Destined for Love

by Aston, Alexa

  In the stables, he saddled Starlight, his horse that accompanied him from Wakefield. The mount had been a gift from his father and Drake’s most prized possession. He led the horse from the stables and tied the satchel to the saddle horn before mounting it and riding to the front gates of Mallowbourne.

  Drake called out a greeting to the gatekeeper’s son, who was now old enough to assume some of his father’s duties and often did so at night. The young man opened the gates, not asking the knight where he ventured or when he might return. He’d hoped that would be the case since Sir Stephen had sent Drake out many times on late night patrols. The gates closed behind him and he cantered away from the castle, heading into the nearby forest, out of sight from the sentries along the wall-walk.

  Once inside the tree line, he slowed Starlight to a walk and went to the southeastern corner of the estate. He looped the horse’s reins around a low bush and made his way in the darkness to the baroness’ herb garden. He wished he had enough moonlight to see in order to pick a few herbs that he might use along their journey but clouds covered the night sky, leaving no stars in sight. Walking quietly through the herb garden, he ventured to the sally port and waited for Lady Faylinn to appear.

  A few minutes later, he heard a soft shuffling on the other side and then, moments later, the door swung open.

  “I’m here,” he said softly, hoping he didn’t startle her.

  “Help me close it,” she answered, and he pushed the gate shut.

  Facing her, he said, “Are you ready?”

  “I brought nothing with me but my cloak. I didn’t want anything to slow us down.”

  “Where is your brother’s estate again?” he asked, wondering where and how far they might be traveling.

  “Ashby lives in Sussex. A place called Newbury Manor, which is fifteen miles to the east of Stanbury, home of the Earl of Montayne. Ashby has served Lord Garrett and his family for many years. The earl and Stanbury are well known. Once we reach Stanbury, it will be less than a day’s ride to Ashby’s new home.” She paused. “Do you know how long it will take us?”

  Drake did the calculations in his head. If he was riding alone or with a group of soldiers, they could make twenty to twenty-five miles a day, based upon the terrain. Sussex would be at least eight or ten days away from their current location at that pace. Escorting a woman with child, though, was a far different matter. They wouldn’t be able to ride hard as an army did. Lady Faylinn’s condition was far too delicate. He knew the baroness’ hopes were pinned upon the child. It was paramount that she deliver the babe safely. Which meant a much longer journey.

  “Depending upon where we ride to in Sussex, it will take us at least a fortnight,” he revealed, knowing that estimate was optimistic. He feared Lady Sabelina would send out riders to intercept them and dreading fighting with men he’d come to love.

  “If you’re worried she knows where we go, let me allay your fears,” the noblewoman confided. “I deliberately misled her when I spoke with her earlier. I told her with Lord Amaury dead that I would travel to my eldest brother, Lord Ashland, in Essex. I said Ashland was the head of my family and that I would become his responsibility since I no longer had a husband and had not provided a male heir.”

  Drake couldn’t help but admire her cleverness. “I hope your babe will be as shrewd as you are, my lady. Come, we must go. Take my hand since it is dark. I will guide you to Starlight, my horse.”

  She held out her good hand to him, the other still restrained by the sling she wore, and he wrapped his fingers around it. A warmth filled him, spreading through him like golden sunshine. He pushed aside the tide of emotions crashing through him and led her back to his horse.

  Lady Faylinn patted the animal’s neck as he untied the reins. “Hello, Starlight,” she said huskily, bring a shiver to Drake. “I’m going to be riding you on a long journey. I promise along the way I’ll make sure you have a few apples as a treat.”

  She stroked the horse once and then kissed its neck. Drake felt his body flush hot with fever, wishing her lips had caressed his neck and not the horse’s. Ashamed at such carnal thoughts, he mounted and then leaned down, his hands grasping the baroness by the waist and lifting her in front of him. The faint scent of lavender clung to her.

  “Adjust yourself, my lady. You should be comfortable as we start for we will be in the saddle a long time.”

  She wriggled against him, bringing a flare of desire which Drake quickly tamped down. His arm went about her waist.

  “Lean against me. I’ll steady you.”

  “All right,” she said softly, her voice low and musical. Moving against his chest, she rested her body against his, her cheek next to his beating heart. “I’m set.”

  “Say your prayers to Saint Christopher then. May he watch over and give us safe travels.”

  With that, Drake nudged Starlight’s flanks and they began their journey from Somerset to Sussex.

  *

  Sabelina kissed the naked soldier a final time and then playfully pushed him from her bed. He fell to the ground and popped up, grinning foolishly at her. She was done with this one, though, even if he didn’t know it yet.

  “Go back to your barracks,” she said, pulling the bedclothes to her waist but allowing him to continue to feast his eyes upon her plump breasts.

  “When can I be with you again?” he asked eagerly.

  “Not for a while. My courses come soon.”

  “I don’t care,” he said quickly.

  “I do,” she snapped. “Be gone.”

  Reluctantly, he dressed and then bent to give her a last kiss. She allowed it, not knowing when he might come in handy again. He went to the door and blew her a kiss. She hated such infantile gestures but smiled prettily at him and wiggled her fingers. Finally, he exited her bedchamber and she collapsed against the pillows, the scent of their love play lingering in the air.

  She sighed, knowing it would be foolish to fall back to sleep only to have to rise again. Mass would begin in an hour and she was expected to set a good example to the people and attend every day. At least that was what Faylinn always told her. She was tired of having to live her life by her stepmother’s rules. The woman had asserted herself from the time she arrived at Mallowbourne, pushing the baron around and trying to smother Sabelina with affection and attention. She’d refused all Faylinn’s efforts. Sabelina hadn’t cared for her own mother ordering her about and hadn’t missed her after she died giving birth to a stillborn son. The new stranger that arrived to take her mother’s place as the new baroness was someone Sabelina would never care for. She only hated that her father had listened attentively to Faylinn’s advice over the years.

  Kicking the bedclothes away, she lay naked, trying to cool her body from the long hours of love play. It would be entertaining seeing this latest lover at mass this morning. He had a tendency to blush. She would smile graciously at him. Mayhap even wink if no one was looking. But she tired of him.

  Who she really wanted in her bed was Drake Harcourt.

  The dark-haired knight with sparkling blue eyes had captured her attention recently. Though she’d accused him of being the father of Faylinn’s child, she knew Harcourt was far too honorable to invade a wedded woman’s bed, especially the one of his liege lord’s wife. She’d only toyed with Faylinn, trying to anger her stepmother, mostly because Faylinn’s news that she carried a babe had rocked Sabelina to her core.

  She only hoped that the pennyroyal had done its job. Karys had provided it to Sabelina twice before when she’d found herself with child. Both times, she’d realized early on that a babe grew in her belly, with her breasts growing tender and her courses ceasing. Karys had told her how much to drink in a cup of wine and Sabelina had followed the healer’s instructions, ridding herself of both babes. The problem was that she couldn’t be present and place the herb in Faylinn’s wine. Sabelina had added all the remaining pennyroyal she had left to the pitcher of wine in the solar. Faylinn might have to drink the en
tire amount and even then, with consumption being spaced out over a longer interval, the herb might not accomplish the task.

  At least her stepmother had drunk two cups of the tainted wine. That was what Sabelina held on to—the hope that Faylinn had ingested enough of the herb in order to expel the fetus. Faylinn hadn’t appeared at all yesterday, remaining in her solar the entire day. When Resa asked if Sabelina had checked on her stepmother, she lied and told the servant she had even taken food to Faylinn and that her stepmother was merely resting, thanks to the herbs Sir Drake had provided for the baroness’ healing. Sabelina imagined Faylinn lying in her bed in a pool of blood, too weak to call out or rise, sobbing because she’d lost the babe—and her only chance at retaining Mallowbourne.

  No, Mallowbourne was for Sabelina alone. She might not be a son of Lord Amaury d’Albert but she knew her father would have wanted her to claim Mallowbourne as her own. Ridding Faylinn of the babe she carried in her belly would ensure the baroness had no reason to stay. The missive Sabelina wrote to King Edward had told him of her great sorrow in losing her father and her betrothed—and that it had been Amaury’s fondest wish for his daughter to wed the next Baron of Gaynesford appointed by the monarch. She’d mentioned that Faylinn had also passed recently, days before Amaury did, giving birth to a stillborn babe.

  That meant that even if Faylinn did lose her child by consuming the pennyroyal, Sabelina still had to make sure the new widow died before a new baron arrived at Mallowbourne. She still thought pushing her stepmother from the highest parapet was the answer. If the bedclothes in the solar were covered with the blood of the expelled fetus, it would make sense. Faylinn would have lost her husband and then the child she’d longed for over a decade. The two deaths would drive her over the edge into madness and cause her to leap to her own death. The only trouble would be getting Faylinn to that height. Sabelina must think of a way to lure her stepmother there for she certainly couldn’t carry her, especially if Faylinn were weak and unable to walk. After Sabelina had used the pennyroyal for herself, she’d been so weary that she’d remained in her own bedchamber for several days, complaining of illness.

  Mayhap she could use tonight’s lover after all. The soldier was enamored with her. If she could convince him to carry Faylinn up and toss her over, he would prove his usefulness. Of course, once he did so, Sabelina would kiss him in reward.

  And then shove him so that he plunged to his own death.

  Her thoughts whirled. Mayhap she could begin the rumor that it was the soldier’s babe that Faylinn lost. That her stepmother was melancholy and leaped to her death. The soldier was so despondent that he followed his lover into death. She smiled gleefully, pleased with the tale she’d spun. It would take some refining but she knew it could be done.

  Rising, she washed the smell of the man from her and dressed, arriving at mass early. After it ended, she broke her fast in the great hall and decided it was time to confront Faylinn and see if she’d lost the babe or not. If she hadn’t, Sabelina would press more of the corrupted wine on her and hope the pennyroyal did its task.

  She didn’t bother knocking on the solar’s door as she entered. Seeing no one, she proceeded to the bedchamber and tapped once before pushing it open.

  No one was there.

  Rushing to the bed, she pulled the bedclothes back. Disappointment filled her when she saw no blood on the sheets. She located the chamber pot and saw nothing unusual in it. Anger poured through her.

  Where could Faylinn be? She hadn’t appeared at any meals the day before. She wasn’t at mass this morning and that wasn’t something she was likely to miss.

  A sick feeling washed over Sabelina.

  What if Faylinn had remembered—and fled?

  She refused to acknowledge the doubt that trickled through her. Storming from the solar, she marched to the training yard in order to speak to Sir Drake. He would have been the last person to have seen the baroness.

  Her eyes skimmed the group of men as their swords clanged. Twice, she gazed at every pair, not finding the handsome knight with sparkling blue eyes partnered with any soldier. She went to the raised platform where Sir Stephen stood. The captain of the guard looked at her oddly. Remembering she’d told him of Faylinn’s rants, she realized he’d seen a much different baroness from the one Sabelina had described. She needed to right things with him.

  “A word, Sir Stephen,” she said.

  He jumped the short distance to the ground and came to her. Sabelina led him away so that no one might overhear their conversation.

  “Where is Sir Drake?” she asked.

  The captain frowned. “I . . . I assumed he was with Lady Faylinn again. Caring for her.”

  Anxiety engulfed her, crippling her for a moment. She fought it and said calmly, “No. Sir Drake told me my stepmother was doing much better and that he was returning to the yard and his duties here.”

  “He did. For a day. But he was absent yesterday. And again today.”

  She wrung her hands, knowing she must be convincing now. “I feared this would happen. Faylinn appeared to be her old self and then she went into a tirade. I believe the fall and striking her head has affected her more seriously than any of us could have imagined. Even Sir Drake himself told me that sometimes a head injury can cause people to act vastly different from the way they did before. My stepmother has gone from being lighthearted to accusing me of trying to kill her.”

  Sabelina shook her head wearily. “I’m sure she’s convinced Sir Drake of these wild ideas and asked him to take her away from Mallowbourne.” She clasped his forearm. “Lady Faylinn is not in her right mind, Sir Stephen. I fear for her—and for the child.”

  His brows knit together. “What child?”

  She must lay the groundwork carefully. “My stepmother told me after Father died that she was with child. I worry that she might do something that would harm the babe.” She shrugged, allowing tears to form in her eyes. “Or what she spoke of . . . no, it cannot be.”

  Sabelina waited, hoping the old knight would take the bait.

  “What, my lady? What cannot be?”

  Reluctantly, she raised her gaze to meet his. “At first, Faylinn told me the babe was Father’s. Then . . . then . . .” She broke off and choked on the words, allowing him to place a fatherly arm about her.

  Swallowing, she continued. “She admitted it might not be Father’s child. That . . . that . . . it might belong to . . . Sir Drake.”

  The captain gasped. “What?”

  “I don’t think it could possibly be true,” she said, pouring as much doubt as she could into her words. “But . . . I believe they are gone. That they’ve run away together.”

  “We must find them,” Sir Stephen said resolutely. “Sir Drake has broken his knightly code.”

  “We don’t know that for sure,” she said quickly, acting as if she wished to smooth things over.

  The older man’s eyes grew steely. “Then we will find them. Bring them back to Mallowbourne. And have them answer for their actions.” He closed his eyes, shaking his head as disappointment poured from him. Opening them, he asked, “Do you know where they might have gone, my lady?”

  “After Father’s death, Faylinn told me she planned to go to her oldest brother, Lord Ashland. In Essex. The estate also bears the name Ashland.”

  The knight placed his hands on Sabelina’s shoulders. “Then I will assemble a search party to ride after them.” He strode away.

  They would return the pair to Mallowbourne. She would make sure that Faylinn died and make it look as if she did so by her own hand. She and the child would no longer stand in Sabelina’s way. As far as Sir Drake went, even if he denied involvement with the baroness, his reputation would be in shreds. Sir Stephen would lop off Harcourt’s spurs and banish him from Mallowbourne.

  Sabelina hoped all this would be accomplished before the king’s choice of a new baron arrived to wed her.

  Chapter Nine

  Faylinn waited by the fire for
Sir Drake to return with their supper. She’d assured the knight she would be fine being left alone for a short while. He’d been loath to leave her but they were both hungry, having already consumed the small bit of food he’d thought to bring along.

  They’d ridden carefully throughout the dark night and then for all the daylight hours of the next day. They’d slept in the forest last night, resting Starlight, and then ridden again all day. Once more, they would sleep deep in the woods, far from the road where they might incur other travelers. She pulled her cloak about her, glad she’d remembered to bring it along. Though the early April days proved moderate, the nights ranged from chilly to cold. With the sun now setting, she was grateful for the warmth of the fire and held her hands up to it.

  Suddenly, Sir Drake appeared, having made not a sound. Her heart beat quickly at the sight of the handsome knight, partially in surprise at his quiet approach. The other reason her heart pounded was the growing attraction she felt toward him, something she kept trying to tamp down.

  “Two hares,” he said, raising the small animals in each hand. “We won’t go hungry tonight.”

  Faylinn watched him skillfully skin the animals with no wasted motions. He took the long, firm sticks she’d located earlier and used them to spear their dinner before placing the hares on the fire.

  “It will take time for them to cook,” he said. “While we wait, I wish to give you a lesson.”

  She sensed her cheeks heating, thinking a kissing lesson would be a pleasant way to spend the time while waiting for the hares to cook. Flustered by his steady gaze, she asked, “What do you wish to teach me?”

  “How to use a blade.”

  Sir Drake bent and removed a baselard from his right boot. The steel reflected the light from the fire, making it look both enticing—and deadly.

  “The road can be a dangerous place,” he continued. “I would like you to be able to protect yourself. Rest assured that I have no plans to leave your side, my lady, but I would feel better knowing you understood how to use a weapon.”