William stayed with me in the Basilica Cistern when his only thought must surely have been escape. He looked after me. Briefly, Anna found herself wondering if all Frankish knights were as well favoured. To some he would look every inch the foreigner. To my father, for example, that shock of fair hair signals the possibility of barbaric Norse blood, and those green eyes…
‘Is my face dirty, my lady?’
She flushed. ‘No, it is just that my father—you must have seen him, he said he saw you…?’
‘I saw him,’ William said, helping her over the heap of rubble in the doorway.
She frowned. ‘I know you are a Frank and not a Norseman, but you do look like a Norseman.’
‘Vikings and Franks come from the same stock.’
‘Oh? Well, that explains it. I do not know how it is, but my father could not see the resemblance between you and Erling. To me it is obvious.’ How could Father not see the resemblance? How could he not see the kindness in the man; the sense of honour; the devotion to duty?
As Anna stepped over a block of masonry, it lifted her eye to eye with him. He has breathtaking eyes. They are so vivid, they are alive with flecks of light and they crinkle at the corners when he smiles. I want him! I want William for my husband. The shock of the thought almost sent her tumbling from the block.
‘Careful, my lady,’ he said, patiently assisting her over the rubble and through the doorway. ‘Some of this is unstable.’ Seizing her by the waist, he lifted her easily past the last of the stones.
Anna’s next thought almost had her on her knees. Officially, he is still my slave. Could I compel him? Two weeks, he said he would stay for two weeks… I cannot want William! My father would kill me!
‘There!’ William made an expansive gesture. ‘Welcome to my new quarters, my lady.’
The Hall of the Nineteen Couches stretched away in front of them. The long walls on either side were pierced by several apses, some of which were complete with the ancient couches that dignitaries of a former age had reclined on while they dined. The couches were covered in leaves and dust. The grandest and least decayed of them, the one the Emperor must have used, stood in the largest apse, facing the door.
I cannot want William! Carefully, Anna removed her hand from his arm. I scarcely know him, I certainly do not love him. Of all the men I know, this one is capable of putting others before himself. Witness the way he cared for those children, witness the way he cared for me.
‘Your quarters?’
Daylight was streaming in through two tiers of windows, there were a number of holes in the roof and there, high in the apex, a disintegrating bird’s nest. The floor was uneven, grime and more leaves obscured the mosaic floor. Overall, though, the hall looked remarkably sound.
‘Constantine informed me that beds were likely to be scarce over the next few days so I thought this place might suit. In fact…’ his eyes darkened ‘…the more I think about it, the better it seems.’
Anna looked blankly at him, the oddest of litanies was running though her mind.
I do not love him, how can I? William is attractive, dangerously attractive, but there are many barriers between us. Father would never countenance such a match, William has no land, he is determined to return to Apulia. Why? Why is he so determined to return when he has no land there?
He might win lands here! Yes, William could win lands here and… Be realistic, William has not mentioned marriage, all he has done is kiss you.
Father would never countenance such a match…
When William caught her hand and tugged her to him, she scowled suspiciously up at him. ‘Why did you bring me in here?’
‘To show you my quarters, to see if you thought them suitable.’
Anna held her breath, a wicked light in his eyes was having an extraordinary effect on her pulse. ‘Suitable for what?’
His head lowered, his mouth stopped scant inches from hers. ‘Lessons in courtship,’ he murmured. His low, sensual voice sent shivers down her spine.
I refuse to kiss him. I do not want him to kiss me, I want…
‘This hall must have been built with you in mind,’ he muttered, whirling her about until they were standing in the nearest of the alcoves.
Her mouth had gone dry, she swallowed. ‘It was?’ Lord, I cannot deceive myself, I ache for his kiss.
Lowering his head that final inch, William touched his lips to hers.
She had been going to object. She had been going to be strong and push him from her, but that first touch sent her fine resolutions flying from her mind. There was a dizzying rush of feeling in her belly. For such a large man, he can be very gentle, almost…too gentle. With a murmur she reached for his shoulder and pressed closer. She wanted to be enfolded in his arms, she wanted to be held, tightly held. ‘William.’
So tall, he is so tall. She had to go up on her toes to reach him properly. She wound an arm about his neck. When she pushed her fingers into his hair, her palm tingled. Breathless, she drew back. ‘What was that?’ His eyes had been closed, he opened them and gave her a slow, toe-curling smile.
‘That, Lady Anna, was lesson number one. It is a pity most of the couches have been broken or lost…’ he looked thoughtfully at the grand central couch ‘…we might need a good one for the later lessons.’
‘Couches?’ Later lessons? What on earth is he talking about? All I want is for him to hold me. ‘Why do we need couches?’
‘For your tuition in courtship rituals. You really should not have threatened to club that poor boy.’ He shook his head. ‘It is no way to win a husband. Next time, you might try kissing him. Your kisses are extremely…stimulating.’
‘Lord Michael didn’t want to kiss me and I certainly didn’t want to kiss him!’
‘You didn’t give him a chance. You didn’t want to kiss me a moment ago, did you, my lady?’
‘That was because…because…’ Anna closed her mouth with a snap. She hadn’t wanted to kiss William, but the reason she hadn’t wanted to kiss him was because she had wanted to kiss him! ‘That was…different.’
William towed her into the second alcove. Here, the couch was leaning on a slant, it was missing a leg. Setting a booted foot on the lopsided seat, he pulled her close, manoeuvring her until her hip was warmed by his thigh. ‘Why was it different?’
‘I…I…’ Anna struggled to find a suitable response before it occurred to her that she need not answer him. ‘William, you have no right to behave like this. You are teasing me and I do not like it.’
‘Very well, there will be no more teasing. Now, let us progress—with due seriousness—to your next lesson.’
‘No, this must stop. This instant!’
Chapter Eleven
Breaking out of William’s arms, Anna stepped away from him. She had to, because otherwise he would realise how she burned for another kiss. His touch is too disturbing, it is far too seductive. Anna had often wondered how it was that so many women permitted themselves to be seduced—this man was giving her much insight. It might not reflect well on her strength of character, but she feared that if William put his mind to it, he would find it all too easy to seduce her. She would, quite simply, not want him to stop.
‘Stop?’ He lifted a hand to his heart. ‘My lady, I am devastated. Your touch is the only warmth and light in a life that is sadly dark.’
Hiding a smile, she sighed and made as if to leave. Too seductive, he is far too seductive. ‘I don’t know how ladies are expected to behave in your Duchy, William, but you should know that I am flouting Palace conventions simply by being alone with you. If you insist on behaving like this, I shall have to leave. I had hoped that we might be friends, but you are making me behave in the most unseemly manner. What if someone had walked in on us a moment ago?’
‘That door grates abominably, we would have heard it open.’
‘Unless you are prepared to be sensible, I shall have to return to the apartment.’ At least I shall be able to think in the apartment, when
I am with you, all coherent thought flies from my head.
His expression sobered. ‘Stay, my lady. If the price of your company is that I am not to tease you, then I shall not tease you.’ Smiling ruefully, he extended a hand and came towards her. ‘Please stay. I have no wish to drive you away, I enjoy your company.’
And I enjoy yours, far too much.
His eyes smiled into hers, and the sincerity Anna read in them had something twist inside her—she was dreading the day when she would have to bid him farewell. ‘You said you will stay for two weeks, I think? To help Lord Constantine improve his Norman French.’
‘Yes.’ With a grin, he dropped to his knees and put his hand on his heart. ‘Don’t go, my lady, I will behave, I swear it.’
Disarmed, Anna allowed herself to be ushered towards the largest alcove. A quiet gleam of gold caught her eye, some of the ancient gilding on the Imperial couch was intact. William wiped away a scattering of leaves.
‘Please sit, my lady.’
She raised an eyebrow. ‘On the Imperial couch, Sir William?’
His lips twitched, his eyes dropped briefly to her mouth and Anna discovered that he did not have to be touching her to evoke those small tingles in her belly.
‘I have promised to behave, we shall not move on to the more…advanced lessons without your consent. Besides, this is the soundest couch, unless you sit on the floor, which is filthy, there is nowhere else.’
Anna settled herself amid a rustle of skirts and William took his place at her side. She noted that he made a point of ensuring there were several inches between them.
‘My lady, since my plans have changed and I am to be staying in the Palace, there is something I need to ask you.’
‘Oh?’
He grimaced. ‘I am not planning to make much noise about my presence here, but neither am I prepared to skulk in the shadows. It is possible that someone may recognise me from the slave market. Apart from the Princess, two other people were bidding, a man who looked as though he was a merchant and a woman who might be attached to the Court in some way.’
‘Yes, I saw them.’
‘It could become awkward if they noticed me wandering the Palace grounds.’
‘I see what you mean—you don’t want to get arrested for being a runaway slave. I must ask the Princess to sign your document of manumission.’
‘I would be grateful. As I said, I shall need that document if I am to remain here. If I am challenged, you may not be nearby to bear witness to the fact that you have freed me.’
Anna nodded, even as guilt twisted inside her. She was unable to bring herself to confess that she might not, after all, be quite ready to grant him his freedom. I need to think about this. In one sense, William is more suitable as a husband than I realised when I saw him in the slave market. He is not merely a slave, he is a knight. I need to think…
‘I understand,’ she said, temporising. ‘I shall try and find your document. Ka—the Princess left it at the apartment. When I go back, I shall find it and, as soon as I can, I shall get her to sign the manumission.’
‘My thanks, you are most kind.’
Anna swallowed. She was not kind, she was misleading him and she did not like it. Guilt, it seemed, was a heavy burden. Giving him a weak smile, she realised he was staring at her speculatively. ‘Whatever is the matter?’
‘You have done that more than once, you know.’
‘What? What have I done?’
His expression was thoughtful. ‘When mentioning the Princess, you stumble over her name.’
‘Nonsense!’
The fair head shook. ‘No, I do not think it is nonsense. I almost missed it the first time because I had other things on my mind. But there is more than merely stumbling over her name—I get the definite impression that you are in some kind of trouble. My lady, what is it?’
‘Nothing!’ Anna’s voice was high, quickly she moderated it. ‘You are mistaken, it was a slip of the tongue.’
‘A slip you made more than once.’ Astute green eyes held hers. ‘You are hiding something, and you are afraid.’
Her chin went up. ‘I am not.’
‘Something is troubling you, I am sure of it. My lady, I should like you to know that if I might assist you in any way, you only have to ask. You have been so generous to me, I should like to return the compliment.’
‘Thank you, Sir William, but you are mistaken, I do not need your help.’
‘You are not in any difficulty?’
‘I am not.’ Anna hoped she was not blushing, it was almost impossible to force the lie past her lips. She had never liked lying, and for some reason it was particularly hard lying to this man. Especially when he was offering her assistance. Holy Virgin, help me.
He gave her a crooked smile. ‘My lady, your secrets would be safe with me.’
‘I am sure they would, if I had any worth telling.’
He lifted his broad shoulders. ‘Very well, you are not to be persuaded, but please remember that if you change your mind, I would be honoured to help you.’
‘There is nothing to tell.’ There was a lump in
Anna’s throat. The idea of having someone to whom she could unburden herself to was very tempting. It is not my secret, though, it is Princess Theodora’s secret and I will keep it as long as I can. Katerina and I must be the only ones who know that the Princess has gone into hiding. Commander Ashfirth must have realised it by now, but no one else must know. No one.
William has realised I am lying, I can read it in his face, a tiny line has appeared between his eyebrows. Her pulse quickened. Quickly! Change the subject…distract him…
Smiling, she laid a hand on his arm, his eyes followed the movement. ‘William, there is something you might do for me…’
He gave her one of his teasing smiles. ‘I don’t get the impression that you are about to ask for another lesson in courting rituals…’
‘You are correct.’
He gave a dramatic sigh. ‘Pity.’
‘William, I would like to know how you came to be enslaved.’
His smile faded, he shook his head.
‘You must tell me.’
‘Must I?’
‘Please, William.’
‘Very well. In brief, I was betrayed. I was out on patrol near Melfi with a couple of squires when we were ambushed.’
‘Are such attacks common in Apulia?’
‘They are common enough except there was something odd about this one…’ His mouth twisted. ‘As you may imagine, I have given this thought in the months since then. It was no random attack by thieves, it was well prepared and well executed, and it took place in an area that was relatively peaceful. We were vastly outmanned. Our assailants were quick to separate me from my squires, so quick that I do not know what happened to them. I can only pray my squires were not killed, I fear at least one of them might have been.’
‘You think you were singled out deliberately.’
‘I am sure of it.’
‘So you have enemies in the Duchy?’
‘I didn’t think so, but clearly I was wrong.’
William’s responses were brief, he was trying to discourage more questions. Nothing daunted, Anna pressed on. ‘What happened after you were separated from your squires?’
‘The wrangling began among my captors.’
‘Wrangling?’
‘Much of what they said was unintelligible, but broadly they divided into two camps. Some wanted me killed, others wanted me sold into slavery.’
‘I don’t understand.’
William’s expression was bleak. ‘My assailants had been paid to kill me, a group of them got greedy—if they sold me into slavery, they would be paid twice over. The greedy faction won—that is how I found myself on the slave block.’
Thoughtfully, Anna bit her lip. ‘William, you must have some idea who would want you killed, such an enemy must be known to you.’
‘All I have is part of a name.’
&nbs
p; Anna leaned forwards. ‘And…?’
‘Gwion—my attackers mentioned a man named Gwion. Once home, I intend to discover his full name.’
‘You want blood.’
‘I want to find that my squires are whole. And I want justice, not blood.’ He looked at her, mouth grim. ‘I shall not fail.’
‘I don’t doubt it.’
His mouth softened. Lifting her hand from his sleeve, he raised it to his lips. ‘My luck had been bad for months, but it surely turned the moment I set eyes on you in the slave market.’
Anna stared at his downbent head. His hair was slightly rumpled, its blond colour fascinated her. So fair, it is so fair. He turned her hand and as his mouth pressed gently against her palm, another seductive tingle ran up her arm. It made her long for the impossible, that William might be accepted as her most favoured suitor. That day will never dawn, my father will never accept a Frankish knight.
Unless…unless…guilt warred with longing…unless I take matters into my own hands, by forcing William to marry me. Father would have to accept it then.
And what about William? Would he ever be able to accept a marriage that was forced upon him? Or would he, as I fear, feel I have betrayed him?
* * *
The scent of jasmine was weakening William’s resolve to keep his hands off her. He was—rather successfully, given what he felt was extreme provocation—resisting the urge to push Anna’s sleeve out of the way and nibble his way up her arm.
Just then, voices broke in on them. ‘No, no need to bring them in. You may leave them out here.’
Mindful of Anna’s concern for the proprieties, William dropped her hand and came swiftly to his feet. He managed to be at least three feet away from her by the time the rusty hinges screeched and the door opened.
‘William?’ Lord Constantine leaped lightly down from the rubble heaped about the entrance and dropped a bundle onto the floor. ‘Brought you supplies.’
Chained to the Barbarian Page 16
