The Sorceror's Revenge (21 page)

             
‘No, my lord, how should I?’ she whispered, her voice no more than a whisper.  ‘I am but a common village girl…’

             
‘Never that, Alfreda,’ he said and took hold of her by the waist, drawing her close.  His lips touched hers and this time she parted them for him willingly, eagerly, returning his kiss as she pressed herself against him.  He was wearing just soft hose and a shirt covered by a leather jerkin, his soft leather boots reaching his sturdy thighs.  She could feel the hardness of his manhood burning against her and she moaned with want, her head going back.  His lips caressed her, making her burn with a flame of need for something she hardly understood.  ‘You are beautiful, passionate and spirited.  Trust me, Alfreda.  I shall always take care of you.’

             
Alfreda could not have refused him as he took her down to the soft earth, which was covered by dry bracken and moss.  She had fought her battle and knew that if she had not wanted this to happen she would have told her father the first time.  Although she’d tried to resist she had been drawn here like a moth to a flame.  As his hand parted her legs and she felt his fingers invade her secret places where no man had ever touched her before, she arched towards him, wanting all that he could give her.

             
His first thrust was painful but his mouth covered hers so that her cry was lost and then he was moving slowly, sensuously, bringing her to a gradual climax that exploded into flames of white heat.  She tossed beneath him, crying his name, her fingers digging into his shoulders while the spasms of pleasure shook her body.  And then he gave a great shout as he came in her and they spent, just holding one another in silence.

             
After a while, the earl stood up and straightened his clothing.  Alfreda sat up, pulling down her gown to cover her legs.  She could not look at him for shame.  She was a wanton and surely he would despise her?

             
‘No, do not look shamed, Alfreda,’ he said and took her hands pulling her to her feet.  ‘You were virgin and you gave yourself to me sweetly.  You are mine now and I shall care for you.  I will give you money or whatever you wish...'

             
‘My father would kill me if he knew what I’d done,’ she said.  ‘I cannot take money – but some work for my father…’

             
‘Yes, of course,’ he said, then looked thoughtful.  ‘If anything should come of this – if there is a child, come to me.  I would arrange something for you.’

             
‘Thank you…’ she stood with her head bowed.  Now that he’d had her he would not want her again.

             
‘Look at me.’  She looked up and he touched her cheek.  ‘Meet me here again when you can.  I like you very much, Alfreda.  Perhaps something can be arranged that would enable us to meet more…a position at the castle?  You could be the children’s nurse perhaps…’

             
Alfreda’s heart thrashed in her breast.  He did still want her.  He would arrange for her to be near him.

             
‘I should like that…if it were possible.’

             
‘It will be,’ he said softly.  ‘Trust me, Alfreda.  I shall not desert you.’

             
Alfreda stood watching as he walked away.  Did he mean what he said?  She was suddenly frightened by what she’d done.  She must wash herself in the stream before she went home.  If her father knew what she’d done he would kill her…

* * *

Robert felt guilty as he returned to the castle.  He had taken the village girl’s virginity – and he’d promised her the position of nurse to the children.  It would suit him to have the girl in the castle so that he could have her whenever it suited him, but it meant he must dismiss their present nurse and deceive his wife.

             
He decided that he would give Joanne notice to leave immediately.  She could have a dowry and return to her village, where perhaps one of the older men would take her for the money – perhaps ten pounds was sufficient.

‘Why do you not come to my bed?’  Joanne looked at him with tear-laden eyes as he went to her chamber.  ‘Have I displeased you, my lord?’

             
‘Enough of these questions,’ Robert said brusquely.  ‘You no longer please me. Indeed, you never gave me pleasure.  I need a woman of spirit.  Do not bother me again or I shall give instructions that you are to be beaten.  You are to leave us in the morning to return to your home – and shall have a dowry of ten pounds of silver.’

             
‘But I love you…’ Joanne wailed. ‘I love you…’

             
‘Be silent.  I am master here and I have spoken.’

             
Robert walked past her, ignoring her look of reproach and wounded cry.  He was tired of weeping women.  And he was guilty because of what had taken place in the woods – but it was all his wife’s fault. He had given her a chance to stop what had occurred.  If she had yielded to him it need never have happened.

             
Damn them all!  He would not be made to feel like an outcast in his own home.  The castle at Deveraux had recently been refurbished and a visit was long overdue.  He would leave in the morning since there was nothing for him here.

* * *

‘Why have you dismissed Joanne?’ Melloria asked when she saw Robert at supper that night.  She was in tears when I saw her, though she would not tell me why.’

             
‘She neglected her work.  I have engaged a new nurse for the children.  She will begin her work tomorrow…’

             
‘You might have consulted me,’ Melloria said but the look in his eyes silenced her.

             
‘Had you been a more dutiful wife I might consult you more,’ he replied.  ‘Do your duty, Melloria, and I will treat you as I once did.’

             
Melloria stood up and walked from the hall.  She suspected the truth.  Robert had grown tired of Joanne and now wished for another girl in his bed.  She felt a bitter taste in her mouth as she reflected on what her marriage had become, but she could see no escape for her.  Unless Robert would allow her to go to her dower lands…

* * *

Melloria glanced up as Robert strode into her chamber that evening.  Her heart beat rapidly, nails cutting into the palms of her hands as she wondered what he wanted. She rose, looking at him coldly, barely suppressing the shudder of revulsion and loathing that passed through her.

             
‘You wished to see me, my lord?’

             
‘I have news for you, Melloria.  The day after tomorrow I ride for Devereaux.  I do not know when I shall return so you must celebrate Christ’s Mass without me.’

             
‘I think there is little to celebrate, Robert.’

             
His eyes narrowed in temper, but he merely inclined his head.

             
‘My steward will see to things while I am gone – and you have your women to keep you company.’

             
‘Who is the girl you have chosen to take Joanne’s place?’

             
‘Her name is Alfreda, but she will not interfere with you.’

             
‘Is she to be your whore now?’

             
Robert’s eyes narrowed.  ‘Who has been whispering in your ear?’

             
‘No one.  I have always known that you lay with Joanne…’

             
‘Had you been a wife to me it would not have been necessary.’

             
‘I took a vow that I would not lie with you until you find my other daughter…’

             
‘I am aware of the excuse you gave for not doing your duty to me. It was not legal for you to take such a vow without my consent,’ he said, his mouth twisting with anger.  ‘Yet I have accepted it. I have sent out more messengers to search once again, but I do not believe the child is in England.’

             
‘No, perhaps you are right,’ Melloria agreed.  ‘I do not know where she is, but I am sure she is alive – and I think she is happier of late.  I have not felt her crying as much as before.’

             
Robert’s lip curled in disbelief.  ‘I doubt she lives but have it your way.  I leave at first light so shall not disturb you.  I must bid you farewell, Melloria.  Perhaps when I return next time you will be ready to do your duty.  I have been patient thus far, but if you continue to defy me I may decide to take what is owed whether you wish it or no.’

             
Melloria stared after him as he left the room.  Were his words just another empty threat or did he mean them this time?  A shudder went through her but she would not dwell on the threat of what might come when he returned once more.  He would probably be away for months; a visit to Yorkshire and then the court, which meant she would be free of the constant shadow his presence threw over her.  In the meantime she would have Robert’s new whore to keep her company.

             
How long must she endure this humiliation?  Hot tears stung her eyes as she thought of the man she loved.

             
‘Nicholas, my love,’ she whispered.  ‘Where are you?  Do you live or did you die the day Robert took me back?’

             
It was a question that had haunted her these past long years.

29

Niccolai was weary.  He had been with a woman dying of a painful wasting sickness throughout the night.  Nothing he knew would cure her illness but he had been able to ease her dying at the last.  When she had taken farewell of her family and friends, and made her peace with God, he had given her the sleeping juice – which, in sufficient quantities, gave a sleep that would never end.  Unless the priests were right and the dead would rise one day in glory.

             
Removing his gown, which still bore the stains of blood and bile that she had vomited as he held her moments before the end, he washed himself in warm water.  He had just put on clean linen and a cotte of rich dark material when someone knocked at the door.  He sighed, hoping that it was not yet another summons to the sickbed of one of his patients. For the past few weeks his services had been in constant demand.

             
‘Enter.’

             
‘My lord,’ Cedric said and stood just inside the door.  ‘I know you have been up all night and I tried to tell him that you were not at home but he insists on seeing you.’

             
‘Does this impatient fellow have a name?’  Niccolai hid his smile for Cedric was a surly devil and ugly but he protected his master as best he could.  It was in part due to his faithful servant that he had recovered from the vicious blow to the head, which had made him lose his senses for some days.  Had Cedric not guarded and cared for him, he might well have wandered on to the moors and died of cold or starvation.

             
‘He says he is Sir Kerrin of Shrewsbury, and that he has done service for you in the past.’

             
‘Yes…’  Niccolai frowned.  ‘I know this man.  I employed him once but we parted company afterwards, and I did not expect to see him again.’

             
‘Shall I tell him to go?  He has refused to leave thus far, but the men will persuade him if you give the word.’

             
‘No, I shall speak with him in private.  Show him to my receiving chamber, Cedric, and I shall join him in a few moments. If he is so insistent it would be best to hear him out.’

             
Niccolai frowned as he finished dressing.  He was uncertain as to what Sir Kerrin wanted of him.  Their business was done and he recalled that the man had not obeyed his orders to the letter.  He had perhaps been unwise to trust him with the commission, but at the time he had needed to make sure that his enemy did not plot against him.  Santos would have stopped at nothing to gain the book he wanted, an evil book that Niccolai had destroyed and could not give him if he would. He had used its secrets but once, to save the life of the woman he loved, and after lived in dread of it until he saw it consumed by the flames of his fire.

             
Pushing away the unease that had begun to invade his mind, Niccolai opened the door and went through to the next room, where he kept his journals and locked chests of precious substances that he used in his cures.

             
The man he had not expected to see again stood looking out of the window, his hands clasped behind his back.  He had large, powerful hands, and he was a strong man.  Once, when he was laid low of a fever, he had confessed his secrets to Niccolai; a tale of murder and bloody revenge had trickled from his lips as he lay between life and death.