The Knight and the Dove (9 page)

Megan let out a deep sigh; she was growing very sleepy. Her stomach was full for the first time in days, and she was finally clean and warm. Her head began to nod. She noticed that Helga had stopped brushing, but she couldn’t find the words to tell her to continue. A moment later something soft was laid next to her cheek and Megan stopped trying to think so her body could sleep.

Six

“D
ID YOU NOT HEAR MY WORDS
?”

Megan woke to the sound of an angry male voice, but she had no idea where she was.

“I told you to be in the great room in one hour. Is there something wrong with your ears?”

Megan’s senses returned to her in a rush, and she looked up to find Bracken towering over her in a conspicuous rage.

“There is nothing wrong with my ears,” Megan told him coldly when he continued to glare.

“Then why aren’t you downstairs?”

“I have nothing to wear.”

“I don’t care—” Bracken began, thinking that women could be very tiresome over their wardrobes, but Megan cut him off.

“Yes, I can see that you don’t care.” She stood now, the furs still wrapped around her, feeling angry as well. “I have known a week of humiliation in your keep, and now you ask me to parade myself in your great hall without a stitch of clothing on. Well, I won’t!”

They were toe-to-toe now, but hardly nose to nose. Bracken eventually noticed what she was wearing, and for the first time his normal good humor was restored to him. Here she was, wrapped in furs, hair all around her face, the top of her head stopping somewhere around the middle of his chest, and
she
was giving the orders. Bracken’s eyes lit with amusement, and Megan’s narrowed with indignation.

“Do you find this amusing, Lord Bracken?” Her voice was low, and he noticed for the first time how husky it was.

“Indeed, I do, Lady Megan,” he admitted “But,” he spoke when she
opened her mouth to berate him, “I
will
see that clothing is provided for you, and I will expect you to join me as soon as you are able. Does this meet with my lady’s approval?”

Megan caught the sarcasm in his question, but she nodded just the same. The sooner they could talk, the sooner she might be able to leave.

She stood still while he exited the chamber and was still standing when Helga returned, surprising Megan by bringing both of the dresses that had been left in her trunk.

“What say you, Arik?”

“Concerning your lady?”

“Yes. When did you find her?”

“She arrived with Elias, the peddler. She tried to gain entrance to the castle but was denied.” The huge man’s voice was rusty from lack of use.

“And she ended up working in the creamery?” Bracken had been pacing the floor of the war room but now stopped for Arik’s reply. He answered with a nod.

“Where did she sleep?”

“The smithy’s.”

Bracken’s eyes slid shut. What on earth had possessed the girl to come early?

Watching him, Arik decided that now was not the time to say that the Lady Megan had arisen each night and tried to leave the smithery while still sleeping.

“While here in the keep, did she come to harm in any way?”

Arik didn’t bother to answer or so much as lift a brow. It was a foolish question with him as her protector, and Bracken knew it the moment the words left his mouth.

“Bracken.”

The young lord turned at the sound of his name. Lyndon, the knight as close to Bracken as his own brothers, stood just inside the door.

“Lady Megan is in the great hall.”

Bracken nodded and shot a glance at Arik. The larger man was
studying him, but as usual Bracken could not discern his thoughts. Without another word, he walked from the room, both Arik and Lyndon at his heels.

Megan could feel several eyes on her as she swept down the main stairway and into the great hall, but the hall itself was such a pleasant surprise that she gave the scrutiny little heed.

It was very spacious and could rival her mother’s for cleanliness. It sported not one, but two mammoth fireplaces, and Megan thought how practical this was for chasing away the cold on winter days.

Megan stopped before the fireplace on the north wall and studied the family crest above the mantel. Twin hawks, wings up for landing, flew talons-first toward the center, where a shield which sported a huge male lion, his noble head proud, seemed to stare out over the hall. Megan was very impressed with the symmetry and grandeur of the entire crest. She was still looking at it when Bracken approached. Megan heard his footsteps and turned.

She watched him hesitate, and for some reason flushed with embarrassment. She knew she did not look her best. Her dress was not pressed, and she had no combs for her hair. She would have been stunned to know that Bracken’s hesitation was over her looks, but not because he found them lacking.

He recalled the other times he had seen her: in the war room, on the road, briefly here in the great room, and then up in a bedchamber. The first three times she had been covered with dirt, her dress a rag, but why when he’d seen her upstairs hadn’t he recognized her loveliness?

His eyes now took in skin that looked like fresh cream, lips full and red, and eyes so enormous and green that they seemed to swallow her face
.
Added to all of this was the most glorious mass of hair he had ever seen. Suddenly it didn’t make a bit of difference that it was red. In fact, he rather liked it. Maybe this woman had been to court after all.

It’s wonderful when a husband and wife find each other attractive.

Aunt Louisa’s words came back to him, and he could testify at the moment that at least part of that statement was true—he found Megan very attractive. But one look also told him that she did not share the
sentiment. The eyes regarding him were trying to disguise their fear, but Bracken was not fooled. He knew it was time for business.

“Please, sit down.”

Megan complied and watched as Bracken sat across from her. He was a large man, probably taller than her father and definitely broader. She had never seen anyone with such dark skin and so much dark hair. It covered his head in tight curls and even curled down the back of his neck. His forearms were covered and so was the vee of skin at the top of his tunic. The dark color of his full beard made his teeth look very white.

“How is it that you are here ahead of schedule, Megan?”

“My father is away, and my mother sent me. I don’t believe she knew of the date.”

“Your father was going to accompany you?”

“Yes.” Megan was thankful that he didn’t seem ready to question her mother’s actions. She would have been ashamed to explain her mother’s ruthlessness.

“And you lived in the keep?”

“Yes. I arrived Monday, and as no one expected me, I stayed on.”

“As a servant?” Bracken’s voice was harsh, but he was not angry with her, just concerned.

“Yes.” Megan’s chin went in the air. “I saw no other way. The road home was long, and I’d already watched my men die under attack. I am not afraid of hard work and staying seemed most rational.”

“Arik tells me you slept at the smithy’s.”

Megan’s eyes flew to that giant who was standing against one wall across the room. He was looking back at her, and Megan couldn’t suppress a shudder. He was so huge and silent.

“There is no reason to fear him. ’Tis true that he’s a huge man, nearly seven feet tall, but he would die protecting you.” Bracken’s voice was soft now, and Megan’s eyes went back to his.

“He can talk?”

Bracken smiled. “Yes, but he chooses to do so very rarely.”

Megan nodded.

“Because you are early, Megan, there is no attendant here for you.”

“I thought your aunt lived with you.” Megan’s eyes had grown even larger.

“Most often she does. She was coming early next week to stay until we are wed, but right now she is in London. I have sent a man for her. She will arrive sometime tomorrow.”

“Oh.” Megan looked flustered, and Bracken went on smoothly.

“It is certainly not ideal that you stay here tonight without my aunt in attendance, but as you slept unaccompanied in my keep for five nights, one more will hardly make a difference. And,” Bracken added dryly, “we are scheduled to wed.”

“Oh,” Megan said again.

The single word caught Bracken’s attention. His dark eyes studied her. “What did that mean?” he asked softly.

Megan swallowed. “Only that I wasn’t sure if we still would.”

Bracken did not want to tell her that he’d had the same doubts, and replied only, “I can’t see that we have much choice.”

Megan nodded and fell silent. Her father’s intent was that she would know this man before they wed, but at this moment that seemed an impossibility. There was something too powerful and dark about him.

“Were you ever a blonde?”

The question, so innocently put, caused Megan’s entire frame to stiffen and her face to grow rigid. Bracken was amazed at the change in her.

“You mistake me for my sister, Marigold.”

“Is she older or younger?” Bracken asked, causing Megan to believe he was truly interested.

“She is older.” Megan turned her gaze from him now, and her voice became flat. “Marigold’s aspirations go far beyond the title of earl, so I fear you are stuck with me.”