He wouldn't see her again for six years.
1335
"Give it to me. It's mine."
"Careful my lord! It's hot!"
He cursed and dropped the ring on the floor. Madga was giving him an odd look.
"You're the one? The one she waited for all those years to come and save her?"
He said nothing, just held his hand where he'd singed his palm. She'd kept his ring. She'd worn his ring. She'd waited for him after all. He glanced at the bed. Emeline had grown still again. He rushed to her side. She was still hot but her breathing was steady.
"Go and get the water. And get that goat out of here. It's starting to stink."
"Aye, my lord."
He sat on the edge of the bed and picked up Emeline's hand. The old woman was angry with him. Not that he blamed her. He was a ten times a fool for not knowing that she'd been true to him, at least partially. He'd known she loved him true all those years ago. She may not have kept her word, but she had kept him in her heart.
And he'd hated her for it.
So much time wasted on blaming her for something that she too had regretted. So many years spent throwing himself into danger, trying to prove something to himself.
To prove himself worth of her.
He stroked her damp hair off her forehead. Her face was flushed. And yet she looked lovely still. Too lovely to be real. Certainly too lovely for a poor boy such as him.
But he was not a poor boy any longer. He could take care of her now. He would protect her, no matter if she wanted him to or not. He feared her reaction when she woke. If she truly believed he would have passed her off to his soldiers like a sack of grain then there's no telling how she would feel about him.
There was a chance she might not love him anymore.
He wouldn't blame her if that was true.
But even still, he would not let her leave him.
She was his now. That was all that mattered.
**********
Thirsty.
Emeline tossed on the bed, unable to get comfortable. She was soaking wet but her mouth was dry. Why could she not slake her terrible thirst?
It was too hot a day to be lying in the sun. She lifted her hand to shield her eyes from the bright light.
"Be still."
It was him.
Rowan was there, commanding her in a harsh voice. Would he be cruel to her? Or tender? She never knew when it came to him. She still wasn't sure which she feared the most… his cruelty, which left her feeling as if a boot had been applied to her stomach, or his kindness, which made her care for him.
Too much.
"Please…"
"What Emeline? Do you want water? I'm here love…"
So he was being kind today. She tried to lift her head but found it was too heavy. He helped her and held water to her lips. The cool water tasted heavenly as it soothed her lips and throat.
Too soon it was gone and the heat and thirst remained.
"More…"
"I'm sorry sweeting. Magda says we must only give you a bit at a time or you will be sick. Lay back now… that's it."
She moaned and tore at her clothes. He cursed above her and she felt her hands and ankles being tied, spread flat on the bed. She tried to protest but no words came out.
His hand was back on her hair, with a cool cloth applied to her forehead. Methodically he rubbed the cloth over her body, soothing and cooling her.
She tried to look at him, to thank him for shielding her from the sun but her eyelids would not stay open. She felt herself drifting away from him. Away from the light…
Darkness.
**********
Rowan's head lifted from his knee in confusion. His eyes took in his surroundings; a round room with a fire crackling in the hearth. A bed with a slender form upon it.
Where was he?
The shape on the bed moved and he saw her at last.
Huge green eyes stared at him from underneath a mop of tousled dark hair.
Emeline.
He sat up abruptly. He must have been dreaming… or in a delirium from lack of sleep. But no. She was awake.
She had lived.
He nearly leapt up with the shout of joy that was welling in his chest. Until he stepped closer and saw the fear and distrust in her eyes. He stopped where he stood.
"You are well?"
She stared at him for a moment longer, as if unsure about what to expect. Finally she nodded. He felt his insides loosen up, as if his whole body had been waiting to know she was going to heal.
"You must be thirsty. Let me get you something to drink."
"I will do it."
Magda brushed past him with a goblet of water. He hadn't even heard the old woman approach. She still wasn't talking to him, days after he'd revealed that the ring had been his.
He couldn't say that he faulted her either.
His stubborn refusal to believe what was right in front of him had cost him the servant's trust.
But it would not cost him his prize.
He still had the right to have her in his bed and by his side. She could not gainsay him, much as she might like to. Only that thought kept his emotions at bay.
"Go. Rest. We do not need you here."
He stood and watched as Magda tended to her lady. It had been four days since he left her side for more than a few minutes. He could go now and she would be fine.
"Very well. We will speak on the morrow."
He strode to the bedside and pressed a kiss onto Emeline's forehead. She did not acknowledge him other than flinching away from his touch. He stared down at her, his face hard. She would learn not to do that. It didn't matter if she did not want him anymore.
She belonged to him.
Forever.
Eight
Emeline stoically sipped the broth that Magda held to her lips. It had been almost a full day since she woke up but the old woman would not let her do anything for herself.
"I can do that myself Magda."
"Nonsense, let an old woman feel useful."
She winked at her charge.
"Besides, he wouldn't like it."
Emeline felt her cheeks growing warm. He had been at her side for four days according to Magda. He hadn't slept and barely ate in that whole time. It was not the actions of a man who intended to throw her to the wolves.
That didn't change the fact that that was exactly what he meant to do. She turned her head away and rolled over. She was grateful to be alive but she wished she was far from here.
Damn the snow.
The blizzard had raged for almost the entire time she was unconscious. Travel was impossible, particularly for a run away woman and her pet goat. She's been incredibly foolish to attempt it, but she couldn't help wishing she had succeeded.
Still, if he hadn't found her…
"Emeline."
She didn't move from her curled up position on the bed. She wasn't going to be at his beck and call anymore. She wasn't going to let herself care what he did.
She heard his heavy boots cross the room to stand beside her bed.
"How is she?"
"She claims to be well enough to feed herself."
"Emeline."
She continued to ignore him. She heard him sigh heavily.
"You may go Magda. Have a bath sent up."
The chair scratched against the stone floor as her nursemaid stood. He waited until the woman was gone and then closed the door behind her. Then he walked slowly back to her bedside and sat down in the chair.
"Emeline. You cannot continue to willfully disobey me this way."
She could. And she would.
"At least look at me so I can explain to you what I have decided."
She sighed and kept her face turned toward the wall. He reached out and laid his hand gently on her head. She flinched and curled more tightly into herself.
Minutes ticked by and she heard him breathing heavily as he fought his anger. She was sure she had enraged him.
The high and mighty Lord of Fairhaven. He who ruled all, who decided her fate. Well, he no longer held sway over her heart. He could do to her whatever he wanted to her but she would not bend.
Finally he stood and paced back and forth across her room.
"Dammit Emeline! You will obey me. You are still my charge. I decide!"
She closed her eyes, and prayed that he would leave before the tears came. He had intended to pass her along to his men as a plaything.
As their whore.
"Fine. If you are going to continue to be difficult I will have to bend you to my will. Don't think I won't do it Emeline!"
His pacing continued, his feet hitting the ground with greater force with every step.
"You will join me for dinner in the hall tonight. And in my bed after."
Her eyes snapped open.
"No."
"Yes Emeline. You are mine to do with as I wish. And I wish you in my bed."
She sat up at stared at him with all the hatred in her heart.
"Never."
He stared at her for a moment before a twisted smile crept onto his face.
"Oh yes my sweet. You will. Unless you want your beloved people to go hungry. Even little Bessie won't get a single stick of hay until I have what I want of you. And then some."
She closed her eyes and swallowed. Surely he wouldn't… she opened her eyes again. He was staring at her with a hard look on his face. The look sent a tremor straight through her. He stared at her with a look of sheer determination commingled with hot lust.
He would.
"So do we have a bargain my pet? You will continue on as we did before, without protest, or your people starve."
She felt tears welling up in her eyes. Damn him. He would have his way after all. Finally she nodded.
"What's that sweeting? Will you come willingly to my bed tonight? I expect the full benefits of your participation."
He wasn't going to leave until she said it aloud she realized. Her voice was shaky as she answered. She forced herself to look him in the eyes so he could see all of the hatred she bore him.
"Yes."
**********
Rowan watched as Emeline entered the dining room. Her figure was thinner from her ordeal but it only served to make her look more ethereal and delicate. The dark blue dress and brocade overskirt she wore flattered her skin and hair color to perfection. She avoided his eyes as she took her seat beside him.
Sweet Jesu but she looked like an angel!
He pulled her chair towards his noisily, causing every eye in the room to turn to them. He almost laughed at the look of outrage on her face. She might look like an angel but she was an angry one. His very own avenging angel. He wondered idly what form her revenge would take.
Perhaps she drain him of all sense along with his seed. Or conk him over the head in the throws of passion. He smiled grimly. He hadn't had her in nearly a week. It would be a long night, that much was certain. His loins tightened at the thought of all the ways he would take his pleasure of her.
And she could not do a thing to gainsay him.
He poured her a goblet of wine and refreshed his own. When the servants came bearing trenchers, he waved them away with hers and slid his sideways.
"My love and I will share."
She gritted her teeth and hissed at him.
"I'm not your love."
"So say you."
"I'm not hungry."
"Ah, but you will eat. Would you break our bargain so soon?"
He cut a piece of venison and dipped it lightly into the gravy. Then he smiled brightly and held the bite to her lips.
"Let me feed you sweeting. You must keep up your strength."
She looked at him at last. Anger battled with unshed tears were in her glorious green eyes. She opened her mouth willfully, like a recalcitrant child. He smiled tenderly at her and fed her the bite before cutting her another.
"That's it. You'll become used to doing as I say Emeline. I won't harm you. Surely you know that by now."
A strangled sound came from her throat as stared at him with a cold look on her face. Cold and haughty. Like the brat he'd always imagined her to be.
But he'd been wrong. She wasn't a brat. She never had been. But she was behaving badly. It was time to put her in her place. He held another bite to her lips.
"Open up. After all, you have a long night ahead of you. I have great need of you after so long."
Her mouth gaped open in surprise. He wasn't whispering. He knew everyone could hear him. Good. He slipped the bite into her mouth and she chewed it slowly.
He leaned forward to wipe her mouth and whisper in her ear.
"A long night fulfilling your duties to me…"
**********
Emeline stood in his chamber with her arms wrapped tightly around her midriff. He hadn't even waited for the meal to end, dragging her out of the hall in front of everyone. But he hadn't pounced on her as she had feared.
As she had wanted him to do.
She frowned. She could not deny that she had missed his touch. He made her feel so many things… that's what she feared the most. Perhaps if she could keep her body from responding to him he would lose interest in this twisted game of his.
He stood by the fireplace. He appeared to be searching for words. That was unlike the oaf! Normally he was self assured to a fault.
"Emeline. I have written to the King."
She shrugged rudely.
"I care not."
He looked like he wanted to throttle her. Good. She didn't want him to enjoy himself any more than he already was.
"I have asked him to postpone my wedding."
She looked out the window. She could see far from this height. Even in darkness, the world was covered in white. No hope for escape then. Not yet.
He was behind her suddenly, his hands sliding up and down her arms. He turned her to face him.
"Indefinitely."
She felt a crack in her resolve to ignore him. He had asked the King that- because of her?
Of course it's because of you. He loves you, you dolt.
She squashed the little voice inside her and the glimmer of hope that sprang up deep inside her. From the ashes of the love he had killed. She frowned at him and turned away again.
"What is that to me? I'm merely your whore, remember?"
He turned her sharply to face him again. His face was a mask of incredulity. And rage.
"Is that what you think?"
She lifted her chin and stared him down. His eyes widened and he grabbed her arm, dragging her across the room to the bed and thrusting her onto it.
"I will be happy to instruct you in the ways a man makes use of a lowly strumpet, my pet. Let's start by getting you out of these cumbersome clothes."
He reached for her bindings but she yanked away from him. He glared at her, incensed by her defiance. His anger increased exponentially each time she spurned him, she knew. She was breathing heavily as she waited to see what he would do next. To her surprise he merely laughed and poured himself a goblet of wine. Then he sat in the chair by the fireplace.
"Excellent idea. You will stand up and disrobe for me. I always enjoy a good performance."
She stared at him in horror. He was going to just- sit there? And watch her… her cheeks grew warm at the thought of his eyes inspecting her body at his leisure. She shook her head wildly.
"No- no I will not!"
He sipped his wine.
"Then your people will go without food until you learn your place. Perhaps the stronger ones will survive, but the elderly and infirm will suffer. And think of the children."
He shook his head sadly.
"You are a cold woman Emeline. I did not think that true until now."
Her mouth gaped open as he leaned back in the chair and waited expectantly. She swallowed convulsively, hoping he would relent. It was one thing to lay with him in his bed. But forcing her to participate- to deliberately offer herself- it was humiliati
ng in the extreme. She glanced at him from the bed. He looked bored, and was now inspecting his fingernails.
Her breath was coming in tiny gasps now. She felt a deep panic rising in her. Surely he wouldn't actually starve her people because she wouldn't-
Abruptly he sighed and started to stand up.
"Have it your way Emeline. I assure you this night will end the same way regardless of your disobedience."
"Wait- I- I'll do it."
He sat back down again, slowly. His eyes were cold as he watched her climb off the bed and stand before him. She reached for the laces that held her dress shut behind her and tugged them loose. She caught his eyes traveling over her body with cool interest.
She turned away slightly and tried to tug her dress over her shoulders but she only succeeded in revealing her shoulders. The laces were still too tight. She reached back behind her and tugged at them in frustration. She could not even do this correctly! Hot tears were in her eyes as she worked the laces free. It seemed to take forever. Finally she was able to pull the dress open enough to slide it down over her body.
She stood there in her thin white shift with her dress pooled at her feet. She held her arms in front of her, doing her best to hide herself from his gaze. She risked a glance at him and was startled by the look in his eyes as he stared at her. He'd been cold before but now his eyes were blazing.
He looked like he was ready to devour her.
"The rest Emeline."
She closed her eyes. She'd been afraid of this. Of course he wanted to make her humiliation complete.
"I'm waiting."
She cursed and lifted her arms to the ties the held her chemise in place at her shoulders. She unlaced them and the fabric dropped to the floor, making a whispering sound as it fell. She stood in only her stockings and the scraps of silk underthings that covered her hips and sex now.
Her hands closed over her breasts as she stood there, wanting to disappear into the floor. Even being covered by his body would be preferable. She felt like an animal, being inspected before sale in the market place. She felt her spine straighten at the injustice of it. She stood up tall and proud. She was not an animal! She was a woman of noble birth!
Joanna Davis - Knights In Shining Armor Page 7
