Strangclyf Secret (28 page)

“’
Tis no great trial.”
Aurick smiled. “Just answer a simple question and I will know if
you’re worthy or not.”

Bernon noticed the smile
didn’t quite reach Aurick’s eyes and got the nagging feeling that
he was being judged on something other than his leadership
abilities. He was curious to discover just what test might be worth
the man’s life. “You may ask your question.”

“
What is your wife’s
name?”

Bernon set his face in a
chiseled mask. That was it? What he named his wife was the basis of
the Saxon’s test and the man was staking his next breath on the
answer. Was everyone around here daft or just single-minded? Of
course, the question rang of loyalty to his lady. “’Tis a question
I cannot answer. I have had many suggestions, but I’ll not decide
until I find the one that best suits her.”

A huge grin broke through
Aurick’s beard and he nodded once. “A good and honest answer and
one I can abide.”

Dropping upon one knee and
placing his right hand over his heart, Aurick pledged his loyalty
to his new lord.

“
You may stand,” Bernon
said.

Aurick rose and turned
halfway. “Come, Druce, and meet the Strangclyf.” Facing Bernon, he
said, “Druce is second legion commander under me.”

Druce approached Bernon,
dropped on one knee, and gave his pledge. Then the warrior stood,
looked Bernon in the eyes, and grinned. “Welcome home. ‘Tis good to
have a just lord at Strangclyf.”

Bernon nodded once in
recognition of the statement. “Did you also base your loyalty on my
wife’s name?”

“
Nay,” Druce replied. “My
mind was set as soon as I heard Genius call you papa.”

“
The legion awaits us
outside the gorge,” Aurick said. “Will you ride with us or do you
wish to receive their pledges here?”

“
I will ride with you,”
Bernon said, relaxing his pose. “I have a delicate matter to
discuss with you away from the keep, but tell me, was there really
a Viking invasion?”

Aurick settled his fists
on his hips and bellowed a laugh. “Old Earlingsson got about eighty
yards from shore and saw the Strangclyf legion waiting to greet him
along with the Canmore of Scotland and half his clans. Those prissy
Norsemen turned back without even giving us a good
skirmish.”

“
Then this wasn’t a trick
to lure you away so Hadwyn could take the keep?” Geno
asked.

“
Nay.” Aurick turned
sheepish. “We might have gotten here in time to help you with
Hadwyn if the MacInnes hadn’t brought along a couple of wagonloads
of liquid gold. Being old friends, ‘twould have been rude not to
force them to share.”

“
Aye, and though ‘tis
shameful to admit,” Druce added. “After your lady’s message
arrived, we had to get over one hell of a slosh afore we could sit
astride our mounts.”

Bernon nodded. “Aurick and
Druce, meet Geno.”

“
He is our uncle now too,”
Genius said.

“
He is an extra-special
bastard,” Sapphire added in her best serious tone.

Aurick got down on a knee
and looked her in the eyes. “You don’t say. And what makes him
extra-special?”

“
He has
a
holy
sire,”
Sapphire confided. “’Tis the pope. I heard one of the ladies
talking when she didn’t know I was there.”

“
We do not know for sure
‘twas the pope.” Geno grinned. “We only know my presence was
embarrassing someone in the Roman Curia. ‘Tis a pleasure to finally
meet the great Aurick. The little wolf will be glad you’re
home.”

“
But no one is to tell
her,” Bernon ordered, turning stern eyes on the children. “’Twill
be a surprise for her at dinner tonight.”

“
A secret?” Topaz
asked.

“
Aye, so lock your lips and
do not tell your mother.”

“
I’ll make sure Topaz keeps
quiet,” Sapphire promised.

“’
Tis probably you that he
is most worried about telling, little gem,” Druce said then winked
at Sapphire’s outraged pout.

“
Can we see her now, Papa?”
Genius asked then turned to Aurick. “Papa is making Mama
rest.”

“
Give her time to finish
her bath and dress, then you may visit. Are you ready,
Aurick?”

“
Just about. ‘Tis something
important I must do first.” Aurick walked toward the common
corridor where Ardith stood watching them. He wrapped his arms
around her, swept her feet from the floor, and captured her mouth
in a fierce kiss. Lowering her feet to the ground, he gave her
bottom a firm squeeze then broke the kiss and looked at her dazed
expression. “’Tis good to see you missed me, woman.”

Ardith blushed and pushed
at his shoulders. “Let me go, you big lummox. You’ll have his
lordship thinking me a harlot.”

Aurick glanced at Bernon,
winked, then returned his gaze to her happy violet eyes. “’Tis fine
for him to know as long as he is not of a mind to share what’s
mine. I missed you too. How is Betia?”

“
She is sitting with a
wounded soldier, but Cora relieves her soon. She will be happy you
are home.”

“
Wait up for me.” Aurick
kissed Ardith’s nose and gave her bottom another rub then released
her and ambled toward Bernon as she fled into the common corridor.
“Always give their bottoms a firm rub, milord. Not sure why, but it
sets their passions boiling.”

Bernon shook his head and
grinned. Good ole’ Uncle Aurick had the devil’s own roguish
streak.

“
I heard the famous Uncle
Aurick was here,” Medwyn said by way of greeting as he entered the
hall.

“
And who has been talking
about me?” Aurick put his fists on his hips and turned a mock glare
on the children, earning a round of giggles.

“
Medwyn, come meet Aurick
and Druce.” Bernon turned back to the two men. “Medwyn is my first
commander and right now he is also my lady’s personal
guard.”

Druce frowned. “Has there
been trouble other than Hadwyn?”

“
We have a problem with
vultures and snakes,” Bernon replied.

“
God help us, Aurick. He
sounds like Padarn,” Druce exclaimed.

“
Aye, and if ‘tis a Padarn
riddle, I know who the snake is,” Aurick said with a fierce glower.
“His lordship is right. We will discuss this as we
ride.”

“
Medwyn, I am going to meet
the legion. My lady is not to know they have arrived, and for God’s
sake, don’t let her do any work.”

“
Well, Medwyn, I have
always wanted to meet a miracle worker,” Druce said on a chuckle.
“Keeping our little lady from working will be a supernatural feat
that could earn you sainthood.”

“
Don’t I know it,” Medwyn
grinned. “Every time I think she is giving me a break, she is
sneaking off.”

“’
Tis the truth, she is
slippery,” Aurick said then ran his fingers through his beard as
the men walked toward the door. “Tell me, milord, have you a barber
around here? On my way in I felt as if I was standing out amongst
my hairless own.”

Barwolf looked at her
remaining wardrobe and frowned. Bernon had ordered her not to wear
her everyday gowns again, but she had only her special gold gown
with the black bear left. What if she blundered and spoiled it
before the celebration tonight? Shaking her head, she released an
exaggerated sigh and reached for the old frayed kirtle. Hopefully,
Bernon would be busy and not see her.

After donning her clothes,
she ran her fingers through her short curls and slipped her dagger
in place. Her first meeting with Bernon flashed through her mind.
An uneasy sense of foreboding crept upon her as several questions
bombarded her. Who had tried to kill Bernon that day? What if
whoever it was had come to Strangclyf with the other court
followers? Could the same person want her dead too? What if the
assassin went after Bernon again?

“
I should want to die,” she
answered her last question in a grief-stricken whisper. Momentary
panic assailed her as she remembered her life before Bernon. He
made her feel safe and maybe even a little wanted. “I can’t lose
him now.”

Barwolf made her way from
the bath to the Roman armory. She took five daggers from the wall
then retraced her steps. After securing a dagger up both sleeves,
to each calf, and between her shoulder blades, she stood and
squared her shoulders. “Anybody trying to kill my Bernon will have
to deal with me.”

Returning to the lord’s
chamber, she glanced at the bed and grimaced. She had rested enough
for one day, and she was the Lady Strangclyf, after all. Bernon
might want her to wait before assuming her duties, but she had a
sick soldier who needed tending and poor little Karl probably
needed some special attention right now. She would go check on
Jerold, then she would find the children and make sure they were
getting along.

Stepping out of the
chamber, Barwolf was surprised to find Lady Lucretia snooping about
the landing. The two women faced one another. Barwolf’s nostrils
flared. She saw a stunning, confident redhead who could have posed
for one of those statues in the bath. She also noticed the venom in
the older woman’s eyes.

“’
Tis a
rule that no one enters the lord’s tower without permission, Lady
Lucretia,” Barwolf said, making an effort not to gag on the
word
lady
. “If
you are lost, then I shall be glad to direct
you.”

“
And what makes you think I
do not have permission?” Uncertainty flickered in Barwolf’s eyes
and Lucretia seized upon it. “Bernon bade me familiarize myself
with the entire keep, so we could figure out the best route for
nocturnal trysts. Apparently you do not satisfy him in
bed.”

Barwolf frowned. “He has
made no complaints. I am very still and make no noise.”

Lucretia laughed, a
grating sound that chilled along the spine. “No wonder he is not
satisfied. Men want you to moan and move. Of course with your
delicate build, he is probably afraid you will break under his
weight.”

Barwolf rolled her eyes
and snorted, crossing her arms in front of her. “Do not be
ridiculous. He doesn’t lay on top of me, and ‘twould keep him awake
if I moved and moaned.”

Lucretia’s eyes widened
with surprise then narrowed to devious slits. “Are you saying he
has not bedded you?”

“
We sleep together in bed.”
Barwolf furrowed her brow, not certain what the woman
insinuated.

“
But has he not come over
you in bed and joined your bodies?” Lucretia persisted.

Barwolf blushed crimson.
“’Tis none of your business.”

“
He hasn’t! Your marriage
has not been consummated if he hasn’t bedded you. An annulment is
possible. He can still rid himself of you for another.” Malicious
excitement swept through Lucretia’s orbs and a sly grin spanned her
face. “Do excuse me. I must see the queen right away.”

Lucretia spun about and
descended the stairs out of sight. Barwolf shook her head. Was the
tart telling the truth? The harpy was talking about magic, but they
hadn’t done anything in bed but sleep. Did it really matter where?
She thought they had taken care of the consummation business in
London.

Barwolf scrunched her
face, trying to remember her father’s words when he instructed her
about the necessary act.
Hopefully he will
do his duty and spend at least one night in your bed so this damn
marriage can be consummated.
Her father
hadn’t said anything about magic, but he did mention the
bed.

“
Zut!
I must find Bernon and ask him
about this. Right now too.” Jerold and the children could wait. If
she and Bernon had to be in bed for the magic to work, then
zut
if she wouldn’t
suffer through it—mighty ache or not. She was going to have this
marriage consummated before dinner.

Scampering footsteps
tattered on the stairs along with a heavier set of thuds. ‘Twas
obviously the children and hopefully Bernon would be with
them.

Genius topped the steps
and threw his arms around her. “Mama, Papa says we can visit if we
don’t wear you out.”

She smiled and ruffled his
hair. “I’m glad you’re here. I have been lonely most of the
day.”

Medwyn appeared with the
rest of the children, carrying Karl. “Good afternoon, milady. I’m
going to resort to begging and ask you not to go sneaking off.
Bernon isn’t pleased with me right now, and I’m sure you know
why.”

“
I shall stay in sight,”
she promised then turned her attention to the children. “How are my
precious gems?”

“
We’re wonderful,” Topaz
and Sapphire replied in unison.

“
Papa is having new clothes
made for all of us with ribbons and shoes and everything. Isn’t he
wonderful?” Ravyn asked in a dreamy voice.

“
Aye, he is,” Barwolf
agreed then flashed her smile upon Karl who hid his face against
Medwyn’s neck. “Karl, come give me a hug.”