The Original de Wolfe Pack Complete Set: Including Sons of de Wolfe

by Kathryn Le Veque

  She fought off a grin, trying to look suspicious. “You left with Lady Analiese this eve from the dining hall. Should there be something I must know about?”

  He made such a horrified face that she laughed out loud. “Surely you jest, madam.” Giving her a final reproving look as if to tell her just what he thought of that awful scenario, he left.

  When she heard the door close softly she lay back happily on the bed, her smile fading as she drifted off into a deep, contented sleep.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  William sat in the earl’s bower, a large cup of wine in his hand. He had just finished running over the entire trip for the man up until they had entered the gates of Northwood. He was trying desperately to act normal, not like the guilty man who had just bedded the earl’s virgin bride.

  “Well, lad, that was quite an adventure,” the earl said wearily. Wine always made him tired. “And you still do not know why you were attacked?”

  “Nay, my lord,” William replied. “We most likely never will.”

  The earl looked hard at him. “You do not believe that Lady Jordan had any hand in it, do you?”

  William shook his head. “Nay, my lord, she is not the political type. She is innocent, I am sure, as is Lady Jemma, though to look at her that is hard to believe.”

  The earl raised his eyebrows and stared into his cup. “What did you say the men took to calling her? Banshee? ’Tis fitting, I think.”

  William agreed. “Lady Jordan and her cousin are very different. Lady Jordan is quite gentle, qualities which Lady Jemma seems to lack. It was an interesting trip, to say the least.”

  The earl pondered the information. “Were you able to befriend Lady Jordan somewhat?” he asked. “She seemed rather nervous.”

  William shrugged casually. “We were forced together much of the time. I tried to make it as comfortable as possible for her.”

  “And what of the men’s reaction to her?”

  William smiled wryly. “One look at her beauty and they forgot she was Scot, I think. She charmed any hostility they had right out of them, including Deinwald.”

  “Deinwald was pleasant?” The earl was surprised. “He was the one I worried over the most. Pleasant, did you say? Amazing.”

  William chuckled. “She taught Kieran how to insult Deinwald in Gaelic. You should have heard the hooting and quarreling between those two. I thought I was going to have to beat them both to a pulp at times.”

  The earl snickered. He snickered again, louder. Then he burst out laughing like William had not heard him laugh in years. Wiping at his eyes, he said, “I would have given a year’s revenue to see that.”

  William was smiling broadly. “Then you would have been amused to see Lady Jemma and Deinwald go at it. It was like watching two rabid dogs.”

  The earl laughed again until he cried. “Maybe I will still get the chance. In faith, it sounds as if your trip was not the least bit lacking in entertainment, in spite of the unfortunate attack.”

  William sat back in his chair. “Speaking of Lady Jemma, sire, what do you plan to do with her?”

  The earl took a swig of wine. “Nothing, I suppose, although Analiese will be furious. Hell, she is already furious because Lady Jordan is so lovely. She was hoping I’d marry a hag.”

  “Then I shall release Lady Jemma come the dawn,” William stated. “A night in the cellar should do wonders to tame her tongue.”

  “Let us hope,” the earl agreed disinterestedly. “Mayhap I should consign an English lady to assist the future countess. After all, she is English now, is she not?”

  “Aye,” his captain replied. “Someone from court, mayhap?”

  The earl nodded after a moment of thought. “I will write to Queen Eleanor. She will spare a suitable lady.”

  That matter settled, they sat in companionable silence for several moments as wine was shared and thoughts wandered. William was feeling his fatigue and wished that the earl would dismiss him.

  “She is beautiful, is she not?” the earl finally said.

  William looked up at the man and saw that he was smiling into the fire. Careful, William told himself. “Aye, my lord,” he replied. “She will bear you many strong sons.”

  “Is she as beautiful as you mysterious angel of mercy?” De Longley pressed with a grin.

  He remembered. William thought with horror. He knew that he had to be truthful at the first, for it would be far worse if he admitted it at some later time. Better to get it out in the open to quell any suspicion.

  “Sire, I have a confession,” William said. “Your betrothed was my angel of mercy. Believe me that I was quite amazed to discover it upon reaching Langton.”

  De Longley was surprised. “Of all the women in Scotland, you came upon the same one twice?” he guffawed loudly. “Amazing. And you were absolutely right, William; she is exquisite.

  “Aye,” William replied as neutrally as he could. “I was glad to see her again so that I was able to thank her for saving my life. Mayhap that is why I protected her so fiercely on our journey. I feel a debt to the woman.”

  “Ah, honorable William, you would,” the earl replied. Then he gave him an odd, lingering look. “Do you, mayhap, have other feelings for this woman?”

  William looked him in the eye. “I am married to Northwood, sire, and she is betrothed to you,” he said. “To have feelings for her would be a colossal waste of effort, something I am unaccustomed to.”

  “Well I know you, lad,” his liege said. “You have served Northwood and me well. And you will continue to serve Lady Jordan as you serve me. Is that clear?”

  William was puzzled at the question. It was an unnecessary one. The earl saw his confusion and waved at him.

  “I simply meant that I know you have lost many friends and colleagues to the Scots,” he said. “I should not like to hear that you have discriminated against Lady Jordan in any way, although I know you would not knowingly.”

  “She saved my life, sire.” William was confused as to why he even had to explain this. “I would do her no harm, knowingly or otherwise. Have I ever given you a reason to doubt my honor?”

  “Nay,” de Longley said firmly, then set his cup down with a thud. “ ’Twas not what I meant, lad, and I apologize if I insulted you. What I meant was that hostility toward my lady is running high…I want you to make sure that one of the knights are with her at all times. I never want her alone, even for a second, for it could be that second that does her in.”

  As if he did not already know that. “Aye, sire.”

  The earl was fatigued. His exhaustion had fed his paranoia and had made him say all of those unnecessary things to William. He knew that, now that he’d had a moment to think, but he was not a man to apologize. Instead, he rose, signaling to William that the conversation was over. William stood too, stiff from immobility.

  “ ’Tis well past my bedtime,” de Longley yawned. “Go get some sleep yourself, William. You have earned it. We shall speak more on the morrow, including the ceremony for Adam.”

  “Aye, sire,” William bowed crisply and quit the room.

  William did not go directly to his chambers but, instead, checked the posts one last time. His mind was a jumble of thoughts and emotions, and he could not have slept if he tried, so he went about his rounds and hoped the walk would clear his brain.

  He ran into Paris walking the inner wall. His second had the night watch and smiled wryly at his captain.

  “My lord looks… wrung out,” he commented dryly.

  William did no more than shrug and, together, they walked the wall for several silent minutes. The cold dampness of the night settled into William’s tunic but he did not feel it. He seemed to be concentrating on each individual footfall he made. Paris knew he was preoccupied and why, but wisely he said nothing.

  “Paris…,” William began slowly.

  “Aye, William?” Paris answered lightly.

  William felt as if he needed to confide in someone. Whether it was to expres
s his joy or his great confusion, he wasn’t sure. Mayhap he just needed to hear another voice tell him he wasn’t completely out of his mind. Mayhap he needed a trusted opinion. He was unused to dealing with matters of the heart.

  “There is a… problem.”

  “What kind of problem?” Paris looked concerned.

  William stopped and faced him. They were virtually alone on the wall save a few sentries scattered over the compound.

  He sighed. “Lady Jordan….”

  Paris snorted. “There is no problem there,” he announced with satisfaction. “She will rule the roost before the month is out, although I have doubts as to whether Jemma will survive the week if she does not control her mouth.”

  “Paris, you do not understand.” William waved a hand at him to stop his jabbering, his voice dropping to a whisper. He felt as if he were choking on the very words. “I took her.”

  It took a moment for Paris to realize what he was saying. Then, his face went slack in slow motion as his astonishment registered in stages.

  “You did what?” His voice was an octave lower than his usual speaking tone. “You… you took her?”

  With his confession from his lips, William felt as if an enormous weight had been lifted from him yet, at the same time, he felt he had endangered Paris with the very knowledge and felt guilty for it. But what was done was done.

  “Damnation, Paris,” he slammed his fist into his open palm with great force. “I love the woman and she loves me and I took her.”

  Paris calmly digested the statement. “Do you regret it?”

  “Nay,” William returned. “But my shame of betrayal is overwhelming me. I tried to fight the feelings that were growing, God help me, but they were stronger than I was. Had she not returned the feelings they would have been much easier to suppress. I can no longer deny anything anymore.”

  Paris smiled faintly. “I was wondering how long it would take you to admit it to yourself,” he said quietly. “I knew. All along I knew. I tried to tell you but you would not listen to me.”

  “I could not, should not, would not, but when it came down to it, I fell like Babylon to Alexander,” William said with a hint of disgust. “Do I regret that I love her? Never. But I should not have let it go as far as it has. There is no turning back now.”

  They resumed their walk, each man deeply engrossed in his own thoughts.

  “Do you think that I am wrong?” William’s jaw ticked. He was never wrong, ever, and to ask Paris that simple question spoke volumes.

  Paris did not take the question lightly. “Love is never wrong,” he said. “The timing may not be convenient, but it is not wrong to truly love someone. However, you must be careful. If there is any suspicion at all, the wrath of the earl will fall on Jordan.”

  William nodded his head in mute agreement. Paris passed a glance at him to see his expression; it was as stony as always.

  “What will happen when de Longley takes her to bed and discovers she is not virgin?” he asked pointedly.

  William rolled his eyes in a gesture of pure frustration. “She claims that she will wear a ring with a sharp edge to their marital bed and prick herself on the finger without the earl’s knowledge, then she will smear the blood on the sheets. I cannot believe I listened to her.”

  To his surprise, Paris actually looked amused. “She said that? By God, that is an old trick. If done correctly, it will work.”

  “God, not you, too,” William moaned softly. “I should never have allowed her to suggest such a thing because I must confess I thought it plausible, too. I cannot believe I was so foolish.”

  “ ’Tis too late now, at any rate,” Paris’ amusement was fading.

  “Aye,” William conceded. Then he sobered. “When I think of de Longley touching her, it drives me mad.”

  Paris grew serious. “Control yourself, man, for if Analiese or Alexander or the earl catch wind of anything unusual, the game is up.”

  “There is no game,” William answered snappishly. “I love her and will protect her with my life. If worse comes to worse, then….” He trailed off.

  “Then what?” Paris demanded softly.

  William looked resolutely at him. “Then I take Jordan and we will go. I do not know where, but we will go.”

  Paris raised his brow. “But if worse does not come to worse, will you be content to spend the rest of your life secretly loving your liege’s wife? To know that she will never be yours, and to know that the children she bears, be they yours or the earls, will bear the de Longley name? You are not a man used to compromise, William. I have a feeling this situation will eventually come to a head in any event.”

  William was broodingly silent. “You know me well,” he said softly. “Then tell me, my friend, where will your loyalty be? You have always followed my orders over de Longley’s and I have always known you were more loyal to me than to him. But, in faith, if I leave this place, you would be captain in my stead. ’Twould be a hard position to pass on.”

  Paris didn’t react. Then, he smiled a slow, knowing smile. William wondered why his eyes seemed to twinkle. “I hear Flanders is lovely in the spring time. I should find it very pleasant living there, serving a mercenary lord and his lovely Scot wife.”

  William felt a wave of relief rush over him, although he never truly doubted Paris’ answer. He smiled in return. “You are a loyal fool to the bone, man.”

  “True,” Paris agreed. “As are Kieran, Michael, Deinwald, Jason, and the rest of them. I have a feeling that when you leave, Northwood will be searching for an entire officer corp.”

  William’s smile faded as he thought of his knights, his loyal vassals; and if the earl only knew the extent of their devotion to their captain. He himself had always known it, but he was nonetheless was touched by the admission.

  “I want to thank you, William, for restoring my faith in the frailties of the human character,” Paris went on brightly. “I was beginning to feel quite inadequate next to your impeccable perfection.”

  William snorted softly. “I am a weak man.”

  The mirth faded from Paris’ face. “William, you are the strongest man I know. And Lady Jordan is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. You two are meant for each other.”

  William looked at him and saw his deep sincerity. He dared a brief smile. “She is beautiful, isn’t she?”

  “Inside and out,” Paris agreed quietly.

  They reached the turret stairs that descended into the bailey below. Without another word or another glance, William descended the stairs. He could sleep now.

  *

  The next day was the beginning of Jordan’s orientation into the world of Northwood Fortress.

  The day dawned bright and promised to be somewhat sticky. Jordan awoke from the sleep of the dead just after dawn to the shouts of the sentries changing posts on the wall below her. She lay back on her pillows for quite some time, listening to the courtyard come alive with activity. In spite of her new situation and in spite of the horrors of the previous day, she had never been happier.

  In the antechamber that adjoined her room she heard her maids preparing her bath, Scottish burrs intermingled with those of haughty English house servants as buckets of hot water were brought up. Listening to the activity and catching snatches of conversation, she decided to rise and make her presence known. Mayhap the English servants would cease their rudeness to her women when they saw the mistress about.

  As soon as she got out of the bed she spotted the remains of her purity on the bed sheet. There was a faded red stain. She felt no embarrassment, only sweet happiness. She realized her maids would see it and decided she would amply explain that her time had come upon her early this month. Surely that would quell any curiosity.

  She wrapped herself in her white bed robe and opened the door into the antechamber. A huge copper tub stood over by the fireplace, nearly filled to the run with steaming water. Maggie and Elspeth did a quick curtsy when they saw their mistress was awake and contin
ued to prepare for her bath by pouring lavender oil into the water and laying out scented soaps and a sponge.

  “Good morn, lassie,” Maggie said thickly. “Almos’ ready fer yer bath.”

  Jordan nodded, running her fingers through her mussed hair.

  “No hurry. I am still waking up.” She cast her eyes to the half-open door of the smaller adjoining chamber. “Has Lady Jemma returned?”

  “Nay, mistress,” Maggie said.

  Jordan tried not to let her concern show. She wondered what had delayed Jemma’s release and prayed fervently that Jemma had not landed her own self on the rack with her big mouth again.

  As if in answer to her prayer there was a knock on the door. Elspeth opened it to find a glowering Jemma standing in the jamb.

  “Jemma.” Jordan exclaimed and ran to her. “Come in now.”

  It was then she noticed Kieran and Paris standing behind her cousin. As Jemma moved silently into the room, Jordan was left standing in the doorway facing the two knights. She wasn’t sure if she should thank them or chase them away, so she settled for the less violent of the two options.

  “My thanks for releasing Jemma,” she said.

  Kieran’s eyes followed Jemma until she disappeared from view. “Thank the captain, my lady,” he said. “ ’Twas his doing.”

  Jordan nodded. “Very well, then. I shall when I see him.”

  When they did not leave immediately, she glanced over her shoulder to make sure Jemma was not in the room before stepping out into the hall and closing the door softly behind her.

  “Was she…treated well?” she asked hesitantly. “Nothing has been done to her, has it?”

  “Nay, my lady,” Paris answered. “She is unharmed, although I must say that Lady Analiese is in a fury over it. Alexander is still demanding satisfaction for the insult he was delivered, so I would advise you to keep your cousin in check. If she wants to retain her pretty hide, she had better control her tongue, at least until their anger has cooled.”

  Jordan nodded solemnly, relieved than Jemma had not been touched in any way. Even though William had told her he would not harm her, the situation might have changed since last night. She thanked the knights and they bowed gallantly.