Finders Keepers (Norman Brides)

by Wood, Lynn

  Melissa closed her eyes and shook her head, overcome by emotion, still not believing he was alive and with her.

  “How?’ she whispered.

  Luke, his lips curving in a smile at her refusal to look at him, replied, “It was a Norman patrol.”

  Melissa let his explanation settle around her heart until she accepted the truth. It wasn’t a dream. Opening her eyes and locking her glance with Luke’s she stepped towards him and with a voice that shook, tried to make him understand, “When we were riding away from you, I knew it was the right thing. I thought I could do it. I thought I could be noble and raise our child alone, without you. I knew it would not be right to deprive your son or daughter of his or her birthright. Then I woke up and heard your voice. I thought I was dreaming. It struck me I would never hear your voice again, I would never be able to touch you like this,” she cupped the sides of his face between her hands, “Never hear you laugh, never fall asleep in your arms…” She brushed away the tears streaming down her face, blurring her vision. “And I realized I couldn’t, I can’t stay here without you. I don’t want to.”

  At her confession, Luke’s arms crushed her to him. “Can you have any conception of what it was like for me? To know I couldn’t protect you? To know I couldn’t save you?” Luke gave up trying to explain with inadequate words the depths of his desperation to keep her safe. He lifted her in his arms and carried her over to the narrow bunk and set her in it, then reached to strip her out of her gown. His eyes widened in astonished wonder to find only her naked flesh beneath.

  “Promise me, you’ll never change. I don’t want a compliant wife. I want a wife who parades around in a gown with nothing but her sweet flesh beneath it.” He hurriedly stripped out of his own clothes, then came down on top of her, pushing her back against the bed.

  “Some men would be appalled,” she replied grinning.

  “Some men are idiots.”

  Melissa woke in the middle of the night, then becoming aware of what awakened her, disentangled herself from Luke’s arms holding her still in the wildly churning sea as their ship was tossed to and fro, and ran across the dark cabin to empty her stomach in the chamber pot. Before she righted herself, Luke was there, wrapping his strong arms around her and pulling her back against him to anchor her. He pressed a cool cloth to her face.

  “Better?”

  “No. I don’t think the baby has a fondness for sailing.”

  “What? You’re sea sick?” Luke was glad his wife’s back was to him so she couldn’t see the amusement dancing in his eyes. He was only just in time to school his face into a suitably concerned expression before she swung around to regard him incredulously.

  “That surprises you? It feels like we’re passengers in a toy boat in the hands of a little boy. Is there a storm?”

  Luke shook his head, trying to keep his lips from twitching. “No.”

  “You find my illness amusing?”

  Luke gave up the pretense and laughed right in her face. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he quickly apologized at her offended expression. “It’s just you always seem to run into trouble whenever water is involved. I admit it pleases me to know the next time you try to run from me, it is unlikely you will choose to bribe some hapless merchant or smuggler to sail you back to Saxony.”

  “Hah, very amusing husband.” Then when she would have tried to wriggle free of Luke’s restraining embrace, even the small movement was enough to upset her stomach, and she was quickly forced to make use of the chamber pot again.

  When Luke tried to wipe her face clean with a fresh cloth, she snatched it out of his hand and pointed towards the door. “Just go away and let me die in peace.”

  Luke was able to suppress his fresh amusement at her dramatic turn of phrase, but was not unsympathetic to his wife’s plight. Guessing correctly she would only be embarrassed by his witness of what she would no doubt conclude was a weakness on her part, he bent and dropped a tender kiss on her head, admonished her to call out to the guard outside the door if she needed anything, and left his wife in peace.

  Melissa remained in Luke’s cabin for the entire crossing. Luke checked on her several times a day, becoming increasingly concerned at her refusal to eat anything, and then returned to the cabin to sleep. Melissa was so exhausted by the time he did so each night, she was able to sleep through the darkest hours with her head resting against her husband’s broad chest, and his arms wrapped securely around her, keeping her as quiet as possible in the still, to her mind, rough crossing.

  So it was with a feeling of intense relief she received her husband’s news one morning that they would be docking soon and riding on horseback the remainder of the journey. Before she could even beg him for a fresh bath the copper tub arrived at their door, followed by men hauling already heated water to fill the tub. They evaded looking in her direction, only nodding without turning their heads as she thanked them profusely for their efforts. She waited for her husband to follow his men out of the cabin, and when he showed no inclination to do so, she suggested, “Don’t let me keep you, husband. I am certain you have many important matters to see to in preparation for our arrival.”

  Ready laughter lit his dark eyes. “None, I assure you wife that will bring me more pleasure than watching you bathe.”

  Resigned, Melissa sent a decided glare in his direction, which he ignored, and when he would have reached for her, she eluded his hands, hurried over to the bath, slipped out of his shirt she’d taken a liking to sleeping in, and stepped into the steaming water. She felt only a little less shy of her husband’s presence when she hid her breasts with her hands from his lingering gaze. At his knowing expression, she motioned him to the chest where her soaps and oils were spread out. “Could you pass me my soaps, and the little purple jar?” He did so without complaint, but Melissa could tell he had no liking for being turned into her errand boy.

  “Allow me, wife,” he offered, as she held out her hand for the soap, still keeping her other hand across her breasts.

  He ignored her protest, and knelt down beside the tub, pushing her hair out of the way to massage her back with the rose and lavender scented soaps and oils. His hands felt so good, Melissa sighed and leaned forward to give him better access. She raised no further protest when his hands bathed her arms, then her expanding middle, then trailed higher to her fuller, more sensitive breasts.

  “Luke,” she whispered as his hands cupped her and played with her suddenly taut nipples.

  He bent and whispered huskily in her ear, “I’ve missed our evening activities, wife. I assure you I’ve shared in your sufferings more than you’ll ever comprehend. Fortunately, tonight we will be sleeping in my bed on dry ground.”

  After he roused her flesh to a fevered pitch, and with his dark promise ringing in her ear, he left her to finish her bath on her own while he went to see to the details of their arrival.

  With her hair washed and fashioned into a loose braid, and wearing a rich clean gown, Melissa went to join her husband as soon as the ship docked. Silence fell over the crew as she emerged on deck, and Melissa quickly sought her husband’s reassuring presence. She found him speaking to the captain, and their eyes locked as he turned to seek the cause of the sudden silence on the formerly boisterous deck. His eyes roamed appreciatively over her, and he strode sure-footed against the still rocking deck to escort her towards the gangplank.

  Melissa had never in her life been so happy to have her feet back on solid ground. She was so busy delighting in their arrival it took her several moments to become aware she was the center of attention of the growing crowd gathered near the dock to witness their landing. When Luke joined her on the ground, she turned towards him and asked in a whisper, “Why is everyone staring at me?”

  Luke grinned. “I would have thought you would be used to such a reaction by now, or were your father’s men so familiar with your extraordinary beauty they’d grown accustomed to it?”

  Melissa rolled her eyes at his extravagant c
ompliment, but dismissed his explanation. “Very humorous, husband. Are they offended because you’ve taken a Saxon wife?”

  Luke realized for the first time his wife had no real understanding of her own appeal. He remembered the way she dismissed the king’s claim of his knight’s fighting over the right to wed her. At the time Luke assumed she was merely trying to change the subject to distract William from his matchmaking on her behalf. Now he realized her reaction had been a true one. Her unawareness of her stunning beauty just added a fresh reason for him to delight in his bride. “No, they are not offended I’ve taken a Saxon wife. I am certain they are quite relieved I have arrived with a wife in tow, and they will be almost as excited as my father when they learn you are possibly carrying the next Michaels lord.”

  Melissa nodded distractedly. She was well aware the surrounding villages owed their livelihoods to the continued wealth and success of the Michaels family, but at the mention of the upcoming introduction to Luke’s father, she was reminded of her previous nausea. Seeing her pale face, and guessing its cause, Luke bent down to relay quietly into her ear, “Stop worrying. My father will be very anxious to welcome you into his home.”

  “Yes, but how anxious would he be to do so if he knew the truth?” Melissa whispered in return.

  “Since there is no reason for him to ever discover the truth, your point is moot. Trust me, Melissa, my father does not wish to be confronted with unassailable evidence of the full extent of Mason’s depravity. It would only bring him further pain. Let the truth sleep alongside my half-brother in the quiet of his grave and leave my father to his delusions about his son’s honor and the manner of his death.”

  Melissa half-heartedly nodded her agreement. “I suppose you are right.”

  “Yes, I am right. Look, the horses have been unloaded and Arden is waiting most impatiently to be reunited with you.”

  “What? You brought him with us?” Melissa turned her astonished glance to where the horses were gathered, turned back in laughing delight towards her husband and then took off at a run in Arden’s direction. Seeing her approach, the stallion danced beneath the lead of the soldier trying mightily to restrain him. Smiling in the direction of the puzzled soldier, Melissa took possession of the lead and gained Arden’s back in a single graceful movement. She turned back to where her husband still stood watching her with a wide smile on his face, and called out to him, “Which way are we going?”

  Shaking his head, he pointed beyond her shoulder, and shouted back, “Up.”

  Melissa nodded, calling joyfully in response, “I’ll be right back,” then urged Arden through the gathering, until she was free of the crowded dock and took off at a gallop in the direction her husband indicated.

  Luke was aware of the astonishment of the gathered crowd at the sight of their future lord’s slender young wife galloping across the rolling green hills on a fierce stallion by rights only a man twice her weight should be able to mount. Luke observed a hawk take flight from his hiding place in the forest and race along with them. It was difficult to say who was chasing who. The horse’s strong gait appeared to have little difficulty keeping up with the hawk’s glorious flight. His own mount, Asis, whinnied his protest at being left behind, and Luke strode swiftly in his direction, indicating to Rafe he and the rest of the men returning to the keep, should catch up at their leisure. He was not concerned about his wife’s safety. They were on Michaels land now. For as far as the eye could see. He took great satisfaction in the knowledge his wife was finally home.

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  Luke caught up with his wife where she stopped on the last hill in front of the gates of the keep. Her fixed gaze was clouded as she anxiously regarded the magnificent estate. He stopped beside her and captured her chin to turn her face to his. He smiled gently down into her worried face and bent to brush his lips against hers. “Stop worrying. I assure you, my father is very anxious to be presented to his son’s bride.”

  Melissa nodded at Luke’s attempt to reassure her of her welcome, but at the prospect of the approaching introduction to Luke’s father, her stomach roiled. Luke urged his mount forward, but Arden waited for her own signal before following his lead. When Luke paused from a few yards ahead to turn and regard her with an amused query in his eyes, Melissa sighed resigned and urged Arden to catch up. Soldiers attired in the distinctive dark blue of the Michaels family colors lined up in impressively deep columns to greet their future lord and his new wife. The Michaels lord himself waited on the wide stone steps of his imposing home. They halted not far from where Luke’s father waited for them, and as Luke helped her dismount, and a stable boy ran up to take Arden’s lead from her, she took the opportunity to gain her impressions of her fatherin-law.

  The Michaels lord appeared to be the same age or perhaps a little older than her own father. Streaks of grey disturbed the still thick strands of his gold, shoulder-length hair. Melissa realized his elder son had resembled him more closely than Luke did. She was afraid she would see anger and resentment in the light brown eyes he watched her with. She knew his anger would be more appropriately directed in Luke’s direction that his son had so arrogantly and impetuously wed without employing even the minimal courtesy of informing his father of the fact beforehand, but she feared her host wouldn’t see it that way.

  Luke squeezed her trembling hand resting in his as he performed the introductions. “Father, at long last, my wife, Melissa.”

  “Welcome, my dear. I am pleased my son has finally done his duty and brought you home.”

  “Thank you, my lord. Your gracious welcome is most appreciated. Especially when I am well aware you must be disappointed I was all you received in exchange for your family’s assistance to Duke William, ah… forgive me, the new king.”

  “I am loath to contradict my new daughter, but I assure you, Lady Melissa, I am not the least disappointed. In fact, I believe my son came out the victor in his bargain with the duke.”

  Reassured Luke’s father did not appear either angry or resentful, Melissa urged. “Please, my lord, call me Melissa.”

  “I should be pleased to do so, Melissa, if you will refrain from addressing me as my lord with every breath.”

  Relaxing in the warmth of his welcome, Melissa laughed and agreed, “I will try.”

  Luke was quite pleased with the way his wife and father took to each other. Dinner was far from the stilted, formal affair it normally was whenever he dined alone with his father. Melissa had no difficulty charming his father, and Luke noted his father seemed delighted to be charmed. It occurred to Luke his father’s solitary life must at times have proven to be a lonely one. Even the loss of Mason’s suspect company must have contributed to that solitude over the past weeks and months. When dinner ended, Melissa pleaded with them both to excuse her. As much as he hated for his wife to return alone to their rooms, on this their first night in what would become their new home, he reluctantly acknowledged it was too early for him to retire for the night. He granted his permission and escorted her to the stairs. When he would have walked with her all the way to their chambers, Melissa smiling, urged him back to his father’s side. He watched his wife climb the stairs alone, aware of his manly passion building in anticipation of the night ahead. He finally had his wife home where she belonged. Remembering how close he came to losing her, he thought it would be a very long time indeed before he would allow her to venture beyond the boundaries of his family’s lands.

  When his wife’s graceful stride carried her from his view, Luke regretfully returned to his father’s company. The two men carried their ale to the wide chairs set up in front of the hearth. Father and son regarded each other in silence and Luke was reminded of a matter he wished to bring up with his father. His wife’s absence provided a convenient opportunity for him to do so.

  “In the process of chasing my reluctant wife across the Saxon wilderness, I met an old acquaintance of yours.”

  Almost instant comprehension dawned in his father’s
expression. “I assume you are referring to Queen Alyssa.”

  “Yes, I am indeed. She mentioned you were wed to the daughter of a dear friend of hers, my mother.”

  Nodding, his father acknowledged in all seriousness. “Yes, and though our marriage was regrettably brief, I loved her, and in my eyes, she will ever remain my wife.”

  Luke was stunned by his father’s forthright confession. “Your feelings for my mother are the reason you never remarried?”

  “Yes. I often wonder if I did both you and Mason a disservice by not bringing another woman into the household. Perhaps a woman’s gentle manner would have provided a beneficial influence on you both, but I could never bring myself to set another woman in Rebecca’s place.”

  Luke realized his father’s comment about a woman providing a potential beneficial influence on his sons was the extent of the conversation the two of them would ever have in regards to Mason’s lack of honor in his dealings with women. He let it go. Mason was dead. He was correct when he told Melissa resurrecting the past would serve no purpose. While he was lost in his thoughts, his father rose from the table and left the room, asking Luke to wait for him. He returned moments later with a leather case in his hands.

  “Alyssa’s gift to you on the occasion of your birth. I didn’t give it to you previously because I knew Mason would find a way to take it from you and you would not bring your complaint to me to right things.”

  Surprised by his father’s perception, Luke accepted the case from his outstretched hands and opened it. His lips curved with delight as he saw a Salusian dagger, very like the one his wife wore strapped to her thigh, shining from its resting place. “Thank you,” he said, lifting his glance to his father’s face then added with a sense of dazed wonder in his voice, “It’s odd, isn’t it? I never knew. I never knew my mother was Salusian, yet here I am with a Salusian bride.”

  “Yes, I’d say that was damned odd,” his father heartily agreed.