Champion of the Heart

by Laurel O'Donnell

  “You are no better than every man on that field at the tournament,” Jordan snapped. “You see me as a prize, a means to an end. I could be an ugly lout for all you care, a shriveled, infertile, barren wasteland, because the only thing you care about is your land and your title.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I will be married to someone I love and someone who loves me. Not for a name, not for a piece of property.”

  Fox stared at her for a moment, bewildered. She stood strongly before him, that little chin lifted in defiance, her eyes dancing with fury. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her outraged righteousness made her beauty only that much more of a marvel to behold.

  “Your father held that tournament with you as the prize. From what I saw, you seemed willing to stand there and display yourself to all the men who had gathered there. I saw no chains about your wrists. I saw no rope about your neck. You could have been married to a complete stranger. Don’t speak to me of marrying for love.”

  Jordan’s eyes narrowed. “Father thought Evan would be the victor.”

  Fox froze, his own eyes narrowing suddenly. “So you do love Vaughn, then?”

  Jordan opened her mouth and then closed it, remaining uncharacteristically silent. She looked away from him, but Fox could see her brow was still furrowed with anger. He looked at her curiously, wondering why such a simple question brought about a complicated display of emotion on her face.

  Fox felt a strange emotion moving through him and then realized he was overjoyed she could not answer him. It seemed she did not understand or even know what her true feelings for Vaughn were. But from what he could see in her eyes when Vaughn’s name was mentioned, whatever feelings they were certainly did not seem like love to him.

  He stepped forward until he was standing just before her. He lifted her chin with his finger until she was looking at him with those large blue eyes. Those big, beautiful blue eyes. “Do you look for him when you enter a room?” he asked softly.

  She gazed into his eyes, her brow slowly smoothing.

  “When he speaks, do you watch the way his lips move?”

  Her gaze dropped to his lips.

  “When he says your name, does your heart race a little faster?” he wondered. “Does it, Jordan?”

  Fox could hear her breath catch in her throat.

  “Does his kiss make you forget all the rest of the world?”

  Fox drew closer to her lips, anticipating the feel of their softness, the taste of sweet honey he knew he would find on them.

  “Would he give his life to make you happy?”

  “Fox,” Jordan whispered. “We can’t do this.”

  His breath caught in his chest. Her warm breath touched his lips and he looked down at her mouth, entranced by the glistening wetness he saw there. Suddenly, Fox realized everything he said was how Jordan made him feel. He pulled away as if she had suddenly grown horns and quickly stepped back.

  Jordan stumbled, but caught herself.

  Shocked, angry, and confused, Fox moved to the door. He hesitated for a moment before commanding, “You will marry me. In love or not.”

  Fox moved out into the hallway, slamming the door behind him. Beau looked up at him from his seated position across the hall. Then he looked back to sharpening his sword, moving the rock across the sharp part of the blade.

  Fox’s jaw tightened. He was not in love with her! He would never let himself fall in love with a woman who deserted him. Not her. God’s blood! Did she always have to affect him like this? Fox turned to move down the hallway.

  “Every moment she is in the castle, she makes you more and more angry,” Beau said.

  Fox grunted, but did not turn to him.

  “Get rid of her, Fox,” Beau suggested. “Before you lose your sanity.”

  “That will be hard to do,” Fox said, moving off down the hallway. “Since I’m going to marry her.”

  Shock settled on Beau’s face. Then a grin. “I see my suggestion has come too late.”

  ***

  The sun seeped into the castle through cracks in the walls and broken mortar. Fox moved past several rusting suits of armor as he walked down the hallway. Skeletal faces peered out from behind the tarnished metal headgear, dead sentries in case anyone ventured too close to some of the castle windows.

  Fox entered the meal room, but stopped cold as he saw his father seated at the table. He hesitated for a moment, then turned to leave. He was in no mood for his father’s ramblings today.

  “Fox!”

  Fox grimaced, then slowly turned back to face his father.

  “I can’t find Lady Jordan,” Frederick said.

  Fox looked into his father’s eyes. He had his suspicions about who had released Jordan from the tower the night before. It could have been his father in one of his delusions. He didn’t know if he should tell him where she was. “I’ve taken your advice, Father,” Fox said, hoping to change the subject. “Jordan and I are to be wed.”

  “Well done, boy!” his father exclaimed, placing both his hands on Fox’s shoulders. “I knew she couldn’t have truly loved Evan. The two of you were meant to be together. I’ve always known that. Some things are just fated to be.”

  Fox nodded, but with far less enthusiasm than his father’s words.

  “You’ve petitioned Lord Ruvane for her hand?”

  Fox clenched his teeth. He didn’t like to lie to his father. He opened his mouth to answer, but then thought of something. “I won the tournament,” he said. “Jordan was the prize.”

  “Excellent! My training has taken you far! I knew you’d make a great warrior someday!” Frederick exclaimed. “I will begin the necessary announcements immediately. I’ll invite all the wealthiest lords, all my old friends.” He began to walk down the hallway. “There is much work to do.” Suddenly, Frederick paused and turned to Fox. “Well done, my boy. I’m very proud of you.” He turned and called out to the empty air, “Duke Harrington! My son is to be wed to the Lady Jordan of Ruvane!”

  With sad eyes, Fox watched him walk away down the hall, in his own world, surrounded by imaginary friends and imaginary people whom he believed held great love for him. Fox wished his father would wake up from his eternal daydream and look around. He was already surrounded by real friends and real people who loved him; he did not need his make-believe world for that.

  Fox turned to head out of the room, but stopped immediately.

  Michael stood two horse’s paces away from him, his eyes red with fury, his jaw clenched tight. “It isn’t enough that you invite her into our home. Now you take her as your wife?”

  “It is for land and title only,” Fox said, approaching the raging storm cloud that was Michael.

  “I warned you about giving her your soul,” Michael said grimly. “It seems I have arrived too late.”

  “She is no devil, Michael. She is just a woman.”

  “A woman who as a child took your trust and betrayed you. What will she take as a woman? Your heart?”

  “I know Jordan for what she is.”

  “You know nothing of her. She is one of the nobles who deceived you and abandoned you. She will betray you again, Fox. Mark my word.”

  Fox clenched his teeth and moved past Michael.

  Michael’s hand shot out, capturing Fox’s arm. “You are a fool to think to marry such a devil. Your children will be demons, connected to Satan.”

  Fox yanked his arm free of Michael’s hold, tired of his brother’s ridiculous speeches. “Have you ever considered that you were the one who almost committed a grievous sin?” Fox retorted. “You would think for a man of the cloth, a follower of God, killing a woman would be a serious sin, punishable by an eternity in hell.”

  Michael’s jaw clenched tightly and Fox could see the turmoil in his brother’s eyes. “It would be a sin I would gladly commit for you, brother,” Michael declared.

  “Don’t do me any favors,” Fox retorted and brushed past him.

  ***

  Evan paced
back and forth before the warm hearth in the Great Hall within Castle Vaughn. Firelight danced over his features and made his hair seem to glow with an unearthly sheen. His fists were clenched behind his back, his strides fueled with frustration and anger.

  Three mercenaries stood in the room, watching him. A thin man with a patch over one eye scratched his stubbled chin. “What are you offering for this?”

  The rest of the men grumbled as they waited for his response.

  Evan stopped pacing to stare at the one-eyed man. “Two horses and a suit of armor.”

  Astonishment spread through the group assembled in the large room.

  Evan scanned the motley men. His eyes narrowed. “Plus a new sword and a bag of gold for the one who brings me the location of the Black Fox’s lair. But you are not to approach him. I will deal with him myself. I simply want him found. And I will pay dearly for it.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Jordan ducked behind the dusty tapestry lining one wall of the room. It had been several days since she had last seen Fox, and she had no idea what he was planning. His threat of marriage weighed heavily upon her. Would he simply bring a monk, perhaps even Michael, to perform the ceremony? If they were married, would he expect an act of consummation on their wedding night?

  In her mind’s eye she saw Fox standing before the bed, slowly pulling his shirt off, revealing his strong chest to her, showing her the flesh that would soon cover her own. His muscles would be warm beneath her fingers, warm and hard and...

  A sneeze tickled her nose. She rubbed her nose and pinched it so the sneeze wouldn’t escape.

  “Ready or not, here I come!” Mary Kate called out.

  The young girl’s voice brought Jordan out of her reverie. She had spent most of the last few days with Mary Kate, playing with her, talking to her, or at least trying to talk to her. The young girl wasn’t very communicative. Hide and seek seemed to be Mary Kate’s favorite game, and they played it over and over again.

  There weren’t many places to hide in Fox’s room. Jordan had found only two. So this was about the tenth time she’d hidden behind the tapestry. But it didn’t really matter. She was having fun, and Mary Kate would find her quickly. She was probably checking next to the bed now. Jordan had lain down beside it many of the other times they had played.

  Sure enough, the tapestry moved as Mary Kate poked at it and Jordan couldn’t help but let out a small giggle. Then the heavy tapestry shifted and Mary Kate’s little head poked in.

  “I found you!” she squealed.

  Jordan hurried out from behind the tapestry. No sooner had she done so than she sneezed. She looked at Mary Kate, who was smiling, and then started to laugh herself. Every time she hid behind the tapestry, she sneezed.

  Mary Kate laughed with her, the sound a delightful, joyous giggle Jordan worshipped.

  But it also made her sad. It made her think of her own children. Who was holding Emily if she wept? Was John hungry? How were they eating? Who was supplying them with food? Jordan’s laughter faded and she looked at the window. She wanted to go to them, knew somehow she had to get to them.

  And yet she didn’t want to leave Fox. She was afraid if she did she would never see him again.

  Mary Kate touched her hand softly, as if sensing her troubles. “Do you want to play again?”

  “I would like to speak with Lady Jordan, Mary Kate,” a voice boomed from the doorway.

  Breathlessness shot through Jordan as the darkly serious voice penetrated to the core of her being. She lifted her gaze to Fox. He filled the entire doorway, radiating power and authority. Jordan’s breath caught in her throat.

  Mary Kate nodded to Fox and moved to the doorway. She paused beside Fox to glance back at Jordan.

  Jordan’s eyes dropped to the girl. Mary Kate gave a little wave to Jordan. Jordan smiled and waved back. Mary Kate lifted her gaze to Fox.

  Fox smiled down at Mary Kate, his dark gaze softening. Jordan almost reeled under the vibrancy of his smile. Fox reached down and gently tousled Mary Kate’s hair before giving her a gentle nudge out the door.

  Mary Kate smiled back and scampered from the room.

  Fox closed the door.

  Jordan felt a strange sense of pride fill her. “She worships you, you know.”

  He stood near the door, his gaze intense and unrelenting.

  “Where are Mary Kate’s mother and father?” Jordan wondered.

  “Her mother lives in the castle. Her father is not here.”

  Jordan had seen only one woman in the castle the entire time she had been here. Could he be talking about the woman they called Scout? Her eyes widened. That woman had dismissed Mary Kate with nary a word. Surely she couldn’t be Mary Kate’s mother. The woman didn’t seem fit to be anyone’s mother. But there were no other women in the castle; she was sure of it. “Scout?” she finally asked aloud in disbelief.

  “Why do you need to know?” Fox demanded.

  “I’m concerned about Mary Kate,” Jordan replied, meeting his stare evenly. “She always seems to be so alone. She needs love.”

  “She has that here,” Fox said defensively.

  Jordan saw his shoulders square and his eyes harden and knew the offense he had taken at her statement. “She needs to be a child,” Jordan corrected quickly. “She needs someone to play with.”

  “And you know this so well?” Fox demanded, still hurting from her insult.

  “Yes,” Jordan whispered in a desperate sigh.

  Fox stared at her for a long moment. Just when Jordan thought he was not going to say anything more, he added, “Mary Kate is the result of a rape.”

  Rape? Jordan felt her skin crawl at the mere mention of the word. It was a horrible, brutal act.

  “Her mother wants nothing to do with her,” Fox added in a softer voice.

  The poor child! The rape wasn’t her fault. Jordan sat heavily on the bed. No one to love her. No one to hold her. No one to see to her needs at all. “Who looks after her?”

  “Mary Kate has learned to find food herself, to steer clear of trouble, to survive. Just as all of us have had to do over the years,” Fox informed her. “Our lives are not easy, Lady Ruvane.” He did not bother to disguise the spite in his voice.

  Jordan overlooked his bitter tone, concentrating on the child. “The poor girl is all of maybe three!”

  “Four,” Fox corrected her.

  “Four?” She was so small.

  “Is Mary Kate the reason you asked to see me?” he wondered suddenly.

  Jordan had momentarily forgotten she had asked to see him. She had come up with a compromise. Well, she was sure Fox wouldn’t see it as such, but it was a desperate move on her part. She had decided she would marry him. She would risk her father and the king’s wrath. If only... “No,” she answered and stood, turning her back to him. Jordan chewed her lower lip, wringing her hands. She had no right to put demands on a forced marriage. But it was Fox, and somewhere beneath the Black Fox was her Fox. Desperation and hopelessness bloomed within her heart.

  Finally, she turned to him. She lifted her chin and straightened her back, meeting his gaze. Her heart beat quickly in her chest and she forced her nerves to stay under control. “I will marry you,” she told him quietly.

  Fox chuckled. “It wasn’t a request. I will marry you with or without your consent. By rights of my victory in the tournament, you are mine to do with as I please.”

  Jordan scowled at his callous response and his brutish attitude, but continued undaunted. “I’ll marry you willingly... if you take me back to Ruvane village.”

  Fox stared at her in disbelief. Slowly, his jaw clenched, and then true anger began to bubble hotly in his veins. “Do you take me for a fool?” Fox finally thundered.

  Jordan’s face remained calm. “I’m asking a simple request.”

  “If I take you there, your people will protect you and take you, and my chance for lands and title, away from me. I don’t think so.”

  Jordan took a s
tep toward him. “No! That won’t happen. I give you my word.”

  Fox growled, rage churning inside him. “Is that the same word you gave me ten years ago? You said you would always be with me. I can’t trust you any more now than I could then.”

  “Fox, listen to me. I’m not trying to trick you.”

  “I’ve listened enough to you. I will marry you without any compromises.” He turned to leave.

  Jordan raced forward, seizing his arm. “They’re my children. I have to reach them!”

  Jordan’s children? Fox’s gaze dropped in shock to her flat stomach. Then his gaze narrowed and slammed back to hers. “Another lie. You have had no children.” He yanked his arm free and stormed for the door.

  “Fox! Listen to me! I’ll marry you! All you have to do is take me to Ruvane village!”

  ***

  Fox slammed the door on her pleas. Cursing, he moved through the hallway. She was not to be trusted. Not now, not ever. Children. She had no children.

  But the image of her playing hide and seek with Mary Kate played again in his mind. The easy interaction between the child and her. Their laughter. She obviously had great experience with them. Did she have children?

  And if she did have children, who sired them? Vaughn? The mere thought that Vaughn had touched her made Fox mad with rage.

  “Fox!” his father called.

  Fox faltered and clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to get his anger under control.

  Frederick joined him in the hallway. “Are you quite sure Lady Jordan is all right?”

  Fox ground his teeth. “Fine,” he answered shortly, wishing his father would find something else to concern himself with.

  Frederick rubbed his chin. “Very strange,” he said thoughtfully. “I found this on my strolls through the wards.” He held a piece of parchment out to Fox.

  Fox took it from his father. His eyes scanned the writing and his teeth ground even more. The piece of parchment read: