satisfaction of seeing her jealousy. Elspeth's laughter rang out again and Serena felt several pairs of eyes turn to study her reaction. Serena carefully arranged her features into a mask of complete indifference and turned back to Catherine.

"If Elspeth doesn't remove her hands from Gyles," Serena ground out in a deadly voice but with an innocent smile playing on her lips, "I will scratch her eyes out."

Catherine's eyes registered alarm, but she sensed immediately Serena's purpose in the affected smile and let her crystal laugh carry over Elspeth's, drawing the attention of the hunting party. "You are toying with danger, Serena," Catherine warned softly. "Elspeth will not take kindly to our charade."

"Good!" Serena's smile widened into a grin. "Now why don't you go to Bryan."

"What are you planning?" Catherine asked fearfully.

"Why," Serena's eyes sparked with mischief and anger, "as our dear Henry would say, I intend to give Elspeth a lesson in manners! Now, do as I say and go to Bryan."

Serena waited until Catherine was safely ensconced by her brother's side and then with a light tap of her heel, Serena sent her mount forward. Gyles and Elspeth still conversed in hushed tones, oblivious to the looks they were drawing and both looked up in surprise when Serena halted beside Elspeth. Elspeth regarded this intrusion with amusement, failing to see, as Gyles did in a shattering instant, the devil playing in Serena's flashing blue eyes.

Serena leaned across Elspeth and picked up one of the boar's ears, fingering it distastefully. "It seems too small a price," Serena mocked in a soft, thoughtful voice. "I thought you told me my husband was most generous in his rewards." Elspeth's face went white with rage but Serena ignored her and fixed her gaze on Gyles. "If your purse is lacking, m'lord, perhaps the Lady Elspeth would care for a golden necklace or emerald ring. She has long admired both." Serena made a show of dropping the blood ear back into Elspeth's shaking hand. "Next time, demand payment before the deed, 'twill place you in a better position to barter."

Another tap of her heel sent the horse crashing from the clearing and into the dense forest. Dimly, Serena heard Bryan calling her name and Serena hastened her pace, her wounded pride goading her away from the sound of the different hunting parties. She needed time— time for herself, time to cool the anger that was roiling inside her. Deliberately, Serena made her mind a blank, willing herself not to think, for if she did she would scream. Scream so loudly that all of London would hear.

The lovely Elspeth!
Serena's mind spat.
What had Catherine said? So beautiful on the outside, so evil inside! And Gyles, God rot him. Lusting after Elspeth even while Serena had bathed in the warm glow of the night before. No better than a prancing stallion after a brood mare. A cur fit for a bitch in heat. God rot his bastard soul!

"Well, our dear Lady Serena."

That harsh voice could only belong to one man and with a mixture of horror and anger Serena felt the reins being jerked from her hands.

"Your Highness," Serena saluted the prince formally, coolly, then gasped as hands went about her waist to lift her from the saddle. William Rufus held Serena suspended in mid-air, his dark eyes glowing at her indignation. "Put me down . . . Your Highness." The last was almost an afterthought.

William Rufus grinned at his alluring captive. "There is a price for everything, sweet Saxon. Shall I name mine?"

Serena's eyes widened in disbelief. "Unhand me,« Your Highness. Now!"

William's grin broadened as Serena pummeled at his shoulders with her delicate fists. "You did not struggle thus in Henry's embrace, I'll wager. Come now, Saxon, I can offer you far more than my brother. You would like to remain at court, would you not? I can arrange it. You need no longer wait upon my mother—I can arrange that also. There are apartments next to mine—they are yours!" William's breath was foul with wine and Serena twisted her head to avoid his mouth.

"No!" Serena shrieked.

"I command it!" William roared, and then crushed Serena against him.

William's thick lips twisted brutally upon hers, prying Serena's lips apart so that his tongue could rape the recesses of her mouth. Serena's stomach churned at the wet, unwanted pressure. Outraged, Serena brought a hand up to claw at William's face. Four deep gouges appeared across William's cheek and immediately welled with blood.

Furious, William released Serena and with a tremendous shove, sent her hurtling backward against a tree. The breath left Serena's lungs with a whoosh and before she could recover, William was upon her, his hands tearing aside her cloak to expose the creamy skin of her throat and breasts that rose above the neckline of her gown. William's eyes kindled with lust and he buried his face in the sweet curve of Serena's neck.

"You are beautiful!" William muttered hoarsely against her flesh as his hands slid around her waist and up her back to jerk the snood from Serena's hair. Obligingly the gold-touched curls tumbled into his hands and William wound them around Serena's throat. "Small wonder Gyles kept you hidden away. The miser! He wished to keep you all for himself. But no more!"

Serena struggled vainly against William's overwhelming strength. This could not be happening! William would not dare. . . . But he did, he was. Those destructive hands had fallen from Serena's hair and had plunged into the neckline of her gown to fondle her breast
s. Oh, no!
Serena moaned helplessly and William mistook her fear for passion and pressed himself against her so that she could feel his rising manhood.

"I must have you. ... I will!" William's voice was thick and his fetid breath fell upon Serena's cheek. William ignored Serena's feeble protests and cursing the strength of the material, ripped Serena's bodice diagonally from the shoulder to the waist, exposing the light fabric of her kirtle. "Ask for anything and it shall be yours. Jewels, furs . . . you will be the envy of every woman at court. Even when I take a wife, none will dare insult you. God's blood, but you will be lovely in my bed!" The kirtle went the way of her gown and with horror, Serena felt William's lips at her breasts, and then his teeth bit into her tender flesh.

Sheer terror lent strength to her voice and Serena's scream echoed through the trees.

William's blood-suffused face loomed above her and Serena shrank from the look in his eyes,

"Who do you think will hear? You ran away from your party and there are no others here. And if there were, the trees make it impossible to tell from which direction your cry came. No, my little Saxon, what you gave my brother you will also give to me. Here! Now!"

"I would rather die than have you touch me!" Serena spat at William. She kicked out at William and landed a telling blow on his leg. Serena was released, briefly, and she whirled out of William's grasp, clutching what remained of her bodice to cover herself. "Lay another hand on me and I will kill you!"

William bore down upon Serena, his dark eyes hard as polished stones at her defiance. "You have defied me over much these past weeks, Saxon, and I will tolerate it no longer. I want you and I shall have you!"