Border Brides

by Kathryn Le Veque

  Sophie was serious with her mother. “But I can be his mama,” she told Diamantha. “I can feed him and put him to bed.”

  Diamantha shook her head. “You do not need another pet,” she reiterated. “In fact, when we stop for the night, we must clean your pet cage. The animals need fresh grass and bedding.”

  Sophie was never much interested in cleaning out her pet cage, so she turned her attention to the doe and fawns that were not far off in the distance. Diamantha, seeing that her conversation with her child was at an end, turned to look at Cortez to make sure he hadn’t suffered too much in the losing battle against Sophie. Truth be told, she simply wanted to steal a glance at him. She was doing that quite a bit these days, watching him when his attention was elsewhere. She found it fascinating to simply watch the way he moved.

  This time, however, he was looking at her rather dreamily and when their gazes locked, he smiled sweetly. Diamantha returned the smile without hesitation. The warmth and attraction that had developed between them had never been instant. It had taken time to cultivate, but now it seemed to be at the forefront of everything between them, especially since the incident with his father. Cortez dipped his head politely at her.

  “My lady,” he greeted happily. “You are looking particularly lovely today.”

  Diamantha’s smile turned modest as she looked down at herself. “I have been wearing this same dress since we left Corfe,” she said, brushing at the dusty blue wool. “How can you possibly say I am lovely?”

  He laughed knowingly. “Because you are,” he assured her, his focus moving to the road ahead. “We will stop for the night in a little while. There is a town not far ahead. Can you last a little while longer?”

  Diamantha nodded, shading her eyes against the sun as she looked up into the sky. “Of course,” she said. “It is such a lovely day. I wish all of our travel days had been like this.”

  Cortez lifted his eyebrows in agreement. As the group trudged along the somewhat rocky and uneven road, Cortez began to hum in his smooth baritone. Diamantha had heard him hum before as they were traveling, more than likely to stave off boredom, and he had quite a beautiful voice.

  “What is that song you are singing?” she asked. “I have heard you hum it before.”

  Cortez turned to look at her, a grin on his lips as he began to sing the words to the song:

  “A young man came to Tilly Nodden,

  His heart so full and pure.

  Upon the step of Tilly Nodden,

  His wants would find no cure.”

  It was a sweet little song, delivered in his beautiful baritone, but the moment he hit the chorus, the entire troop chimed in and the song went from a delightful tune to a rather bawdy song that was better suited to a tavern. Diamantha’s smile fled as she looked around her, at every man singing at the top of their lungs.

  “Aye! Tilly, Tilly, my goddess near,

  Can ye spare me a glance from those eyes?

  My Tilly, sweet Tilly, be my lover so dear,

  I’m a-wantin’ a slap of those thighs!”

  Half of the men burst out laughing as others started another verse on the song. Diamantha was rather shocked at first but she had to admit the words were very humorous and they sang it with great exaggeration. She started to laugh because the men were, because Cortez was, and it really was rather naughty. Even Sophie started giggling loudly, only because everyone else was and she didn’t want to be left out. She was having a fine time.

  Cortez climbed off his charger and turned the reins over to the nearest soldier. He made his way to Diamantha, who was now grinning at her silly daughter, and took General’s lead out of her hand. As he passed it over to Merlin, walking behind the pony, he took his wife in his arms as if to dance with her. He was trying to appear romantic but it ended up coming off as comical as he twirled her about even as they walked. His rich voice filled the air once more.

  “Then our young man, his life less grand,

  Since the day he met our Tilly.

  His love for her nearly drove him daft,

  When he discovered not a puss, but a shaft.”

  The men began to laugh uproariously as Diamantha, realizing what he meant, tried to spank him. Cortez had her tightly and, as she squealed with both delight and outrage, took her on a wild galloping dance up to the front of the column and then back again, straight to the wagon. All the while, the men were singing the chorus of Tilly Nodden, thinking it rather funny that Cortez had let his guard down. He didn’t usually do that, but they were all coming to see that Lady Diamantha was bringing out a side of Cortez that no one really knew existed. He was calm with her, exceedingly considerate, and it was evident to all of them just how much he adored her and the little girl. To be truthful, not even those closest to him knew he was capable of it. It was a fine thing to see, indeed.

  As Cortez came to a halt at the wagon, grinning at his giggling, breathless wife, Drake, who had been at the head of the column watching all of the fun, reined his charger back to Cortez.

  “My lord,” he addressed him. “Penrith is just over the ridge. Do you want me to ride ahead and secure lodgings or do you want to camp outside of town?”

  Cortez looked at Diamantha, thinking that she might like a roof over her head tonight. He turned back to Drake.

  “Lodgings,” he said. “For my wife and I, for Lady Sophie, and rooms for the knights. The men can sleep in the livery or they can camp. It is their choice, but if we find a tavern big enough, order a meal for everyone.”

  “The foot soldiers, too?”

  “Aye.”

  It was rare when Cortez wanted to pay outright for a cooked meal for all of his men, so Drake nodded shortly and was gone, informing James and Oliver what Cortez had just told him. When Drake and James took off together towards Penrith, Cortez took Diamantha’s hand and kissed it gently.

  “A bath and a hot meal for my lady?” he asked.

  She smiled gratefully. “That would be most welcome.”

  He winked at her and let her hand go. “Good,” he said. “Now, let me help you and Sophie back into the wagon so we can secure the pony.”

  Diamantha lifted Sophie off of her pony and carried the little girl to the wagon, where Cortez lifted her up and put her in the bed. Then he put his hands around Diamantha’s waist and lifted her up nearly as easily as he had lifted the child, setting her on the back of the wagon as well. With a wink, one that Diamantha was becoming so familiar with, he went to collect his charger and mounted effortlessly. She watched him as he spurred the beast forward and took point at the head of the column.

  Diamantha realized, as she settled down into the wagon bed with her daughter on her lap, that she was actually happy again. She hadn’t been happy in so long that when it finally did come, it had been like a gentle and gradual breeze, not a slap in the face. As the wagon bumped along the road, she started to think about the point in time when she really did become happy again. She couldn’t seem to remember the rough beginning with Cortez or the resentment and bitterness she had felt. All she could feel now was the thrill of his smile and the allure of his embrace. Her heart would race at the sound of his voice and melt at the sight of his interaction with Sophie. All of those symptoms pointed to one thing.

  … could it be love?

  She wondered.

  *

  It was called The Bloody Cross and it was the biggest tavern in Penrith. Situated close to the church, it sat in a very busy section of the town, near the street of the Merchants, which was just starting to close up for the night when Cortez brought his party through. They passed by dry goods sellers, spice vendors, and one merchant who had all manner of pre-made dresses hanging from the front of the store. Cortez happened to glance at Diamantha’s face when she saw the garments and, noting her very interested expression, sent his men on ahead to the tavern as he took his wife and daughter to the merchant with the ready-made clothing.

  Diamantha had resisted at first, saying she didn’t have any
trunks to pack new things in, but Cortez sent Oliver to buy a trunk or more satchels somewhere while he practically forced Diamantha to pick out some new clothing. Even Sophie was able to receive new clothing, as the merchant, a very tall man and his toothless wife, presented them with loosely-sewn clothing for young children. It was really a rather novel idea, this pre-made clothing, and Diamantha knew she could easily finish the garments for her daughter, so she selected four little tunics for Sophie as well as selecting no less than five new garments for herself.

  In fact, it was Cortez who had selected them. Everything she looked at, he would come up behind her and tell the merchant that they would purchase it. Diamantha soon got wise to his game and stopped looking, telling him that she had more than enough things. But he didn’t think so. He was rather enjoying purchasing things for her so along with the pre-made dresses that were slightly too large for her figure, he purchased two linen shifts, a beautiful, heavy leather robe with exquisite embroidery and fur cuffs on the sleeves, two bars of hard white soap that smelled of lemon rind, and a very pretty tortoise shell comb for her hair.

  It was a big booty and Diamantha was rather astonished that he had spent so much money on her and Sophie, but Cortez didn’t seemed troubled by it at all. When Oliver returned with a barrel he had purchased from the spice vendor, he and Cortez carefully packed all of the newly bought items into the barrel that smelled of cinnamon and proceeded to roll it down the avenue towards The Bloody Cross.

  As night fell, it was very loud and crowded inside the tavern that smelled strongly of unwashed bodies and roasting meat. People were eating and laughing, and Cortez was met at the door by James and Drake. It seemed that people liked to eat at the place but no one had money enough for the expensive rooms, so Drake had procured all four of the tavern’s sleeping rooms at a rather costly price. Cortez was in a spending mood and paid it without question.

  With his knights picking up the big barrel and following him to a narrow staircase in the corner that led to the upper floor, Cortez took Diamantha and Sophie to the rooms upstairs, inspecting each room until settling on the biggest one. He escorted his wife and child into the airy, well-furnished room and his knights brought in the barrel, plus Diamantha’s two other satchels, the cage containing the pets, and Cortez’s saddlebags. As the knights left to get themselves and the men settled, Cortez shut the door behind them, shutting out the noise and smoke from the common room below.

  It was suddenly very quiet in the big room and Cortez looked around. There was an enormous bed, another smaller bed in an alcove that was more than likely meant for a servant, and then back behind the master’s bed was a sectioned off area with a painted wooden screen that shielded a half-barrel bathtub and a chamber pot. In truth, it was quite luxurious and he grunted with satisfaction.

  “Well,” he said, “it ’tis a better chamber than we have had this entire trip. In fact, it is very nice.”

  Diamantha agreed. “It seems clean,” she noted, inspecting the bed and the coverlet and not finding the usual vermin on it. “I would hope it is for the price you paid.”

  Cortez began removing his gloves, setting them on a table near the door. “It is of little matter,” he said. “You have put up with enough hardship on this trip. I will provide you with comfort when it is available.”

  Diamantha smiled at him as she went to the big window in the chamber and opened the wooden panels, revealing a lovely view of the cathedral across the street with the fading sunset as a backdrop. Meanwhile, Sophie had opened her pet cage and a puppy, two kittens, and a fox kit had emerged. The puppy, excited to be out, wriggled his tail furiously as he jumped on Sophie, trying to lick her face. Both the kittens and the fox kit were curiously poking around, while the rabbit seemed content to stay inside the cage. Diamantha watched her daughter as she played with the puppy.

  “That cage is too small for all of those animals,” she said, observing the group. “We will have to find something bigger or we will have to let the rabbit and fox go.”

  Sophie heard her and turned around, her young face distressed. “No, Mama!” she insisted. “They are my friends!”

  Diamantha sighed. “I know they are, sweetheart,” she said. “But they will soon grow big and will want to find other animals of their own kind to live with. You cannot keep them forever.”

  Sophie’s lips molded to a pout. “But they are mine,” she insisted.

  Diamantha wasn’t going to argue with her. She went over to Cortez, who had a big booted foot upon the chair next to the table, fussing with a strap on his left boot that had broken.

  “Is it possible to find a bigger cage before we leave on the morrow?” she asked. “Those poor animals are very crowded. Or, we could simply set the fox and rabbit free tonight after she goes to sleep.”

  He glanced up at her, his fingers still toying with the boot. “I shall find a bigger cage.”

  Diamantha had a feeling that would be his answer. He’d rather hunt all night for a cage than see Sophie disappointed. She sighed faintly, putting a gentle hand on his dark head.

  “You do not have to,” she said. “She will not hold you responsible if I let two of her pets go. They are wild animals, anyway. She cannot keep them forever.”

  He finished messing with the strap and stood up. He was preparing to say something to her but, as he gazed into her sweet face, he ended up taking her into his arms instead. She was so soft and warm and compliant against him, that supple body, the memories of which made him shudder.

  “I will find a bigger cage,” he assured her again, a twinkle in his black eyes. “For now, however, I am famished and I am sure you are, too. Shall we go down into the common room to eat?”

  Diamantha shook her head. “Nay,” she replied. “It was so loud down there and I do not want to take Sophie into that atmosphere. It is not someplace she needs to be. May we eat in our room? It would be much better, I think. I can put her down to sleep early.”

  Cortez nodded, kissing her on the nose, then the mouth, and utterly losing himself in her musk. Her taste was delicious and sweet, but before he lost himself too much, he pulled back with a groan.

  “Another kiss like that and I shall not leave this room for the rest of the night,” he muttered, rubbing his nose against hers. “I shall bring something back up to you. Do you want hot water for a bath, too?”

  Diamantha was collapsed against him, basking in his strength. She’d come to crave it. “That would be nice,” she said. “But please eat with your men if you want to. Sophie and I will eat here and then go to bed. I am sure you would like to spend some time with your men.”

  He shrugged. “I see them every day.”

  She grinned. “You see me every day,” she said, laughing when he made a face at her. “Please spend some time with your men. I am sure there is much you wish to discuss with them and you will not do it if I am sitting next to you. I do not need to hear all of your business. Rest assured that I will be here when you return.”

  She was more astute than he had given her credit for. It was true that there were things to discuss with his men that he would not discuss around her, things such as their approach to Falkirk and how to recover Edlington’s body once they arrived. Things she didn’t need to, and probably didn’t want to, hear. But he had been so consumed with her the entire trip that he’d hardly had any conversations with his men other than those that pertained directly to their daily activities.

  “Do you swear you will be here when I return?” he asked.

  “I do.”

  “You will not trick me and sleep elsewhere?”

  She grinned. “I will not, I promise.”

  He opened his mouth to reply but a squeal from Sophie cut him off. The rabbit had bolted out of the cage and Sophie was now in mad pursuit. With a grin, he watched the little girl chase the rabbit around the room as he shook out his gloves and put them back on again. Sophie was having a marvelous time chasing the rabbit, but the little bunny was terrified so Diamantha put
a stop to it.

  “Sweetheart, you frighten the rabbit when you chase it,” she said to her daughter, taking the girl by the hand and leading her over to the cage where the other animals were. She put the bunny back in the cage and sat her daughter on the floor. “Please play with them without chasing them. Be kind to little creatures.”

  Sophie was undeterred as she took a piece of straw from the cage and teased the kittens with it. The puppy was wandering around beside her, sniffing the floor and looking for scraps. Cortez headed for the door as Diamantha bent over her daughter and the menagerie of pets. He was thinking it was all quite sweet; the running rabbit, the jumping dog, the squealing little girl, and his beautiful wife. It was the most wonderful thing he’d ever known.

  “I shall return as soon as I can,” he told her. “I will have a meal sent up to you and something for the animals, too.”

  Diamantha straightened up and looked at him. “That would be quite kind of you, my lord.”

  There went that familiar wink again as he opened the door and shut it softly behind him. Diamantha went over to lock it, her thoughts lingering on the tall, handsome husband that was now hers.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Coven Castle

  Four days after Cortez’s departure, Andres was still keeping his father in the vault of Coven, although the cell was considerably more luxurious than any vault in the country outside of the Tower of London. Most prisoners did not sleep on comfortable beds with servants to tend their every wish, but Gorsedd had just that. He lived like a king.

  Andres was with him daily, sitting with his father for hours on end and listening to his father talk about family history. He kept relieving the death of his grandfather, over and over, pounding the horrible end into Andres’ brain and then cursing Diamantha for her family ties.

  It was an exhausting experience for Andres, who was growing increasingly resentful that he had to remain with his father while everyone else continued on to Scotland. By the end of the fourth day of listening to his father rant, he’d finally had enough. Gorsedd was in the process of describing his mother’s torment with the de Velt raid on her ancestral home when Andres finally exploded.