Vengeance 03 - Believe In Me (21 page)

“I have many things to say to you,” William whispered
as he linked his fingers with hers. His warm brown eyes held rings of gold and green that fascinated her.

“And I to you.
But kiss me first,” she demanded. She could deny herself no longer. She would seize this moment and let their problems wait.

He sm
iled. “What am I to do with you?”

“I’ve already told you.” She lifted up on her toes to meet him half way. “Kiss me.”

His lips were firm yet tender. He angled his head, better fitting his mouth to hers. His hands grasped her waist to pull her closer. Desire crashed through her like an ocean wave upon the beach.

She ran her hands along his broad shoulders, amazed at his strength. Her body pressed against his, sending
wonderful sensations coursing through her.

Everything about him felt so good, so right. Despite her worries about
his safety and the future, she couldn’t resist sharing this moment with him. Circumstances had continually kept them apart, and now that she was in his arms again, she reveled in it.

His tongue moved along the seam of her lips, seeking entrance as his thumbs drew circles on her hips.
Heat gathered deep inside her. She parted her mouth to allow him entrance and was well rewarded for her efforts.

All her worries
dropped away as she fell under the spell of his kiss. Passion rose bright and strong within her, clearing her doubts.

“
Are you two as hungry as I am?”

Cristiana jolted back
at the sound of Henry’s voice just outside the door.

William sighed, running a hand along her hair.

“Am I interrupting?” Henry asked with a knowing smile as he stood in the open doorway.

“Of course not,” Cristiana said. “
Come in. You’re letting in the cold.”

“
I bought some meat pies earlier,” William said as he gestured toward the leather bag Henry carried.

The three of them
gathered around the rough wooden table while William unwrapped the warm venison-filled pies from a cloth.

Henry produced a flask of ale he’d brought and Cristiana found some cups
on a shelf and wiped them clean.

“Didn’t think he’d drop you, did you?” Henry asked with a chuckle.

She could only shudder at the memory then glared at William. “You scared me half to death.”

He shrugged
with a smile. “We were in a hurry. Besides, I had complete faith in Henry. I knew he’d catch you.”

The men laughed and Cristiana couldn’t help but join them.

Their conversation touched on a number of subjects as they ate, none of which related to their current situation. Cristiana’s tension melted away. To her surprise, she realized she was hungry despite eating supper earlier. This food tasted amazing. The elaborate meals at the bishop’s manor were nothing compared to this simple fare shared with friends.

T
hat was truly what these men were to her—her friends. She loved them both. They’d risked much to help her. In fact, they’d given up their livelihoods to protect her. She might be the one who did the healing, but William and Henry had helped to heal her heart. This was one of the first times she could remember feeling truly happy since her mother’s murder.

Wh
at was she doing to repay them?

Putting them in more danger.

“What is it?” William asked, his concerned gaze studying her.

“Thank you both for your
worry for me, for risking so much for me. But now you must take me back.” She rose, determined to get her way this time.

William stared at Cristiana, unable to believe what he’d heard. How could she say such a thing? Did she feel nothing for him? Was she so enamored with the bishop and all that life with him offer
ed that she would choose Bishop Duval over him?

Nay.

He didn’t believe it. Not for a moment. With difficulty, he pushed back his hurt and anger. Something more was going on here and he was determined to get to the bottom of it.

“Once again, I must ask you, why?”

She bit her lip and her gaze dropped to the table. “I am much closer to finding my mother’s murderer. I can only continue searching if I stay with the bishop.”

William glanc
ed at Henry to see what he thought of her story. Something about it didn’t ring true.

His friend
sat on his stool with his back braced against the wall, devouring one of the pies. He appeared to be quite engrossed by the conversation as if he watched a troubadour who’d come to entertain him. William would have no help from that quarter.

“
I’m certain you’re able to make many inquiries from behind your locked chamber door,” William said, making no effort to hide his sarcasm.

A flush of rose stole up her cheeks. “I am still able to speak with some of the servants.”

“Truly?” He could tell she was hiding something. He need only push her a little harder to discover what it was.

She reached for the small leather purse on her belt and withdrew a heavy gold ring.
“This is the ring I told you about. The one my mother gave to Branwen the night she died and bid her to give it to me.”

Henry sat forward to get a closer look
as William examined the ring. “A crosier?” he asked.

“
Aye. This particular shepherd’s hook design matches the seal the bishop used on some correspondence I found in his desk drawer as well as the stone carving that was hung above the front door of the cathedral the other day.”

“How did your mother come to have this?” William asked.

“It seems she was in Longsbury right before her death. Branwen discovered a servant who told me she saw my mother and the bishop arguing the night before she left. The servant saw my mother take the ring from the bishop’s desk.”

“So you’ve been able to determine that not only did the bishop know your mother, he spoke personally with her bef
ore her death,” William said. A sinking feeling grew in the pit of his stomach.

“I
also found a letter from her in the bishop’s desk.”

“You searched his desk?” Henry asked, his shock at her actions matching William’s.

“Do you realize the danger you were in?” William asked, astounded at the lengths she was willing to go in order to seek revenge.

She explained
how she’d managed the search, making his blood heat with anger. Then she shared the contents of the letter, adding with a shake of her head, “It seems they were...involved.”

“Did
you speak to the bishop about this?”

“
Aye, but it did no good. He still denied it then went on to say that the witness who’d come forward would never be believed over him.”

Pushing aside his concern over the risk she’d taken,
William stared at the ring as he sorted through all she’d learned. Then he looked at Cristiana. “You’re in even more danger than we’d suspected.”

“William
—”

“
The threats the bishop made toward Henry and I do not matter. We can protect ourselves.”

“Indeed we can,” Henry added.

“’Tis you we need to worry about.” Something in Cristiana’s expression made him pause. “What is it?”

“Nothing, really.
Nothing that matters.”

“Cr
istiana?” His tone held a warning that he hoped she’d heed.

With a shrug, she finally admitted, “He said if I didn’t cooperate, he’d declare me a witch.”

“Christ,” Henry exclaimed as he rocked back on his stool.

“It doesn’t ma
tter,” Cristiana protested. “I’ll return to the manor house and explain to him that I will cooperate with his plan. No harm will come to either of you or me.”

Touched that she’d sacrifice so much for him,
he put his hand over hers. “Has it occurred to you that your mother made demands of the bishop that he wasn’t willing to give so he decided his only option was to have her killed? What will stop him from doing the same to you?”

She swallowed hard. “I intend to
try to find more witnesses so I can prove his guilt beyond a doubt.”

“While you’re
pretending to cooperate and healing others as he directs? Nay, Cristiana,” William said. “Do not underestimate his determination. If he thinks for even a moment that you’re standing in his way of making Longsbury Cathedral the largest and most important church in all of England, you’ll be eliminated.”

“Nay.
He needs me. He needs my ability to heal to help pay for the building. Already the chapter is limiting his funds. He won’t harm me.”

“He had a grand plan to build it before you,” William
reminded her. “Your arrival only allowed him to expand on it. He is a clever man and has other ways to raise money including the relic we delivered.”

Cristiana said nothing
as she shifted on the stool. While William knew she would take his words seriously, he also knew he hadn’t yet convinced her. His frustration was quickly turning to anger. How could she put herself in such danger?

“
Surely you can see that our only option is to return me to the manor. That will allow me to watch his activities and keep you and Henry safe.”

William rose to pace the room, his anger growing at her stubbornness.
“Certainly. And when he sends you one person after another to heal, weakening you each day until you’re flat on your back in bed yet again, you’ll at least be comforted by the knowledge that we’re safe.”

“I
ndeed I will, but I can—” Cristiana began.

Henry put his hand on hers. “If I were you, I’d stop talking,” he whispered. “You don’t want to see William angry.”

William shook his head in exasperation at the pair of them. Cristiana took Henry’s warning to heart as she remained silent for several moments.

But not nearly long enough.

“I only—” she began.

William
leaned down, his hands on the table to bend over her. “Do. Not. Speak. Not when you refuse to see sense.”

Her eyes went wide and she wisely held her
tongue.

He moved away to pace the small area, trying to decide the best way out of this impossible situation.
A part of him had hoped that he and Henry could simply take Cristiana away, perhaps stay with Nicholas and Elizabeth for a time. They were little more than a day’s ride from here. They could remain at Staverton long enough for events to calm down and none of them would be in danger.

Yet he knew that was not enough.

The bishop wanted Cristiana for her healing skills and the money and power he could gain by using her, but if he determined she knew too much, he would get rid of her.

That risk was not acceptable to William.

“Since you’ve confronted him, he already knows of your suspicions,” Henry said.

William nodded.
“That leaves us no choice but to reveal Bishop Duval for the true person he is.”

“Nay,” Cristiana protested
. “That’s far too dangerous.”

William
ignored Cristiana and spoke to Henry. “He’ll soon realize we have Cristiana and want her back.”

“To use her or sile
nce her.” Henry shook his head.

“
How can we convince anyone that the bishop is anything less than he appears?” Cristiana asked. “’Tis impossible. Not unless I can link him with my mother’s death. Let me return to the manor house.”

“
Nay. I will not put you at risk. We will think of another way.” As he looked at Cristiana, he realized he would do anything for this woman, even if it meant risking his life.

He loved her.
With every part of him—mind and body.

Protecting her was his first and only goal.
He could not lose her. While he realized he had little to offer her, he knew he loved her. That his life was not worth living without her.

Once this was over and they were safe, he would worry about the future. He would find a place for them to live out their days. Somewhere that he could keep her safe, where no one would attempt to use her for her gift.

Now he need only convince her that she loved him too. That together, they could eliminate the bishop’s threats.

But how?

Cristiana awoke in an instant the next morn, completely aware of where she was and who lay beside her on the narrow bed.

And smiled.

She’d insisted that William share the bed with her, after all, they’d shared a tent for several nights on their journey to Longsbury. But when the moment had come for them both to climb onto the bed, her stomach had fluttered like a new bride. All she’d been able to think of was their heated kiss. She’d expected to spend the night wide awake, listening to every movement William made, but she’d never slept better. She felt refreshed for the first time in a long while.

William’s arm held her tight, heavy across her waist. His
clothed body was warm pressed against hers. His soft even breathing brought her comfort.

Longing
filled her, deep and sharp.

This was what their life could be like, she realized
, her heart taking flight. Waking together, sharing kisses when they wished, eating side by side. The urge to forget the bishop and all his wrongdoings was so tempting. They could travel to a foreign land where he couldn’t reach them. No one would know of her ability. No one would search for them.

A small cottage much like this one would do quite well, she thought as she gazed around the
simple room awash with the warm glow of dawn. William had told her last night that a healer had lived here, which explained the herbal fragrance that permeated the air. Henry slept by the fire, snoring softly from his pallet of furs.

She closed her eyes, allowing
the vivid image to fill her mind of what their life might look like. Love bloomed so strong in her heart.

Surely that was more important than vengeance.

Yet a niggling of doubt tugged at her. Her mother deserved justice. How could her soul ever be at peace if her murder went unsolved and unpunished?

“How can you
change from joy to worry so quickly?” William whispered as he rose onto his elbow to look at her.

His words tickled her ear, making her smile once again.

His gaze caught on something over her shoulder and she heard Henry rise and stretch.

“I’ll go find something to break our fast. It might be some time before I return,” he said with a smile
and a waggle of his brows before shutting the door behind him, leaving them alone.

“Now tell me what you’re pondering so early in the morn,” William said.

“I was thinking of how lovely it would be to put all of our troubles behind us.”

She
paused before she said too much, suddenly uncertain.

Though her feelings for William ran as deep as the sea, she didn’t know how he felt about her.
Perhaps he had no interest in spending a fortnight with her let alone a lifetime.

“Tempting, is it not?” he asked. “Revealing the bishop’s treachery will not be easy.
Chances are no one will believe us.”

She bit her lip, trying to hide her disappointment. For a moment, she’d
hoped he would tell her he loved her and they should forget all of it and spend the rest of their days together.

“Cristiana?”

She shifted onto her back to look at him, the seriousness of his tone drawing her curiosity. His lashes cast shadows over his eyes, hiding his thoughts from her.

“When this is over...when we’ve succeeded in our mission...” He paused as though searching for the right words.

Hope slowly built within her. When he shook his head, her heart squeezed with pain.

“Nay,” he said. “I will not wait. I have learned the hard way that life is short. We must take every opportunity given to us or lose it forever.”

She waited, unable to breathe, still not certain what he was trying to say.

He took her hand in his and placed
her palm against his chest. She felt his heart beating strong and sure beneath the soft linen of his tunic. Butterflies erupted in her stomach as she waited nervously for him to continue.

“I love you,” he whispered, his gaze holding hers. “I would like nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Joy swept through her, sending shivers along her body, chasing away her doubt and sorrow. “Oh,” she murmured unable to say more as a lump filled her throat.

“I know I am but a simple knight with few prospects
, but I swear I will protect you and provide for you. I will love you now and always. Will you be my wife?”

She didn’t bother with an answer. Instead she kissed him hard,
pouring all her emotions into the kiss. She shifted closer so every line of their bodies touched. When her tears threatened to overwhelm her, she drew back.

He frowned
, lifting a tear from her cheek with his thumb. “What is this?”

“William, I
—” she broke off, trying to work past the lump in her throat. “You have believed in me as no one else other than my mother ever has. You accepted my healing as though I am normal.”

“You are normal.”

With a smile, she put her finger over his lips to keep him from interrupting again. “Already you risked your life to protect me. I love you as well and I would be honored to be your wife. If we manage to survive this—”

He
lifted her finger and kissed it. “Hush. Of course we will survive. We have too much to live for to be anything but successful in our quest.”

She
grinned, happiness coursing through her down to her toes. “Indeed we do.”

“These next few days will be a story we tell our children.”

Her heart leapt at the thought of having a babe with William. That was a dream for which she’d never dared to hope. “Creating a family with you would be a blessing beyond measure.”

“Then let it be so.” He
whispered the words with such certainty that she had to believe them.

William pressed his lips to hers,
sealing their promises to each other and lighting her passion. An ember glowed deep within her, then burst into flames as he pulled her closer, holding her as though he would never let her go.

The world fell away as
he kissed her. His hand glided over her shoulder, along the edge of her breast to her hip, then to her bottom to pull her even tighter against his hard body.

An ache began to build and longing
pulsed through her. Her kirtle was twisted beneath her, the barrier it presented no longer welcome. She shifted to tug at it.

“
May I?” he asked with a smile. At her nod, he sat up, assisting her to sit as well before he knelt on the bed before her.

H
e paused, his hands resting on his legs as though suddenly unsure.

“I want to make love with you
more than anything. So much that I ache with it.” He gently trailed a finger along her cheek. “My passion for you knows no bounds.” His heated gaze held hers, sending her heart racing. “But if you would rather wait to consummate our love until we’ve said our vows before a priest, I would honor your request. You deserve that and more.”

Her heart grew even fuller with love. “You, sir, are a man of honor. That is
one of the many reasons I love you.”

She shi
fted until she knelt before him and placed her hand over his heart only to find it pounding fiercely. Then she lifted his hand and placed it over her heart which she knew beat just as hard. “From this moment, we are bound as one.”

His gaze held hers, the intensity of it making her stomach dip
. “Aye. We are one,” he whispered as he leaned forward and kissed her. His lips pressed against hers for a long moment then his tongue swept inside her mouth, invading her emotions as well. He eased back, his hand still warm on her heart, his other hand cupping her cheek. “I love you.”

“And I love you.
I don’t want to wait another moment before we become one in truth.” She shifted to remove her kirtle, her fingers suddenly clumsy as nerves sizzled along her skin.

“Allow me, my lady.”

With his heated gaze still holding hers, he lifted the bottom of her kirtle and drew it over her head, enveloping her in darkness. Her hands caught in the folds of her gown above her head, leaving her feeling vulnerable and exposed. Unable to see, she could only feel as his hand drifted down her thin chemise. Sensations she’d never felt before poured through, making her light-headed with desire.

At last he
pulled the kirtle free. He unbound her loosely braided hair, running his fingers through her long tresses. His eyes were dark with desire as he looked at her before lowering his gaze to watch the trail his finger blazed. He loosened the ribbon holding the top of her chemise to reveal the curve of her breast, then touched the sensitive skin there, dipping lower with each pass. Her nipple tightened in reaction and her breath quickened. Never had she realized desire could be such sweet torture. She wanted this feeling to last forever yet didn’t think she could withstand it for another moment.

William drew a deep breath
to rein in the passion raging through him. It seemed an impossible task.

“You are beautiful,” he said, as he
continued to touch her, enjoying the way her thin linen shift revealed the curve of her breast, the darkness of her nipples. “Your skin is so soft, so inviting.”

He could see
that his words and his touch moved her, which aroused him even more. He was torn between drawing out each exquisite moment and taking her now, fast and hard. But he refused to cheat either of them from the sensations that awaited their first time together.

Unable to deny himself a moment longer, h
e reached out to brush her nipple through the thin fabric, and she jolted back in reaction.

“Oh,” she said with surprise.

Her reactions to his touch were a delight. Slowly, he touched her again, increasing the anticipation for both of them. This time she arched, moving closer to his touch, seeming to revel in the sensation. He caressed her curves with both hands, and she moaned softly. With one move, he pushed down the top of her chemise and the garment dropped to catch at the tips of her breasts.

His breath
halted; he’d never seen anyone so stunning. Her creamy smooth skin begged for his touch. It would take a stronger man than he to resist. A brush of his hand sent the garment falling to her waist, revealing her breasts to his appreciative gaze.

“
You are amazing,” he murmured as he caressed first one, then the other.

A rosy flush crept up her chest, stirring him
as much as her gasp. Anxious to please her, to build her desire to match his own, he bent to lick her nipple once, twice, before taking it in his mouth.

“Oh, William,” she said
on a gasp, her body trembling.

He
pleasured himself and her by duplicating the action on her other breast, then raised his head to perform it again on her lips. He couldn’t get enough of the sweet taste of her.

She kissed him back passionately,
forcefully, making him steady himself else risk falling onto the bed. Her hands seemed to be everywhere at once, soon finding the bottom of his tunic to lift it. As she encountered his bare flesh, her touch grew tentative before quickly gaining confidence. Her fingers made the fire inside him rage. He removed his tunic, wanting nothing more than to feel her soft skin against him.

Cristiana stared at his naked chest much as he imagined he’d stared at hers. Her heated gaze was nearly his undoing.
He closed his eyes for a brief moment, trying to tamp down his desire before he lost control.

He drew her closer,
his breath coming out in a whoosh as her breasts pressed into his chest.

“You’re so strong,” she said, her fingers never stopping thei
r relentless roaming of his body. “So perfect in every way. Inside.” She traced his brow then the cords of muscle in his shoulder. “And out.”

He almost laughed.
“I would use those same words to describe you.”

She drew back to look up into his eyes, her fingers
trailing along his cheekbone, then his jaw line. She continued downward to his neck, pausing at the puckered scar on his shoulder that had nearly cost him his life. With a somber expression, she met his gaze for a moment, then pressed a gentle kiss on the scar. “I am so grateful you survived that ordeal.”

“As am I.”

Her lips continued their downward movement. His thoughts spun as she licked and suckled his nipple just as he’d done to her. When she moved to his other one, he grasped her shoulders, unable to bear any more of her torment.

“What
is it?” she asked with a wary expression.

“You
r touch undoes me,” he whispered. “I can only take so much or I might...”

She raised her brow, obviously not following what he was trying to say.

Giving up on words, he drew her into his arms, kissing her thoroughly. He eased her against the pillows, appreciating the way her long blonde hair fanned out across the pillow. He drew her chemise down to remove it completely so that he might admire the rest of her.