Templeton, Julia

by The Bargain

  Adelstan. There was no question it was the Saxon, for Renaud recognized Aleysia's cloak.

  "Congratulations, my lord," Galeran said triumphantly. "You have found your man. We will be back at Braemere before the sun sets."

  Renaud waited for the exhilaration he normally felt when capturing a Saxon prisoner, but this time it did not come. Instead, a part of him was disappointed that Adelstan had not escaped. "Give me a moment alone with him," Renaud said to Galeran and the other men, who shared puzzled looks.

  "Are you sure that is wise, my lord? He could have a weapon." Galeran asked, concern in his eyes.

  "Aye, I am sure. I will be but a moment."

  Galeran nodded, and Renaud rode ahead toward Adelstan.

  To Adelstan's credit, he did not try to outrun Renaud. Instead, the Saxon turned to Renaud, a slight smile on his lips, as though he'd expected him all along. In that moment he looked so much older than eight and ten—tired, defeated... as though he had already given up.

  His eyes, so like his sister's, stared back at Renaud. "I am surprised it took you so long, de Wulf."

  Renaud smiled at the young man's wit. "I am surprised you did not try to outrun us, Adelstan."

  "My horse is already laboring with the pace we've set thus far. I did not feel it fair to ride him to his death when he has served me so well." Adelstan ran a hand over the horse's neck. "He is weary... just as I am."

  Renaud could only imagine how exhausted the young man was. The past few weeks, not to mention years, must have aged him immensely. "You know I must take you to York."

  Adelstan nodded, looking past Renaud to the outlying hills, where the sun was just getting ready to make its appearance. "Our mother always loved to get up before the sunrise. She often would wake us, take us by the hand, and together we would watch it rise in all its glory." His lips curved. "Aleysia would lean her head back, close her eyes, and smile." He glanced at Renaud. "She continued to do the same after our parents were killed. She said it gave her hope to see the sun rise each morning. That each new day was a new beginning full of limitless possibilities." He laughed without mirth. "If only I had her faith."

  "You must have had faith to get this far in life."

  "True, true. But my sister is the stronger of us. She is a willful woman. Sometimes she knows not her place, but she is loyal to the bone."

  "I know. She loves you very much, Adelstan. She has risked much to see you live."

  "I hope you do not punish her. It was my idea to escape, after all."

  "I doubt your sister is as innocent as you claim," he said, running a hand through his hair. "I must set an example, else word will carry across the north that I have been manipulated by a woman."

  Adelstan frowned, anger in his eyes. "She cares deeply for you, and still you would punish her?"

  The words shocked Renaud, yet pleased him. "She has told you as much?"

  His lips quirked. "We are twins, and we feel each other in a way that I cannot explain. I often know what she's thinking before she even opens her mouth, and likewise."

  "I have heard it said that twins share such a bond."

  "Such is the case between my sister and I. You had made a bargain with her, de Wulf." He twisted the reins about his fist. "I know what that bargain was, and now I ask you to make a bargain with me."

  Renaud frowned. "I can make no promises, Adelstan. I have a duty to my king."

  "This is a promise from one man to another. From a brother who loves his sister more than life itself." Adelstan swallowed hard and Renaud could see he fought to keep his emotions in check. "I ask that you never leave her. Though she has proven resourceful when need be, she is not accustomed to being alone. And I would hate to think—"

  "I will marry her, Adelstan. God willing, I will take her as my wife, and she will never be alone again. I will protect her with everything that I am. You have my word on this."

  Adelstan smiled and Renaud's stomach coiled, for he saw Aleysia in that wide grin.

  And in that moment he realized that he could not, with good conscience, take this man to York to certain death.

  King William would be furious with him. Perhaps strip him of his titles and lands, nor would his men understand—but he could not live with himself if he killed Adelstan, for taking him to King William was the same as slitting the young Saxon's throat.

  Renaud glanced over his shoulder at his men who watched intently before turning back to Adelstan. "I release you, Adelstan. Go now, before I change my mind."

  Adelstan's brows furrowed. "You are letting me go? Do you jest?"

  "Nay, I do not jest. But I give you fair warning. If you return with MacMillan to Braemere, I will not be so forgiving."

  "MacMillan has betrayed me, and I will never trust him again. You have my word that I will not return with him, but I do hope to return to Braemere one day—to see my sister. God willing, we will both live to see that day."

  "I pray it is so."

  "You do me a great service, my lord." Adelstan extended his hand. "You are a man of honor, de Wulf. I shall never forget your kindness toward me."

  "Go, make haste to the border—before I change my mind. God be with you, Adelstan."

  "And you." Adelstan nudged his horse and off they rode, toward the border.

  Renaud waited until Adelstan was but a spot on the horizon before wheeling his steed about and heading toward his men and Braemere.

  CHAPTER 16

  Dear God, what was taking them?

  Certainly Renaud and the others would be back by now. It had been a couple of days since Renaud had left Braemere. Had they rode straight to York after capturing Adelstan?

  Aleysia pushed the tray of cold pottage away. A guard had brought the food to her, frowning at her and cursing beneath his breath all the way. No doubt the young soldier had received a fierce tongue lashing, or more, from Renaud for not seeing through Adelstan's disguise. Let him be angry, she thought to herself, for by damned she would not apologize to him... or to Renaud.

  Aleysia heard the sound of spurs on the stone steps outside the chamber and her heart raced wildly. The lock clicked and Galeran stepped in. Disappointed, she chewed on her bottom lip and glanced past his shoulder, hoping Renaud would be on his heels, but no one followed.

  The handsome young knight's gold hair was matted to his head, evidence that he had only just returned. His ice blue eyes beheld no welcome. Rather, his lips were in a flat, firm line, his jaw set. "My lady, I am here to escort you to your chamber, where you will find a bath and clean clothing."

  "Is my brother at Braemere?" she blurted, needing desperately to know the answer.

  The young soldier gave her a black, angry glance. "I come by my lord's request. I am to tell you that your imprisonment in the tower has come to an end. I will show you to your quarters, where several guards will be stationed outside. Come, let us not dally."

  Galeran motioned for her to exit the chamber, and he followed. It was clear he was in no mood for conversation, so she refrained from speaking at all.

  She stopped outside Renaud's bedchamber but the soldier said, "Nay, my lady. Your bedchamber is elsewhere."

  She frowned, not sure why she should be surprised Renaud had removed her from his chamber. He had told her to her face that he did not trust her—that he never would again. Lord only knew what he had planned for her now.

  She heard voices coming from the room—one voice Renaud's, the other clearly female. Mixed feelings surged through her, among them jealousy and rage. To her horror, she had half a mind to throw open the door and confront him. The woman on the other side of the door laughed again, and Aleysia dug her fingernails into her palms.

  "Come, my lady," Galeran said, taking her by the arm and escorting her down the stairs. Though his hold on her was not at all tight, she felt very much like a prisoner.

  He needn't worry. She would not flee. She had nowhere else to go now that she knew the truth about Duncan.

  The chamber where she was being held
was dark save for the single light that shone in from the tall, narrow window. A bath had been poured for her before the fire, and she had lingered in it until it grew cold—as cold as her heart felt. She wanted answers. She desperately needed to know what had happened to her brother.

  And, she wondered what her own fate would be.

  An hour later, freshly bathed, wearing a clean yellow kirtle, Aleysia took Galeran's arm and he escorted her downstairs to the great hall. She did not bother initiating conversation, certain his anger had not dissipated in such a short amount of time.

  The normal joviality of the hall had diminished and silence welcomed them as they entered. Aleysia wouldn't be surprised if they stoned her to death.

  At a glance she knew a good number of men were missing, and Renaud was not on the dais as usual. Dear Lord, had they already journeyed to York? She suddenly remembered Renaud telling Galeran he was to stay behind in order to keep an eye on Braemere.

  Elena was already seated at the high table. As the two of them approached, the older woman waved them over.

  Thank God she had one friend amongst all these enemies. Tears burned the backs of her eyes and Elena must have seen her distress, for she stood and hugged Aleysia.

  "You look pale, my dear," Elena said, brushing the tears from Aleysia's cheeks. "How about some warm wine? That ought to help soothe your nerves."

  "That would be nice. Thank you."

  "Sit," Elena said, motioning for a page to come forward and pour the wine. The sound of a lute filled the high-ceilinged room, and Aleysia was reminded of the gypsy girl who had danced so provocatively. She did not see the barons who had been visiting the other night, and hoped that they had left, along with their gypsy friends. Or mayhap that's who had been in Renaud's chamber with him? The gypsy girl. The thought did not help her mood and though she tried to relax, she found she could not, and picked at the duck that had been set before her.

  Galeran and Elena flirted throughout the meal, and from time to time the beautiful woman would try to involve Aleysia in the conversation. Aleysia realized with a sinking feeling that she would probably never know what it was like to share such times with Renaud.

  Finally, when she could stand it no longer, she asked, "Elena, is your brother at Braemere?"

  Elena glanced at Aleysia, her brows drawn together. "Aye, I would have thought he had spoken to you by now."

  Aleysia's pulse skittered. "He is still here, then?"

  Which meant that Adelstan must be here, too.

  Renaud stared into the flames. A tray sat on a nearby table, untouched, the smell enticing, despite the fact that he had no appetite. He had not been able to eat since arriving back at Braemere.

  Even more, he could not make sense of his feelings where Aleysia was concerned. Nor could anyone else, his men included.

  His vassals had been silent from the moment they had left Adelstan at the border. Still, he could not forget the looks on their faces when he told them they were not bringing Adelstan back to Braemere. Galeran had even reminded him of his duty to William, and the repercussions for allowing Adelstan to escape. Finally, Renaud had told him to be quiet, and they had ridden back to Braemere in silence.

  All his life he had been loyal. A loyal son, a loyal vassal, a loyal friend. Always, his God came first, and then his king. But now he had defied his king... and he knew he would pay. At what cost remained to be seen. Perhaps everything—even his lands and titles in Sussex. Everything he had spent a lifetime attaining, gone.

  Upon entering Braemere's gates, his gaze had gone to the tower where Aleysia was imprisoned... unless she had outsmarted his men yet again. He would not put it past her.

  Why had he made the damnable bargain with her to begin with? Had he just thrown her in the prison alongside her brother, his future would not now be in jeopardy.

  But he had let his lust guide him. Rather than allow Aleysia to become a pawn of King William's, he had instead made her his leman and now he would lose everything because of it.

  Though he was angry with her, he was even angrier with himself and the desire he still felt for her. Aye, he should ship her off to Scotland, back to her betrothed. Trouble was, he had no desire to rid himself of her, despite all her lies and deceit.

  Yet he had been the one to let Adelstan go, and he and he alone would suffer for it. Not his men. Not even Aleysia, who could very well still become Williams pawn. He feared what his king had planned for her. Would he give her to another baron, for he had little doubt Braemere would be handed to another since he had let Adelstan go?

  When he should have been furious at her for having let Adelstan escape to begin with, he instead worried if she had suffered in the past two days. Had she been warm enough with just her chemise and threadbare blanket? Had she enough to eat? The guards would be angry with her for outwitting them, and though he had told them to treat her as they would any other traitor to the crown, he realized too late that the treatment might be too harsh for a woman.

  While the questions raced through his mind, the walls around him seemed to close in, and everywhere he looked he thought of Aleysia. Aleysia standing by the window in her male attire, furious and angry with him, and no doubt herself, for offering her body for her brothers safety. Then she had stripped off her clothes, and he had taken her that first time. He remembered the way she had responded to his touch, how she had fought herself and her feelings.

  Even now he could see her as she stood before the fire, her body bathed in the warm light as she nervously awaited him. The way she bit into her bottom lip, her light green eyes full of questions she was too proud to ask. If only she knew how she had gotten into his blood.

  He stood with a curse, upending the chair in his haste. It seemed no matter how hard he tried, he could not escape her. He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. Would this madness never end?

  Leaving his chamber, he headed for a place where he could clear his head. In the bailey he could hear laughter, his men in high spirits, no doubt drinking heavily of the ale that flowed so freely here at Braemere. He had never been one to abide drunkenness—for it dulled one's wits, but tonight even he was tempted to drink until he no longer felt the cold ache in his chest.

  Seeking solitude, he made his way to the ramparts, to the place he first met Aleysia.

  The wind hit him full in the face, and he welcomed the cold chill, inhaled deeply of the fresh breeze. There was not a cloud in the sky, the stars twinkling down on him, the full moon bathing the English countryside with its glow. How he had coveted this keep and the lands that went with her. So beautiful—much like her mistress. He had held both in his grasp, and let them slide through his fingers like sand. "What have I done?" he asked aloud, as though he expected his father to answer. No doubt he would be horrified at what Renaud had given up.

  And all for the sake of a woman.

  Weak, he would say, his voice heavy with disappointment. "My lord, I am sorry to disturb you."

  Shocked he had not heard Galeran's approach, Renaud turned to find his vassal and Elena, and directly behind them, Aleysia, who stepped out from behind the two.

  His heart gave a fierce tug. How fragile she looked, dressed in the pale yellow gown that emphasized her full breasts, the bodice too tight. Her hair shone brilliantly under the moon's rays, recently washed and falling in curls to her hips. Lavender with a hint of vanilla drifted to him, and he smiled. He would always associate the scent with her.

  "May I have a word with you, my lord?" Aleysia asked, taking another step toward him, looking nervous yet determined as she lifted her chin and made direct eye contact.

  Renaud glanced at his vassal, who dropped his gaze between them, then up to his sister, who watched him intently. He knew his sister well enough to know she had coerced Galeran into bringing Aleysia with him. "We will be nearby, brother, if you have need of us." Taking Galeran by the hand, the two left.

  Aleysia shifted on her feet and looked ready to bolt. "Where is my brother?"

>   How exasperating this woman was. "I do not know."

  Her brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

  "I mean just that. I know not where Adelstan is."

  "Do you jest?"

  "I never jest, Aleysia. You should know that by now."

  "You never found him?"

  "Nay, I found him."

  She crossed her arms over her chest. "I do not understand."

  "Do you not?" How beautiful she was, even with her brows drawn together, confusion written all over her face. Though his better judgment told him it would be best to walk away from her here and now, he could not help himself. He brushed his fingertips along her jaw, over her lips, his thumb caressing the fullness there. "I let him go, Aleysia."

  She gasped, and pulled away as though he'd pinched her. "Why?"

  "In truth, I do not know, especially when I had every intention of bringing him before King William. He was at the border, and he did not try to outrun us. I think he was as surprised as you are that I released him."

  She looked bewildered. "He lives?"

  He dropped his hands to his sides. "I pray it is so."

  "Aye, as do I." Tears filled her eyes, and then she shocked him when she took the step that separated them and hugged him tight, her arms encircling his neck, her cheek flush against his chest. "Thank you, Renaud. Thank you."

  He shook with the need to embrace her in return, but he didn't trust himself to. She sniffled and looked up at him, her cheeks stained by her tears.

  "Why do you cry? I thought this news would please you."

  Her lips curved into a smile that made his heart miss a beat. "Because I am happy that my brother is well and free. I will forever be indebted to you, my lord."

  She went on the tips of her toes and kissed him. 'Twas a gentle kiss, soft, swift. To his shock, her fingers wove through his hair and she deepened the kiss.