Kiss of the Rose (4 page)

“How did it go with the king?”

Rosalind grimaced. “He didn’t execute me on the spot, but he certainly didn’t believe a word I said.”

“Why would he?” Rhys upturned the water bucket and invited Rosalind to sit on it. He perched opposite her on a bale of straw, hands resting on his widespread knees. “Would you believe such a fantastical tale?”

“Then why am I here if no one will listen to me?”

“You’re here so that when something does happen— and according to the prophecies, it will happen very soon— the king has someone to protect him whether he believes in you or not.”

“I suppose that’s true.” Rosalind smoothed her gown over her legs. She shivered. “I thought he was going to kill me.”

“But he didn’t and you are still alive, so what else is troubling you?”

Rosalind sniffed. “Sometimes you are horribly practical, Rhys. Had you not a care for my safety at all?”

“You know I care.”

She looked hurriedly away from him, aware of the sudden intensity in his voice, and the warm look in his eyes. He was a quiet, patient man and the change in his feelings had happened so gradually that she had been slow to realize he no longer saw her as a fellow fighter, but as a woman. Anxious to avoid the complications of his concern, she quickly changed the subject.

“I am to serve the queen.”

“So I heard.”

“It gives me the perfect opportunity to seek out the Vampire traitors and dispose of them.”

“I believe that was the general idea.”

“When I was first introduced to the queen, I sensed a Vampire presence.”

Rhys sat forward. “Male or female?”

“I couldn’t tell. It was just a trace, a remnant rather than the real thing.” She frowned. “Mayhap it is one of the older ones who can conceal their scent. I hope not.”

“The Vampire Council would send their best against the king.”

“That is true.” She sighed.“And I haven’t told you the worst of it yet.”

“What could be worse?”

“I met a man who is a member of the Ellis family.”

Rhys paled, his freckles standing out plainly in his appalled face. “A damned Druid hunter? What in God’s name is he doing here?”

“I don’t know. It was hardly a topic for discussion in the queen’s bedchamber.”

Rhys scowled. “He’s probably a member of that accursed Mithras Cult the Romans set on us as well. I hate them almost as much as I hate the Vampires.”

“As if the Vampires need any help against us these days.” Rosalind sighed. “Why on earth does the Ellis family still support them?”

Rhys frowned down at her. “Originally, I suppose, their hatred of all things Druid led them to ally themselves with our greatest enemy.And, as time passed, and the races dwindled, both sides have needed their human allies to do their work for them.” He shrugged. “We aid the Druid priests, and they aid the Vampire Council. What’s the name of this particular devil’s spawn?”

“Sir Christopher Ellis, or so he said.”

Rhys nodded. “I haven’t heard much about him. I’ll find out what I can for you. I don’t suppose he told you why he was here, did he? The Ellises only usually turn up when there is a problem the Vampire Council can’t solve alone.”

“No, he just insinuated that he’d been looking forward to a good fight with a Llewellyn and that I was a big disappointment.”

Rhys laughed. “Then he doesn’t understand you at all, does he, my lady? And that gives you a distinct advantage. If only we knew why he was here…”

Rosalind wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her chin on her knees. “It can’t be a coincidence that Vampires return to court and so do their accursed protectors.” She shivered. “I’ve never understood why any human would choose to defend the undead, have you?”

“The Ellises are said to be direct descendants of Julius Caesar, who hated the Druids with a passion, and set the cult of Mithras after us for all eternity.”

“But we are so few…”

“And they do not care.”

Rosalind met his gaze. “I’m sure you’re right, but it is a distraction I don’t need. How can I concentrate on killing Vampires when I have to worry about being killed myself?”

Rhys grinned. “You are more than capable of handling a hundred Christopher Ellises
and
the Vampires he’s vowed to protect. You are one of the best Vampire slayers I’ve ever trained.” He held out his hand to pull her to her feet.

“Thank you.”

He smiled down at her and started picking bits of hay out of her hair. “If you don’t wish everyone to assume we had an assignation, perhaps you should tidy yourself up.”

“I will.” She looked up at him and then regretted doing so as he kissed her nose. She stepped out of his reach and pretended to fuss with her skirts.When Christopher Ellis had tried to kiss her, she hadn’t stepped back, she’d just stood there like a fool and breathed him in. “I need to get back. I will try to see you tomorrow.”

Rhys nodded.“Dawn is probably the best time. I’ll be up grooming Geithin for your morning ride and I can accompany you out.”

“Do you think I should write to Grandfather and tell him about Christopher Ellis?”

Rhys opened the door, peered out, and gave her the signal to move past him into the deserted passageway. “As soon as I’ve secured a safe way to pass on your messages to him.”

She shivered as they came out into the sunlight.“How am I going to be able to train amongst all these people?”

Rhys patted her shoulder. “We’ll find somewhere. There are many secret places in an old palace like this and I have plenty of ideas.”

Rosalind shaded her eyes and looked back toward the palace. Had anyone seen her enter the stables? Was she already being watched by the Vampires and the Ellis family? A stable boy came around the corner carrying a bucket of water. Rhys cleared his throat and spoke loudly, his usually refined Welsh accent suddenly almost unintelligible. “Aye, my lady. Your horse will be ready at dawn.”

Rosalind smiled at him. “Thank you, Williams.”

Rhys bowed. “You’re welcome, my lady.”

Rosalind strolled back across the park to where the queen’s court was gathered to enjoy the spring sunshine. Rhys made an excellent servant, but in truth, he was her social equal and a potential husband, a fact her grandfather had pointed out to her on several occasions recently. She’d never considered Rhys in that light and found his sudden interest in her unsettling.

Could she learn to see him like that? Rosalind paused to glance back at the stables. During the years of her training, the thought of marriage and all it entailed had never appealed to her, but Rhys was a good man and he understood her well…

When she rejoined the queen’s court, there was no sign of Sir Christopher Ellis, but Rosalind spotted Margaret and waved.When Rosalind reached her, Margaret slipped her arm through Rosalind’s and walked her toward the shade of an old oak tree.

“I spoke to Lady Clarence and offered to share my bed with you tonight.”

“Won’t Robert object?”

Margaret poked her in the ribs. “Robert is away at our house in the countryside, setting things to right for our return in the summer.”

“When will he be back?”

“In about two weeks, I believe. Until then, I’m lodged with the queen’s household.”

“Thank goodness. I’d hate to share a bed with a stranger.” Rosalind squeezed Margaret’s arm. “At least I’m used to your snoring.”

“And I’m used to your sleepwalking.”

Rosalind concealed a smile. Her sleepwalking had proved a very convenient excuse to get her out at night whenever necessary. She might need to use the ruse again. She stiffened as she recognized a tall, dark figure walking away from the palace and toward the queen.

“Do you know that man, Margaret?”

“Which one?”

“Sir Christopher Ellis, the one dressed in black.”

Margaret gave her a speculative glance. “Would you like me to introduce you to him?”

“Not really. Even from a distance he looks rather arrogant and completely disagreeable.”

“It’s not like you to take an instant dislike to someone you’ve never met.”

“Oh, we met earlier in the queen’s bedchamber,” Rosalind said airily. “He assumed I was up to no good.”

Margaret gave a trill of laughter. “He is quite arrogant. His father was English and his mother Spanish, which is why he has found such favor with Queen Katherine. He speaks her language impeccably as well as several others. She believes he will have a great future as a diplomat.”

“Indeed,” Rosalind muttered. He had reached the queen now, and was speaking to her. Rosalind blanched when he gestured in her direction.

“Hurry, Margaret.”

“What?”

Rosalind picked up her skirts and headed straight for the queen, smiling as she dropped into a low curtsy. The queen beckoned her to her feet.

“Sir Christopher was just asking about you, Lady Rosalind.”

“I’m sure you were able to reassure him that I was not a thief intent on stealing your jewels, Your Majesty.” She raised her chin and looked straight into Christopher Ellis’s cornflower blue eyes. “Don’t you have something to say to me?”

Sir Christopher shrugged. “As I was explaining to Her Grace, my primary concern is always her most sacred welfare.”

“And yet I’d still appreciate an apology.”

The queen laughed. “Perhaps you should oblige the lady, Sir Christopher. Rosalind could never be a threat to me. I love her like a daughter.”

“Thank you,Your Majesty.” Rosalind bent to kiss the queen’s hand. Sir Christopher bowed and turned slightly away from the queen. Rosalind followed him, placed her hand on his arm, and steered him to a quieter spot. Despite his slender appearance, muscles flexed and coiled beneath the fine black velvet of his sleeve.

“Well, are you ready to apologize?”

He grimaced. “The queen has no idea what you are, does she?”

“Neither do you.”

He stepped closer until they were toe-to-toe. “Unfortunately, I’ve seen what your kind does to those you seek to destroy.”

“And your family’s legendary atrocities against my people are any better?”

“You’ve remembered who we are now?” He shrugged. “No matter. We all do what we must.”

She stared up at him. “Your arrogance is truly astonishing, sir. Do you ever stop to think that what you are doing is wrong?”

He went still, his gaze fixed on hers. “Do you?”

“Of course not.”

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it, grazing his teeth lightly over her knuckles. “Which is why our families will continue to fight and you will continue to lose. We have protected the Vampires for centuries; you can hardly expect us to give up now just because you don’t like it.”

She tried to pull away, but his fingers tightened on her wrist. He turned her hand over, and this time the hot tip of his tongue circled the center of her palm.

“We shall see about that,” Rosalind managed to gasp.

His eyebrows rose. “Is that a challenge?”

She wrenched her hand free and curtsied.“Oh no, sir, it is a promise. I will never cede this court to you and the monsters you protect.”

He stared at her for a long moment and then walked away, leaving her breathless and so angry she wanted to run after him and slap his face. She had done nothing to him, yet he thought he had the right to destroy her simply because she came from Druid stock. But she had right on her side. Protecting the king and queen from the Vampires was a just cause.

“Are you all right, Rosalind?” Margaret asked. “You look a little fierce.”

Rosalind forced a smile and turned back to Margaret. “I’m fine. Sir Christopher obviously isn’t the sort of man who finds apologizing easy.”

“What man does?”

Rosalind laughed. “How true.”

As the sun disappeared behind the clouds, the queen, surrounded by her ladies, headed back to the palace. Margaret and Rosalind followed more slowly and just avoided the first drops of rain as they came into the hall.

Margaret didn’t pursue the queen into her suite, but hesitated by the stairs. “Do you wish to go and see if your belongings have arrived in our room?”

“Yes, please.” Rosalind accompanied Margaret along a series of winding and ever-narrowing passageways and up two more flights of stairs until they were under the eaves of the great house.

“Here we are.” Margaret pushed open the door to reveal a bed that took up most of the small space. Two chests and several pegs hammered into the thick beams of the lime-washed walls would hold their clothing. Rosalind’s belongings sat on the patchwork counterpane, the contents spilling out onto the floor. Margaret looked around. “Did someone start to unpack for you? I won-der where they went.”

Rosalind stared at her bag and noted the broken lock that Margaret had overlooked. “It doesn’t matter. I prefer to do it myself anyway.” She smiled at Margaret. “There is scarcely room for both of us in here. Why don’t you go down and attend the queen and I’ll finish this?”

Margaret cast a doubtful look at the bag. “Are you sure, Rosalind? I confess I am a little fatigued. Sitting quietly with the queen sounds like an excellent idea.”

“Then go ahead.” Rosalind maneuvered Margaret out into the corridor, kissed her cheek, and watched her walk down the hallway. Her bright smile faded as she shut the door and leaned up against it.

Someone had been through her bag. Not that they would find anything of interest. Rhys had carried everything that needed to be concealed in his saddlebags, and would hold her weapons for her until she found somewhere safe to keep them. With a sigh, she started to unpack, anticipating an unpleasant surprise with every garment she unfolded, but she found nothing.

She laid her petticoats, stomachers, bodices, and false sleeves in the chest and hung two of her gowns on the vacant pegs on the wall. She checked her jewelry case and was relieved to find it was still locked. She hadn’t brought many jewels with her, but the box proved useful for carrying pins, cosmetics, and all the items necessary for a young lady appearing at court— plus the smallest of her daggers.

She pulled back the feather quilts and went to tuck her prayer book under the pillow. A single red rose placed on a large white kerchief lay on the crisp linen. Had Margaret left it there to welcome her? Somehow Rosalind doubted it.