Claiming (2 page)

The tall stranger clapped his hands slowly. “Brave, but foolish words. We have other copies of the document.” He came towards her, towering over her, trying to intimidate her but she refused to move. “And it
will
happen.”

“You seem to forget to whom you speak, sir.”

“I know exactly to whom I speak. I would not mistake the woman whose father left his entire estate—including her—to me.

“What?”

“Yes. Your father not only left me his land, manors and castles. He left me
you
. We are to be married, my lady.”
 

CHAPTER TWO

Rowena pressed her hand to her side, trying to stem the pain and panic that swamped her. She could hardly believe it—after all these years of being her father’s closest daughter, to have worked and lived alongside him, for him to then betray her in this manner? They must be wrong.

“You are mad, sir.”

He huffed quietly as if the idea amused him. “No. Despite a life that at times has driven me close to it, I am not mad.” He beckoned to the priest. “Certainly sane enough to ensure that the highest authority in the county,” he nodded respectfully to Sir William, “witnesses our betrothal ceremony.”

It was too much. She paced away from the fire, and looked out the unshuttered window to the busy bailey. Sir Saher’s men were everywhere, commandeering stables, her own people doing as they were bid as if she’d already lost control. She gritted her teeth—she had to fight for this. She turned to him, her hands seeking out the hard, cold stone to stop herself from showing weakness. “You speak of marriage, of being my father’s heir, yet I have no knowledge of your existence before now.”

“Your knowledge, my lady,” interjected the sheriff curtly, “is not important.”

Rowena ignored the sheriff’s comment and continued to look accusingly at the man who was to be her husband. “It is to me.” The sheriff huffed angrily and paced away.

“’Tis fitting for Lady Rowena to know.” Saher answered smoothly. “My lady mother was a cousin of your father’s.”

“No doubt he had many cousins. Why you?”

“I fought with him in France. We got to know each other well and he spoke of you often. He wanted you to stay on this land, to be safe on this land.”

She turned away then, as she felt the pain shoot through her body and come to rest in her head, pressing against her skull. She closed her eyes tight. Her father knew her. He knew that the land was the most important thing to her. Nothing else. She’d always been her father’s favourite child, but he’d betrayed her. Her mind raced to comprehend the choices available to her. There were only two—she could either stay on the lands she loved and marry this man, or she could leave. But she refused to leave destitute, with no options. No. She had to keep her cool, had to think.

She took a long deep breath and turned back to the men.

“Let me get this straight. My father has bequeathed the estate to you, providing you will marry me. And the King agrees to this ridiculous arrangement. What if I decline?”

“I will still inherit the estate and you will have nothing.”

The truth of his words slammed into her gut. “You cannot want to marry me.”

“I wish to have heirs. You are as good as anyone else.”

“Charming.”

“I’m not known for my charm.”

“I’m not surprised. I dare say you are
not
known for many things.”

He came around her then and flicked away some barley seeds that had caught in a strand of hair that had escaped her coif. “Do not try to insult me, lady. For one thing, I am immune to insults, and for another, it gives you a distinct unladylike quality.”

She slapped his hand away. “I care nought for your opinion. There is only one man whose opinion I regarded”—she turned away—“and he is now dead.”

She sensed him behind her. “You really believed you would inherit the estate, didn’t you?” His tone was softer now.

“Of course. It was always understood that that was what would happen.”

“He told you this?”

“He…” She couldn’t continue because as her memory roamed back and forth over the years she’d spent time with her beloved father, those words had never passed his lips. “He made it known.”

“But not through words. My lady, he could never have left you this land. If he loved you, he would never have left you undefended. These are troubled times, no one and nothing is safe, least of all an estate as wealthy as this one.”

“I could have defended it.” Rowena was annoyed to hear her voice catch.

“You, with your great knowledge of defence and warfare?”

She turned to him then, her eyes glinting with unshed tears and barely suppressed rage. “I know my castle, I know my land, I know my people.
That
is enough.”

“Your father knew it wasn’t and entrusted me with the care of the castle and of you. Besides, even if he had been of a mind to leave it all to you, his liege lord would never have let such a prize be awarded without his involvement. Upon your father’s death, you became his responsibility. You must have known this.”

She tried to speak but couldn’t for he spoke the truth.

“You knew it, but found it convenient to forget it, to believe otherwise.”

“I know my liege lord. He would have been content enough to carry on collecting the revenue from our lands. He knew I could continue to produce it. He obviously changed his mind. You, sir, changed it for him. How much did you have to pay to make him agree?”

“Enough.”

She closed her eyes, trying desperately to regain control of her life, of her thoughts… But she opened her eyes and the man still loomed tall over her, dominating her. But, beneath it all, her sense of betrayal ground into the pit of her stomach, undermining everything. “How did you know my father? How did you make him do such a thing to me?”

She saw a flicker of reaction in his grey eyes that warmed and swept his features as if he was, himself, frustrated. He turned to the sheriff. “Sir William. Lady Rowena accepts the terms of the will, as do I.” He turned back to her. “Don’t you?”

She nodded stiffly.

“I have a financial settlement drafted if you care to look at it.”

“I care all right.” She took the document and read through it. If he should die she’d be well cared for—the dower package was generous. She looked up at him and nodded. “’Tis satisfactory.”

“Good. Sir William, I would have the betrothal ceremony witnessed before you leave.” He glanced at Rowena. “So everyone will know the Lady Rowena has consented, that our marriage will be legal… once consummated.” He reached for her hand but she stepped away, putting both hands behind her back. He shrugged. “I take you as my wife. Do you wish to take me as your husband?”

Rowena tried to speak but her mouth was dry with shock. She took a deep breath and swallowed, holding her head high. “If I have to.”

“If you wish to stay here, you do.”

“Then I will take you as my husband.”

He took her right hand and this time she didn’t withdraw it. She had no alternative but to suffer his large, calloused hand wrapping around, and dwarfing, hers. He looked at her sharply, obviously aware of the tremor in her hand. “I take you as my wife, for better or worse, to have and to hold until the end of my life and of this I give you my faith.” He bent toward her. “Come, lady, say the words and it will be over.”

Then he squeezed her hand, his thumb sweeping over the back of her hand in a gesture of compassion that startled her. She gazed up into his eyes and knew she had no option but to continue. “I take you as my husband, to have and to hold until the end of my life and of this…” Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat. “I give you my faith.”

He dropped her hand, taking away his warmth and careless gesture, bringing her back to reality. “Good.” He turned to Sir William. “Thank you, Sir William, for your help in this matter.
 

“You are most welcome, my lord, and congratulations on your good fortune. As to the marriage, there will be no need to issue bans, or for a ceremony at the church door. It is sufficient that we have witnessed it on behalf of the King. No-one dare gainsay it. All you have to do now, sir, to complete the deal, is to consummate it.” He glanced at Rowena and returned an amused look back to Saher. “Good luck with that.”

Saher ignored the innuendo. “Are you sure you don’t wish to stay for more refreshment?”

“I must return to Norwich. I wish you well in your new endeavours.” He turned to Rowena. “My lady, I wish you well, also. No matter what you think, your father sought the best for you. I suggest you make the best of it.”

Rowena nodded coolly. “I intend to, sir.”

Sir William gave a pointed glance at Sir Saher. “Good luck, sir, I think you’re going to need it.”

She walked away from them, hoping that Sir Saher would leave also. She poured herself more wine and sipped it with her back to the door. Suddenly there was silence. She waited, her ears acute, listening for the slightest sound, hoping against hope that she was now alone. But then she heard his footfall approach her. She closed her eyes once more.

“I made your father do nothing, my lady. I spent many months with him five years ago, in France. He was a tough man with a hard heart. He did nothing on a whim. He knew me well, knew what I sought, and believed I could be of use to him. And of use to you.”

“And what is it that you seek?”

“Lands, a wife, children.”

She pressed her hand flat against her chest, trying to come to terms, now, with the idea of lying with this stranger. It was unthinkable. She’d lain with a man years before and had had her heart broken. She’d vowed then and there to never allow herself to be vulnerable again, to allow the needs of her body to lead her to destruction. She’d fought off any suitors, much to her father’s amusement. And he’d let her. All the while knowing that he planned her marriage after his death. It had been
convenient
for him to have the attentions of the daughter with whom he was closest. That was all.

She took a deep breath. “Well, you have the first two on your list. Do you care to make a start on the last item? The solar is empty. You could throw me over your shoulder and take me to bed, now. No-one would know. In fact, forget the bed, pull up my robe now and be done with it.”

He sighed, strode up to her and gripped her arms. His fingers dug into her skin but she refused to look away from him, or to flinch. He dipped his head to hers. “Now,
that
is an idea.” His breath was unexpectedly warm and pleasant against her cheek and sent a ripple of sensation across her skin that travelled beyond where his breath touched her. She widened her eyes, suddenly alarmed, suddenly out of her depth, suddenly aware that he’d noticed her reaction. His lips upturned into a slow smile as he swept a finger along her jaw line. “I was wrong. Your softness isn’t in your heart—there, you are like your father—it is in your body. You think you don’t want me, you believe you are impervious to men—you are mistaken.”

She didn’t move. She
couldn’t
move. Her whole body was held in thrall by the stray touch of his hand on her face. It was as if his touch delved deep into her body, like the last quivering note of a lute, designed to transport the heart to a different place. Then he withdrew his touch and the magic was broken. She stepped away, feeling as if she’d drunk too much of the Bordeaux.

“I think… I think, I should know my own
mind
, my own
heart
, my own
body
.”

“Aye, but you don’t.” His finger insolently stole round her neck and she gasped. “Do you? Look at how the blush creeps up your neck and fills your cheeks. At how your breath quickens and the indentation in your neck flutters.” He shifted his hand up until it rested on a hollow and she felt the quickened movement under his fingertips. “Just here. You are not immune to me in the least. You want me. And you shall have me.”

She brought her arm up and pushed his away. “I will not. Go, sir. Go now. Leave me at once.”
 

“I will not be leaving here, my lady. Didn’t you hear Sir William? I just need to bed you and we will be married.”

“Then we shall never be married because I will not sleep with you. I will never lie with you, never have your children.”

“Listen here, lady. We
will
live together, we
will
sleep together and everyone
will
believe we have lain together. It will be enough for others. But for me? No. I will not leave you until I’ve bedded you.”

“You would not force yourself on me?”

“I won’t have to. I’ve plenty of experience with women. I know an aroused woman when I see one. I know the look of a woman whose eyes explore the lips of a man they wish to kiss and whose thoughts stray to a man’s body, wondering and wanting.”

She swallowed and forced a low laugh. “I’m sure you would believe every woman wishes to bed you. However, in my case, your knowledge has proved faulty. I would sooner bed an adder; I would sooner lie in the filth of an animal’s pen; I would sooner kiss a leper.”

He smiled. “I knew this wouldn’t be easy, but, by the Lord, I had no idea it would be such entertainment.”