A Year & a Day (38 page)

"If by word or deed ye have any involvement in this, get it off yer chests now. His lordship has two dead knights in the bailey and I know he will get to the bottom of this, no matter what it costs him or Dumfries."

Lynx de Warenne paced the chamber. Occasionally he stopped before one of the brothers and pierced him with an icy green stare, then moved to the next. He stopped abruptly before David Leslie, who was in charge of the stores. Lynx reasoned that David had the most to lose if aught happened to food supplies, since suspicion would fall on him immediately. "Do you have any coffins in your stores?"

David Leslie swallowed hard, wondering if he would soon be occupying one. "I do, my lord."

Lynx turned to Jock. "Would you and David see that my knights are prepared for decent burial?"

"Aye, my lord," Jock replied, heaving a great sigh of relief that at least one of his sons had been exonerated in de Warenne's eyes.

After another hour of questioning, Lynx dismissed Andrew Leslie, the steward-in-training. Jock had brought him up in his own image and Lynx doubted Andrew would bring shame upon his father or Dumfries.

The hour of noon came and passed with no sign of food or drink being provided for the occupants inside the small chamber. After another round of questions and denials, Lord de Warenne addressed himself to the redheaded Keith. "I know you are not involved in this, but you have knowledge of it." He turned to the other four. "I could have him tortured, but the young fool would likely die before he would inform on any of you." Lynx jerked his head toward the door. "Go!" he bade Keith Leslie.

The four who remained exchanged quick glances. James and Alex, the two blacksmiths, wondered if de Warenne would punish the innocent with the guilty. Ben and Sim, the shepherds, hardened their resolve. They were Celts; there was no way they were 290

going to knuckle under and confess their involvement with the rebels to this conquering Norman.

A knock on the chamber door interrupted the interrogation. When Lynx opened the door, he found Thomas, accompanied by a messenger from John de Warenne. Lynx stepped outside the room and closed the door, then he took the dispatch from the courier and broke the seal. The message was short; terse almost.

Return to Edinburgh immediately with full mesne.

Lynx frowned and swallowed a curse. John's timing was damned inconvenient. Besides this matter with the Leslie brothers that required his attention, there was Jane and his son. Lynx wanted to be at Dumfries to enjoy his child, aye and to enjoy Jane too, now that they had become lovers. The last thing in the world he wanted was to run off to Edinburgh.

Frustrated, Lynx raked a hand through his hair. Trouble, it was rumored, came in threes or was it multitudes? He glanced down at the dispatch again and by its very tone he knew that he could not ignore it. He handed the paper to his squire and said with resignation, "Inform our knights that we are needed in Edinburgh and get the word to the Welsh lieutenants immediately so they can be ready to leave tomorrow. See that the messenger gets food and drink."

"Youhaven't eaten today, my lord," Thomas reminded him.

Lynx waved a dismissive hand. "My instincts are keener on an empty stomach. I should be finished in here shortly. Prepare one of the castle dungeons, I am about to place some of the Leslies under arrest."

Lynx returned to the chamber, paced its length once and began to think aloud. "The tension in this room is so thick I could cut it with my knife. That tells me only one pair is guilty or you would not be glowering at each other. The obvious pair is the blacksmiths, since weapons are missing, but I've taught myself to look beyond the obvious. So I ask myself, who had the opportunity to ally themselves with rebels? Only the shepherds, I'm afraid. Only the shepherds leave Dumfries every day to traverse

the dales. The very same shepherds who were a month late returning from the Uplands."

Lynx's shrewd glance fell on James and Alex, and when he jerked his head toward the door, they bolted through it. Lynx gave Sim and Ben his undivided attention. He scrutinized them for a full minute before he spoke. "I once told you I would hang any man who lifted Dumfries' sheep. Did you not believe me?" Lynx demanded."Did you not understand that lifting weapons and supplies was also a hanging offense?" When their faces remained stony, Lynx threw open the door and shouted, "Guard!"

Montgomery was there in less than a minute. "Arrest these men."

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a state of euphoria. After she fed and bathed the baby, she carried him down to her chamber below and rocked him to sleep in the lovely carved cradle that Lynx had brought from Edinburgh.

As she looked at the presents her son had been given by almost everyone at Dumfries she was filled with joy. Jane handed Grace a silver rattle and told her she would be upstairs in Lynx's chambers if she was needed.

Jane leaned back against the heavy oak door as she surveyed Lynx's private lair. Last night she had climbed the stairs as a young girl filled with hopes and dreams, and he had fulfilled them beyond her wildest desires. Tonight she would climb those same stairs as a woman.

Jane put fresh sheets on the curtained bed in anticipation of the night to come. She lifted Lynx's pillow and hugged it to her tightly. Last night all the barriers between them had come tumbling down and she offered up a quick prayer of thanks to the Celtic goddess Brigantia.

As Jane began to tidy the chamber, her cheeks turned dusky with delight as she picked up the fur-lined cloak he had had made especially for her. She rubbed her cheek into the soft fox fur and

relived the delicious things that had happened to her out on the parapet walk.

When her eyes fell on his black bedrobe, she buried her face in the velvet, inhaling his male scent that lingered in every fold. With loving hands she carried the garments to his wardrobe and hung them side by side. She did the same with her pink lamb's-wooldress, marveling that a gown could have such an erotic effect on a man.

Jane longed to evoke the same effect tonight when he came to her and mentally went over all the clothing in her wardrobe. Suddenly, she had an idea. She would wear one of his silk jupons as she had on the night when he had first come to her. She opened his chest and gasped with delight as her hands lifted the black silk, emblazoned with the silver lynx. It was absolutely perfect!

The corners of her mouth lifted with happiness.
He
was absolutely perfect; she loved him with all her heart and soul. Tonight must be special. She would feed the baby, and take her bath early in the evening. She would have food brought up here to his chambers for them. She would not go down to the hall tonight, and imagined that Lynx would want to dine privately as much as she did.

Jane couldn't stop singing. She wished it was springtime so that she could fill the chamber with flowers. In the afternoon when she rested, she lay on the wide bed, savoring every word Lynx had said to her last night. She had been especially thrilled when he told her that he didn't want to give her another child just yet. That meant that he desired her for herself. He wanted them to be lovers. He wanted them to have time to enjoy their newfound intimacy.

Jane closed her eyes and imagined what he would say and what he would do when she told him she would marry him. She touched her lips, still feeling the wanton pleasure he aroused in her when his mouth took possession of hers. Never in a million years had she imagined there were so many different ways to kiss

or how many other ways a man's mouth could bring such pure pleasure to a woman.

She shivered remembering the rough feel of his unshaven cheek against her breast and her belly.

She shuddered at the thought of his calloused hands and how they felt on the sensitive curves and hollows of her body. She was becoming aroused just thinking about him, and she hoped and prayed that his thoughts lingered on her and caused him the same burning torment.

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sorry, LadyJane, I can come back later."

"No, no, come in if there is something you must do here."

Taffy hesitated. He had to pack his lord's clothes for Edinburgh and collect his war chest, but Jane did not yet know they were leaving on the morrow. She was glowing with happiness and Taffy did not want to snatch it away from her.

"It is time I fed Lincoln Robert. His nurse will think I have dropped off the edge of the earth.

Excuse me, Taffy."

As he watched her leave, his heart was heavy. Lady Jane hadn't the faintest idea how close her brothers were to being hanged for treachery. Taffy wished with all his heart that he could spare her the pain and anguish she would feel when she learned that Lynx had incarcerated them until he decided their fate.

******************

Lynx had a hundred things to see to before departing for Edinburgh. He had the ability to separate one issue from another, so he set the problem of the Leslie brothers aside temporarily and concentrated on the tasks at hand. By nightfall the wagons were loaded with supplies and the baggage consisting of weapons, armor, and war chests was stacked ready to be put on the packhorses at the last minute. His knights and Welsh lieutenants were well-trained, capable veterans and Lynx knew he could de-294

pend upon each man to look after his own equipment, his personal needs and those of his warhorse.

In the stables, Lynx inspected his own destrier and found Keith Leslie assisting his knights as they fed and watered their mounts and checked their fetlocks and iron-shod hooves. Lynx knew it was love for the horses that prompted Keith. The lad reminded him of Jane. They shared a love of animals and the pair had a close bond. Suddenly, for Jane's sake, Lynx didn't want Keith to become involved in the treachery his brothers may have committed.

"You handle horses well; I'd like you to come with us to Edinburgh."

"To fight, my lord?"

"Nay, I'd not ask it of you. Overseeing the welfare of the horses is more than a full-time occupation. If you decide to come, just make sure you have sturdy boots and a warm cloak." Lynx made a mental note to ask Thomas to keep an eye on the lad.

When every last detail had been seen to, Lynx turned his thoughts to Jane. His body reacted immediately. He had intended to spend a rewarding hour or two alone with her during the day, but circumstances beyond his control had prevented it. Lynx fully expected that he would have to cope with her anger and her tears. It would be no easy task to persuade her that the business of Ben and Sim was separate and apart from their relationship and should in no way affect their feelings for each other.

Lynx was wise to the ways of women. Either they threw stormy tantrums or produced sulky silences to get their own way. When these tactics were met with indifference, they turned on the tears. He cursed himself for being such a cynical swine. Jane was different from other women. Jane didn't have a devious bone in her body.

Lynx climbed the steps of the Master Tower and entered Jane's chambers. She was conspicuous by her absence and Lynx experienced a pang of regret. He would have much preferred her

to confront him honestly with her anger than deprive him of her company in an attempt to punish him.

The sight of his son diverted him. He bent over the cradle and reached out his arms.

"He's just been fed, my lord. Now would no' be a good time to jostle him aboot."

Lynx cocked an amused brow."You make a formidable dragon, Grace Murray, but you don't intimidate me in the least." He swung his son up in his arms and bounced him gently.

Grace eyed the pair whose features were almost identical. "Then let me try more gentle persuasion. Lady Jane fed him early so the pair of ye could be alone up yonder."

Lynx felt his blood stir and his pulse begin to race. He handed his son to the nursemaid with a wicked grin. "I bow to your superior knowledge, Grace. Now would no' be a good time to jostle him aboot!"

Lynx strode up the stairs to his own chambers, considerably relieved that Jane was not purposely avoiding him. When he opened the door the tantalizing aroma of food set his mouth watering as he realized he was ravenous.

Jane's smile of welcome lit up the room. She was wearing a softlamb's-woolbedrobe that made his loins quicken and he wanted to crush her against his hardness. Desire for her flared up in him as his legs carried him across the room and he watched her raise her lips for his kiss. Is it possible she doesn't know? Lynx asked himself doubtfully.

With her lips still against his, she asked softly, "Are you hungry?"

His mouth traced a hot path to her ear. "Starving," he teased, licking the delicate lobe. Either Jane was in ignorance or she was extremely wise, he told himself. It made a great deal of sense to enjoy their food before any unpleasantness began.

Jane set a small table before the fire, then with a sideways glance in his direction tossed cushions and bed pillows to the floor. Lust rose up in him, tempting him to slake his sexual hun-296

ger before his appetite for food, but Jane removed the covers from the dishes and offered to serve him. She savored her own food with zest, while at the same time she anticipated his every need, keeping his plate piled high until he devoured everything she set before him.

Lynx couldn't take his eyes from her as he watched her revel in her newfound power over him. He watched her set aside one of the new silver forks she had bought and pick up a pear tart with her fingers.