She pushed the negative thoughts from her mind as she worked to heal the woman. Finally, she nodded, taking a step back. “You must rest for the remainder of the day, but you’ll be fine.”
Bethanie eyed her skeptically. “I’m dying. Why do you tell me otherwise?”
Marina shook her head, pushing her hair back over her shoulder. “You will not die. I would strongly recommend you find an occupation that will not make you ill, but you will not die.”
“What do you know of what I do? You, who have lived in this fine house your whole life? You, who wears fine clothes to sit about the house in? No, you know nothing of what I do.”
Marina kept her chin up. She truly didn’t know what a whore did. She knew it was the same thing a woman did in bed with her husband, but her knowledge of that act was lacking as well. “I know it will cause you to die of a horrible disease if you don’t do something else.” She looked at Christiana. “Can we use another servant perhaps?” Since they’d lost all male servants to the Battle of Hastings, and there were many more people for the servants to care for now that Roland’s army was there, it seemed only logical that they could use someone else to help around the house.
“I’m no one’s servant. My job is to give pleasure, not to serve someone who considers herself far above me!” Bethanie struggled to her feet.
Charles moved forward, nodding for Marina to step back. He put his shoulder to the woman’s middle and carried her from the room.
Marina closed the door behind them, shaking her head at her sisters. “She was certainly pleasant.”
Christiana sighed. “Oh yes. Of course, you can’t blame her. It must be a difficult life.”
“But I offered her a way out of it!” Marina truly didn’t understand how the people she helped could be so callous and rude.
Eva shrugged. “Forget about her. We’ll most likely not see her again.”
Christiana nodded. “Let me see if Roland wants to start sending the peasants up.” She looked at Marina before contacting her husband again. “Are you ready?”
At Marina’s nod, she gave Roland the words he needed that would start the stream of injured peasants into the castle. Every day there was more than the day before as word of Marina’s healing spread.
At supper that evening, Marina shared a trencher with Charles as usual, carefully not touching him. Charles had made it clear that he would be leaving as soon as she’d faced the ‘coming evil.’
“Thank you for being willing to heal our camp follower today, Marina. The men rejoiced when she returned free of disease.” Roland smiled at Marina.
“And all the men she has shared her disease with? Will they come to me to be healed as well?” Marina asked, suddenly tired of the way people ignored illness.
Roland shrugged. “I cannot force my men to accept your healing. Many are still afraid of you.”
“Many are ignorant,” Marina snapped. “I’m sick to death of everyone assuming we’re witches. We’ve done everything in our power to help you, your men, and all of the peasants in the area, yet still most of the peasants make the sign of the cross before they come into the room where we wait to heal them, and again after we’ve healed them. It’s as if they think our healing will hurt them. Why do they continue to come to us when they feel this way?”
Roland shook his head. “I cannot answer that. I only know people are ignorant.” He took Christiana’s hand and raised it to his lips. “The peasants here have never received an education, so it makes sense they’re afraid. They believe anything they’re told, and there have been rumors about you and your sisters being witches for years.”
Christiana looked at Roland, her eyes dancing with laughter. “Yes, but you were brave enough to try to conquer the evil witches.”
Roland grinned. “I didn’t try. I conquered them. Well, I conquered the only one I cared to conquer anyway.”
Marina watched her older sister enviously. She wished she had the kind of love Christiana had with Roland. Well, she knew she felt the kind of love Christiana felt, but she wished her love was returned. She kicked Charles under the table.
“Ouch! Why did you do that?” Charles glared at her.
Marina shrugged. “It made me happy.” She continued her meal as if nothing had happened, Charles watching her warily.
Christiana immediately sent her thoughts into Marina’s mind. “I know you’re annoyed with him, sister, but kicking him really isn’t the answer. What were you thinking?”
Marina frowned. “He makes me feel like I’m not good enough for him, and it hurts me.”
“I know, but that doesn’t mean you can hurt him. Walk with him after supper and ask what’s on his mind.”
“I don’t want to be with him!” Being around Charles only prolonged the pain. He would leave soon, because he had no feelings for her.
Christiana sighed. “Lie to yourself, sister, but don’t lie to me.”
As soon as the trenchers were taken away, Marina looked at Charles. “Would you walk with me?”
Charles looked surprised by the question, but he nodded. “We’ll have to stay within the walls, but yes, I’ll walk with you.”
Marina made a face. She could walk into the courtyard of the manor house if she had one of the men escort her, but without a man, she couldn’t even set foot outside the manor. As much as she dreaded the evil showdown she and her sisters must face, she wanted it done with so her life could become her own again.
Charles held open the huge oak front door for her and walked beside her through the grounds. He wanted to put her arm through his, or take her hand as they walked, but he did neither. He didn’t want to anger her more than he already had.
She walked around the side of the manor to where they couldn’t be seen and took a step toward him, resting her head on his shoulder. “I’m scared.”
Charles’s arms came about her immediately. “Why? Do you not feel strong enough to fight the evil?”
She shook her head. “I don’t. Eva and Christiana were both found with just enough time for me to heal them. Who will heal me?” What was it about Charles that being close to him made her feel safe? She wished she knew.
“You will have the full power of both of your sisters to help you. With Christiana’s gift so strong, you’ll never be out of touch. My brother, Hugh and myself—the entire army is at the ready. We will not allow him to harm you.” Charles closed his eyes and rested his cheek atop her head. “You know I could never let anyone hurt you.”
“As long as you’re close, I feel safe,” she whispered, giving away much more than she intended.
Charles cupped her face in his hands and kissed her softly. “I wish I could keep you by my side forever.”
Marina sighed. “But you can! Why do you fight it? Roland would agree to our marriage in an instant. Ask him!”
Charles closed his eyes, emotions overcoming him. He couldn’t. He needed her to understand how strongly he felt about the matter. Taking a step back, he said, “Stop begging for marriage, woman. I’d happily give you a tumble, but marriage won’t happen between us.”
Marina forced her face to remain impassive as she turned toward the front of the manor. “Escort me inside, please.” Her heart was breaking, but she needed to not show it. If she could simply wait until she made it to her bedchamber, she could weep. She could cry all night if she needed to, but Charles could not see one tear. With the way he treated her, he was not worth the salt in her tears.
Charles walked beside Marina toward the front of the manor, his heart heavy. He’d just rejected the woman he loved—again. If he didn’t stop doing so, she would find another. He needed her beside him, but she didn’t need a landless knight. He’d done the right thing for her, but what had he done to himself?
Chapter Two
The following morning, Marina made herself a promise. She would stop following Charles around as if he was the only man in the world for her. Though that’s how it felt at the moment, she wanted children, and the only
way for a noblewoman to have children was marrying. She would not let Charles shame her ever again.
When she arrived at the breakfast table, she was careful to smile at everyone equally. “Good morning, brothers and sisters. Father. Charles.” She took her seat beside Charles, ignoring the gaping faces of her sisters.
The mental question from Christiana was unwelcome. “You seem much better than you were last night. I could feel your anguish all night. You barely slept.”
Marina nodded slightly, sending her answer. “I am better. I’ve decided to let Charles go. I would like to actively seek out a man to marry, though. I believe that children would be good for me.” After a moment, she added, “I’m sorry that I kept you awake.”
“Sister…”
“Enough, Christiana. The man you love returns your feelings. Mine doesn’t. I will waste no more time pining and begging for his affections.” Marina took a bite of her breakfast, ignoring Christiana’s pleas in her head. She would speak no more of it. Her decision had been made.
The master looked out over his men, knowing he only had one more chance to lure one of the sisters away from her womb-mates. He had to settle for the youngest—who was the weakest by all accounts—but knowing her power was healing made having her at his side more palatable.
He must choose a nobleman, one who would be welcomed into the sisters’ manor home. One who could lure Marina away with the promise of marriage to a powerful man. Finally, he stopped in front of one of the men. He had a simple power, but that didn’t worry the master. No, he knew that Jarrett was one of the most brutal men when left to his own devices, but in polite company, he would seem like a courtly gentleman.
“Jarrett, you will walk with me,” the master said, walking away from the camp where the other men watched them enviously. They’d all wanted to be the one called to go on this mission for the master, because they knew this one was important. “I am sending you to the home of the women.” He had no need to tell his man what women, because they all knew who he was after at this point. “You will need to block yourself from the eldest sister, so she doesn’t know you’re mine.”
Jarrett nodded. “I will do that.” Jarrett’s power was the ability to block his thoughts, emotions, and evil from others.
The master continued. “Your objective is the youngest sister. You must join the household of the sisters, pledging fealty to Roland, the Norman usurper. You will find a reason to be near the sisters as often as you can. I want the youngest to agree to marry you. You will then bring her back here to me.”
“Do I marry her?” Jarrett asked.
“No. She is mine. You simply bring her to me.” The master stopped walking and looked out over the land. “Her name is Marina, and she has the power to heal with a touch. Perhaps you could make sure you get injured and go to her for healing.”
Jarrett nodded subserviently. “Yes, master. I will do as you say.”
The master watched as the man strolled back to camp to get his things, knowing he’d chosen well. Jarrett had a face and form many women seemed attracted to, but he was as ruthless a man as the master had seen. Yes, he’d made a good choice.
Marina stood on the parapet, looking out over the men who were training in the courtyard. Everyday had become the same. Her mornings were spent doing physical training with her sisters, and then after luncheon, she healed anyone who came to her. She avoided being alone with Charles, knowing that being close to him would make it all worse. Her heart still hurt, but she had to move on.
Her gaze latched onto Bethanie, the camp follower she’d healed. The woman wore a dress that showed her calves as she walked, and worse, it was cut low enough that Marina was surprised her breasts managed to stay inside. One of the men watched her—seemingly incapable of paying attention—and stabbed his opponent, who almost seemed to move into his sword thrust. That couldn’t be, though! Marina could see the amount of blood dripping from the man’s arm from where she stood.
She hurried inside, and down the hall to her sisters, where they waited in Christiana’s chamber. “One of Roland’s men just injured another. We must prepare to heal him. From the blood I saw, this will be a difficult healing.” She had the ability to sense how bad an injury was, but not from a distance. Her hand had to be within inches of the injured.
“Do you want to attempt it on your own? Or would you prefer we help immediately?” Christiana asked, rushing to remove her embroidery from the chair they put the sick and injured in.
Marina frowned. “Let me try on my own this time. If I nod, I’ll need help from one of you.”
The door burst open, and two of Roland’s men came in with another supported between them. They put the injured man on the chair and immediately stepped back to let the sisters get to work. Marina approached the man, her hand outstretched.
When his eyes met hers, she hesitated for a moment, expecting him to protest. Most people were afraid of her the first time she healed them, because they assumed she was evil, despite the cross that hung around her neck. Her hand went to his wound, and she was surprised it wasn’t worse than it was. It seemed to be mostly bluster, a great deal more blood than actual injury.
She was able to heal it herself with no strain to her powers, and when she was finished, she stepped back. “You’ll be good as new now. Try not to get in the way of men who are not paying attention again.”
The man nodded, gripping Marina’s hand and bringing it to his lips. “You are as talented as you are beautiful, milady.”
Marina smiled. It was nice that a man noticed her for a change, though she wasn’t attracted to him. What did it matter at this point? “Thank you.”
“I’m Jarrett. I joined your family’s army just two days ago.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Jarrett. I am Marina.” She sat down in a chair close to his. “Where are you from?” It wasn’t uncommon in these troubling times for a man to come along and join an army with no notice. So many had become landless because of the war.
“My family had landholdings near Bedford before the Battle of Hastings. My father was killed in battle, and I find myself landless. I joined with your lord, because there are rumors of his strength, and I find I would rather be allied with a strong man than with a defeated army.”
Marina nodded. “I believe you’ve made a wise decision.” She stood, walking over to her sisters. “You should return to your training.”
Jarrett left, able to walk away under his own power. He looked back over his shoulder as he headed out of the room, his eyes lingering on her.
Marina took a deep breath. “I want to invite him for supper, so I can get to know him better.” She knew it was risky, but she needed to take the chance. She couldn’t continue on as she was.
Christiana shook her head. “He’s an unknown to us. What if he is part of the evil?”
“Did you feel evil coming from him?” Marina asked logically. “You can always feel it when someone is bad, can’t you?”
Eva stepped forward. “Did you feel evil, Christiana?”
“No, I didn’t, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s not evil.”
Eva shrugged. “It’s good enough for me. Will you talk to Roland for her? Or should I ask Hugh to talk to him?”
Christiana sighed. “I’ll do it, but I want it known that I don’t think this is a good idea.”
Marina shrugged. “I’m done following my heart. Now I’m following—I don’t know what I’m following, but it’s not my heart!” She refused to meet her sister’s eyes as she picked up her embroidery to resume her work, though she felt their gazes on her. She would stick to her decision.
At supper, Marina wasn’t surprised to see that Jarrett was at the table, and she took her seat beside him, rather than sharing a trencher with Charles. She could feel Charles looking at her, but she couldn’t let that affect her resolve. “How are you feeling now?”
Jarrett smiled at her. “Much better, thanks to my little angel.” He took her hand and brought it to his l
ips. “I don’t know that I would have survived without your expert help.”
She smiled. “Anyone could have sewn you up, but I’m glad I was able to help you.”
Roland frowned. “I don’t think you should have needed to be sewn up to begin with. The camp followers know to stay out of the way during training. That woman should not have been there to distract your opponent.”
Marina shook her head. “I don’t think she should be around at all. She had a terrible disease that could be killing all of your men.”
“My men are well aware of the dangers of visiting a camp follower. They are allowed to make their own choices, though.” Roland’s tone of voice told Marina the subject needed to be over, but Marina had never been good at backing down when she felt that a subject was important.
“Why would you allow her to be part of your camp? You could put an end to this!”
“That’s enough, Marina,” Roland said sternly.
Christiana sent her sister a message, trying to soften the blow. “Forget about Bethanie, sister. Get to know the man beside you. There’s no need for you to argue with my husband the first time your guest comes to supper.”
Marina closed her eyes for a moment, trying to control her temper. She did as her sister suggested and turned her attention to the man beside her. “Do you have a wife waiting for you at home?” She knew it was a bold question, but she wanted to make it clear she was interested—right or wrong.
Jarrett shook his head. “No, but that’s because I’ve never met a lady as beautiful or as skilled as you.”
Charles watched the two of them, sharing the meats from their trencher. He knew it was his fault that Marina’s eyes had turned to another, but that didn’t matter to him at all! He wanted her to look at him the way she was looking at Jarrett—the way she used to look at him. “Were your parents peasants?” he asked, his voice sounding like he would think less of the man if they had been. He looked at Hugh, and saw the understanding in the other man’s eyes.
Seduced (Thrice Blessed Book 3) Page 2
