The Darkland (7 page)

"The Lady Valdine
and her sister helped me settle into my chamber while you and Sir Kirk were...
well, shall we say, in conversation." Micheline nodded her head at the two
ladies. "Good eve to you, ladies."

The twins bowed again.
And they smiled at Micheline at exactly the same time.

"Good eve..."

"... to you, Lady
Micheline. We hope..."

"... you chamber
is..."

"...
satisfactory?"

Mara's mouth was hanging
open. She couldn't help it. Again, Lady Valdine started the train of speech,
Lady Wanda finished it. But Micheline seemed unfazed by the conversation,
merely nodding at the pair. "It's wonderful, thank you. Will you be
sitting with us for the meal?"

They shook their head in
synchronization. "Nay, my lady. We..."

"... will be seated
to..."

"... your left,
with the other..."

"... knights and
ladies."

Mara's head was spinning
from the echo-like effect of their peculiar speech.  As they bowed their
farewell to the table and moved in perfect rhythm for their assigned table,
Mara watched with a mixture of fascination and confusion.

"They talk at the
same time!" she turned to Kirk, still standing behind her.

He laughed softly.
"Nay, they do not. If you notice, they speak in perfect order. One never
overlaps the other and they are very precise in what they wish to say."

"But...." Mara
shook her head. "Can they not speak separately?"

"I have never heard
them." Kirk glanced up, noting that the gaily-dressed crier was preparing
to announce the arrival of Edmund and Johanne. "Corwin says it was quite
difficult to court Valdine. Wanda always seemed to be interfering."

Mara's expression was
droll. "How in the world could he tell? I'd say the man has two wives for
the price of one."

Kirk snorted softly,
observing as the heralds took position for the grand entrance of Lord Edmund de
Cleveley, Baron Bowland. Excusing himself politely, he moved away from the
table.

Mara watched him move to
the grand hall entrance, a towering doorway with carved oak panels. His
movements were graceful, agile, and she found herself staring at him as he waited
patiently for Edmund’s arrival.

"He is in a far
more pleasant mood this eve than he has been," Micheline said softly.

Mara was still staring
at him. "Oh... who?"

Micheline smiled.
"Kirk, dear. He seems quite amiable toward you."

Mara tore her gaze away,
focusing on her sister and trying not to appear too agreeable. "It's
amazing what a peaceful afternoon can do for one's spirits."

Micheline continued to
watch her sister as the woman's gaze returned to the towering knight. Leaning
close, she whispered in her ear. "Did he really spank you this afternoon?
Or did he do something else?"

Mara looked puzzled. And
shocked. "What else would he do?"

Micheline kissed her on
the ear. "This."

Mara nearly leapt from
her chair. "I would never... I never...!"

Micheline laughed
softly, grabbing the woman before she could run away. "If you say so,
Mara. I will not mention it again, I promise."

Red about the ears, Mara
maintained her seat but refused to look Micheline in the eye. A kiss was so
intimate, so...
serious.
And it would only lead to the same actions the
soldier in the inn had forced upon her. Actions that were painful and degrading
and she had no intention of allowing them to happen again. Even if the actions
would be coming from Kirk.

"I do not like him,
Misha."

"I know."

"Nay, you do not. I
am sincere when I say this."

"I realize
that."

Mara looked at her
sister then, just as the crier announced the appearance of Lord Edmund and his
beloved step-sister, Johanne. The heralds blasted their trumpets and the
lavishly-dressed guests rose to their feet, but Mara ignored the pomp; her
focus remained on Micheline.

"Do not mock me,
Misha. I am serious when I say that I want nothing to do with Kirk
Connaught."

Micheline rose, too, her
smile fading as she caught sight of her short, muss-haired groom.

"That may be,
Mara," she whispered, "but he wants everything to do with you."

***

Johanne's reaction to
Micheline hadn't been quite as severe as Edmund’s. After the introduction by
Kirk, she sized the woman from head to toe before seating herself at her
brother's left. While Micheline struggled to maintain her composure as Edmund
ignored her, Johanne's attention moved from her brother's future wife to the
dark-haired woman seated at the end of the table. When Kirk introduced the Lady
Mara, Johanne's eyes narrowed.

"I did not believe
the marriage contract called for the addition of a younger sister," she
said as servants began to bring out great trenchers of beef.  "Will you be
returning to Haslingden after the ceremony, Lady Mara?"

By Edmund’s request,
Kirk was seated on his right hand, between the reluctant groom and his new
bride. The knight begrudgingly did so, although he was glad for his mediating
presence when Johanne began her catty dialogue. Eyeing Mara, his gaze conveyed
the demands of proper behavior.

"Nay, my
lady." Mara wasn't the least bit intimidated by the skinny woman or Kirk's
intense stare. "My sister is my guardian since our parents' death, a duty
that shall go to her new husband. I am afraid I shall be staying at Anchorsholme."

Johanne's features
tensed as she looked at her brother, who merely lost himself in his boiled
carrots and meat. "I see," she said quietly. "Then we shall
simply have to find you a husband, too. There's hardly room for you here."

Both Kirk and Micheline
watched Mara's expression as she pondered Johanne's statement. Challenging
would have been an accurate description.

"I do not want a
husband, Lady Johanne."

"Then the cloister
is preferable? Excellent. The sooner the better."

Mara lifted an eyebrow
and Kirk groaned inwardly. "Why are you so anxious to be rid of me, Lady Johanne?
I have only just arrived. In fact, I rather like it here." She smiled
prettily, settling back in her chair. "I do believe I shall stay a long,
long time."

Micheline sighed
heavily, delving into her plate of beef. The head table made an odd picture;
the bride and groom devouring their meal and ignoring all else as Kirk sat tall
and silent in the center. On the ends, Johanne and Mara were working themselves
into a serious confrontation.

"It is obvious to
me why you have accompanied your sister, Lady Mara," Johanne said, her
green eyes flashing. "After all, look at your clothing; it is apparent
that you have merely come to seek my brother's wealth."

Mara shook her head,
struggling not to lash out. "I came because I was forced to come, my lady.
I have no use for your brother's wealth."

Johanne laughed shortly.
"Certainly you can use it. By the state of your dress, I'd say you could
use it very badly." She looked at Micheline. "And your sister, too. I
must say the two of you are very brave to be seen in public, dressed like paupers."

Mara could deal with Johanne's
personal attacks. But the moment she turned to Micheline, Mara's stomach
twisted with fury and the tongue she had promised to bridle sprang free.

"At least the state
of our dress is repairable, Lady Johanne. But I doubt there's enough money in
the world to buy you the beauty and tact you so obviously lack."

Johanne turned shades of
red as Edmund removed his face from his trencher.

"Enough
impudence," he snarled. "Kirk, remove this... this woman
immediately!"

Kirk stood. Mara, more concerned
that Micheline would be left alone with two jackals once she was removed than
the fact that she was in a good deal of trouble, swatted at him when he reached
down to grasp her.

"Why am I to be
removed when she has been deliberately baiting me?" she demanded. "If
I am to be punished, then punish her as well for having the carelessness to
start something she hasn't the courage to finish!"

Kirk had Mara by both
arms, pulling her from the chair. Johanne, hearing the challenge, leapt from
her seat.  "Brazen wench! You have no idea the powers you toy with!"

Edmund rose, calming his
step-sister with a gentle touch. "She is not worth the effort, Johanne.
Please reclaim your seat and allow Kirk to deal with her."

With Mara and Kirk
wrestling on one side and Edmund and Johanne arguing on the other, Micheline
found her attention drawn to her future husband and his step-sister. The manner
in which he stroked her cheek, the tone of his voice, was infinitely disturbing
and the more she watched, the more confused she became. Had she not known
better, she would have sworn their relationship to be more than familial.

Kirk managed to wind his
arm around Mara's waist, physically removing her from the table. Her demands
for Johanne's mutual punishment soon turned to pleas on Micheline's behalf and
he listened in silence as he removed her from the room. Out into the stillness
of the evening, he finally put her on her feet.

Immediately, Mara
attempted to return to the keep. But Kirk had her firmly by the hands as she
tugged and grunted.

"Please, Kirk, I
cannot leave her alone with those... those wolves!" She unsuccessfully
tried to pull her hands free. "She needs me!"

He cocked an eyebrow,
towing her around the building and Mara recognized the entrance to the corridor
where he had spanked her. Her struggles increased.

"Do not spank me
again!" she half-begged, half-commanded. "I know I promised to
behave, but Lady Johanne was deliberately nasty and I had no choice. Do you
hear me?
I had no choice!"

The corridor was cold
and deserted, shielded from the activity in the bailey. Once inside, Kirk let
go of her and she scrambled away, eyes wide with apprehension.

"There is always a
choice, Mara," he said, his voice low and stern. "But you seem to
make incorrect ones."

"I do not!" She
stamped her little foot, fearful and angry. "I could not allow her to
insult Micheline. And what of Lord Edmund? You said he would apologize for his
behavior earlier."

Kirk drew in a deep
breath, folding his arms across his chest. Mara was momentarily distracted by
the arms, thinking that they were larger in circumference that her entire body.
Warm, strong, wonderful arms.

"I did not say
that, exactly." He stood beside the familiar spanking seat jutting out
from the wall. "I said that I would be surprised if he did not. Obviously,
I am surprised."

Mara frowned. There was
no use arguing with the man when all he did was prove her wrong, again and
again. Exasperated, she turned her back to him and bent over at the waist.

"Well, go on
then," she grumbled. "Do what you must and be done with it. I have
made an easy target for you."

He gazed at her
buttocks, covered in layers of old material. Strolling up behind her, he
reached down and grabbed her by the hair. Whirling her to face him, their gazes
collided.

She was a tiny little
thing, barely meeting with his chest. Mara gasped, although he hadn't hurt her
in the least. But his control was obvious and his breath, when he spoke, was
deliciously hot on her face.

"I am not going to
spank you," he growled. "But God only knows I should. You're the most
insolent, willful, sassy wench I have ever had the misfortune to meet."

Mara swallowed, sensing
no anger in his statement. The stone-gray eyes were blazing at her, the heat
from his gaze licking every inch of exposed skin. She felt naked, vulnerable,
but strangely warm and protected. As if she were to allow herself, she would
melt right into him.

"I tried to bank
myself at first, truly," she whispered. "But when she attacked
Micheline, I could not control myself."

He blinked, slowly.
"Your defense of your sister is admirable but unnecessary."

Mara could feel his
scorching body against her from chest to thigh. He was so massive he seemed to
blot out all else. "Why do you say that?"

Kirk released her hair
and she nearly collapsed. As it was, she ended up perched on the stone seat
directly behind her, aware that her knees had given way as a result of Kirk's
overwhelming closeness. And still, she was trembling.

"Because I shall
protect her," he said softly. "This will no longer be your fight
alone."

Mara blinked, her
features rippling with confusion. "But... why? I never asked this of
you."

"You did not, but I
shall assume your battle just the same." He moved toward her, his dark
hair shades of blue in the ghostly light.  "And another thing, Mara. You
will stay clear of Johanne. Do you understand me?"