Soon he found himself on the training field. He drew his sword and swung at the quintain. The sand bag swung around, and with ease he cut it from its rope. It hit the ground with a heavy thump, much like his heart in his chest. Still angry, he began to chop at the wooden pole with ferocity. Wood splintered in all directions.
In the last few weeks he thought all his dreams had come true. He was a landowner with a wife that loved him as he loved her in return. Now he knew the truth. She saw him as a reptile like McPhearson. He continued to chop away until the wood cracked and it fell to the ground.
Looking down at the broken pieces lying pathetically in the dirt, Dominick felt as though he were looking at the reality of his life. Never whole. Sharp pain sliced through his gut. Somehow, Eleanor had betrayed him. Her words had taken away his hope.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Eleanor sat in her chambers. She had no heart to join in the evening meal. Dominick would be there, and she was too ashamed to look him in the face. The hollow words she assaulted him with echoed mercilessly in her ears.
How could she have been so unforgivably wretched? It was a side of her she hadn’t seen before. Where had those hateful words come from, and why had she attacked the one person who’d never done her harm? She felt as ugly as a troll, filled with self-loathing.
A knock sounded at the door.
Eleanor was too despondent to respond, but Martha entered without invitation. She bore a tray laden with food, but by the pursed lips and lack of greeting Eleanor realized she was angry.
“Go ahead and say it, Martha.”
“I stood in the hall and heard you spout out at Dominick.” Martha all but slammed the tray on the table. “Well, my girl, I had never thought I would see the day when I was ashamed of ya.”
Eleanor sank deeper into her chair. She deserved Martha’s angry words, but it hurt deeply to hear it come from her friend. “His lordship did nothing to warrant such an attack.” Her beloved servant stood in front of her, fists on hips. “The man has worked hard to give us a home and a sense of peace. And you, what do you do? You tell him he is no better than that devil’s spawn, McPhearson.”
Eleanor bowed her head. “I know.”
“How ungrateful can ya be?”
She felt the need to explain. “I know Martha, but I had just found out about Ruth. It was unexpected. Once my mouth was open, I couldn’t shut it.”
“Well woe be to me for not teachin’ ya better.”
“Martha, I’m sorry.”
The woman looked at her with indignation. “It’s not me you should be apologizin’ to.”
Violently Eleanor shook her head. “I can’t. I can’t face him right now.”
“Then yer not the brave girl I once thought ya to be.” Without another word Martha left the chamber.
Eleanor couldn’t feel lower. Martha was right. She had to apologize. She couldn’t let this lie between Dominick and her. Loving him the way she did, she would let no wall divide them. Determined to right her wrong she knew where to find him. When he was worried and upset, he walked the battlements.
It didn’t take her long. Her resolve nearly faltered when she saw him approached her. His face was dark. There was no warmth when he looked at her. About to walk by her without speaking, she reached out her hand and grabbed his arm, “Dominick.”
He turned slowly and looked questioningly down at her hand.
Uncomfortable, she removed it.
“Yes,” he said with a detached voice.
She took a deep breath. “Dominick, I would like to talk to you.”
He stood straighter. “Are there more insults you wish to hurl at me? Or maybe you would like to share more of your expertise on the wages of war. Or how McPhearson and I belong to the same coven of widow makers. Is that what you would like to talk to me about?”
“Dominick, please. I want to apologize for what I said earlier.”
“Fine,” he said coldly, “apology accepted. Now if you will excuse me.” He tried to walk away from her.
She reached out to pull him back. “No, wait!”
He raised one eyebrow. “Is there something else?”
Frustrated, she placed her hands on her hips. “You’re not making this easy for me.”
“I don’t intend to.”
She tamped down her anger. She knew she had no right to it. Whatever Dominick had to say to her she would accept it. “Please listen to me. I was wrong to snap at you the way I did. I felt guilty about what happened and instead of taking responsibility for my actions, I lashed out at you.” His lack of response made her more desperate. She grabbed his tunic and continued. “Dominick, I know who you are. I was blind to it in the beginning. But it didn’t take long to see the honorable man you truly are. My people would have died without you, and from the day I realized that, I prayed every day in thankfulness that the King sent you to me.”
Eleanor was encouraged when his stance softened. “I’m so sorry for what I said, but believe me when I tell you I don’t believe a word to be true. It was hollow and cruel, and I’m ashamed for the coward I was. I couldn’t face up to what I had done and I took it out on you.” She gazed into his eyes hoping he would believe she spoke the truth.
He embraced her tightly, and she nearly sobbed on his chest with relief. “Please forgive me, Dominick. I’m so sorry.”
“I forgive you.”
She shook her head. “I was awful.”
She felt a chuckle erupt from his chest. “Misguided, but not awful.”
They held each other for some time. Then he let her go. “I saw Ruth today.”
Really, “Thank you for doing that. How was she feeling? I left her rather abruptly, I’m afraid. More of my unforgivable actions.”
Dominick laughed, rubbing his wife’s arms. “She’s fine. She was making tea when I saw her this afternoon.”
“I shouldn’t have left her alone. She looked awful.”
“She looked fine. We talked for a bit about the baby and Ruth’s future. I asked her to come and live at the castle, but she wouldn’t hear of it. She wanted to stay in the cottage.”
“Do you think that is such a good idea? It would be much better for her here.”
He paused for a moment and looked out to the night sky. A soft breeze blew across the battlement. “I understand what she’s doing, Eleanor. Like me, she wants a place of her own.”
“The castle could be her home.”
“It wouldn’t be the same. She and Ralph built that cottage and their lives there together.” Eleanor couldn’t say anything to that logic. “I asked her if she would like me to arrange a marriage,” he continued. Eleanor’s eyes widened. He held up his hand to ward off any response. “You were right. She’s not ready for that. Her loss is still too painful.” Eleanor relaxed. “We did talk about her returning to the village she came from.”
“Does she want to?”
“I believe she does. Her family and the friends are there. It may be good for her to go back, but it’s too dangerous now. Her being with child and with McPhearson’s men hiding in the woods, I couldn’t allow her to risk it.”
“I’d miss her greatly, but I can’t deny her happiness.”
He squeezed her shoulder as they headed back toward the castle. “Well, she will not be leaving right away, and when she does I will make sure she’s well taken care of and can support her family in case she decides not to marry again.”
Eleanor wrapped an arm around his waist. “You’re the most generous of lords, and I’m so grateful.”
They walked into the south tower. It was empty. Only the glow of a torch lit up the room. He turned her toward him. His lips rose into a mischievous smile. “How grateful are you?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Very grateful, my lord.”
“Show me.”
Pulling his head down to her, she kissed him softly. When she pulled back slightly her tongue leapt out and licked his lips.
A low growl escaped his mout
h, and he lifted her off the ground. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her to the wall and pinned her against it. “You’re a witch to toy with me like that.”
Seductively, she smiled back. “It’s you, my lord, who draws out the wanton spirit in me.”
His hips ground into hers, sending jolts of desire to her core. “I should take you right here as payment for such behavior.”
She gave him a sly smile. “As you wish.”
He held her in place with one arm while the other slipped between them. His thumb churned the embers of passion.
She groaned and whispered desperately in his ear, “Dominick, I want you.”
“You shall have what you desire, my lady,” he promised, his voice breathy and ragged.
Desire bloomed between her legs as his knuckles brushed against her when he freed himself from his pants. Then he encircled her with both arms and slid her down onto his shaft, burying himself deep against her womb.
Planting soft kisses on her neck, he moved in and out.
As her desire grew, she no longer felt the cold stone wall behind her. She was lost in a world of passion, climbing the mountain of desire, rising higher and higher to its precipice.
Dominick moved faster, sending her into a frenzy to reach the top. She moved with him as he pushed deeper and deeper. Each thrust took her closer. In one final thrust, their climax shattered them into lights of satisfaction, and then floated back to earth on a cloud of euphoria.
They held each other tightly while trying to catch their breaths. She began to giggle.
Dominick couldn’t help chuckling with her. “What is it?”
“This is not the act of a proper lady.”
“Proper ladies don’t know what they’re missing.”
He gently pulled out and lowered her to the ground.
“If they have never made love in a tower, then I would highly recommend it to them,” she said.
He kissed her cheek. “You have the soul of a tavern wench, my dear.”
One eyebrow rose. “Have you experienced so many?”
He couldn’t keep the smile off his face. “None have your fair beauty to tempt me. It was merely an observation.”
“I’m not so sure,” she said suspiciously.
He swatted her behind. “To our chambers with you, maid, or I shall be forced to take you here again.”
“That wouldn’t be so bad.”
Rolling his eyes, Dominick picked her up and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of grain, swatting her behind as they left the tower.
“What have I created?” he said over her peals of laughter.
Chapter Twenty-Six
He had brooded for four days. The blackness of his failure consumed him. No servant or guard was safe in his presence. Animals shunned him. Even his horse shied away.
McPhearson sat in the gloom of his chambers. Fury permeating from every pore, his mood black and wretched like no hell that could be imagined. “Son of a bitch. The devil should have died in the stable fire.” Webbing his fingers together, he brooded about the night of the fire.
Disguised as a miller, he and his minion had been able to get past Dominick’s guards while McPhearson hid in the shadows inside the gatehouse. Their plan was simple. His servant would set fire to the stables to create a distraction while he slipped into the castle and stole Eleanor during the chaos.
But fate had thwarted him again. Instead of being inside the castle, Eleanor was outside, putting order to pandemonium. He had watched and waited, but opportunity never presented itself. Anger and frustration at his inability to get close to her was maddening.
He had seen Dominick running into the burning stable and people and animals running out. When Dominick had remained inside, he’d believed his nemesis was trapped in the inferno. His heart had risen with the flames that brought down the roof. With monumental effort he had kept himself from jumping up and down, shouting with glee.
When he saw Eleanor and Randolf huddled together in grief, he couldn’t help smiling. Their torment was his greatest pleasure. Visions of marching into Godwin now that Dominick was dead filled his mind. With delight he had continued to watch the fire burn. Then the devil had emerged from the flames. Like a blow to his gut, the astonishing sight doubled him over with disbelief. Like molten lava, his fury oozed to the surface, threatening to spill over. When the crowd cheered, he screamed out his rage and slipped back out of the gatehouse and back to Aurora Castle.
Finally, not willing to accept defeat, he sought out his brother. It didn’t take long. Liam was in the great hall dining with his men.
“You!” he said pointing to Liam. “You will be the catalyst that brings Eleanor to me and Dominick to his knees.”
His brother looked up casually from his meal. “I’m not one of your minions to order about, Robert.”
McPhearson bit down hard on a venomous retort and gathered himself together. His brother would not respond to anger, and would not cooperate with force. “No, you’re right, we are family.”
Twirling his eating dagger on top of the table. Liam looked at his brother with skepticism “Since when have you honored family, Robert?”
“It’s true, we have not been the closest of brothers, but we do have something in common.”
“What, pray tell, would that be?”
“Our dislike for the King.” When Liam turned, giving him his full attention, Robert added, “With your help we can force Dominick to forfeit his lands to us.”
“Should Dominick give up those lands, what would keep the King from sending more armies to take them back? It’s obvious your men are not up to the task, and I only have a handful of good soldiers-soldiers I’m not willing to lead to slaughter.”
Robert took a deep breath to calm himself down. He wanted to throttle his brother for his insult. “Once Godwin has been taken, I have enough allies that would side with me and tip the balance of power.”
Liam’s quiet contemplation encouraged him. “Help me do this brother, and together we can keep William from marching across our borders.”
“What would you have me do?” Liam wiped his mouth, speaking slowly.
“It’s very simple, really. Just take the girl, as we have discussed, and bring her here.”
“If it’s so simple, why have your men been unable to do so?” A smirk crossed Liam’s lips.
To hide his indignation Robert toyed with a goblet, turning it in the palm of his hands. “As you have said my men thus far have not been up to the task.”
Liam leaned forward over the table. “If I help you, what would be my reward?”
Robert smiled. He knew more than anything what Liam wanted. “Help me to get Godwin, and you may have Aurora.”
Liam gaped in disbelief. “What?”
“Make Godwin and Lady Eleanor mine and I will give you Aurora.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Just when Eleanor felt that Godwin would never see the sun again, summer came. The gray misty clouds that hung over the castle saturating its grounds finally lifted.
The inclement weather had benefitted more than the crops, allowing the stone masons and carpenters to work inside restoring Godwin Castle’s interior to its former glory.
Banners of red and gold hung in the great hall. Colorful tapestries covered the walls, giving new life to the castle. Godwin was truly a sight to behold.
The castle had become a beehive of activity, and drove Eleanor to what she thought was the brink of insanity. From the moment her eyes opened in the morning until she laid her head on the pillow at night, she had listened to the constant sound of banging, sawing, or scraping.
Even in the rain, Dominick had trained his men. He proved impervious to the rain and the mists that saturate the body until the bone was near frozen. Eleanor envied him his resilience, as it enabled him to venture outside, away from the constant assault of sound.
At every opportunity she and Dominick would lock themselves in their chambers and enjoy the time
spent together. He placed a pallet near the hearth where they would lie together for hours, talking about the future of Godwin and its people. They would discuss villager’s disputes and come to one agreement. Once the problems were solved they would bask in the warmth of each other. Eleanor savored those moments.
She listened contentedly to the sweet sound of birds singing. Sunlight slipped through the shutters to shine on the bed. Her heart leapt for joy. She cuddled up to Dominick and kissed the length of his broad shoulder. His hand reached behind him, pressing her more closely to him.
“Good morning,” she said brightly.
“Mmmmm, good morning.” His hand began to stroke her hip and thigh.
She leapt out of bed. “No, no, we will have none of that. The morning is too beautiful to waste.”
He turned toward her, “I would hardly consider lovemaking a waste.”
“Nor would I, but it’s the first sunshine we’ve seen in weeks, and I want to be out enjoying it.” She began to quickly dress. “I have been trapped in this castle far too long, with the exception of the muddy trek to Ruth’s cottage. I need to feel the sun’s warmth on my face.”
Slinging his legs over the side of the bed, Dominick began to dress “How has Ruth been feeling?”
“Remarkably well. Martha has given her some herbs to put in her tea every morning, and they seem to be helping.”
“Good.”
“Abigail on the other hand is another matter. Since her brothers are no longer there to entertain her, she has become quite a handful.” Tying a ribbon at the end of her plated hair, Eleanor continued her chatter. “I think I will take the little sprite today and give Ruth some relief.”
Dominick donned his tunic. “I’m sure Ruth would appreciate that.”
Eleanor knew she was rambling, but the promise of a warm sunny day lifted her spirits. After slipping on her shoes, she walked toward Dominick and pulled his head down, kissed him in a way that promised more in the future. His eyes crinkled with a smile.
Immortal Love Page 20
