Beloved Abductor

by June Francis

  Harry pulled a face and marched.

  ‘Very right and proper too,’ murmured Felicia, a quiver in her voice. ‘You remind me of Father when he used to scold my brother Mark. But his bark was worse than his bite, too.’

  ‘Surely you cannot suspect I am not as hard-hearted as you believed me to be?’ Edmund’s voice mocked her. ‘I suspect you were trying to escape from me and that was how you came to catch sight of Harry and Sam.’

  Felicia made no reply and her heart seemed to bounce against her ribs. He stepped over a tree-root and his arms tightened about her. She looked up at him but his face was in shadow now that they were beneath the trees and she could not read his expression.

  ‘I know you have been too busy the last few days—too busy to dance attendance on me.’ There was the slightest echo in her reply of the last words he had spoken to her three days earlier. ‘So I decided to seek shelter at the abbey.’

  ‘You said you never wanted to speak to me again. Yet surely you have not been lonely? You have had Dickon dance attendance on you.’

  There was a note in his voice that surprised her. ‘Surely you can’t believe that I and Dickon–’ Her voice trailed off.

  ‘He considers you a comely woman and there is much about my friend that must appeal to you,’ said Edmund stiffly.

  ‘I would not deny that he is an attractive man with a pleasant friendly manner but it was never my intention to seduce him.’ Her tone was icy. ‘Neither has he been my only visitor. Nell and Harry have also sat with me and attended to my needs. Without them, I might have attempted an escape earlier. I really must return home. I am concerned about my cousin Joan.’

  ‘There was no need for you to seek help from the abbot, because I–’

  Before he could finish what he was saying, Sam appeared, clutching Felicia’s surcote.

  ‘It is a bit dusty, but unharmed.’ He held it up to her, but Edmund told him to hold on to it. ‘You have done well this evening, young Sam. Do you think that you could go ahead with Harry? His mother will be pleased to see you both.’

  The boy nodded, and Harry groaned. The next moment they both set off ahead of Edmund and Felicia at a run. Felicia thought that now Edmund might finish what he had been about to say but at sight of the constable’s men, she realised that it was unlikely because they were the objection of the men’s attention. ‘You could put me down now. I think I could walk as far as the house,’ she whispered. Edmund made no move to do as she asked. ‘Surely you do not think I will attempt to run away now?’ she added, struggling in his hold.

  ‘Stop that,’ he said in a low voice, feeling himself harden. ‘Consider the dampness of your gown and your appearance if you were to walk through the streets.’

  Felicia flushed. ‘Your surcote will cover me,’ she said.

  The corner of his mouth tilted up, and Felicia was suddenly aware that his surcote was slipping and he was looking at her in a way that caused her to blush. ‘You should avert your eyes,’ she whispered.

  ‘I’d rather look at you than the ground. I must tell you that before Sam appeared with the shocking tidings that Harry had fallen into the river, I was on my way to tell you that, when you are able to ride again, I shall take you to Meriet.’

  Her spirits soared. ‘You were? Does that mean you believe me innocent of all your accusations at last?’

  They had arrived in the market square and Edmund came to a halt. ‘I admit that I should not have punished you for your cousin’s sins. I beg your pardon for using you so disgracefully and in a manner that you judged as similar to that of your cousin,’ he said awkwardly.

  Felicia realised what it must have cost him to make such an apology. ‘You are forgiven! I will add that if you had not abducted me, I would still be my cousin’s prisoner and his treatment of me does not bear contemplating.’ She twinkled up at him. ‘Will you really escort me to Meriet?’

  He smiled. ‘You have my word.’ He began to walk again across the square to Dickon’s house. ‘How long have you been able to walk without difficulty?’

  She shrugged. ‘It was slow and painful at first. I tell you now that if you had not quarrelled with me and swept out of the room in a rage, I would not have got out of bed and discovered that the door to the garden was left open. Really, I could no sooner lie meekly back after that than you could stay here, as Nell said, in safety and not go and seek out the Lord Edward.’

  ‘I was not the only one who was angry that day,’ he said dryly. ‘It seems that the safe and easy way is not for either of us.’ On those words he carried her into the hall.

  Screens had been set about the fire, and although there was no one in sight, they could hear the sound of voices coming from beyond the screens, as well as the splash of water. A serving-maid bustled in with a pail, and slopped water on the floor, barely noticing Felicia and Edmund as she retreated behind the screens.

  ‘Good! Nell did get the tub out,’ said Edmund. ‘A hot bath is just what you need. It will loosen any stiffness and chill from your bones.’

  ‘But...’ began Felicia, when she was interrupted by an unearthly yell and the sound of tippling water.

  ‘No more, Mother! No more! All this water cannot be good for me. Look! My skin is changing colour!’

  ‘And a good thing too,’ said Dickon sternly. ‘The worry you caused your mother, my lad! You stink of the river and fish, and goodness knows what else.’

  ‘Don’t shout at him, Dickon,’ came Nell’s flustered voice. ‘He has had enough of a shock. But the saints only know how we shall get the mud from his hose.’

  Felicia and Edmund exchanged glances, and she wrinkled her nose. ‘I suppose I, too, stink of the river.’

  Edmund smiled, but did not reply.

  ‘And where did you leave Edmund and Felicia, did you say?’ came Dickon’s voice again. ‘I wonder if I should go and find them.’ He sounded worried.

  ‘We are here,’ called Edmund, edging round the screens.

  Felicia was instantly aware of several pairs of eyes upon her.

  Nell stopped rubbing Harry’s hair and dropped the cloth. She moved forward swiftly, her hands outstretched. ‘I do not understand how you did it, but I am in your debt forever for saving Harry’s life.’

  Edmund set Felicia down. ‘Now is not the time for questions, Nell,’ he said firmly. ‘As soon as Harry is out of the tub, Mistress Meriet must have a hot bath.’

  ‘Of course!’ Nell smiled her heartfelt thanks and gazed at Felicia with sympathy. ‘You are dripping wet. We will chase these men out and fill the tub again. I have a herbal mixture that will be just the thing for you.’

  ‘Thank you,’ murmured Felicia, not sure how to cope with Nell’s effusive gratitude.

  ‘Mary!’ Nell turned to the serving-maid. ‘You will prepare Master Harry’s bed before you fetch some more water to be heated. Dickon, could you help me to lift Harry out of the tub?’

  ‘Of course, sister.’ Dickon moved swiftly. He cast a smile at Felicia. ‘You will always have our sincere gratitude. Harry is a ruffian, but he is all we have.’

  ‘Ruffian, brother?’ Nell sounded half annoyed, half amused. ‘It must be the company he keeps. Sam—and all those brothers of his.’

  ‘Sam is a good lad,’ said Edmund, slanting Nell a frowning glance.

  ‘Aye, he would have gone to Harry’s aid,’ put in Felicia.

  ‘Sam can swim, Mother,’ said Harry, poking his head out from beneath folds of rough linen. ‘He is my friend, and I intend to stay his friend.’ His mouth set mutinously.

  ‘I can see you are all against me!’ Nell looked annoyed. Then she looked at her son and laughed unexpectedly. ‘I understand. I do not forget what bonds of friendship boys forge. It was so with Dickon, Edmund and Steven. Always they defended each other.’ It seemed to Felicia that she would have said more as she gazed about the circle of faces. ‘But what am I thinking of—talking so at such a time as this. Edmund, shoo! Dickon, as soon as Harry is dressed for bed, you will carr
y him up for me. I do not want him overtaxing his strength.’

  Harry let out a groan, but his mother only gave him a loving hug. ‘If we do not hurry. Mistress Meriet will be spending several more days in bed instead of going home. So let us move.’

  Harry, Edmund and Dickon moved.

  It was hot in the fragrant water. Felicia sighed in sheer pleasure, and held up a glistening shapely leg above the surface. It did not hurt, and she felt as if suddenly she had come through a baptism and was cleansed. The firelight made the water appear to be shot through with yellow and silver. Beyond the screens the candles glowed softly, and there seemed to be a kind of enchantment about bathing in such a light. But it was getting late.

  She stood up and began to squeeze water from her long dark hair. Nell had gone to fetch her a clean gown. Her own having been washed in the tub, Mary had hung it out in the warm night air. Felicia was so intent on seeing to her hair that she did not hear the soft tread of feet on the rushes beyond the screens. She reached out to take one of the linen cloths that Nell had left, and swung her hair down in front of her face. Carefully she gathered all the strands together in its folds before twisting it and wrapping it about her head. It was then she saw the feet and raised her eyes in disbelief.

  She blushed, and the heat of it seemed to stretch from the roots of her hair to her toes as Edmund gazed at her naked form. She could only stare at him.

  ‘I always wanted to meet a mermaid!’ His voice was barely audible. ‘But you will catch cold if you stand like that much longer.’

  He moved forward and picked up the other drying cloth. Before she could protest, he shook it open and held it out in front of her, shielding her from his eyes. As though in a dream, she climbed out of the tub. He wrapped the cloth about her body and began to rub her vigorously.

  Her heart began to hammer. His harsh caress with the towel had set her skin tingling, filling her with excitement. ‘No, please!’ she whispered, lowering her arms and clutching the drying cloth with trembling fingers.

  He stopped, but still he held her between his hands, and she was instantly aware that he was trembling too. He pressed his lips against her bare shoulder, bringing her body closer to his with compelling hands.

  ‘No!’ she said weakly, even as she lifted her mouth to his kiss.

  His lips fastened possessively over hers with a hungry fierceness that set her blood on fire. Their lips parted only to be drawn irresistibly together again. Felicia knew that she should try to stop him, to struggle, but it was as if her body was no longer under her control. It seemed to have a life of its own, wanting to reach out to the vitality that was so much a part of this man, and join with him. Her body arched against his, and he lifted her off her feet and buried his head between her breasts, murmuring unintelligible words against her sweet-smelling, still damp skin. Her arms went round him, and with one hand she caressed the nape of his neck beneath the newly trimmed hair. She could not understand her yearning for him. She longed for him to not only make love to her, but to love her as she loved him. No! That was impossible! She could not love him! She moaned as he caressed her taut nipples with warm, searching fingers. The towel had slipped from her hair, sending damp tendrils cascading about her shoulders. Wet! a voice said in her head. Her hair was wet from being in the tub after rescuing Harry! Harry! Nell! What if Nell returned now with her gown? By all the saints in heaven, what was she doing in Edmund’s arms without a stitch on? The thought caused heat to sear her body, even as Edmund’s mouth found hers again. Dear God, why did she want him so? Her lips clung to his briefly before she wrenched herself out of his grasp.

  She made a hasty grab for the towel, which had slipped to the floor. Her face was aflame, and she looked anywhere but at him as she wrapped the cloth round her nakedness. ‘Felicia!’ His harsh voice contained a note of entreaty as he stepped towards her and his breath came unevenly as he reached out for her.

  She gazed up into his burning eyes and was frightened of her own responding wave of desire. She backed away from him, pressing against the wooden tub. ‘No! You mustn’t touch me!’

  He stared at her dully, running a hand repeatedly through his hair. ‘You can say that, after ...’

  ‘You should not have stayed. Go now. If Dickon or Nell ...’ The words faltered on her lips at the expression on his face. She turned from him and went over to the fire, staring unseeingly into its golden heart.

  ‘Damn you, for the cold-hearted wanton you must be!’ Edmund exclaimed in a seething voice before turning on his heel.

  The shock of his words caused her head to shoot up, and she wanted to call him back, to deny his accusation, to explain her fears and to be held in his arms once more, but her affronted pride caused the words to die even as the door opened and shut behind him. Tears pricked her eyes, and she felt desolate. Then she bent to pick up the other towel that had fallen, and sank on a stool to rub her hair, holding her head near the fire, trying not to dwell on what had taken place between them.

  It seemed a long time before the quick patter of Nell’s feet came into the hall. ‘I beg your pardon for being so long,’ she said, slightly breathless. ‘Harry was not in his bed, but looking out of the window. Then I met Edmund and Dickon in the garden, so I paused to have word with them.’ She handed a gown to Felicia, who took it with a murmur of thanks. It had white daisies worked at the hem and neck, and its long yellow sleeves were tight fitting. Felicia shrugged herself into it, shivering slightly.

  Nell frowned. ‘I do hope you haven’t caught a chill? Edmund said he can delay no longer but must be on his way in the morning.’ She looked pensive. ‘Dickon offered to take you to Meriet, if Edmund wanted to go on ahead and you were not fit, but Edmund said in such a strange angry voice that he had charge of you and would see you safely to your manor.’ She glanced at Felicia, and smiled. ‘I think he is cross with you because you did not let him know that you had improved so much, and he could have been away earlier.’

  ‘I suppose so,’ murmured Felicia, feeling cold as ice at the thought of Nell’s reaction if she had come into the hall earlier.

  ‘I shall take these towels to Mary,’ said Nell with a slightly worried frown. ‘Do not wait for me, but go up to bed if you wish. Mary shall bring us both a goblet of wine, and we shall drink each other’s health.’ She disappeared behind the screens with a whisper of skirts.

  Felicia continued to comb her damp hair before braiding it. Then she slipped her feet inside the pair of soft leather slippers Nell had left by the fire. Her own shoes she had left on the river bank, and Sam must not have thought to pick them up. She rose to her feet and, feeling slightly apprehensive, walked to the back of the hall, hoping not to bump into Edmund. She felt unbearably weary.

  Dickon came towards her as soon as she stepped outside. He took both her hands and squeezed them tightly. ‘How are you feeling, Felicia? You look as fresh and pretty as the daisies on your gown. Who would have believed, Edmund, that she has been through so much?’ He turned his head towards his friend.

  ‘Who, indeed?’ said Edmund, approaching slowly. Felicia’s eyes caught his but briefly, and the chilly expression in his caused her to look away.

  ‘Harry said you must have swum like a fish to save him,’ said Dickon, still holding Felicia’s hands. ‘You must be the veriest mermaid. Don’t you agree, Edmund? It is unusual in a woman.’

  ‘Of course I agree,’ responded Edmund smoothly. ‘But then Mistress Meriet is full of surprises.’ He snapped off a rosebud and held it to his nose. ‘I just pray she will continue to surprise me by being ready to ride in the morning.’

  ‘I shall be ready,’ she said firmly.

  ‘Good!’ Edmund tossed the rose to her. ‘Best you go to bed; we don’t want you fainting on the way.’ He took Dickon’s arm. ‘Now, my friend, how do you feel about a game of chess?’

  Dickon nodded, and his eyes went from Felicia’s pale face to Edmund’s set one. ‘Good night to you, Mistress Felicia.’

  ‘And t
o you both,’ she murmured.

  They bowed and went into the hall. Felicia stared after them with an unfamiliar ache inside her. She sniffed the rose, and then dropped it angrily before turning and climbing the stairs to bed.

  Chapter Six

  ‘Do you really feel well enough to travel?’ asked Nell, watching Edmund lift Felicia on to the pillion seat.

  Felicia’s mouth was set firmly, despite her trepidation. She had been going to suggest that she rode with Dickon, but one look at Edmund’s stern face had caused the words to remain unspoken.

  ‘I am certain. Thank you for your concern, Nell. I shall always remember your kindness,’ she said with a smile.

  ‘My debt to you is greater.’ A shadow flickered across Nell’s face. ‘You speak as if we shall never meet again, but surely you come into town on occasions? If you can, come for the fair in July and stay with me.’

  Thank you. And if you are ever in need of a rest from town life, come to Meriet. You will find my direction from the abbot,’ said Felicia.

  Briefly the two women clasped hands before Nell stepped back. She turned to Dickon, and kissed him on the cheek and then smiled mischievously at Edmund and held out both hands to him. ‘Take care of him for me…and yourself, too.’

  ‘I shall, never fear.’ Edmund squeezed her hands briefly. ‘Do not forget to ask one of Sam’s brothers to teach Harry to swim.’

  Nell nodded. ‘It is not easy to bring up a boy without a man.’ She sighed.

  ‘I shall return your brother to you safely.’ Edmund released Nell’s hands and turned away.

  Felicia scrutinised his face for any sign of the despondent lover, but his expression was an enigma as he climbed into the saddle. She gripped the back of his belt, and then she had time only to lift a hand in farewell before the horses began to move. The next time she looked back, Nell had gone. What were his feelings for Nell? If they ran deep, then surely he would not have started to make love to her last even? Or would he? Her throat ached with suppressed tears. She should never have let him touch her. Her feelings for him must surely be only carnal. She could not love him! She desired him simply because he was a physically attractive man. She raised her head and gazed at his straight back, feeling its strength and warmth beneath her fingertips. No! She must not think of how it had been when he had held her so close to his heart and caressed her so delightfully—that way lay weakness. She must think of something else. She looked about her and her spirits rose. It was a lovely morning and it was good to be alive!