Carried Away

by Anna Markland

  Blythe smiled broadly. “He is a hero, Father.”

  As she described Dieter’s pivotal role in the victory of Köln over the Emperor, Caedmon noticed how glowingly she described the exploits of a man one would think she would hate for what he’d inflicted on her. “You seem quite impressed with his bravery.”

  She blushed and looked away. “Well, he’s a brave man. I can’t deny that.”

  Aidan was furious. “Brave men don’t kidnap innocent girls.”

  Blythe seemed at a loss to know how to respond. “Why not summon a bath for each of you to wash off the dust of your travels, and I’ll meet you later? I’m so happy you’re here. I’ve missed everyone at home. How are Edwin and Ragna? Is she still a hellion? How is mother?”

  She’d changed the subject, but Caedmon didn’t press her. He answered her questions, then bade her leave so he and Aidan could bathe.

  “What are you thinking, Father?” Aidan asked after she’d left. “Are we going to kill him for what he has done?”

  “I’m thinking that if we kill him, the person most likely to be distraught about the deed would be your sister.”

  ***

  After bathing, Caedmon instructed Aidan to find Blythe and distract her with a walk in the garden. He wanted to confront the Count alone. As the twins strolled arm in arm in the chilly winter air, Aidan was curious about how she’d survived her ordeal.

  She smiled. “At first it was an ordeal, I agree. But Dieter is a charming and gentle man. He has tried to make me comfortable. He really is a hero, and in truth I’m the one who has made it an ordeal for him.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I’ve behaved rudely towards him. I’ve tried to make myself ugly, unattractive to him.”

  “Why not? He abducted you.”

  She turned to face him. “Aidan, you’re my twin. I know it’s no use trying to hide anything from you, but you mustn’t tell Father—I was afraid to fall in love with Dieter.”

  “By the Saints, Blythe!” he retorted angrily. “How could you fall in love with a man who abducted you and kept you against your will for months?”

  “I don’t know, but I think I do love him. I didn’t want to because he’s not the kind of man who could ever fall in love, and would probably laugh in my face if I told him I loved him.”

  Aidan rolled his eyes and threw up his hands. “I’ll never understand women! Has he defiled you?”

  She punched him hard in the shoulder and he winced. “No, he hasn’t! You haven’t listened to anything I’ve said.”

  ***

  From the upstairs window Dieter watched the exchange between the twins. He saw how comfortable they were with one another, despite the fact they were male and female, and he marvelled at the notion of twins. But they were not in agreement about something, and he wondered what it was. Blythe had punched her brother’s shoulder and run off into the house.

  However, he didn’t have time to ponder further. He hastened his pace to the gallery for what he anticipated would be a difficult interview with Sir Caedmon.

  The knight awaited him, legs braced, arms crossed over his chest. Dieter noted he’d left his sword in his chamber. That boded well. Why did he feel like a naughty boy about to be punished? “Please, sit down, Sir Caedmon.”

  “I’ll remain standing.”

  For the first time, Dieter noticed something of a Scottish brogue in the knight’s speech. Blythe had shared some of her father’s story, and he was awed that here stood a man who’d endured the People’s Crusade and returned home a hero. “May I offer you some refreshment?”

  Sir Caedmon shifted his weight and moved closer to Dieter. “Let’s not waste time with niceties. You know I want to kill you.”

  “Yes, I’m aware you feel that way. I would probably feel the same if I was you.”

  Anger blazed in the Englishman’s eyes. “You’ve dishonoured my daughter.”

  Dieter was outraged. “Sir Caedmon, I give you my word of honour I have not.”

  The Englishman stepped closer, fists clenched. “But you’ve compromised her by keeping her here so long. No woman who has spent so much time alone with a man will be accepted back into society in England. Why did you keep her when you failed to take Matilda? Of what use was she to you?”

  Dieter couldn’t look into the man’s eyes. “I confess I wish I knew the answer to those questions. I’ve asked them myself many times. I simply couldn’t relinquish her. I had to hold on to her.”

  “But you’ve ruined her chances for marriage!” Sir Caedmon was almost shouting now.

  Dieter shouted back. “I would gladly marry her myself if she didn’t hate me so much.” The vehemence of his own words astounded him, and Sir Caedmon was obviously taken aback.

  “What?” the knight roared.

  Unexpectedly, relief washed over Dieter. He’d finally admitted the truth of his feelings for Blythe. “I love your daughter, Sir Caedmon. I realize now I’ve loved her from the first moment I looked into her eyes in those desperate moments in the cathedral. But she hates me for what I’ve done to her.”

  Sir Caedmon snickered. “I know only too well what gazing into hazel eyes can do to a man. She doesn’t hate you, Count Dieter.”

  He glanced up sharply. “What do you mean? How can she not hate me?”

  “A woman who hates a man doesn’t look at him the way Blythe looks at you. She doesn’t speak of him in the way Blythe speaks about you. I haven’t seen a woman so much in love with a man since my own sweet Agneta fell head over heels for me!”

  Dieter’s heart swelled on hearing Caedmon’s words, but he seemed to have something stuck in his throat. When he could speak, his voice sounded like someone else’s. “You believe she’s in love with me?”

  “Ask her.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Aidan found his father sitting alone, his feet up on a footstool. “I’ve just had a very strange conversation with Blythe. We have a problem. I’ll never understand women. Have you spoken with the Count?”

  Caedmon indicated the chair next to him. “Yes. There is no ransom demand. Tell me about this conversation you refer to.”

  Aidan sat. “I promised Blythe I wouldn’t. We’ve always kept each other’s secrets.”

  Caedmon waited a moment or two. “Did it concern the Count?”

  Aidan came to his feet and paced. “Yes—she is—she thinks she is—”

  “She thinks she loves him.”

  Aidan spun around to face his father. “How did you know?”

  Caedmon stood and playfully hooked his arm around Aidan’s neck. “Ah, my son, I’m much older and wiser than you.”

  Aidan struggled to free himself from his father’s hold. “But aren’t you furious? How can she love him? He’s a Saxon.”

  Caedmon released his son, his face sober. “Careful Aidan, don’t forget we have Saxon blood in our veins, albeit from different parts of Saxony originally. And never forget the lessons I’ve tried to teach you about intolerance and hatred.”

  Aidan gave his sire a sheepish look. “I’m sorry. It’s that I can’t understand—”

  “Aidan, love is often a difficult emotion to understand. Who would imagine for example that a Count from Saxony, living in Köln would fall in love with our Blythe?”

  “He loves her?” Aidan asked incredulously. “By the saints! I swear I’m never going to fall in love. It’s too complicated. What are we going to do now?”

  “Nothing, except enjoy the Count’s hospitality. Come, dinner awaits in the dining hall. It occurs to me that you and I need to have a long conversation.”

  “About what?”

  Caedmon chuckled and tousled his son’s hair. “About women, Aidan Branton FitzRam. As my heir you’re expected to marry and have children.”

  Aidan threw his shoulders back and straightened his hair. “I have a lot of time before I need to think about marriage. I’m still one year short of a full score.”

  Caedmon nudged Aidan towards the dining h
all. “That’s true, but trust me when I tell you that living with a woman is much more satisfying and joyful if you share love and passion.”

  Aidan sighed loudly and rolled his eyes. “Father, you and Mother have told us this many times.”

  Caedmon suddenly realized he didn’t know if his son was still a virgin. “Yes, Aidan, but you and I have never had a discussion about how to satisfy a woman.”

  Aidan looked puzzled. “What do you mean ‘satisfy’?”

  Aidan’s deep blush told his Father there was likely a great deal of knowledge he would need to pass on to him. Agneta had made sure their daughters were prepared for marriage, and he regretted now he hadn’t been more direct in such matters with his sons. “I mean in bed, Aidan. Don’t worry. We’ll talk—it’s a long journey home. I’m an expert in these matters! Ask your mother.”

  ***

  Dieter offered Caedmon the seat at the other end of the oblong dining table from where he sat, and the twins dined facing each other on the sides. Blythe was relieved that her father’s anger seemed to have cooled, and the conversation was almost jovial.

  “I’m curious, Sir Caedmon,” Dieter said, “you’re an English knight. Blythe tells me you’re part Norman, part Saxon, and yet you speak with an accent reminiscent of Scotland.”

  “You’re right, Count von Wolfenberg, my mother fled to Scotland after the Conquest. I was born there, but returned to live in England when I married my wife.”

  “Your mother was the Saxon then?”

  Caedmon paused only a moment. “Yes, her name was Lady Ascha Bronson. My father was the late Ram de Montbryce, the first Earl of Ellesmere. He fought with William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings.”

  “And that’s the reason you bear the name FitzRam, and not Montbryce?”

  Blythe feared her father would get annoyed at these personal questions, but Dieter seemed genuinely interested and her father unflustered. What was going on?

  “Yes, I have two half brothers—Baudoin, the current Earl of Ellesmere and Robert, the Comte de Montbryce in Normandie, and a half sister, Rhoni.”

  They ate in companionable silence for a while before Dieter spoke again. “I’ve heard things are still unsettled in Normandie?”

  The two men chatted on amicably about politics. Dieter told the story of Andernach and shared his strong opinions about the Emperor. Caedmon related the tale of Agneta rescuing him after he fell at the Battle of Alnwick. Aidan and Blythe exchanged curious glances across the table.

  After a while Caedmon stifled a yawn. He leaned towards Aidan. “Come, this old man is tired. I can’t keep up with you young people any more. Let’s retire and enjoy the Count’s hospitality. I’m for bed.”

  “But Father, I thought I would—”

  Blythe could have sworn her father winked at Aidan. Her brother abruptly changed his mind.

  “You’re right. I’m tired. Goodnight, Blythe. Count.”

  Caedmon kissed Blythe’s forehead. “Goodnight, my lovely girl, I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you too, Father.”

  ***

  Silence reigned in the room after they left. Blythe twiddled her thumbs nervously. Her hands didn’t want to be still. She could feel Dieter’s eyes on her. “You and my father got along well this evening. I assume you settled on a mutually agreeable ransom for me?”

  “I asked for no ransom, Blythe. That’s not why I asked your father to come for you.”

  She looked up from her fidgeting and stared at him. “Why did you ask him?”

  He came to his feet and moved to stand behind her. He didn’t touch her, but she could feel the warmth of his body. “Because I came to realize I couldn’t keep you here any longer, no matter how much I wanted to. If I did you would loathe me more than you do now, and I would find that hard to bear. I knew I had to let you go.”

  Was he saying what she thought he was saying? “I don’t hate you, Dieter. I’ve tried, and find I can’t.”

  He moved to stand at her side, took hold of her hands and pulled her to her feet. “I wouldn’t blame you for hating me. I’m sorry I’ve hurt you and your family. I couldn’t help myself. I want you so badly.”

  The warmth of his hands travelled into her belly and warred with the chills running up and down her spine. “You want me? For what?”

  He put his hands on her waist and drew her to his body. “For my wife, Blythe. I love you. I’ve loved you from the moment we met. I’ve denied it, but I can’t stand the thought of your leaving here. My life will be empty without you.”

  She felt the hard evidence of his passion pressed against her and wetness pooled between her legs. Her breasts tingled. Words rushed out of her mouth. “But how can you love me? I’ve been cold and rude. I was afraid to fall in love with you and pretended to be aloof. If you knew how many times I itched to put my hands on your body and explore every part of you. I’ve longed to comb my fingers through your beautiful hair, to feel your hands on my body. Dieter, ich liebe dich! I love you so much I would die if I had to remain here and not—”

  His deep passionate kiss interrupted her. His tongue delved into her mouth and she sucked on it. The sensation sent heat surging from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.

  He tore his mouth from hers. They were both panting hard. He took her hand and placed it on the side of his face. “Touch me, Blythe. I’ve longed for you to caress me. I want to make you my wife in every possible way.”

  Before she could respond, he put a fingertip to her lips. “I must tell you something before you make your decision.”

  She had an urge to suck his finger into her mouth, but he looked worried. “What is it?”

  “I have a son.”

  This wasn’t what she expected. If he had a son, it would mean— “A son?”

  He went down on one knee, but never took his eyes from her face. “I am a widower, Blythe. My wife died. My son’s name is Johann. You need to understand he is my heir.”

  Her heart went out to the child she’d never met. Her mother and father had always been an important part of her life. She could not imagine growing up without a mother. “Oh, Dieter, to be a motherless child. How would he feel about—me?”

  He came to his feet. “I might have known your first thought would not be for yourself, but for my child. I love you Blythe Lacey FitzRam. Johann will love you too. Please accept my proposal of marriage.”

  Her body burned for him. Was this really happening? “Yes, I accept, but my father—”

  He hugged her tightly. “I’ve spoken to your father. I don’t foresee a problem.”

  She laughed. “I wondered why you two were so amicable this evening! You rogue!”

  He crushed her to his body, raking his fingers through her hair. “Ja, I’m a rogue who carried you away, but you stole my heart with your ugly braids and sullen pouts! I didn’t know you spoke any German, and yet you tell me you love me in my language!”

  “Dieter, I’m on fire for you. You’ve awakened feelings in me I’ve never experienced before. My body aches for you.”

  He kissed her again. “You’re a passionate woman, mein Schatz. I hope I’ll be able to satisfy your needs.”

  He flashed his enigmatic smile and rocked his hips against her. “As you can probably tell I would like to do that very thing right now, but I prefer to wait until we’re married. I’ll speak to Archbishop Frederick on the morrow.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Dieter’s widowed father and older sister travelled from Wolfenberg, bringing three year old Johann. Blythe fell in love with the child as soon as she saw him. He was a miniature Dieter. The boy seemed overwhelmed and tired after the journey. He clung to his grandfather’s leg, wide-eyed as the adults greeted each other. Vormund licked his face and he laughed as he swiped his sleeve across his mouth. Dieter knelt and held his arms out to his son, but it took a definite push for him to relinquish his grandfather’s leg and go into his father’s welcoming arms.

  Dieter fondled his son�
��s hair. “Don’t you remember me, Johann, I’m your Papa? Vormund is glad to see you too, ja?”

  Johann put his arms around Dieter’s neck and hugged his father. “Ja, Papa.”

  Blythe’s heart swelled at the love on Dieter’s face. He turned Johann to face her, his hands on the boy’s shoulders. “Lady Blythe Lacey FitzRam, may I present my only son, Johann Dieter Marius von Wolfenberg.”

  She wished Dieter had not made the introduction so formal. She desperately wanted the boy to like her. He averted his eyes and shrank away.

  His father prodded him forward. “You must make a polite bow, Johann.”

  The little boy bowed, without looking at her. She fell to her knees and opened her arms. “Kommen, Johann. Let me embrace you. We will be great friends.”

  After a furtive glance at his nodding grandfather, he obeyed. The daunting responsibility of caring for this child swept over her, but it gladdened her that this was another part of Dieter’s life she could cherish and protect.

  Dieter and his father laughed and Johann went back quickly to his Papa. Dieter hoisted him up on his shoulders and offered his hand to Blythe. “Your nursemaid will take you to bathe, Johann, and then I will show you new toys we have for you.”

  The boy grinned and nodded and his grandfather took him off to their chambers, leaving Dieter and Blythe alone. He took her hand and led her to the chairs by the hearth. “I hope he likes me,” she said.

  “He was a little shy, but he’ll get over that. He’ll come to love you as I do. He will benefit from having brothers and sisters, and I intend to provide him with lots of those.”

  Blythe smiled at his lecherous grin and blushed. They sat for a while in silence. She wanted to ask about Johann’s mother, but was hesitant. Dieter had never revealed anything about her, but the questions had to be asked. “What was his mother’s name?”

  He glanced up sharply. “I know we must speak of this, Blythe. I want no secrets between us, but it is difficult to talk about. I admit I have put it off.”