The Succubus

by Sarah Winn

  Sir Alfred, his wife Lavinia, Father Clemens, Sir Robert and two of the knight tenants and their wives were the only people present of sufficient rank to sit at the head table. Lady Lavinia asked him about his time at court, and remembering her previous interest, he launched into repeating all the gossip he could remember. He even tried to recount the latest fashions for the ladies, who hung on his every word.

  When they’d wrung every detail he could remember from him, the men at the table took over the conversation, mostly commenting about the recently completed harvest. Daniel could only listen.

  Father Clemens, who sat on his left side, leaned closer and softly said, “I heard you intend to visit Lady Isabel. I hope you’ll invite her back to Tewsbarrow. I urged her to stay, and she finally told me she didn’t think you’d want her here.”

  Daniel stared at the priest for a moment, wondering if Isabel had confessed her sins to him. But if she had, surely the priest would understand Isabel’s reasons for leaving. “Why would she think I don’t want her here?”

  “You didn’t meet her on your visit, did you?”

  Daniel gave his head a small shake.

  “She’s a timid young woman and wasn’t married to the baron long enough to truly understand her position as the baroness. When you meet her, I’m sure you’ll see she’s sweet and unaffected and needs someone to protect her.”

  Obviously, Isabel hadn’t confessed her sins. Everyone here seemed to think she was a paragon of virtue. Daniel suddenly realized how he could obtain his revenge against her.

  He would make her his leman, not to satisfy any need he had for her, but to show the people at Tewsbarrow exactly what kind of woman she was and to teach her she must reap what she had sown.

  The next morning, Daniel set about rearranging his living quarters. The lord’s bed in the solar did not suit his plans. With most of the castle’s servants bedding down each night in the hall one wall away and an entry to the nearest tower opening directly into the solar, there was little privacy.

  With Ambrose in tow, he inspected the tower. The first floor was used for storage, just as it was in the great hall. The second floor, on the same level as the solar, had been Lady Isabel’s room and still contained the furniture she’d used. The third floor room contained an elaborately carved cradle that looked like a dragon sitting on his haunches with a bed carved into his belly, while his fearsome head towered over it.

  Daniel had never seen such a thing and stared at it in amazement.

  Ambrose cleared his throat. “Lord Kendrick had it made before the babe was born. He-he was expecting a boy child.”

  “I’d think it would frighten a boy or a girl.”

  “Lady Isabel apparently thought so too, for the child never used it.”

  Daniel walked over to the nearest window. It was larger than the usual arrow slit and gave an excellent view of the fields surrounding this side of the castle.

  He liked looking out over land that was his, and this room would certainly give him the privacy he desired. “Have the large bed in the solar along with my chests moved up here.”

  “Yes, sir. And what of the cradle?”

  “Move it to the lower room. In fact, make that into a nursery.”

  “Shall I leave Lady Isabel’s furnishings there as well?”

  “No. Move her clothing chests up here and pack away the rest of her furniture.”

  “But-but, sir—” Ambrose stammered.

  Daniel cut him off with, “Do as you’re told.”

  Ambrose ducked his balding head and hurried from the room.

  Returning to the solar, Daniel looked about the large, cluttered room with disgust. He called Father Clemens to discuss what could be done with Kendrick’s numerous books and parchment scrolls. The elderly priest pointed out that ancient records of births and deaths and land boundaries were recorded on many of them.

  Daniel cut him short. “Now that Kendrick is no longer here, I’m afraid these old records will molder away. Is there someplace they can be safely stored?”

  “But, my lord, it would be a shame to pack these records away. There are scholars who would find them of vital interest.”

  “What scholars? Where?”

  “Why—ah—the monks at St. Martin’s have an extensive collection of such parchments.”

  “Good. We’ll donate these to the monastery.”

  “All of them?”

  “Lord Kendrick told me he was working on a history of Tewsbarrow. Did he finish it?”

  “All but his own family history,” Father Clemens said.

  “Keep that. Future barons may be interested.” Standing in the middle of the large room, Daniel gestured with his hand. “I’d like to have an area in this corner where you and I can work on the records of the demesene and the manors, and we’ll keep the most valuable books on these shelves along this wall. The rest of the room will be turned into a comfortable sitting area where special guests can be entertained. The Baron of Bettany has such an area and uses it frequently.”

  The priest looked befuddled. Daniel hurried to reassure him. “If you’ll just see that the papers are safely packed for transport, I’ll discuss the other arrangements with Ambrose.”

  Two days later, when he was sure all of his plans were being implemented, he left for Whitmere.

  Chapter 7

  When Isabel overheard the old man who delivered firewood telling their manservant about the excitement at Whitmere Keep because the new lord was expected, she had to reach out and rest her hand against the doorsill until a rush of dizziness passed.

  Will Daniel come here? Is he still angry with me? During their last meeting, he’d said hateful things, but she knew he’d been expressing the pain her betrayal caused him. Surely by now, he’d calmed down and realized she’d had no choice in the matter, and that the passion she’d showered on him had been more than just an act. Perhaps it had also occurred to him that with Kendrick dead, they could have a future together.

  She had left Tewsbarrow to give him a chance to avoid her if he still blamed her, but if he didn’t, would he come and claim her as his own? But angry men want to hurt those who have angered them. If he’s still angry, what will he do?

  To keep herself from fretting, she went into the main room and started putting away toys and clothing her brothers and sisters had left lying about. When her mother asked why she was doing this, Isabel told her the new lord was visiting Sir Theobald and might come to their cottage to see his ward, Chloe. The news turned Lady Miranda into a whirlwind of activity. She recruited all her children, even seven-year-old Nelly, to set the household to rights. The two elderly servants were bustled into the kitchen to be sure suitable refreshments would be available.

  “Mother,” Isabel said. “We don’t know for sure he’ll come here.”

  “Nonsense, you are the dowager baroness. He’s as much responsible for you as he is for Chloe. You should have stayed in the castle and demanded what is rightfully yours.”

  Isabel looked at her mother sadly, knowing the woman had been sorely disappointed in her daughter’s inability to persuade Kendrick to provide a better living for her family. “I’ve had little success in demanding things from the Baron of Tewsbarrow.”

  Miranda paused long enough to give her daughter a sympathetic hug. “Kendrick was old and bitter. This new lord is a young man and will want to please a woman as pretty as you. Remember, dear, we are all dependent on the baron. Now go change your clothes. That gown has a stain where Chloe spit up.”

  Isabel had never told her mother of the terrible things she’d done while she was Kendrick’s wife and didn’t intend to do so now. Trying to keep a roof over the heads of her five children had been Miranda’s prime concern since her husband’s death. There was no reason to add to her worries by raising the possibility they might be thrown out of even this humble cottage.

  Following her mother’s advice, she went to change her clothing. She debated for long moments over what to wear. Should I use c
lothing and jewelry to show Daniel I deserve to be treated like a true baroness? If he were still angry at her, finery might make him even angrier, so she donned a plain brown gown and covered her hair and neck with a wimple and veil as a widow should.

  Then she attended to Chloe, changing her napkin and her gown while the baby tried to bat away her hands and laughed when Isabel pretended to scold her. What will Daniel think of his child? She was beautiful, healthy, and happy, but female. Kendrick had gone into the fit that eventually killed him when he’d heard of the child’s sex. Will Daniel also fail to value Chloe because she is a girl? More likely, he’ll resent her because of the way she was conceived.

  Isabel hugged Chloe and hummed a lullaby and understood more clearly why her mother had bartered Isabel off to an old man. It had been the only way to provide for her other children.

  In the middle of the afternoon, Isabel heard the clatter of hooves on the road leading to their cottage. Still in the upstairs room she shared with Chloe, she peeped from a window. Four horsemen were approaching. She instantly recognized Daniel. Sir Theobald, and the young knight from Tewsbarrow, Sir Robert, and a man-at-arms from Whitmere Keep were riding with him.

  Realizing Sir Theobald must be conducting a tour of the manor, Isabel held her breath hoping the men would ride by. But they slowed and Sir Theobald dipped his head toward the cottage. A look of surprise came over Daniel’s face when he turned toward it. While the house had two stories, it was half-timbered and had a thatched roof, hardly a residence for nobility. Is Daniel shocked at the shoddy way Kendrick provided for my family?

  He spoke to the other men and then came into their courtyard alone as the others rode toward Whitmere Keep. His coming alone had to mean he wanted a private talk with her. Surely that was a good omen. Isabel took a long look at her sleeping daughter and then squared her shoulders and started downstairs.

  Her brothers, John and Thomas had already opened the door when she reached the top of the stairs. She heard Daniel loudly announce, “I’m the Baron of Tewsbarrow, here to see Lady Isabel.” Then his head twisted back and forth as he examined the identical twins.

  Isabel paused, struck by the handsome impression he made dressed in a flowing brown cloak with wide sleeves trimmed in fur. A reddish brown tunic hung from beneath the cloak. He wore no head covering and his tawny hair turned under just before touching his shoulders. The most impressive thing about him, however, was his air of haughty command. He was not here as a lover.

  Miranda rushed into the hallway, dropped a hurried curtsy and said, “Lord Daniel, welcome. I’m Lady Miranda, Isabel’s mother.”

  “I’m here to see the baroness and the child,” Daniel said in a demanding tone.

  Lady Miranda looked taken aback by his brusqueness. “Of course, she’s…”

  Isabel couldn’t let her mother take abuse meant for her and started down the stairs. “Welcome to our home, Lord Daniel.”

  He watched her descend with a frown. When she was standing in front of him, he said, “I expected to find you at Tewsbarrow.”

  “I wasn’t sure you’d want me to remain there.”

  “The child is a baron’s daughter; she deserves to be raised in a castle, not a hovel.”

  Her mother gasped. Isabel turned and patted her arm. “Mother, may I have a few words in private with Lord Daniel?”

  Miranda nodded and pointed to the chairs gathered in front of the fireplace. “Yes, why don’t you have a seat and I’ll see to refreshments.”

  “Don’t bother on my account, Lady Miranda. I only have a brief message for Lady Isabel, and I’ll be on my way.”

  Daniel followed Isabel to the portion of the room that served as a sitting area. The jump in his pulse rate at his first sight of her had shown him how truly angry he still was with her, and he took a moment to calm down before speaking.

  But how does she have the nerve to appear before me dressed like some pious nun? He was sorely tempted to rip that damn veil and wimple off and expose her shiny black hair and—not now. Not now. He wanted her humiliation to be before all the residents of Tewsbarrow, not her mother.

  He sat in a stiff-backed chair and removed his riding gloves. “I’ll be touring Whitmere lands for the rest of the day, but I’m returning to Tewsbarrow in the morning and plan to take my ward with me.”

  That got her full attention. She stared up at him with wide, frightened eyes. “You-you’re taking her away from me?”

  “You may accompany the child, but only if you accept my complete authority over you.”

  She stared at him for another moment and then slumped into a chair opposite his. “You are my lord,” she softly murmured.

  He wanted to hit her, instead he barked, “And don’t you forget it. I’ll make all decisions concerning my daughter’s welfare from this time onward.”

  Isabel’s face twisted into a scowl. “You haven’t even seen her. How can you be so sure she’s yours?”

  “I can count. You didn’t have time to lure another man into your web.” Anger caused him to lean toward her as he continued. “But it really doesn’t matter if she’s mine or not since I can never claim her without branding her a bastard.”

  She bowed her head as if she were truly sorry for all the trouble she’d caused him, but he didn’t believe a bit of it. He stood and tapped his gloves against one hand. “Be ready to leave an hour after the cock crows.”

  As he turned toward the door, she said, “Don’t you want to see Chloe?”

  “Tomorrow will be soon enough.”

  He let himself out and discovered a group of children examining his horse. “Don’t stand behind him. He’s a warhorse and might kick.”

  One of the twin boys who had answered the door spoke up. “I told ’em that.”

  “Can I pet him?” a chubby little girl asked.

  “No,” Daniel warned. “He’s been trained to bite.”

  A girl on the verge of womanhood grabbed the younger girl’s hand and pulled her further from the horse. Daniel became aware of the family resemblance and asked. “Are you all Lady Miranda’s children?”

  The older girl did an awkward curtsy and said, “Yes, sir. I’m Phoebe and this is Nelly and the boys are John and Thomas.”

  Daniel gave them a curt nod and mounted his horse. Isabel had evidently gotten her fertility from her mother. Maybe he’d fill her belly a few more times before discarding her.

  * * * *

  The next morning the caravan bound for Tewsbarrow arrived at the cottage just when Daniel had said it would. What with packing and worrying about her future under Daniel’s “complete authority,” Isabel had slept little the night before. This morning her mother had roused Phoebe to help but left the other children sleeping. Still there was quite a bit of noise and confusion as servants loaded Isabel’s luggage onto a stout wooden cart while Daniel barked orders at everyone.

  After kissing her sister and mother goodbye, Isabel stood beside the horse equipped with a lady’s saddle. Her mother had tied a cloth sling around her shoulders and under her cloak so Chloe would be protected from the blustery November weather, but the babe had no intention of missing all the activity around her. She whined and fought against her bindings until Isabel flipped one side of her cloak back and adjusted the sling so Chloe’s capped head was in the open.

  Just then Daniel came to help Isabel mount. He placed his large hands at her waist and lifted her up with ease. As she rose in the air, Chloe’s face came abreast of Daniel’s and she screamed as if she’d been touched with a hot poker.

  Daniel started and almost dropped Isabel. When she was firmly seated on the saddle, he asked, “What’s wrong with her?”

  “She’s frightened of strangers,” Isabel assured him as she wrapped her arms around the child and tried to soothe her.

  After watching her for a moment, he said, “I’d better take your reins. You have your hands full.”

  In order to lead her horse, Daniel had to ride ahead of Isabel, which pleased her becau
se she had not decided how she should treat him. Of course he had a great deal of power over her and she certainly didn’t want to do anything that might anger him into sending her away from Chloe, but she didn’t feel obliged to play the guilty supplicant either.

  Chloe’s excited squirming interrupted Isabel’s thoughts. Evidently, the six-month-old found riding on horseback very much to her liking and didn’t want to miss a thing. She fought the sling that interfered with her vision so determinedly that Isabel found it difficult to control the child and keep her own balance.

  Sir Robert apparently saw she was having trouble and rode up beside her, ready to prevent a disaster. Chloe fastened her attention on him, and he obligingly smiled and waved his leather-clad fingers at her. Surprisingly, Chloe returned his smile. Once she had turned so she could carefully observe him, she began a coy flirtation, burying her head against her mother’s chest and then peeking out at Sir Robert.

  The young knight encouraged her interest by making strange faces and noises, and Chloe settled down to suck her thumb and watch Sir Robert as if he were the most interesting creature she’d ever seen.

  Isabel smiled her appreciation at him. “Thank you for distracting her.”

  Sir Robert, who’d always been shy around Isabel, reddened a bit before answering. “I’m the eldest of six children, so I’ve a good deal of experience with babes.”

  “Then we have a lot in common for I’m the eldest of five.”

  “I know.”

  “Did you become a knight to get away from caring for your siblings?”

  “As the eldest son, I was expected to be a soldier.”

  “And do you like soldiering?”

  “I don’t know. I think I might have liked real soldiering, but my father made sure I came to a part of the country where there was no opportunity for fighting.”

  Isabel shook her head. “You surprise me, Sir Robert. You don’t seem the bloodthirsty type.”

  His eyes opened widely. “No, my lady. It’s not that I want to harm others, but how will I someday rule my father’s lands if I have not fully tested myself as a man?”