The sun was bright as it fell into her eyes. She squinted and raised her hand to her brow. Pushing the hair from her face, so that it would blow back away from her forehead, she shaded her vision from the brilliant light. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw him clearly for the first time.
She watched him push lazily away from the black stone wall. It was as if he’d been lounging there for quite some time. The bright light haloed his head, bringing orange relief to the long black strands of his hair. His hair was so dark it almost looked blue and it fell nearly to his waist in barbaric length.
The man towered well above her, just as she suspected he would. She leaned her head back to look up at him. She felt her gaze first go to and get trapped by the depth of his disquiet eyes, eyes that were much lighter than she recalled from the darkened passageway.
His skin was only slightly tanned and gave his features a pale masculine beauty. His nose was strong and straight, his lips firm and alluring. He had a strong jaw, whose perfection was only marred by the scar that lined its edge. Eden didn’t care about the scar, she couldn’t see past the swarthy perfection of his eyes.
She licked her lips. Her chest rose with each pant for air.
Vladamir’s gaze darkened intently as if to silently growl at her. A wave of longing accosted her senses. She forgot what answer he required of her. Her body trembled, growing wet and hot under his probing attention.
He took a step toward her, confident in the fear he bestowed around him. His gaze held her steadfast in its grip. His body loomed over her, its muscles clearly defined under his black clothing. A cold smile curled his lips but didn’t reach his eyes.
“You haven’t answered.” Lowering his chin, he leaned to the side to form a barrier between the sun and her face.
Eden quickly nodded her head. As his shadow fell over her, she cautiously lowered her hand to her waist and entwined her fingers together.
The sides of his hair were constrained back, so she was afforded ample view of his features. The wind blew from behind him, pushing a piece of his bound hair over his shoulder to hit him across the face. Eden glanced at the dark wave and moved to gently push it back. His presence caused her heart to beat irregularly fast, however the blood in her veins seemed to thicken and slow. His skin was warm. She let her hand languidly caress his cheek. The movement made the nerves in her finger jump alive to jolt down her arm in a pleasingly new sensation. When he looked at her, she felt as if they were the only ones in the world.
She tried to swallow to relieve the sudden dryness of her mouth. It didn’t help. His harsh eyes were watching her, studying her, judging her. He radiated a fiery heat. His eyes glittered with an untamed anger. She wanted to touch him more but stopped herself.
Confused, she was all too aware of the power the duke had over her. Not only was he her self-proclaimed master, but he also ruled her senses and caused her to speak too freely. She would have to be more careful in the future lest she draw his physical wrath down on her head.
“Well?” Vladamir demanded as he stepped closer, regretting that the action caused her to withdraw from him. She dropped her hand to her side and looked away, apologizing silently for the unwarranted boldness of touching him without permission. Her hair picked up reddish tints from the sun, an odd but beautiful contrast to her pale skin.
By all the gods!
She was beautiful, more so than he remembered. He’d thought of her often, stroking himself to the image in his head. While he was gone he’d spilled his seed on the ground so many times he couldn’t count. In the sun, there were streaks of red in the brown. He’d been stunned momentarily by her true beauty. Her skin was smooth and flawless, except for a dark shading of an almost completely faded bruise. The swelling was gone from her eyes. Her lips remained full and pleasing and a dimple hit her cheek when she smiled. But she wasn’t smiling at the moment.
“I forgot.” She shook her head as if to clear her thinking. “What did you ask of me?”
“You wondered if I’d be angered at what you had done and I asked, what you have done,” he reminded her. A lazy smile curled on his lips as he studied her, but he didn’t let the smirk reach his passionless eyes.
“Yea, naturally,” she sighed. Biting her lip, she took a deep breath, “I…”
“You?” he prompted when she hesitated. His watchful gaze darted to her lips and then back. He wondered at her puzzled expression. She didn’t appear fearful of him, yet she struggled to speak.
“I cleaned, m’lord,” she answered flatly with a shake of her head. Her tongue flicked over the corner of her lip.
“Cleaned?” he asked, confused. Her answer threw him off guard. He thought that she’d tried to escape.
“Yea.” She nodded her head in confirmation. Clearing her throat, she put forth boldly, “I cleaned. You bid me to have free run of the castle. So I directed the servants to clean.”
“I see. The Monster of Lakeshire’s lair wasn’t to your liking. ‘Twas too foul for you, m’lady?”
“Nay, you bid me to act a lady here.” She frowned. “I was following your order. Methought that since the manor was in need of a scrubbing, that you’d want me to,” she paused, gesturing helplessly, “well, you are a man and men don’t know, don’t care about—”
“Nay, I said you were to have freedom to go in the castle where you will,” the duke corrected. He was somewhat pleased that she didn’t back away from his menacing tone. The fact surprised him. He hid his pleasure under an icy mask. “And that the servants would treat you as a lady. I said naught about scrubbing.”
“I know, but methought you meant to imply…well, you said there was no duchess and methought…”
“I’ll always say what I mean. There’s no need for implications.” He narrowed his eyes and watched her pulse quicken in her throat. Her fear slowly trickled into her rounded eyes. A lock of her waist-length hair brushed across her forehead.
“I didn’t mean to offend,” she offered weakly as she let her gaze fall momentarily to his lips then back to his eyes.
“Then why do you stare?” he countered as he raised his eyebrow in censure. It was the first time in a very long time he’d called anyone on their rudeness over his scars.
Eden quickly looked away, turning piously to the ground. Nervously, she twisted her heel into the dirt. “You’re not pleased with me.”
Vladamir watched her through a veiled expression. He saw her shoulders tremble slightly under his steady gaze. Finally, she raised her head and looked past his shoulder. Her eyes were moist, though no tears fell. He felt a foreign sense of remorse deep in his gut.
“I didn’t mean aught by it. Methought I was doing as you bid me, for ‘tis how my father raised me to be a lady. He said ‘twas my duty to see to the comfort of first him and then to the comforts of my husband.” Eden’s words were said with such an earnest candor that Vladamir was hard-pressed to believe her. She glanced at him and then away again.
“But I’m not your husband,” he reminded her. Leaning in, he whispered, “And this is not your keep.”
“I know, ‘tis my prison,” Eden spat. Her shoulders shook with the effort it took not to shout at him. “I have no need of the reminder, m’lord. Methought only to make the best of the situation. ‘Twas how I was raised. And I didn’t mean to insinuate that methought of you as husband. I only meant that—”
“Quite your father’s daughter, aren’t you?” He took a menacing step forward, forcing her to step back toward the castle entrance.
Vladamir wanted to touch her. His body longed for her, though his mind protested. He was almost sorry for scolding her, for now she refused to look at him. Her lush lips haunted him while he was away and now he stared at them. They were parted with her even breathing and were moist from the nervous licks of her pink tongue.
“Nay, m’lord. I’m afraid if you were to ask him, you’d find I’m a disappointment to him.” Her jaw hardened and her eyes dried at the statement. Still, she averted her gaze
.
His eyes roamed over the length of her body only to come back to study the lightening bruises of her nose. She wore her hair long and loose, only the locks near her ear were gathered in a plait that ran over her back. The waves crashed over her shoulders to seductively outline her figure. A wayward strand curled around her succulent breast. Her chestnut eyes gleamed with a vulnerable light.
Vladamir’s grimace of displeasure deepened. The overtunic she wore belonged to one of the servants, but Eden carried herself like a lady and the gown didn’t belittle her station. The bodice was too small and pulled tightly at her breasts. He found his gaze lingering and it wasn’t revenge he thought of when he looked at her.
Vladamir had tried to purge the temptation Lady Eden presented from his body. He sought out a peasant who could easily assuage the fire in his gut for a few coins. But to his extreme disappointment he couldn’t find a woman to light his desires like this noblewoman did. He’d gone without female company and stroking his own cock no longer held any appeal. He wanted more—much more. He wanted to feel her soft, wet body gripping him, taking all of him.
“M’lord?” When he didn’t answer, she pulled further away from him.
“Yea, m’lady?” Vladamir despised the fact that he was attracted to her. His lust only darkened his mood until he mercilessly scowled at her.
“May I take my leave? I’ll stop the servants in their duties as you wish.”
“Nay.” Glancing over the line of her creamy neck to the place where her throat met her ear, he really didn’t listen to her words or the responses he gave to them. His body took over his mind, taunting him with his unsated desires and beastly lust. His tongue ached to lick the rapid beat of her pulse to see if he could make it quicken. He used to hold such power over women—well, most anyway. “Let them work. I’ll inspect that which you have done. If I’m pleased, you’ll be rewarded.”
Vladamir lifted his callused hand to touch her neck. Her eyes fluttered closed briefly and her pulse drummed against his hand. She stiffened, but to his surprise she didn’t run. He cupped her chin gently before letting his hand fall to the side. His mind once again gained its control, but at a devious cost.
What would you, m’lady, want with a monster? You, a maiden of great beauty.
“Begone from my sight,” he ordered under his breath. He watched her slender hips as she darted inside, disappointed that she obeyed. Then, sighing, he turned to the exercise yard. “Yea, what would you want indeed?”
Chapter Five
“M’lord, I trust the ride went well,” Ulric called from the side yard. His smug grin revealed the fact that he’d watched the interplay between the prisoner and her keeper with interest. He wasn’t the only one. Many of the servants and knights in the yard had stopped in their duties to watch. “Are you to train straight away?”
“The ride was as to be expected,” the duke answered tersely. He naturally slowed his steps so the older man could catch up. “And, yea.”
Vladamir had been to see King Alfred. As part of his hostage agreement, he rode to where the king or an appointed ambassador was and made known his presence. It was a way for Alfred to keep an eye on him. He’d also ridden the length of his small dukedom in hopes that he would hear something from the peasants about Lady Eden. They told him nothing. For the most part they trembled at his presence, hiding their children from view.
“Did you learn aught about m’lady?” Ulric inquired as if reading his master’s thoughts.
Vladamir grunted in response and scratched his jaw as he quickened his pace. They made their way across the bailey. The pathways looked swept and the weeds, which normally grew wild in the corners of the dirt yard, had been cut back. He also noted that the fowl were gathered and put into a pen and not running about underfoot.
“She would say naught to me about herself. I still don’t know how she came to be here,” Ulric offered.
The duke listened with curiosity, though on the outside he remained devoid of emotion. It had been his order to question her.
“You did tell King Alfred about her, did you not? Surely he would have heard if a noblewoman was missing. He would be able to locate the earl more readily than us,” Ulric persisted. The duke said nothing. “M’lord, you cannot keep her as yer prisoner. You risk much. If King Alfred found out that you held a maiden, nay a noble maiden from his land as yer prisoner, he would petition King Guthrum fer yer head. You would be banished by both countries. Yea and mayhap start a war between them.”
Vladamir stopped and turned his cold gaze to stare at Ulric. He gave him his most lethal of smiles, a look that showed no pleasure, only cruel intentions. “I told the king’s ambassador nothing and I have decided how to best extract my revenge. So fret no more old man. Soon Lady Eden of Hawks’ Nest will be of no concern.”
“Nay, m’lord. You cannot mean to kill her,” Ulric said in horror. He shook his head violently, watching his lordship’s emotionless face. Vladamir kept his expression blank, giving nothing away. “I have prayed that you have not become so heartless. Lady Lurlina, she was never worth—”
Ulric bit his tongue at the black look Vladamir shot him. Rage poured from the duke and he couldn’t help the hatred and anger that seeped out of every pore. Lady Lurlina, his late wife, was a forbidden topic. She had been since the night of her death.
“I won’t let you,” the servant said, but his words lacked conviction.
“You cannot know what I mean to do,” Vladamir answered with a malevolent snarl. “And you would do well to stay out of my way. Lady Eden is mine. If I wish for her head to roll, then roll it will. Don’t think I won’t do the same to you if you get in my way again. I granted the woman life and I can take it away just as easily.”
Ulric gasped, growing pale. Vladamir twisted his face, contorting it into a bloodthirsty sneer. Then, turning abruptly, he stalked away to the exercise yard, leaving the seneschal gawking fearfully behind him.
* * * * *
The hall smelled fresh and the black stones shone with inky perfection. Even the tapestries that hung on the walls had been mended and cleaned. Though they were still old, they looked a lot better now that the dust had been beaten from them. The portable dining tables and benches had all been carted to the bailey and cleansed before being set up in the hall. Eden heard several of the knights murmur in pleasure at the change. Some even smiled in newfound pride.
She sat alone at the high table, overlooking the gathering soldiers of the main hall. A cheerful playfulness had alighted over the keep. One that even Vladamir’s dark presence couldn’t completely thwart. The air crackled with life like the anticipated day of a great banquet celebration. Near the head table a man-at-arms told a ribald joke about a serving wench and her flying skirts. She blushed as the knight announced the shameless outcome of his tale and tried to look away. Too late, the soldier saw her eavesdropping and snapped his mouth shut. Looking apologetically at his fellow companions, who roared unashamedly with laughter, he helped himself to some mead that had been set on the tables.
Eden felt isolated by herself at the head table. Being the only one who was set high on display, she grew nervous. It was the first time some of the men had leave to study her and they did so with open curiosity. A few of their faces even showed her pity. She’d been directed to sit in the seat of honor by Haldana, whom Eden came to discover only carried out the order of Vladamir. Eden wondered momentarily if this was the “reward” the duke promised. Did it mean he was pleased with her work? Did he really think putting her on display was a reward?
Eden knew that she was very fortunate, for in ways of a prison it could’ve been much worse. Her captor stayed away from her all day, and it would appear Vladamir was to keep to his word to treat her as a lady. It was really more than she’d dared hope for.
Eden shivered. There was something odd with the way the servants kept eyeing her. None dared to come near her. It was as if they all tried to communicate something dire with their eyes, but their message
was lost. She saw Lizbeth and smiled at the woman, hoping she would come forward. The servant shook her head and backed through the door to the kitchen. Maybe the mood was because of Vladamir’s arrival. No doubt the servants waited anxiously for his approval of their work.
She took a nervous breath and looked to her right. The seat was empty. Vladamir had yet to show. Spying Ulric across the hall, she hesitantly smiled at him. The old man appeared shaken, as he wrung his hands. A look of foreboding crossed his features. Eden stood up in alarm, intent on finding what was wrong with the man and for that matter the rest of the keep.
“Where do you think you’re going, m’lady? Didn’t I order you to remain here?” Vladamir’s tone was sharp as he stepped up to the dining platform. His body moved with lethal purpose as he neared and he narrowed his dark eyes to study her.
A wave of pleasure came over her at the familiar sound of his voice, even though his tone was harsh. She turned deliberately to him, allowing herself only a moment to indulge in the depths of his eyes before looking away. She forced her gaze downward in a demure pose.
“Something ails Ulric. Methought to attend him to make sure all was well,” she answered meekly, although on the inside she trembled. “Methinks I may have requested that he work too hard for an older man.”
“Hmm,” Vladamir acknowledged as he seated himself beside her. When she didn’t move, he ordered, “Sit.”
Eden immediately obeyed his command, instantly feeling the warmth of his body next to her. It was as if he purposefully leaned too close. She was all too aware of the watchful eyes of the servants as they studied the high table. A chill shot through her and she was glad that she had her own chair, instead of the benches that graced many manors. If the duke’s body was to touch hers she might scream. Whether that scream would be of fright or something else entirely remained to be seen.
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