“You won’t have it?” He ran a hand through his hair. “You are not my lady wife. ’Tis not your place to turn out my servants.”
“I wouldn’t be your wife if you were the last man on the planet, you…you—”
“Go on, mistress. Say it.”
“You ass!” She pushed him hard enough that he rocked back on his heels. ’Twas merely because she startled him. A woman was not so strong.
Richard leaned forward until he was close enough he could feel her breath on his face. “You were going to call me beast.” He sneered at her.
“The hell I was, but you sure are acting like one. I was only trying to help. To get rid of those who love drama. They’re toxic.”
“Get out,” he roared.
She took a step back, and the hurt on her face made Richard want to take back the words, knowing he was being an arse, but he was too angry.
Garrick and his guardsmen leaned against the walls of his hall, no doubt come to defend her. They followed her about like lads. His oldest friend placed a hand on his arm. “Richard, do not do this. Let me explain.”
Richard shook him off. “Leave me be.”
Two of the little girls were weeping. He could not bear the noise.
“Cease,” he said, which only served to make them weep louder.
“Don’t make them cry. You are so mean. To think I thought you were kind and nice.” Chloe’s eyes blazed.
“Why are you still darkening my hall? Get out or I will have you thrown into the moat.” She gasped, as did several others. He scowled. “Get back to your labors, the lot of you.”
Chloe ran up the stairs.
“You are an arse,” Garrick said as he led the men outside, leaving Richard to ponder what he had done.
* * *
Chloe pushed the door closed, angry it was too heavy to slam. Why was he being so mean? They’d made so much progress. He’d been nicer to everyone lately.
She swiped at the tears running down her cheeks. Everyone had seen their fight. There was no way she could tell him she’d fired the servants because of what they said about him. She wouldn’t hurt him like he’d hurt her.
Not even giving her the chance to explain, though? That he would think she was trying to take over? What did she know about running a castle? Not much. She was still figuring out how to clean.
Maybe he wasn’t a beast in looks, but he sure was acting beastly. He’d made his feelings clear, and she wasn’t staying where she wasn’t wanted. Chloe pressed the heels of her palms into her eyes and breathed deeply. Once she had herself together and wasn’t shaking, she went to the trunk and opened it, digging through everything until she came up with the knapsack. She pulled it out and added the gowns and the old tunic and hose, along with her extra shift and hose. Should she leave him some money to pay for the clothes?
With a shake of her head, she decided nope, the clothes would be payment for the work she’d done. Every coin was precious now that she would be traveling to Falconburg.
A small sob escaped as she looked at the hair ribbons. They too went in the bag. The coins were last. She split them between her boots, the pockets in her cloak, and the knapsack. That way, if she was robbed, hopefully they wouldn’t get everything.
The beautiful cloak with the fur-trimmed hood and pretty embroidery made her heart hurt. She had begun to feel like she belonged. That if, for whatever reason, she couldn’t get home, it would be okay.
Chloe squared her shoulders. Family was family. Once Melinda and her husband heard who Chloe was and about her predicament of being stuck in the past, they would take her in. She could be a nanny to their kids, or she could clean. Turned out she was pretty good at getting a dirty old castle to sparkle.
When she’d first arrived, the hall was a horrific mess. Chickens nested in the corners of rooms and the dogs and cats roamed freely—which was fine, but there was hair everywhere, and between them, the kids, and the men, there was a ton of mud and muck tracked in every day, which no one cleaned up. Now, though, the hall was clean, and kept clean every day.
With a last longing look at the fire in her chamber, she softly pulled the door closed behind her.
On her way out, Chloe went to the storage room. When they’d been cleaning, they’d found earthenware vessels one of the women told her they were pots to keep fire going while traveling. She took one, added twigs, and lit it from the fire in the kitchens.
Two of the little ones were asleep by the hearth. Careful not to wake them, Chloe took a metal cup she could use to melt snow for water. Bread and salted, dried fish also went into her pack. That would hold her until she found taverns that weren’t scary. No way would she sleep in a tavern, not after the last time. She would eat and move on, finding someplace else to sleep. Where, she didn’t know, but something would come to her.
No one stopped her. Chloe paused when she got to the portcullis, but no one said a word, and Richard didn’t come for her to tell her he’d been an idiot.
It was cold, but at least it wasn’t snowing, and the longer she was in the past, the less the cold bothered her. Chloe guessed she was getting used to it, though she missed the hot, humid days at the beach.
Walking to the north and west, she hoped, Chloe came upon an old shack. It was falling down, but at least it would provide her shelter for the night.
Not wanting to share the space with any critters, she stomped around, hoping it would be enough to scare them away. At least she didn’t have to worry about snakes.
During her freshman year, a black snake got into school and terrified the girls for weeks, popping out of lockers and slithering under bathroom stalls before a boy caught it and took it outside. Chloe shuddered thinking about how she checked under the toilet seats each time she went, afraid it would be hiding there.
In place of a hearth was a ring of rocks. The wood outside was wet, so she picked up bits and pieces inside and used that for kindling. It was smoky inside, making her cough and gag, but soon enough she got used to it, only rubbing her eyes occasionally. At least she wouldn’t freeze.
What was wrong with Richard? Did he really care she’d fired his help, or was it because he really didn’t want her there and it was an easy excuse to get rid of her?
Gram’s voice filled Chloe’s head. It wasn’t your place to fire the help, even if it needed to be done. You overstepped and should apologize.
Well, it wasn’t like she was going to go back and beg. Forget it. Falconburg was her destination. The further away from Richard, the better.
Chapter 19
Richard was full. Supper filled his belly, the wine was plentiful, and his hall was clean, the rushes sweet.
“There are no chickens wandering about.”
“You are an arse, Richard.” Garrick scowled. “Why is your hall clean?” He rocked back in his chair. “Because Mistress Chloe made it so.”
He was an arse. “One of the lads saw her going to the stables.”
Garrick snorted. “I hope she filched one of your best horses.”
“Don’t be daft. You know she cannot ride well enough on her own.”
Edwin passed by scowling at Richard. The bloody woman had bewitched everyone in his home. And he had been a fool.
Richard hunched his shoulders. “She will be warm in the stables. In the morn, I will bring her back.” He saw the scorn on Garrick’s face. “What? If I go now, she will try and slit my throat. The woman has a fearsome temper.”
“Who does she remind you of?” Garrick said. “Damned whoreson.”
Alone in his solar and deep in his cups, Richard comforted himself that he had done the right thing. He was lord of Bainford, had earned the title, the castle. Paid for it with the loss of an eye and the ever-present aches in his body. So why did he feel as if he was beneath contempt?
“Mistress Chloe will make some man a fine wife.” Garrick drained his goblet of wine and poured them both another.
Hrumph. Richard would not think on her with another. The thought
made him want to rend the lucky main in twain.
“She is hiding something. ’Tis good to know what she truly thinks of me.” Richard didn’t know if her secrets were those every woman kept or something else. He had not wanted to pry. We all have our secrets.
“Do you think she will go to Falconburg?” Garrick stared into his cup. “’Tis going to snow again. She’ll be cold.”
“Aye. She is always cold. Said she came from a village where ’tis always warm.”
Richard had thought she would stay in her chamber and then he would fetch her for supper and tell her he was sorry for bellowing. That he had been in pain and taken it out on her. For the first time since he’d found her, she’d done what he had asked and left him. He missed the bothersome wench more than he knew, and she had not been gone a full day.
Garrick tapped his booted foot. “It would take her nigh on a month to travel to Falconburg if she is not killed or defiled or gets lost on the way. She is a woman traveling alone and not familiar with our lands.”
Richard gritted his teeth. “Think you I don’t know?” He frowned. “The men did not find her in the stables?”
Garrick shook his head, looking as miserable as Richard felt.
“Did the men search the chapel?”
“Aye. She was not there.”
He shifted in the chair to ease the pain in his leg. She had taken her belongings and her odd clothes with her and would not return. Chloe was gone for good because he was a sorry bastard.
Garrick wiped his eyes, a look of agony upon his visage.
“What is it, man?” Richard said.
“You did not think to inquire as to why she turned out the servants.”
“Nay. Why?” Richard gazed at Garrick. “Tell me.”
“The servants she sent away…were those who… They called you beast, crossed themselves when you passed by, spread tales in the village.”
Richard was stunned. “Why did she not tell me?”
Garrick snorted. “You were too busy bellowing at her to listen. She was angry they would talk of you so, said she would not allow them to spread such lies about a good man.”
“She did this for me?” Damn the wench. He thought he was going to weep like a babe. ’Twas the nicest thing anyone had ever done for him. His fierce woman was protecting his damnable pride.
Richard slammed his hands on the table. “Take the men and the lads good at tracking rabbits. Find the wench.”
“’Tis too late to go this night. The horses may break a leg in the dark. ’Twill have to wait until the morn,” Garrick said softly.
This was a tragedy of immense proportions, and all of Richard’s making. If something happened to her, he would never forgive himself.
“She is alone. The woman will freeze.” He had been a dolt. When he found her, he’d drop to his knees and beg for a forgiveness he did not deserve nor expect her to grant. He would tell her she could dismiss any at Bainford if she would but come home.
* * *
For three days they searched. The snow fell, growing deeper and deeper, making it nigh on impossible to track her. Where had the woman gone? ’Twas as if she had disappeared to go live with the faeries. Not that Richard believed in such things.
On the fourth day, they came upon the remains of an old hut. The blasted witless woman had gone the wrong way. She had traveled south for several miles instead of north and west.
“Mistress,” Garrick called as they dismounted. Richard was stiff from riding, limping to the open doorway. It was small and dark inside, like the chapel when he was hurt.
Black spots appeared in front of him. Nay. Richard shook his head. To find Chloe, to bring her home safe, he would crawl through all the rubble again.
“Chloe,” he said softly. “’Tis Richard. Are you there, lass?”
She appeared out of the darkness, her hair sticking out in all directions, brandishing a stick, a reproachful look on her lovely face.
When she saw ’twas him, she threw the stick to the side. Richard hauled her into his arms. Saints, he wanted to keep her always. She had terrified him worse than any battle.
“I was so scared. I heard noises. It’s been days.” Then she pulled away and pushed him, scowling. “I hate you.”
“Aye. I am an arse. Let me in so I may beg forgiveness.” He pulled her into the hut, breathing hard. ’Twas dim, but she had a fire going, and the holes in the roof and walls eased his discomfort enough that the spots and the feeling he would be ill did not return.
She saw him looking at the blaze. “I took a fire pot. It’s been hard to keep it going—with no door and holes in the walls and roof, it hasn’t helped much. I’m freezing. And something moved over there.” Her eyes filled with tears. “Why did you send me away?”
“’Tis no excuse. I was in terrible pain and behaved like an arse. We have searched for you for three days. They have been the longest days of my life.”
“I’ve been too scared to keep going.” She was shivering.
He pulled her onto his lap in front of the paltry fire and held her close. “Nay, say no more. Let me warm you. This is one thing I can do without causing you pain.”
Together they stayed close to the fire, not speaking. He did not have the words to tell her what she meant, what the thought of losing her had done to him.
He blew out a breath. “Have I told you how I lost my eye?”
She looked up at him, tears on her eyelashes. “Saving the king.”
“Aye. I was fighting in Scotland.” He touched the scars around his eye. “We were taking the wounded off the field when I saw the archer.” He tapped his hand against his leg, thinking on the battle. Suddenly, his hand was warm and still. Chloe had taken his hand in her tiny palm and held it close.
“I yelled and pulled my sire to the ground. He was unharmed. I took the arrow in my eye. All hell broke loose. As I was guiding the king to safety, soldiers ambushed us. I fought badly. ’Twas hard to see out of one eye, and my balance was off.”
“But you saved him again?” She was breathless.
“Aye. The last two soldiers and I battled. I ran one through. The man fell atop me, and the last one went for the king. Somehow I rolled away and cut the man’s legs from under him. My sire was safe. The Scot and I rolled down the hill, and I landed in the fire. ’Twas Garrick who pulled me free, but the damage was complete.”
He touched the old scars on his face, remembering the agony.
“The king awarded me Bainford and a minor title.” He did not know why he told her, only that he did not want any secrets between them. He had seen what secrets could do. How they had torn Garrick apart from the woman he thought he loved, until she betrayed him. How his father betrayed his mother.
“’Twas a great honor from my sire.” He pulled his cloak around her. And, unable to resist, he twisted her curls around his fingers, over and over.
“A healer did her best, but the pain was more than I could bear. When I was no longer screaming and could move about, my sire sent me home. My leg was badly injured, as was my arm. They did not heal properly, and pain me constantly.” He sounded bitter but could not help it. “I was no longer able to fight, was no longer needed.”
“A lady my grandmother knows walks stiff like you when she gets up from a chair.”
“Aye. I am in pain always. Some days my head and eye ache so, I am sick with the pain.”
“That’s why you were in such a bad mood.”
He chuckled. “I have been in a foul temper since I lost my eye, bellowing and stomping about—until you appeared in front of me. You have much improved my temper, brought light into the darkness. I am truly sorry for what I said. ’Twas in anger and I did not mean them. Can you forgive me?”
“Yes. I forgive you. I said things I didn’t mean either. Will you forgive me too?”
“I already have. Truly, I am sorry.”
“I should not have fired your servants. It’s just I couldn’t bear for them to say such ugly things about you.
To cross themselves like idiots.”
“Aye. Garrick told me you were most fearsome.” Chloe had been angry for him, had done what she did for him, not against him. Saints, he had found the only woman in the realm who cared naught for his ugliness.
Richard blinked to clear the sight in his good eye. “There is one other thing you should know.”
“Tell me.” She sounded sleepy in his arms.
He swallowed. “’Tis why I was so angry. The thought of losing Bainford. Of not being the lord. I am a bastard. I would never have risen to lord.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “There’s something you should know about me. I am also a bastard. Though in my land we call it illegitimate, or born on the wrong side of the blanket. It sounds nicer.”
Chloe was like him? Richard needs think on what she had told him. There was much he wished to ask her, but she yawned, almost asleep. His questions would keep until the morn. “’Tis dark out. We will sleep here this night.”
She snuggled into him and fell asleep with a sigh. Careful not to wake her, he kissed her on the forehead, content for the first time in his miserable life.
Chapter 20
For the first time since he’d sent her away, Chloe was warm. She yawned and stretched, hitting something hard.
She opened her eyes to find Richard looking down at her. Their eyes met, the conversation between them coming back to her. He had darker flecks of blue in his already dark blue eye, which right now was totally focused on her.
“Sorry about that. How’s the nose?”
The corner of his mouth lifted in a half-smile. “I daresay it looks better now than it did before.” He gingerly touched his nose.
While she wanted nothing more than to wile the day away with him, to get him to open up, she wanted to go home.
Chloe sat up. Home. But she’d meant Bainford. The thought had her chewing her lip. Was it disloyal to her family to want to stay? She snuck a look at him. Did he even want her to stay?
A Moonlit Knight_A Knights Through Time Romance Page 10
