Siege Of the Heart (40 page)

“I am thankful she did.” Alex faced Captain Radolf. “Safe travels.”

“And you,” Radolf replied, gripping Alex’s forearms in farewell. He and his men mounted their horses and left the clearing, and soon only the crackling of the fire could be heard in their wake.

Alex joined Isabel, still uncertain how he should treat Kendrick. The other man looked wary at his approach but moved a respectable distance from his wife. Isabel faced Alex, and for an instant he thought he saw a glimmer of relief within her dark brown eyes.

“Alex, Kendrick and Osbert will not be returning to Ashdown with us. I told them they would be welcome, but they have declined,” she said.

“We will travel to Norway. Too much has changed here, and they still hold to the old ways. I think we would both like the opportunity to start anew,” Kendrick said.

Alex nodded, unsure how he should feel. “Norway is a fair distance from here. Are you sure you do not wish to reconsider?”

“No. Osbert has some distant relations there who will help us get settled.”

Alex faced Kendrick. “Thank you for your loyalty to Isabel. Godspeed.”

Kendrick’s face was unreadable as he met Alex’s stare, but it only a lasted a few seconds before he turned to Isabel and gave her a short bow. He looked as though he wanted to say something more, but the Englishman only held Isabel’s gaze briefly before he turned away. He met Osbert, and they put their gear into a small wagon they would use to travel to the coast.

Isabel sighed and slipped closer to Alex, and he wrapped an arm around her waist. They watched the wagon fade into the forest. Alex pulled her tight against him, inhaling the scent of her hair and relishing in the warmth beneath his hands. “Are you ready to go home?”

As she looked up at him, a small smile brightened her watery eyes. “Yes.”

* * * *

“We will need a bath brought up as soon as possible,” Alex ordered when they reached the public house. He secured two rooms, one for him and Isabel and the other for Hugh and Captain Thomas to share. The captain was still in pain as Hugh helped him to their room, but Isabel thanked God his injury was not life-threatening. Jerome and the rest of the men would sleep in the stables overnight.

Averill hovered near Isabel as Alex settled with the hosteller. The girl had stayed behind in Radolf’s camp during the fight, and once reunited with Isabel, had been eager to see to her mistress’s injuries.
 

With the arrangements finalized, Alex took Isabel’s arm. When Averill moved to follow them, Alex forestalled her. “I will tend to Lady Isabel. We are not to be disturbed.”
 

Isabel managed a small smile for the dispirited girl before Alex led her upstairs to the biggest guest room the inn had available. Isabel gratefully sank down into a simple chair, and Alex stood by as the inn’s servant brought in buckets of warm water for the wooden tub they placed in the center of the room. Isabel was quiet, watching the water swirl and slosh as each bucket was added.

After the last heave of water, the serving wench curtseyed clumsily. “Just tell us when ye be done, miss.”
 

Isabel nodded.

With a click of the door latch, she and Alex were finally alone. She stood up, disconcerted to find herself trembling and her breath shallow.
 

Alex was quickly at her side and ran his hands up and down her arms in comfort. “Come, let me help you.”

He reached down, unbuckled her sword from her waist and took a moment to look at it. Her old blade had been well-made, and this one—her father’s—was even finer. He slid the sword back into its sheath and set it on the nearby table.

Alex turned to her, plucked her cloak from her shoulders and put it aside. He froze when he saw the dress she wore underneath. Gently, he smoothed the torn fabric, the touch sending a jolt through her as she recalled the last time they were together. Every acute detail. The warmth of his skin, his scent and the way he had fired her blood.

He must have felt it too, for he pulled his hand away as if burned. She took a shaky breath. Such thoughts would only complicate things between them now. She waited as he reached down and grabbed the edge of her dress. He pulled it up, and Isabel slipped out of it with little effort. He repeated the process with her shift, grimacing when he saw the cuts on her shins and her knees. Her chest was largely unblemished, with only a few stray bruises along her sides.

He led her toward the tub. She gripped his arm tightly as she stepped in, a hiss of pain the only sound escaping her when she made contact with the steaming water. Her motions still clumsy, he helped guide her down into the bath. With his arms wrapped tightly around her, she felt the intake of breath jolting through him. He must have looked down at her back for the first time, at the mass of bruises that no doubt ran down her spine.

“
Jesu
! What did they do to you?”

Isabel grunted. “Punishment for escaping.” She twisted toward him. “It does not hurt me much anymore.”

Raising his brows, he softly trailed his hands down her back and saw her wince. “Liar. I should have killed the brute myself.”

Alex pulled off his overtunic and pushed back the sleeves of his sherte before sinking to his knees next to the tub. The serving girl had left behind some pieces of cloth, and he grabbed a small scrap and soaked it in the water. He took Isabel’s hand and started to wipe away the dirt and grime. She was quiet as he continued his ministrations, traveling up her arm before moving on to her other hand. When he reached her chest and neck, he kept his touch from lingering too long in any one area. He then came to her face, and he cupped some water in his hand and poured it over her brow, wiping away the dirt and dried blood with his fingers. An unknown look shone in his eyes as she watched him.

Smiling reassuringly, he trailed his hand over her cheek one last time before he turned his attention to her back and carefully worked his way down over her bruises. When he was done, she dunked her head, slowly kneading her scalp and hair. She finished and moved to get up. Alex was at her side with a hand on her elbow and another larger piece of cloth to wrap herself in. He led her to the bed and then went over to their gear. He rifled through her saddlebags they had managed to recover and pulled out her comb. She took it gratefully and started running it through her hair.

Alex removed the rest of his clothing and got into the tub, not wanting to waste the water. He hastily performed his ablutions, dried off and put on a pair of braies. He called for the serving girls and had the tub removed. They also brought up a tray with some bread and cheese and left it on the table. Isabel sighed when he shut the door behind the last servant, knowing there would be no more disturbances.

Alex joined her on the bed. Her drying hair started to curl around her temples. He fingered it then pulled the comb out of her hands. “You should eat something.”

She nodded in agreement but did not move from her seat.

He set the comb on the table, grabbed a piece of bread and placed some cheese on it. He handed it to her, and she dutifully took a couple of bites. Alex ate as well, including what she could not finish. When he was done, he returned to the saddlebags and pulled out a clean shift for her. She stood. He pulled the towel away from her body and helped her slip on the gown.

Isabel smoothed the shift into place, relishing the clean clothes. She looked up at Alex’s face, at a wrinkle in his brow that had been there all day. She wanted to say something to dispel it, but could not find the words. Instead she stepped toward him, and he wrapped his hands around her as she hugged him close.

She pressed her cheek against his warm chest. “I thank you,” she breathed.

“I am sorry we did not find you sooner.”

She shook her head and pulled away from him. “We cannot change what happened. I was grateful for the chance to see my brother once more.” Her gaze fell to the bed. “But I am also glad I do not have to spend another night on the ground,” she said with a small smile.

His mouth quirked. “Indeed.” He stepped away from her and dug out a necklace from the pouch on his belt.

Isabel gasped when she saw it. “I thought I had lost it.”

He smiled. “You did, but when we found it, I knew we were closer to finding you,” he told her as he clasped it once more around her neck. She ran her hand over the chain and pendant in wonder.

“Come,” he said with a nod toward the bed.

Together, they sank onto the rope mattress. After blowing out the candle, Alex lay on his back, gathered Isabel in his arms. Her chin rested on his shoulder. Absently he picked up her hand, lacing their fingers together.

As her eyes adjusted to the dim light the brazier in the corner of the room cast, Isabel concentrated on their breathing, noting the rise and fall of Alex’s chest. Sleep pulled at her, but Alex deserved some answers before she gave in to her exhaustion.

“I know you have questions, and I will tell you what I can.”

She saw a frown crease his face briefly before it disappeared in the dark of the room. “I know enough of what happened, but now you need rest,” he said. Kendrick had probably already provided him with most of the details regarding her captivity.

“Only if you are certain.”

“Sleep,” he said, his voice gentle to soften the command.

She nodded, and for a time all was well. In the warmth of Alex’s arms, Isabel slept soundly, the dread and discomforts of the rebel camp now behind her.

She woke sometime later in a panic, still not convinced she was safe. It took a moment for her to control her erratic breathing as she stared, uncomprehending, around her, at the man lying next to her—Alex—his profile unmistakable despite the dimness. She shuddered in relief and curled into his side.

He came for her. He really came. She had not dared to believe he would, and even though they were now together, had he only done it because it was expected—the honorable thing to do—or was there a deeper meaning to his actions? Their time apart had crystallized her feelings for him, but she had no inkling as to what Alex felt. For her.

Their marriage was the result of the conquest, and now their reunion was precipitated by even more bloodshed. What kind of a future could they hope for?

Alex woke to the muffled sounds of Isabel’s sobs dampening his chest. “Come,
chérie
, do not cry.”

Isabel sniffed, too upset to be embarrassed by her tears. “I did not mean to wake you.”

He pulled her closer. “All is as it should be,” he said. “We are together, and tomorrow we will be in Ashdown.”

“I know. I can hardly believe I am with you again.”

“You know not how glad I was we were able to find you before…”

“Before it was too late?” Isabel supplied.

Alex nodded. “I kept envisioning horrible possibilities,” he said with a sigh. “I feared for your safety.”

“I was fearful as well.” She closed her hand over his arm that anchored her against him. “Even though I was reunited with my brother, it did not take long to realize he could not help me. Kendrick could not help me.” She took a breath. “And… I feared you would not help me.” She looked down in shame at that, more tears slipping down her face. “At night, every cross word, each of our fights, filled my head. All the lies, all the awful things I said.”

He cupped her cheek. “Isabel, do not—”

She ignored him. She needed to unburden herself of all her sins, her doubts…everything. “And I despaired. Why would you want me back after that? Even if you did, it was Julien who pointed out it looked like I ran off of my own accord. Given our past, it would not be unreasonable for you to assume as much.”

Alex sighed. “You are right. I did doubt. I thought on those same things and made similar assumptions.” His tone was heavy with regret. “But then other things did not make sense. Like why you left without your horse, the fact that you were leaving your people behind to fend for themselves…” He cleared his throat. “And the soft look on your face when I left you that night.”

Isabel knew what he meant, and hearing him talk about that intimate moment with such reverence nurtured the anticipation coiled around her heart.

“Those things gave me hope,” Alex continued, “hope I would find you again.” He tightened his arms around her.

She sniffed. “When I saw you fighting Alric’s men, I knew all would turn out. Even when you were fighting against the devil himself, I did not doubt… Not until Julien left my side.”

Alex tensed beside her.