Read The Beast of Renald (The Northern Knights) Online
Authors: Amber Dane
Then he heard a soft shifting, followed by a very faint clicking sound. Then she lifted her misty eyes to his and held her hand out to him. The ring had become something else. A key.
Neither Cedric nor Halvard ever realized what they sought all along had been right under their noses. They both had worn the ring.
Darc said. ‘It was here all along-the one part at least. Right on their greedy little fingers.’
What Cedric had wanted so badly from her. The corners of one side of Darc’s mouth tilted up as he shook his head in disbelief.
She smiled weakly, mournfully, ‘My father was a very skilled craftsman. He built many things in our home that were beautiful. A wise man among other things, husband.’
Darc remained quiet along with his soldiers not wanting to interrupt her. The wistful smile she wore told him how much she missed her father.
Then, she cleared her throat and turned her back to them all once more. She gently pushed on a spot in the wall and with a shift of the rock and a cloud of dust, an opening appeared. A veiled shelf hidden behind the sturdy wall.
A medium sized chest, the lid covered in dirt sat upon it. Leather and metal straps bound the middle and metal corners garnished the dark wood with a small locket in the middle. The key fit perfectly.
After the chest was opened, Darc took a step back.
His wife’s dowry was grand and of fine quality. What glittered from the box would have driven any man seeking wealth to do anything to have at it. And it, unfortunately had.
But it would not him.
He’d his own riches and did not care about her dowry. But Darc could easily see why her father had so carefully guarded and secreted this well and had died to protect it for his only child.
He pulled the box out and froze at what lay behind it. A glimpse into a windowless smaller room filled nigh to the ceiling with more.
He handed the chest to two nearby knights and looked at Caroline.
She nodded, a beaming smile upon her lovely face and then she drew his head down to whisper in his ear. Darc’s heart swelled at the words that left her lips.
The second passageway held the second reason Caroline had needed to come here. It still took her by surprise and raw emotions flooded her.
A dried and empty groove running from a depression in the ground of what once had no doubt been a cesspool laid her father’s skeleton.
Uncovered and exposed where he’d been slain. Slaughtered for greed.
Overwhelming grief gripped her and she threw herself across his bones and wept. ‘Father. Father-Oh, Father…’
No one said anything.
Much later, Caroline vaguely remembered Darc’s strong hands picking her up and carrying her out of the caverns.
Her tears dried by the time his men had properly buried her father’s remains.
‘Twas close to eventide and the dark clouds that had followed them here disappeared and the sky was clear. She thanked the men as they made a makeshift marker for her father next to the place her mother was buried.
Caroline knelt and prayed over both graves.
After all this time she could finally put things to rest and look to the future as King William had once bid her. A winsome smile came to her lips at the thought of how miserable she’d felt that day so long ago. She could hazily recall the deep emotion, the disdain she’d felt because now in its place-her heart bloomed and beat rapidly with love for the giant turning her way now. A surprised and worried frown upon his handsome face.
Her tender gaze never leaving him as he raced across the mounds of dirt to her side.
The dark cloud over her life had lifted, finally. And she was willing to trust it. Trust him. Hope and dreams she’d thought long out of her reach had come true because of this man beside her. Aye, they’d gone through their own hell of obstacles, but they had survived and were all the better for it.
Darc had grieved for and with her and when her eyes met his, his heart swelled. He understood now why she had needed to come here.
She had needed to lay all to rest.
What he now saw in her wide honey-colored depths took his breath away.
Without a word spoken she walked directly into his arms.
Darc buried his head in her soft waves and pulled his cloak around them. She wrapped her arms around his waist and held him back just as tightly as her embrace would allow.
The wind picked up but he still heard her words when she spoke.
Though she had told him this once before, this time, the depth of her emotion filling her voice made him know that for as long as he lived, he would never forget this moment.
‘I love you so it hurts me, Darc.’
Devotion choked his words. ‘Ah, Caroline, my love. Thank you.’
She lifted her head to look up at him then. ‘Nay. I thank you. Now. Take us back home, husband. Our boys await our return.’
Darc could not hold back his loud and happy roar. He felt her shake with her laugh in his arms. Her round belly pressed against him and he felt their babe kick. His hand slid down over her middle as he said with a smile, ‘Aye, wife, home.’
He planted a hot kiss on her smiling lips.
He told the men to load the carriage and he helped her carefully back inside.
Mounting and turning his horse around, Darc was the happiest man on earth. She’d not come here for the treasure. She’d come for so much more.
‘
You’re all the treasure I need
.’ She had told him when she’d revealed the hidden treasure Halvard and Cedric had greedily sought and murdered for.
As he watched the last load being placed onto the second cart, he shook his head. Now he knew why she had been so persistent in bringing it along.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
‘I want to know about you, Darc.’
‘I have told you.’
‘Nay you told me about your brother. About Adelay. I wish to know about you.’ Caroline pressed her hand to his scar and he tried to move out of her caress but she would not allow it. He stood rigid in front of her. They were in their chamber.
They had moved her belongings into his larger room weeks ago, the day they had returned from burying her father.
Kelbie and Cal now shared her old chamber. Old Agnes, though Darc had forgiven the woman, he could not bring himself to forget and had her sent off to Gest Manor.
Caroline pressed tighter against him and repeated her query. He took her hand and turned it over in his staring at it strangely. When he looked back at her, Caroline wanted to cry at the depth of emotion she read in those magnetic eyes she’d given her heart to.
‘What would you like to know?’ he asked her softly.
She let out a cry and pulled him into her arms. She placed her feet on top of his and kissed his neck, bare chest, and all the places she could reach as she said breathlessly, ‘Everything.’
He hugged her fiercely back and said softly against her ear. ‘I was born in Rouen…’
Later, Caroline inhaled the scent of the delicate petals and set the metal vase filled with roses back on the small table next to trenchers of food for their supper.
Her gaze went back to Darc, he was stretched out on the bench next to her, his bare legs and toes drew her attention.
She liked the fine hairs on his muscular legs and her skin tingled from just looking at them and she squirmed in place. He gave her a side long look.
She returned it with a mock look of horror and with the urge to be bold, pressed her hand over her one breast.
Darc’s mouth went dry thinking of how that perfect mound and her long nipple would feel in his mouth later. She smiled and dropped her hand to her rounded belly.
He moved closer and gave the same breast a squeeze she pushed him away with a giggle. ‘We need to eat afore the meal grows cold.’
He grumbled and turned away.
‘I want us to make a promise to one another that when discord arises that we talk of it at that very moment.’
‘Aye, that wife, I can promise. And I would like to add that I will work better at controlling my temper when it comes to you.’
He stopped when her face reddened. He lifted her face up by way of a finger under her chin. ‘What have I said that makes you blush so prettily?’
She gave him a beauteous smile and Darc shifted, his toes curling as he awaited her response.
Caroline said. ‘Well that one, husband I must admit you are not alone in. ‘Tis something too which I need work on harder as well. After all you do tend to make my blood boil.’
He threw his head back, chuckling. He stood and walked over to the bed. Caroline watched him, her eyes smiling, mesmerized by the difference in this man in the past half year. She was still getting used to it, but oh did she love every bit of it. She added in a loud voice. ‘Then again, ‘tis what drew me to you when we first met.’
‘Aye. Know that we will not always agree on many things.’ Her wary gaze made him eager to assure her and he went on. ‘There is one other thing I can promise you. And that is I will always and forever love you, Caroline. Come, lie next to me whilst I rest my aching bones.’
Darc guffawed when she launched herself at him, her arms wrapping around his neck as he fell backwards on the bed.
When she was done kissing him and his passion flamed to near bursting she drew back, breathless. Those honey-colored eyes he loved so much twinkled and reflected back the warmth he sought.
And her love.
Seeing it made him wish he could spend the whole week with her locked away in their chamber. ‘God, you are beautiful, Caroline.’
‘As are you. Your words please me.’
‘I am glad I could please you.’
‘Oh, you are not yet done, husband. Aching or not, I need you to show me as well. I do so love the little deaths you give me.’
She took the breath from him as she kissed his open mouth. Their hot kiss ignited the hungry fire in him as she climbed on top of him. Pregnancy agreed with her, she glowed and was nigh insatiable. And Darc loved it. He had worried about harming the babe, but after the midwife’s examination his concerns had been put to rest a little. He still worried and was careful, but he handled it by letting Caroline think she led their lovemaking and careful positioning each time.
Darc reluctantly ended their hot kiss. His mouth dropped open further as she wriggled on his growing manhood. He sucked in his breath and he wiped his brow with forced exertion and a yawn. ‘If I must suffer more to prove my love to you. Your wish is my command, wife.’
She swatted his shoulder as he rolled her over onto her side, her back to him. She glanced at him over her shoulder. ‘You tease me unmercifully.’
Darc grinned down at her and moved his hands over her thin night rail. She lifted her leg with a moan. He touched her softly, gently drawing the wetness from her. She was so hot for him.
He whispered hotly against the back of her neck. ‘The unmerciful part has not even begun.’
Castlefolk slept on and guards remained silent at their posts near the staircase as the Lady of Renald’s cries came from their lord’s chamber. All were thrilled the lord and lady had come back together.
The beast had found his mate.
About the Author:
Amber Dane resides in the Northeast with her family and loves to pen historical medieval romance and romantic suspense. Visit her at her website/blog:
http://dain54.wordpress.com/about/
Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amber-Dane-Author-Page/167892949940902
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Amber-Dane/e/B007MXU7VU/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1361314055&sr=1-2-ent
Table of Contents