He frowned, remembering the courtly man's expectant look when Letia left the table. Humpf! Perchance the king demanded more than a consummation of the wedding vows? Or did his father want to learn if Raik was man enough to plant his seed? Most likely when he did, his sire would demand to see the bairn's ass to prove it was Raik's own get.
Would it be a miniature brown birdie or no more than a small blur on the tiny buttocks? Just how small was a bairn's ass, anyway? With all their bundling, it was hard to tell.
He yawned and stood. "Come the dawn, we must begin training to prepare for Julian's next assault."
Ranald, Cormac and Sir William had rooms above in the towers of the great hall and followed him up the stairwell while the others retired to the warriors' barracks.
Raik made a show of stretching before he extended his hand to open the bedchamber door. From the corner of his eye, he saw Sir William continue down the corridor to the room he shared with Leofwan. Only when the man entered to seek his own bed did Raik ease his door open and slip inside, careful not to awake Letia.
A wink of moonlight peered through the window to the left, enough for him to avoid breaking his toes against the hard edges of the bed. He undressed and carefully folded his clothing, all the time watching his sleeping wife. She looked unusually plump lying there, and it gave him pause until he realized there were no pillows on his side of the bed.
Once naked, he padded over to get into bed. Rising on his elbow, he surveyed the bed. Pillows surrounded Letia. He eased the two on either side of her and placed them where he would lay his head.
When he straddled her hips and his feet became tangled in her woolen robe, he kicked them free only to expose her breasts to the cold air. The sliver of light disappeared behind a cloud, leaving them in total darkness. The way he preferred it. He would make love, not to his wife, but to the woman in his memory.
He leaned forward, his forearms beside her head, bearing his weight. Letia murmured, awakening. His lips nuzzled against hers, his tongue following the outline, tasting, probing until the tip found an opening to reach her warmth. Her breath sighed through, sweet and innocent.
As he caressed her, he thought of that unknown woman who had seduced him and felt a pang of regret. He slid from Letia's lips down her body to plunge his tongue into that small hollow in her soft stomach. She shivered and arched her hips. He marveled that she caught fire with such a slight caress. A groan of pleasure murmured from his throat when his hand searched between her legs. He found the dampness he expected, the fiery heat, the quivering of her thighs and stomach. His cock was more than ready, for it stirred and grew to such fullness the skin burned and felt close to bursting.
Without words or further need to coax her flesh, he entered. Her hips rose to meet his, bringing him further into her until their stomachs met, then retreated to dance away. Their rhythm quickened to an urgent demand, both clinging to the other's body to keep the violent rocking from separating them.
He prayed she found her release soon, for if she did not, he could not wait for her. When she climaxed, she did not make a sound but bit her lips to keep from crying out. His frenzied thrusts caused him to stiffen and release his seed. As he whispered in her ear, he groaned his pleasure. He raised his head and stared down at her, though he could not see her. As her rapid breathing slowed, he caught his own breath and slid to her side.
Neither spoke. Once he caught his breath, he pulled the tangled covers up over them and heaved a sigh. Afore two breaths, sleep overcame him.
CHAPTER 29
The bed no sooner stilled it's rocking than Letia heard soft snores coming from her new husband. All sleep fell from her as she laid there, her heart sinking.
Remembering. Hearing.
"My Lily."
Amidst the throes of passion in the utter darkness with naught to distract his mind, his soul had sensed her. When he stared down at her afterward, she had felt his probing eyes. After he awoke and the wine haze was gone, would he remember? Would he be pleased that his Lily and Letia were the same?
'Twas not likely. He would not forgive her silence about it.
She chewed her lip and worried. If he felt some affection for her, would he become reconciled to wedding her? Tears slid down her face. She had been lying to herself; she did not hate Raik. Far from it. She knew now why his scorn of her hurt so much. She had feelings for him but fought it. It seemed a rejection of Warin and everything he had done for her. Like she cuckolded him, even though it was at his demand.
Warin had sensed that Raik would fulfill Letia's desires, would protect her, would do all the things he could no longer do.
For Aubrey's sake and for her own, she would try to be the wife Raik needed in his new position as baron.
And when she found the right time, the right place, she would tell him of his son.
o0o
When the sun came up and Freki's master rose from the bed later than usual, the dog made more noise than the man did. The beast let out a long, throaty yawn, stood and shook as if he would chase sleep from his body as easily as he would rain that fell. Had that alone not awakened her, his big paws on the wooden floor clicked loud enough to finish the job.
Letia peered through the lashes of her near closed eyes to see her husband splashing water on his face. He stilled, frowned at the dog and glanced toward Letia. She pretended to be still slumbering. This was the first time she had seen her husband as he prepared for his day.
You would think a naked man would look vulnerable. Though he had no clothing, no weapons, his tall, muscular body exuded power. From his broad shoulders to his sizeable feet, he had not a whit of fat on him. No wonder he felt hard as the wood that formed the large bedposts. Water dripped from his hair where he had splashed over it to awaken himself. Shivers danced down her back, just thinking of the cold water dripping on his chest.
A yellow halo formed over the eastern mountains for dawn was already breaking. When Raik turned to reach for a drying cloth, she caught sight of his back. She bit her lip to stifle the gasp that near escaped. About to wrap the cloth about his waist, he stilled. She deepened her breathing.
On his left buttocks was the image of a plump bird. The same as the smaller one on Aubrey's flesh. Except his father's bird appeared to be sitting on a small branch. She remembered feeling a small scar there. She needed no more proof that he would recognize his son.
Once he secured the cloth, Raik padded over to the adjoining door with Freki following him. A warm glow lightened the room when he stepped aside for the dog to precede him through the doorway. Not until after the click, click, clicking of Freki's nails did Raik blot out the light as he entered the solar and quietly eased the door closed.
Letia slipped out of bed, her toes curling on touching the cold floor. She was as quiet as she could be, for her clothing chest was to the right of the door.
The soft sounds in the next room of men talking, an occasional muffled laugh, made her cautious. Drawing her lips between her teeth, she inched up the lid of the chest and began hunting through the garments folded at the bottom. A beige smock so old the cloth was as soft as a kitten's fur was what she sought. She rummaged further to find an equally old brown kirtle. Both were adequate for her needs, though if Raik saw her, he would think she dressed as a scullery maid.
Dressing in the dim light was not the easiest of tasks, especially when she did not dare bump into anything and cause a noise. She feared Freki had heard her when he gave a soft bark. She caught Raik's "ssst" and the dog hushed. 'Twas not her that Freki had huffed at, for she heard Giles enter the solar. He must have come to take the big beast outside the keep. Thankfully, Freki was not as some hounds would be, for he preferred the outdoors to do his business. Mayhap, too, it was because Giles always took him to see Cook for a treat afterward.
By the time man and beast clamored down the stairwell, Letia was ready to leave. She slipped out of the room and hurried to intercept Maud before she brought Aubrey to her bedchamber.
She found her old nursemaid bending over the bed changing the babe when Letia scratched on her door and opened it without waiting.
"Why, what are you doing up so early, lovey?" Maud raised her brows when she noted what Letia wore. "Do you plan on scouring the walls or chasing the dust from the keep? We have ample servants for both."
"Nay. But I think this far better suits what I have in mind than to chance ruining a better kirtle." Letia stretched out beside Aubrey so she could nuzzle his plump belly. "The men should be gone from the keep by the time I have filled this little man."
Feeling a bubble of anticipation, she told Maud her plans for surprising Raik each day of the coming fortnight.
o0o
Raik wanted to familiarize his new men with land to the north and east of Seton. Land he himself was used to traveling...when it had not been his. Now he took particular pride in knowing that as far as he could see belonged to him. 'Twas enough to make a man giddy.
His heart swelled when they rode out and to the right. There upon the crest of the hill, he stopped and grinned at Ranald, an easy understanding passing between them. This was where they halted that early morn when their flaming arrows lit up the sky and the army behind them, scaring that prideful Julian into scurrying away like a rat from a feral barn cat.
They continued on, following the trail northward then east. Raik muffled a chuckle when travelers on the road ahead spied the Black Raptor and hastened off the path to wait patiently for their patrol to pass by. Ranald sucked his teeth and sighed.
"Do ye think they'll ever stop actin' like I'll turn into a giant raptor and carry them off if they displease me?"
"Not when ye wear black from head to foot and a cape billowing like wings when ye ride. Aye, and it does not help that yer horse is named Satan's Spawn. On top of that, ye seldom smile."
Raik chuckled when his cousin's answering scowl was so fierce it caused a man who patiently waited in the ditch to turn ashen gray and cross himself.
"Ye near caused that poor fellow to bolt into the woods screaming for help." Raik winked at his cousin. Ranald's expression softened.
"'Tis the truth," Cormac said when the road widened enough for him to pull his horse alongside. "If you did not have a man dressed as colorfully as a butterfly riding beside you leading an army in red and yellow livery, no one would be on the road today. No doubt, they feel if the butterfly is safe, then they need not hide."
Ranald grunted and looked at Raik. "Ye had best see to it that yer men have new livery a little less colorful and more practical for patrol duty. Any archer in a tree would find them easy to spot."
"Aye. Goda is having seamstresses sew black shirts and breeches. A knee-length sleeveless gray tunic with a yellow gryphon front and back will mark the men as mine."
"Could work." Ranald nodded. "Ye will have browns and tans for castle duty?"
"Aye. I dinna want guards and warriors upon the walls to stand out."
They stopped at the next clearing where cold water rushing over gleaming stones provided a drink for the men and their horses. Each warrior carried a hunk of bread or a hard bannock in their saddle to nibble on if they became hungry. Fortunately, yesterday's banquet kept their hunger at bay.
It was well past the noon hour when they returned to the castle to find the grounds in front of the great hall was not as it was when they left that morn.
Two long tables stood end-to-end. In front and at ether side of them, two long rows of tables waited, their benches ready for the men. Pewter cups sat beside pitchers of ale and cider. When Cook's helpers saw the men approaching the barbican, they started bringing steaming bowls and platters of food. From the grins of the guards on the walls and warriors heading for the practice fields, they had already eaten their share and were on their way back to work.
Raik dismounted and handed Storm's reins to a groom. He spied Elyne and Maud, his mother between them, sitting on blankets beneath an apple tree. A servant wearing faded clothing, her hair secured beneath a brown cap, held Aubrey. After she leaned down to put him in Lady Joneta's arms, she waved a small gourd filled with cherry seeds at Aubrey. The babe waved his hands until Joneta guided it close enough he could clutch it in his hand.
The servant glanced over her shoulder, and seeing Raik approach, she hurried off through the orchard. Where was Letia? He scowled and walked over to the smiling women beneath the tree. A faint scent caught his attention. He stiffened and stared at the orchard, ready to spring after the servant.
"The woman who was just here. Did she smell of lilies?"
When his mother hesitated, Elyne answered. "The gardens are a short distance away. The flowers' scent drifts on the air."
His tension eased. "Where is my lady wife? Is she doing something she should not?"
"Nay, Raik, you need not get your temper ruffled. Letia has done nothing improper. She thought your men would enjoy having their meal out in the open on such a lovely day."
He looked around at the sunny bailey then down suspiciously at the babe, who took that moment to give a sweet smile then burp.
"He looks to have just been fed."
"Aubrey is quite sated," Joneta nodded. "Go and enjoy your meal."
Raik smiled at the motherly way Joneta waggled her fingers toward the tables. When she did, he realized Ranald stood beside him. His cousin's eyes followed where the woman had disappeared. Strange. He was smiling. 'Twas not like Ranald to notice any woman other than his wife. He would have to keep an eye on him.
"Come, man. My stomach growls for a hearty piece of mutton," Ranald said. He turned and headed to the well to wash his hands.
Raik followed him halfway there, but the thought of his wife's absence plagued him. At the well, he veered off and headed for the area where Letia's slingers would practice under her watchful eye.
Before he could see them, he heard the shouts of the young men when they made good contact with their targets. The closer he came, the firmer his lips pressed together, his eyes narrowed. When he rounded the corner, he caught sight of two long lines of slingers.
One long line was of young men twelve years or more, the second was of girls the same ages. The slingers arms swung back and forth, prepared to release their missile, each eager for their chance to best the last person. The lines moved swiftly, for as they approached the firing point, they hurled their missile with all their might. The steady bombard was as rhythmic as carpenters pounding stubborn nails into heavy beams.
Between the lines, Piers bright hair peeped below his helm. He called out the command to release the missiles as each person stepped up. He had no doubt the squire capering and coaxing the youngsters from behind the targets was Letia.
Raik stalked over to snatch his stubborn wife by the shoulders and lead her back to the keep. He grasped flesh that had far more muscle than his wife's when he'd held her shoulders to keep her from sliding upward on the bed with his frenzied thrusts. Too, Letia would not wrench from him and turn, fists ready to pummel his face.
Giles face turned near as bright as Pier's hair when he realized he had almost struck his baron. "Forgive me, milord. I believed 'twas someone ready to do me harm."
"I was in haste myself." Raik cleared his throat, wondering how to explain his rash action without appearing a fool. He struck on an idea. "I thought to start a contest and offer a prize to the lad and lass who earn the most points over the next sennight."
Excited whisperings started among the young people lined up behind him. Having no idea what to suggest for a prize, he hesitated but a heartbeat then knew who did.
"My lady wife will announce the intended reward afore practice on the morrow."
Raik straightened his shoulders, pleased that he had thought of an explanation that brought cheers from the young ones.
Their happy faces and Giles exuberance when he told them about the contest made him wish it had been the true reason behind his interruption. He lingered awhile to watch the young ones attack the target with renewed vigor. As he re
turned to the front bailey, he decided to broach the subject of the prize the first chance he and Letia were alone.
o0o
"Saints, Goda, do not fall out," Letia warned as she soaked in a hot bath.
"Humpf. I am no slip of a woman, milady, have no fear."
The cheerful woman flapped Letia's worn clothing against the outside wall, causing small dust clouds to puff away in the light breeze that picked up as the day waned.
Letia looked around the room and grinned. Goda was not the only one on a precarious position. Elyne sat in the far window seat watching the fields beyond for any signs of Raik coming from the practice field aforetime.
Joneta sat, patting Aubrey's back to relieve him of his last bit of wind from his greedy sucking. He sleepily waved his fist in the air until it bumped against his lips. He mouthed along it until he found his thumb, then gave a contented sigh and drifted off to sleep.
"Sybilla, did your Agnes say what Lord Raik's prize would be when this contest is won?"
"Nay. Only that you would tell them of it on the morrow." Sybilla grinned at her. "I was as surprised as you when she told me."
"He has not mentioned it, though I am pleased he has taken an interest in the children."
"I think it is a good beginning," Elyne said. "Perchance now he will see the value of everyone in the castle having a particular skill."
"Aye. We have teams to do many jobs. Mirabel sees that the elderly gather and protect the young when trouble starts. Goda's women supply linen strips for the wounded and help me with stitching wounds. The squeamish gather spent arrows to keep a steady supply for the archers." Letia leaned back so Maud could rinse her hair, then twisted and wrapped it in a drying cloth.
"The stronger of us who are not fighting keep mounds of missiles for the slingers," Sybilla added. "'Tis my own job, for my sight is not good enough for an accurate slinger. I also see to sustenance for those who cannot leave their stations. Another group keeps buckets filled in case fires are set from without."
"Saints, Letia! I had no idea women did all these things. The men at Raptor do not allow us to take part in protecting the castle," Elyne blurted out.
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