Knight of Her Heart (Conquering the Heart)

by Alyssa James

  “So be it.” Each tight feature proclaimed that Lord Blake was not happy.

  Malin placed a hand on his co-conspirator’s arm. “Lady Lisette will be comfortable enough in Eleanor’s chamber. ’Twill give me great pleasure, however, to keep her bastard husband here and provide him with just enough sustenance that he will provide years of entertainment as I torture him daily.”

  “Nay!” Lisette could not help her stricken protest at the thought that Rowan would suffer such a fate.

  Malin sent her a malicious smile. “A quick death would be far too good for the bastard of Baddesley.” He took Lord Blake by the upper arm and steered him toward the door.

  Even while she was aghast at the plans Malin had for Rowan, it struck her that her former guardian was under Rowan’s brother’s power. If she could get Lord Blake alone...could she play on his need to be in command? Could she find a way of driving a wedge between these two wicked men and find a way to thwart Malin’s plans?

  When Blake turned back toward her, Malin urged, “Come, my friend. We have other important plans to make if we are to assassinate Henry at his Michaelmas celebrations.”

  Lisette reeled at his words. ’Twas not long before Michaelmas. The king must be warned. Somehow Lisette must find a way to escape—not only to deliver this warning to the king, but also to prevent Rowan from being compelled to ride into Malin’s trap to rescue her.

  Chapter 20

  It had been many years since Rowan had been whipped out of Baddesley Keep. Perspiration pricked at his upper lip and he suppressed a shiver as he unwillingly relived the horrifying events of that day. His brain failed to shut out the recollection of the dogs barking as they had been tormented by their keepers. The aim of the keepers had been to stir them into a salivating frenzy prior to the commencement of the hunt. The hounds had been straining on their leashes, baying for blood. His blood.

  A quick shake of his head and he banished the memories back to the dark recesses of his mind. Now was not the time to dwell on the reasons he’d left his childhood home. Now he needed to focus upon the reason for his return. Somewhere within the keep, Lisette was being held prisoner—at least he prayed that she was within these walls and still alive. The smithy at the last village had reported that a small group of soldiers from Baddesley had ridden through the main street only the day before. A woman’s limp body had been slung across horseback.

  Dear Lord, let her have merely been asleep and not harmed in any way.

  Exercising iron-clad control, Rowan ordered his brain to remove the mental image the smithy’s words had conjured up. ’Twas imperative he place his trust in God to keep his wife and unborn child safe. Rowan needed to focus solely on his rescue mission.

  ’Twas just on nightfall. He and the small group of knights who’d travelled with him had made camp in the forest out of sight of Baddesley Keep. Rowan had left them there. Rather than bargaining for Lisette’s life with his own, he’d thought of a way to save them both. If he had not returned by daybreak the knights were to lay siege to the keep and send word immediately to the king and Sir Richard.

  Under the cover of darkness Rowan would make his way into the keep through a secret tunnel. Unless Malin had thought to block it, the entrance should lie hidden behind the bushes just ahead.

  Fighting his way through the branches as quickly and quietly as he could, Rowan was relieved to find the mouth of the tunnel just as he’d remembered it. His step-father had shown him the route when he’d been scarce old enough to walk. He’d been firmly instructed to hide in the secret passageways should the keep fall under attack. He was to leave via this very entrance under the cover of night. Never would the former Baron have envisaged that Rowan would need to creep back into Baddesley Keep in this manner, but then no one had understood the resentment that had roiled within his half-brother.

  Convinced that Malin would make Lisette suffer as much as possible, the dungeons were the first place Rowan headed. He moved stealthily down the stone staircase. The way ahead was unlit and therefore appeared to be deserted, but Rowan would not leave the keep without searching every inch of it. He retraced his steps into one of the hallways, took a torch from its sconce and began his way down to the dungeon level once again.

  His plan was to get Lisette to safety. Then he would return and launch an attack on Malin to clear the earth of his brother’s insane treachery once and for all.

  Seeing no guards posted at the dungeon level, Rowan called out. “Lisette?”

  The only sound was the slight echo of his voice and water dripping steadily from somewhere in this dank labyrinth of chambers.

  He proceeded to open every cell door and used the light from the torch to search each space. Tension wound across his shoulders and up his neck as he wondered where in the keep he should search next.

  Finally, in the very last empty cell, he found evidence that his wife had been held there. A couple of beads shone up from the damp, stone floor. Immediately he recognised them as coming from one of Lisette’s kirtles.

  Had she struggled? His jaw hardened at the thought of her being manhandled in any way. Adrenaline flowed fast through his veins as he thought about where Malin may now be keeping her.

  Dread locked his throat. All their lives, Malin had wanted what Rowan had. Lisette was Rowan’s wife. Would Malin...? The thought had him turning on his heel. He took the steps two at a time as he charged toward his destination—the room which had once been his mother’s chamber. The room that his former betrothed, Lady Eleanor, would have occupied once she had married Malin and become the Baroness of Baddesley.

  Only once did he have to hide in a recess as two guards moved through the corridors of the keep. As he neared his mother’s former chamber, he saw a guard posted. Further along there was another guard posted right outside the door that led into the chamber he sought.

  Slipping out of the shadows, Rowan walked casually along the corridor. The guard closest to him did not appear to register anything untoward as Rowan sauntered toward him.

  Rowan adopted a rough accent as he told the guard, “I’m ter relieve ye.”

  “That was quick. I only just got ’ere.”

  Rowan shrugged. “Just followin’ orders. If yer happy ter stay at yer post, I can find much better ways ter amuse meself tonight.” He gave the guard a broad wink and started to turn around. Bethia and her niece had told him that Malin had turned Baddesley into a veritable whorehouse. Rowan was relying on the presumption that the keep had become a regular den of iniquity and that wenches would be readily available to service all the men-at-arms.

  The guard had second thoughts before Rowan had taken more than a couple of paces back in the direction from which he had come. “’ang about! I’m not going ter argue with ye. I could use a bit of that meself.”

  Pulling a face of resigned dissatisfaction, Rowan said, “Fair enough.”

  ’Twas only when he’d taken a couple of steps away from his post that suspicion crossed the guard’s features. “Yer new ’ere?”

  “Aye.”

  “What be yer name, then?” The man’s voice held a hint of challenge.

  Dangerous.

  Rowan was saved from answering as both he and the guard were distracted by a disturbance. Rowan’s head drew back in surprise as he saw the guard in front of his mother’s former chamber slumping to the ground. Lisette stood over him like a fierce, avenging angel. She held a piece of plank...from the base of a bed?...in her hand. Fierce determination was stamped on each of her beautiful features.

  “Oi!” the guard next to Rowan cried.

  “Rowan?” Lisette cried out in a tone of shocked disbelief.

  Before the man beside him could utter any sound of warning, Rowan grabbed him from behind with one arm and used his free hand to press the blade of his dagger against the man’s throat.

  “One sound and you’re a dead man.”

  The man nodded, surrendering immediately.

  Lisette ran toward them, her face lit with r
elief. “Rowan!” she cried. Her voice was the sweetest music to his ears, but there was no time for the reunion he craved. Scanning her for any sign of physical damage, he saw a dark bruise at her right temple.

  “You’re injured.”

  A few steps away from him, her footsteps slowed as she hesitated. Her slender hand lifted awkwardly and self-consciously to her temple. “I’m fine,” she reassured him. Her voice trembled. In her eyes, he saw the contrast of her relief and then her uncertainty. Instantly he recalled their parting and how cold and condemning he’d been. He guessed that her lack of confidence in running to him stemmed from her insecurity, for she did not yet realise that her love for him was returned.

  Love for him.

  Rowan felt his chest swell. The knowledge of her love pumped through him as surely as the blood flowed through his veins. It made him feel strong and unconquerable, capable of answering any challenge thrown his way. By God, he swore he would get her to safety. This time he would be exultant when she voiced her love for him. ’Twould be the most wonderful moment he had ever known when he could wrap her in his arms knowing that they were locked in deep and mutual love.

  Rowan used the hilt of his dagger and hit the guard on the head hard enough to render him insensible. As the man slumped against him, Rowan lowered him to the floor.

  “Come, my wife.” He reached out his arms to Lisette.

  She needed no second invitation. Pure sunshine shone from her features and she hurled herself into his arms.

  “Forgive me, Lisette. I should never have said the things I did.” The words tumbled out despite the fact that his first priority should be getting them back to safety. ’Twas all too easy to forget where they were and simply revel in the feel of her in his arms, yielding herself to him physically and emotionally. He searched her face and saw that she granted him forgiveness easily. His wife was truly more precious than all the jewels in the king’s crown and he vowed that he would treasure her from this day forth and leave no doubt that he loved her.

  “I didn’t think you’d come so soon.”

  Gathering her closer, he pressed quick kisses along her hair line. “I gave you cause to doubt me. I judged you unfairly and harshly. If I could but take the words back—”

  “You were so angry with me, but I understand why.” Her eyes were awash with tears. “I’m so sorry...I deserved—”

  “Hush. I was a fool.” He put a little distance between them so he could look her up and down. “Apart from your head injury, are you and our child unharmed?”

  She sent him a tremulous smile. “Aye.”

  Mentally he gave a quick prayer of thanks.

  “But...how did you find me so quickly?” There was confusion in her expression. “You were on your way to King Henry.”

  “I realised that my marriage to you means everything.” He smiled down at her. “The happiness of my wife came before my duty to the king.”

  “Rowan!” There was both admonishment and pleasure in her tone.

  “Fear not, my lady. Richard will tell the king all that is afoot.” He hugged her tighter.

  The guard that Lisette had hit over the head gave a slight moan and jolted Rowan back to reality.

  “We tarry too long. Now ’tis time to get you away to safety.” Rowan grabbed her by the hand and led her down the corridor toward the direction of the secret tunnel.

  They had only made it a few steps down the corridor when Rowan cursed. Malin stood in front of him flanked by archers whose bows were drawn. Their arrows were trained directly at Rowan and Lisette. Rowan had opted not to wear his body armour as he’d wanted to move as quietly as possible through the keep, but he was still protected by his chain mail. The mail would deflect arrows from his torso and arms, but Lisette was vulnerable. There was no way he could draw his sword and fight off the men before the deadly arrows were released and found her as their mark.

  Nothing would induce him to place Lisette and their unborn child at risk.

  His plan had failed. Of all the foes he’d fought, Malin would be the weakest, yet Rowan had underestimated him. ’Twould have been better had he ridden into Baddesley while Lisette was released.

  “Well, well,” Malin drawled in amusement. “The bastard of Baddesley returns just as I knew he would. But you disappoint me, Rowan. How easily you have walked straight into my trap.”

  “Get behind me, Lisette,” Rowan ordered as he took a step backward. He would not give up yet.

  “No safety there.” The amused voice of Lord Blake came from behind them, the words chilling Rowan to the bone.

  Malin sneered at him. “Sneaking through the secret tunnel in the dead of night just like the coward you’ve always been, Rowan?”

  “We both know who the coward is, Malin,” he replied slowly as his brain worked furiously to try to work out a way to escape.

  “Brawn on the battlefield doesn’t make you the better man,” Malin growled. “You and your stupid, misplaced sense of honour! You, who turned yourself inside out to do the right thing to impress the man your mother married. You tried to outshine me in everything because you coveted the noble title that always rightfully belonged to me.” Malin grew red with rage and he puffed up with his own self-importance. “A bastard born should never have been allowed into the ranks of nobility.”

  “A title doesn’t make a man noble, Malin, ’tis his actions that do so.” Rowan advanced toward his half-brother with his sword drawn.

  “Lay down your sword and the dagger you carry,” Malin commanded. “You’ll never leave here alive but, if you put your weapon down, her life will be spared.”

  Rowan had no choice. Had he been by himself he would have charged the archers in front of him and hoped his reflexes would allow him to deflect their arrows along the way. That was not an option with Lisette’s life to protect.

  Jaw clenched, he dropped his sword slowly. He reached for his dagger and dropped that onto the floor as well. The clang of steel echoed through the corridor. The sounds underlined the hopelessness of their situation.

  “Much better.” Malin smiled. “I’d have hated for an arrow to end your miserable existence when I have so much more agony planned for you.” He waved a hand at the guards. “Seize him!”

  “I want the girl unharmed,” Lord Blake declared.

  The archers stood aside, bows still drawn, to allow two burly guards past.

  “I haven’t forgotten our bargain, Blake,” Malin told him cuttingly. “Lady Lisette will be yours.”

  Rowan was grabbed roughly by the guards. Malin’s words made Rowan’s heart thump erratically. Just what bargain had his half-brother and Blake struck? What fate awaited Lisette?

  “Stay calm, Lisette,” Rowan told her quietly before he was hauled forward. A quick look at his wife told him that his warning words had been unnecessary. The woman who had knocked out a guard with a plank of wood from the base of her bed was not about to give in to hysteria. Her gaze darted from one spot to another, assessing the situation, judging her chances. Rowan saw the helplessness of their situation—knew her chances were nil at this moment—but admired that she had not given up. There was a firm jut to her jaw that told him she would strive to aid him if she could. He was proud at having his warrior wife so determined to fight with him—to fight for him.

  This woman was not only worth fighting for and dying for if necessary, she was worth living for. By God, he would defeat Malin and claim his future with Lisette and their child. He would find a way to claim their happiness.

  Malin did not utter another word as they walked through the upper floor of Baddesley Keep. The silence was only broken when they reached the doorway of the chamber which had once belonged to Rowan. “Welcome home, dear brother. I have been so anticipating this day of your homecoming that I had your chamber especially prepared for you.”

  Revulsion churned in Rowan’s gut. Lisette gasped as she was pushed into the room behind him and saw how the room had been prepared. Rowan turned his head and saw her eyes wide
n with horror as she glanced around the room. The chamber had been stripped bare of all its furniture. In its place were instruments of torture.

  “Where are your manners, oh-so-chivalrous-a knight?” Malin jeered. “Are you not going to thank me for all the trouble I have gone to on your behalf?”

  “I assure you the pleasure is all yours,” Rowan replied drily.

  “Well, that’s the point really, is it not?” Malin’s laugh was demented. “Pleasure for me and pain for you. Aye, I have played out this moment in my mind time and time again. For years now, ever since I heard you’d escaped my hounds and had arrived safely at the home of Devereux, I have collected an extraordinary variety of instruments with which to punish you. I’ve pondered long and carefully on all forms of suffering I can inflict on you, compared different methods and even combined a few devices for maximum effect, and a little personal touch.” He gave a half-skip of pleasure.

  “Should I be honoured that you have pursued this so passionately?” Rowan returned with sarcasm.

  Malin gestured to a set of iron manacles which hung suspended from a rafter on thick metal chains. “Strip him of his chain mail. Strip him naked to the waist and secure him there.”

  “You have me, Malin. Let Lisette go.” Rowan began to struggle against the guards and succeeded in wrestling himself free and punching one to the floor before Blake spoke.

  “Temper. Temper. Your temper will get her killed.” Blake held a dagger to Lisette’s throat and Rowan immediately stilled. His efforts in freeing himself merely earned him a few solid kicks in the legs from the soldiers who grabbed him.

  Aware of the sharp point of the blade against Lisette’s neck, Rowan allowed his chainmail, gambeson and undergarments to be stripped from his torso. The fangs of frustration bit deep as his hands were cuffed by the chains and he was rendered completely useless. Now it may well be a matter of surviving for a few days until the troops of Romsey and Winchester arrived. Escape from his current position seemed impossible, but at least Blake lowered the blade and Lisette was not under such immediate threat.