by Amy Mullen
"Leda cared for your wounds. Isabel and Hesse have been sitting with you. They are out so I may have some time with you, but your sister is eager to return. I told her she must sleep, but she refused. She finally relented when I told her she and Hesse could occupy your brother's old quarters next to us for just one night so she may be near you."
After an uncomfortable silence, Nicholas asked her what he knew she did not want to discuss, "Did he harm you, Gemma? Did he succeed in his quest?"
She shook her head. "Nay. I cannot seem to remember it all now, but I remember him falling from me after I hit him. Then I remember you coming and then nothing."
"You fainted. I suspect from the terror of that brute trying to have his way with you," Nicholas said. "You stopped him. I may have never found you. There was a scream, remember? I ran up to see. It turned out Isabel had sneaked away, and Hesse could not find her. She screamed to get help. We found her, down at the stables viewing the foal born just yesterday. When I came back to find you, both you and Oliver were missing. I feared the worst. Then I heard you scream."
Gemma studied her hands for a moment. "I picked up a rock. I hit him with it. I think it was from one of Isabel's rock collections. She leaves them all over the keep. It used to be annoying to trip over them. Now I am most grateful to her."
"Well then," Nicholas said as he sat back, "with the aid of your sister, you saved yourself from ravishment."
"I did," she whispered. "I should not have been there though. I was confused when I could not see Oliver, and I panicked and ran the wrong way. 'Twill not happen again."
"I know it will not," he said to her. "I have Bigod, and he is to go face King Henry, leaving at first light on the morrow. I assure you we will never see his face again near Blackstone."
She visibly shuddered at the mention of Phillip's name. She took a few gulps of air, trying to stay calm. "He is a hideous man, and I hope Henry lets him rot!"
Nicholas let out a chuckle and took her hand. "That is not all. There is more."
She closed her eyes for a moment as he continued. "It seems all those years ago when we would meet, he followed us at least once. He knew of your tunnel. He told me he gave that information to someone who promised him both you and the lands around us in return. I do not know who yet, but this may be the clue we need. He claims no hand in the deaths here, but what he said has me thinking about something else."
"Tell me," Gemma said as she touched her swollen and purple cheek with her fingertips.
"I cannot be sure, but the important part to us at this moment is we know how someone is coming in and out. And Gemma," he said as he laced his fingers through hers and rubbed her hand with his thumb. "We may have an answer to the dilemma between us."
"I do not understand," she said, creasing her brow.
"This means Phillip, in his admitted jealousy, may have told his father about us. They could have gone to King Stephen. You want me to believe your father and your family had no part in it. This seems to be a reasonable explanation."
For a moment, Gemma felt hope for their situation, but she dared not trust the feeling. "It does make sense. Phillip has always made it clear he wished to wed me. His father is not a nice man, so I would think it quite natural for him to make up such a devious story to keep me from choosing another. It was well known that while my father could have made me marry, he did not want to force my hand. He had Gavin to take over the lands, so Isabel and I were free to do as we chose."
They sat in silence for a moment. Nicholas rose and started to walk the room slowly. She watched him with her eyes, not quite sure what to think about the events which led to where they now found themselves.
"Nicholas, may I ask you a question?" she said tentatively.
"Aye, anything."
"Something Phillip said to me has me concerned. For some reason, he felt if he uh," she paused, unsure how to proceed.
"If he what?" he said.
"He said if he were to plant his seed within me our marriage would not be official. He said he could claim me if he got me with child."
Nicholas sat next to her again. "I highly doubt Henry would go back on what he ordered no matter what Bigod does, and the marriage contract has been signed. The firstborn used to have a huge hold on land, but that has changed in some circumstances under Henry. I do not know what Henry would do. However, it could be a problem if Gavin is found dead."
"So we must consummate our marriage. Tonight."
She expected him to be shocked, but she did not expect what he said next. With a shake of the head he said, "Nay, we are not doing that tonight."
"You no longer wish me to be your wife," she said, trying to rise from the bed.
"That is not it," he said as he sat beside her again and tried to coax her into lying down. "You are in no shape for that, and I fear what he did may turn you off from the marriage bed forever."
"Leda said in some cases it can be over with quickly."
"There is no way bedding you will be quick, Gemma, though you are right, it could be. I want our first night together to inspire you to be a willing partner. No quick session of lovemaking can do that."
She blushed. "I have a confession to make." Lowering her eyes, her lashes rested on her cheek for a moment before she continued. "As horrid as Phillip may be, he may have done a good thing for us. In my revulsion as he touched me, I realized I had greatly enjoyed my moments with you. I know making love must be far more enjoyable and nothing like what he meant to do."
"That is good to know," Nicholas said, running his fingers through his hair.
"I hope I am not too bold, milord," she said, "but I wish you to make love to me tonight. We must secure our union."
After a pause, he said, "You must rest, Gemma; you must heal."
"My mother once told me about when she first learned to swim. She jumped into the river, not knowing how strong the current was below the surface. She almost drowned that day. She said if she had stayed away, she never would have learned how to swim because the fear would have eaten away at her each day. Instead, she went back in the next day, despite her fear, and she was a good swimmer from that day forward."
He remained still as he listened to her soft, lilting voice. "She was a wise woman."
"She says had she stayed away, she never would have learned to swim," she said, "and I fear the ugliness of Phillip will stop me from ever enjoying love with you. We must replace it right away with the right feeling. I just need to know…"
He gazed down and then back at her.
"Do you hate me?" She tore her eyes away, afraid to see the wrong answer in his eyes.
"Because of Bigod? 'Twas not your fault. I cannot hate you for what he did."
"No, I mean do you hate me as you did all these years? I know we agreed we can come to some type of friendship, but I feel much more prepared to share your bed if at the least I know you do not dwell on hatred for me."
"Nay, milady, I do not hate you," he said.
"'Twould not be the confession of deep love most brides long to hear, but it makes my heart feel lighter. We are in agreement then? We no longer hate each other?" she said, meeting his gaze once again.
Nicholas chuckled, "Aye, we are in agreement. However, you must rest. We will not do anything other than sleep this night. I will share the bed but not your body until you are better. I shall lie with you, but if I disturb you, you must speak up and I will have a cot brought in."
She nodded, her head still firmly on her pillow. He sent for food and settled in for the night. The day had held some horrors, but just shortly after being reunited, she felt the world turn upside down once more. There might be something to look forward to after all.
****
Gemma woke after only a few hours of sleep. She did not want to admit it to anyone, especially Nicholas, but what Phillip Bigod had done scared her deeply. Still reeling from the sheer violence of it all, she realized how easily things could change. When Nicholas first arrived, she feared what he
would do and did not know how to trust someone who so obviously hated her. Now, she realized no matter what feelings would or would not develop between them, she could trust him with her family and her life.
Not another minute could go by without the consummation of their union. Her entire body hurt when she fell asleep. The pain in her jaw was the worst. She could still move though, and certainly she could get through this without fear and without too much physical pain.
Phillip was locked up and would be gone in the morning, but he was still too close. If some strange occurrence led to his freedom, he could easily try again before he was caught. Oliver had been assaulted, and that person could be freeing Phillip right now.
Tentatively, she rolled onto her side so she was facing her new husband. He was lying with his bare back to her, deep in sleep. She knew his squire was out in the passageway to guard them, along with a few other men who were patrolling the great hall, the steps, and watching all of the solar, but she could not let that bother her. Surely newlyweds would be afforded some privacy, even after what had happened.
She stared at his back for a long moment, marveling at the strength of him. He was not as weak as a boy, and he was now a visibly powerful man. His scent reached inside her and stirred her in a way she could not explain. With a light touch, she moved her fingers over his skin, feeling along his spine as she went. His skin was so warm and much softer than she had imagined.
It was late, but he must not have been sleeping as deeply as she thought, because he rolled toward her quickly. "Are you doing well? Do you need assistance?" he said. He blinked his eyes a few times.
"Nay," she whispered, "I am not in much pain. The drink Father Darius brought me after I ate is working well."
He settled back down under the fur coverlet, this time lying on his back. "Go back to sleep then. You need rest."
Instead of obeying him, she put her small hand on his massive chest. He was a man in every way she had imaged. His skin was firm yet soft to the touch, with a thick mat of dark hair covering his chest. Nicholas did not move for a moment, but then moved his hand up to grasp hers. "'Tis not wise," he said in a husky whisper.
Ignoring him, she moved her hand downward to where the hair gave way to a smooth stomach. She hesitated and then began to move her fingers even lower. This time he snatched her hand away. "Woman, you have no idea what you are doing to me. This is not the time!"
"It is the time, Nicholas. We must not wait. I feel good right now. Please make me your bride in the most important way," she whispered, just loud enough for him to hear. "We must secure this union. 'Twill ease my fears. Love me now, please."
Nicholas groaned so loudly she was sure someone must have heard him. She reached out, this time to feel the side of his face. Her fingers ran lightly over his jaw bone and then down the side of his neck. She wanted to know more about him, and this was how she wanted to learn. Putting a slender leg near his, she felt along his calf with her toe.
Before she knew it, Nicholas was leaning over her. His eyes were bright and wide, and he was breathing unevenly.
"By Saints, Gemma. You do not realize the power you have. Do not touch me unless you want me to finish this. There is only so much a man can take before he must have a woman. I do not wish to hurt you, and with what you have been through, I think it would be cruel to do this right now. You have to stop touching me, or I may come to the point of not being able to stop."
She bit her lower lip as he gazed at her. Why was he being so stubborn? Blindly, she put a hand out. It landed on his hip. She slowly moved her hand over that hip and down his leg.
"I am yours," he said breathlessly as he put his lips to hers.
Instead of the demanding kisses she expected from him, he was gentle. Her jaw ached still, but he caused her no pain. He moved slowly. His warm tongue darted into her mouth just a few times. She parted her lips, and he tasted the sweetness of her only momentarily. He moved his lips slowly down her neck, his tongue flicking in and out of his mouth, touching her hot skin.
This was as she remembered the other night, but so much more intense. The pleasure was shooting through her as if all of her was connected in one spot, and that spot was wherever his lips might be. She reached up and put her hands on his back, urging him closer to her. It was as if she was expecting something, wanting something, needing something — something she could not explain.
With the dim light of the moon flooding over them, Nicholas made love to his new wife. The promise of seven years ago was finally fulfilled.
Chapter Fourteen
Nicholas was gone when Gemma awoke the next morning. Isabel was waiting rather impatiently outside her quarters for her to arise. She remembered he had to get up before the sun to deal with Phillip. He was seeing him off to London to face Henry and would return as quickly as he could.
The youngest de Vere bounced into the room, and Gemma blushed, remembering what she had done the night before with her husband. Husband. She had once pledged never to marry, but he was indeed her husband. Now, she was a wife in every way. What made her smile, despite the pain in her jaw and the sore feeling that encompassed the rest of her body, was he had softened the night before, and she held hope now the past could be put behind them.
Isabel stopped beside the bed, looking at her sister with questions in her eyes. "Gemma? Are you well? You look funny."
"Please do not fret." She took her sister's hand and held it tightly. "My face hurts a bit, but 'twill get better within a few days and I shall look like my old self again."
"Nay, not that," Isabel said with an exaggerated smile, "you have a silly look on your face. You look like Leda does when her husband comes to the kitchen and pinches her on the rear. They think no one sees them, but I do."
Gemma laughed. The love between Leda and her husband was truly an inspiration. She thought to warn the cook that Isabel was seeing more than she might realize while in the kitchen but then decided against it. It certainly could not hurt Isabel to learn affection between husband and wife was precious.
"I do not know what you mean," Gemma said, patting a spot next to her on the bed. "Mayhap I look like what a bride should look like on the second day of her marriage?"
"Hmm…" Isabel climbed carefully up onto the bed and snuggled down next to her sister. "Mayhap," she finally agreed.
"Where is Hesse?" Gemma asked, looking toward the doorway.
"She is out in the passageway talking with Willis. Nicholas had to go on a long ride today, so Willis is here to play with me and make sure we are all safe."
Gemma laughed again even though it hurt her cheek. The image of the stoic Willis playing with Isabel produced an amusing image in her mind. "Have you seen Oliver? Is he about?"
"He is in with Father. I visited Father this morning, and he told me a story. He talks slow and wasn't smiling much, but he is so much better."
"'Tis great!" Gemma said, her spirits lifting. She wanted to see her father. It was important he not know what had happened to her though, so she would have to figure out how cover her bruise. Though she could not see her face, Isabel's initial reaction told her it was an ugly bruise.
"What can we do today? I do not wish to sit with Father Darius. 'Tis such a nice day, and he is so boring." Isabel wiggled on the bed, unable to sit still. She drew out the last word and sighed.
"First, you will go break your fast with Hesse. You can also let Leda know I am feeling a bit sore and wish to eat up here, if she would bring me something up after everyone else has eaten. You can go with Hesse to the pond this morning if you wish, but you are to stay near Willis. In the afternoon, you can come up and see me again. If I am feeling better, we shall visit Father, and then mayhap we can find something fun to do together."
Much to Gemma's surprise, Isabel simply nodded as she jumped off the bed. She scampered out of the room without another word. Hesse was pleading with her to slow down or surely she might break her neck on the steps.
Once it was quiet, Gemma closed her
eyes and leaned back to her pillow. It was going to be a good day. Leda brought her food, but she ate little. She then asked Leda to find someone to bring up a bath and to summon her chambermaid to help her.
She sat in her bath as long as she could before the water cooled, thinking about her life and the recent changes that had come about so fast. The tapestry hanging behind the head of her bed depicted a brave knight saving a princess. She was not a princess by any means, but she almost believed Nicholas had truly come to save them. The castle was quiet, and she felt peaceful for the first time in a long time.
Feeling better, she gingerly stepped out of the tub, and her chambermaid wrapped her in a linen cloth. The skies were darkening outside, dimming the available light in her chamber. They had endured a long spell without rain. It appeared as if the coming storm would be a powerful one, and she hoped Hesse would bring Isabel in soon. The rest of the day was dark after the rains came. She sneaked in to see her father, taking advantage of the low light, hoping he would not notice the bruising on her face. They ate and turned in with no sign of Nicholas.
When he did arrive, it was long after the sun had set. Gemma guessed it was after midnight. She slept fitfully, and the moment he set foot into their chamber she knew he was there. He appeared tired and drawn in the candlelight and did not say much to her as he readied for bed.
"Everything was taken care of?" she asked as he fell onto the bed, not bothering to remove his clothes or get under the covers. "Phillip is gone?"
"Aye," he said, "he is out of our hands now. Go to sleep. We can speak of it on the morrow."
She was a bit confused. He seemed irritated, much like the Nicholas she knew before their wedding day. "Are you well?"
"Go to sleep," he repeated in a flat tone. "I am tired and have had no rest."
Ice water seeped through her veins. Something had happened, and he was not telling her. "Please, Nicholas, if something is amiss, I must know."
He made an unidentifiable noise and said nothing.
