Lady Gallant (55 page)

She hugged him to her, wrapping her legs around his and squeezing as hard as she could. "The only way you will lose me is if you stop loving me."

"You could die."

"Yes, but I would wait for you."

Lifting his head, he frowned at her. "Wait for me?"

"In Heaven," she said. "If I should die, I would wait for you in Heaven so that we can be together forever."

"I hadn't thought of that."

"Of course, you must promise to do the same, and no tupping any pretty angels while you're about it."

He started, then gave a bark of laughter. Holding her tight, he rolled, then withdrew from her and pulled her onto his lap. He chuckled and hugged her.

"You're a miracle. You have the wits of a scholar, the body of a—nay, I won't say it for fear of rousing the little dragon."

She kissed the top of his nose. "Can it be that the fearsome monster is cultivating discretion in his dealings with me?"

"It's not my fault that my schooling in the ways of the flesh took place in the stews." Christian straightened his clothing and helped Nora tie her laces before pulling her to her feet. "The time draws near, love. We should go if we're to make it back to Hext and the others before dark."

They mounted again, and Christian led the way through trees and mist until they reached a stream. As they rode along the stream, the landscape became more rocky, and the stream twisted and snaked through the uneven country. After less than a half hour's walk, Christian stopped. Nora pulled up beside him and saw that he was listening. She looked in the direction of his gaze and beheld an outcrop of rocks and fallen boulders behind which the stream disappeared.

In spite of the intensity of Christian's attention, Nora heard nothing unusual to merit the tension that gripped his body. His head craned forward, and she could see his thighs knot as he lifted his body in the saddle. Then she heard it. Faint it was at first, the voice of a woman pitched counter to those of several men. Low for a woman, the voice reminded her of someone she couldn't quite place.

Before she could pursue the memory, Christian dismounted and lifted her to the ground. He tied their horses and rounded on her, his jaw set and his eyes bright like jewels cast into fire. He looked at her without speaking, as if judging her worth, then smiled slightly and pulled the hood of his cloak over his head. He reached behind her and drew forth her hood too.

"Whatever happens," he said, "don't uncover. You must promise."

"You're frightening me again."

"Promise."

"I promise."

"Then come."

He took her hand and walked beside her to the rock outcrop. Stopping there, he took her other hand and waited, shaking his head when she asked what he was doing. The voices grew louder, and she realized that the strangers were coming toward them. As the newcomers rounded the outcrop, Christian dropped to his knees before her, kissed the backs of her hands, and giving her a swooning look, began to speak.

Since, love, our minds are one,

What of our doing?

Set now your arms on mine,

Joyous our wooing.

O Flower of all the world,

Love we in earnest!

Honey is sweet to sip

Out of the comb.

What mean I? That will I

Show, little one.

Not words but deeds shall be

Love
's
best explaining
.

Nora's face burned, and she tried to pull her hands free as Christian recited to her before the approaching strangers, but her efforts were futile. He sighed and cooed at her, fawned and kissed her hands, until she thought he must have been struck by a wood faery's spell.

The strangers drew near, and Nora at last yanked her hands free. Christian stood, and she turned to face the newcomers. Her heart dropped to her toes. Walking toward them was a young woman with long, red-gold hair and pale skin. A tall woman who walked with the purpose of a military man and the grace of a queen. She was gowned in a riding habit of black velvet shot with gold. The lady's fingers were bedecked with rubies and emeralds, and a diamond perched in the crown of her hat.

Her gentlemen retainers, dressed almost as richly as their lady, had fanned out to the side and before the woman as soon as they heard Christian's besotted voice. One of them shook his riding crop at Christian.

"What do you here on royal lands? On your knees before the Lady Elizabeth's grace."

"Oh!" Christian said. He dropped to his knees again and jerked Nora down beside him. "Oh, oh, oh, we meant no harm, my lord. We're lost, my lord."

Stunned, Nora watched her husband's changeling performance while trying to take in what was happening. She hung her head and peeped around the edge of her hood to stare at Princess Elizabeth.

The Princess allowed her attendant to search Christian for weapons and belabor him with questions. Twitching her riding crop incessantly, she inspected Nora and Christian. Finally the lady appeared to lose patience with her zealous man.

"Enough, Alan. These are my good people. Good, honest folk who have lost their way. No doubt they are two lovers. I would speak with them a while, for it has been long since I've seen such happy faces about me. I will return to you anon."

Nora watched in awe as the Princess's words sent the five prepossessing noblemen away. They did not go out of sight, but far enough away that they couldn't hear their lady's conversation. When they'd gone, the princess drew near and held out her hand to Christian.

"Misrule, the tyrant has given way to the slave, I see."

"Not so, Your Grace."

Christian kissed Elizabeth's hand, and Nora was sure she saw the woman pinch his cheek before offering her hand to Nora.

"This is the young woman Cecil told me about?"

"Yes, Your Grace. My wife, Nora."

Nora took Elizabeth's hand. It was warm, and as she touched her lips to it, Elizabeth squeezed her hand. Nora felt something drop into her palm, but she had the wits not to acknowledge it or open her fist. She stuffed her hand inside her cloak. Elizabeth smiled at her, allaying some of Nora's apprehension.

"We hide, all of us, behind myriad disguisings," Elizabeth said. "But not for much longer, I pray."

"Fall draws nigh, Your Grace," Christian whispered, "and the physicians say the Queen can't last out the winter."

"Which do you favor?" Elizabeth asked Nora, indicating her riding skirt. "The French or the Spanish fashion?"

Nora's heart flip-flopped like a hooked fish. Elizabeth wasn't the kind of woman to ask frivolous questions.

"Neither, Your Grace. I like plain English best, whether it be fashion, food, or family."

Throwing back her head, Elizabeth laughed and slapped her crop against her thigh. "Yet you married this fanciful creature."

"My lord is indeed something of a—a phoenix, but he's an English phoenix."

"And what of Spanish and French birds?" Elizabeth asked. "Don't chew your lip, girl. Give me an honest answer."

"French and Spanish birds make noises like peace doves and conceal hearts full of deceit and malice, my lady."

Elizabeth glanced at Christian while Nora marveled at her own forwardness.

"Misrule, how haps it that you choose a wife so well when you spend most of your time cavorting with whipjacks and bawds?"

Christian bowed his head, then looked up at the Princess with a smile. "One who swims in mud oft appreciates a dip in clean water, Your Grace."

"Be off with you, insolence. And for the next few months play the enamored bridegroom. Keep you both in the country and avoid London. The ship of England is scuttled, and its crew is swimming to the nearest land. Some are drowning, and I would like it not should my dearest friends follow such unfortunates down to the depths."

"We will retire to Castle Montfort, Your Grace, and summon men to hold in readiness." Christian bowed his head again, and Nora ducked her own head as well. Elizabeth turned to go, but paused to whisper to Nora.

"If I were free, I would do as you have done. But then, I do so love glory, and each of us much act according to God's design. Farewell, Lady Misrule."

Nora clung to her husband's hand while they watched the Princess walk into the mist. When she could no longer see Elizabeth's black and gold figure, Nora shook her head.

"Merciful Heaven."

"I thought you would be pleased," Christian said.

"O merciful God."

Christian laughed at her, but Nora kept shaking her head from side to side.

"Merciful heaven."

"It's time to go," he said. "We must find Hext before nightfall."

"Merciful God." Nora was staring at her open hand.

"Nora, you're babbling."

"Look."

Holding out her open hand, Nora gazed at the object Elizabeth had dropped in it. It was a ring set with a cameo of ancient Roman design depicting Venus and Cupid. On the back of the gold mount was engraved a Tudor rose.

Christian took the ring and slipped it on Nora's finger. "She's had to be brave for so long that when she hears of courage in others, she honors it."

"Courage? Me?"

Raising his eyes to the sky, Christian sighed loudly and began guiding Nora back to their horses. Still dazed, Nora said nothing until he gripped her waist and lifted her into the saddle. The feel of his strong hands on her body jolted her out of her shock. She placed her hands over his and feasted on the contrast between his violet eyes and the dark flush of his lips. She hadn't missed Elizabeth's flirting manner and concealed sexual appraisal of Christian. They were but a taste of what would happen when they emerged from seclusion.

Suddenly the dangers and troubles of the kingdom and Elizabeth's praise lost their primacy in her concern. Both could wait while she pondered the urgency of Christian's allure to other women. Then she remembered Christian's own professed weakness.

"Christian?"

Busy with Nora's saddle, he grunted at her. She bent down and put her palm to his cheek, and he glanced up at her. Her tongue darted out to trace her upper lip, back and forth, and his hands stilled on the girth straps. His lips parted as if he would speak, but he appeared to lose track of his thoughts as he stared at her lips. Her fingers skittered along his throat, delved beneath shirt and doublet, then retreated to play with his dark, soft hair. His lashes lifted, and she was drawn into the wildfire she'd aroused.

Christian grasped her hand and pulled it from his hair. "Careful, love, or you'll get what you're asking for."

"I wouldn't ask if I didn't want."

"Beshrew me, I think she means it."

He reached for her, but she knocked his hands away.

"Stay you, lecherous fiend. I've a yen to see you undress in a tent by candlelight.''

Christian closed his eyes and moaned. "God has seen fit to punish me by enslaving me to a woman of cruelty and appetite.'' He ran to his horse, jumped on the poor beast, and kicked him into a trot. As he passed Nora, he pulled on her mare's bridle, urging her into motion. "Hurry, love. Hext has had plenty of time to put up our tent."

"I just had a thought," she said.

He pulled his horse near hers and urged the animal's shoulder into Nora's mare. Nora relented, kicked her mount, and they were off.

"What thought?" Christian asked.

"It occurred to me that I was indeed courageous, for it takes a woman of rare bravery to rule the Lord of Misrule."

"We'll see who does the ruling, woman."

She laughed, but cried out when Christian leaned over and plucked her from her horse. He set her in front of him and took her mouth in a long kiss.

"Mayhap we should share the ruling," she said when he released her.

"Mayhap." His gaze fastened on her lips. "And I will enjoy meeting your challenge."

Nora discovered that she wasn't afraid of his threat, so she smiled up at him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "And I find that I will enjoy the battle as long as you are the prize, my lord."

Don't
miss Suzanne Robinson's next
thrilling
historical romance
,

LADY HELLFIRE

on sale in February 1992 in the hardcover edition from Doubleday and in May 1992 in the paperback edition from
FANFARE.

A lush, dramatic, and touching historical romance, LADY HELLFIRE is the captivating story of Alexis de Granville, Marquess of Richfield, a cold-blooded rogue whose dark secrets have hardened his heart to love—until he melts at the fiery touch of Kate Grey's sensual embrace. An American new to English high society, Kate is dazzled by Alexis's handsome looks, air of authority, and edge of danger. But he snubs her, and she vows never again to be so enthralled with a man. When she unexpectedly taps the vein of tenderness he conceals with bitter words, a blazing passion ignites between them. Still, he believes himself tainted by his tragic—and possibly violent past and resists her sweet temptation. Tormented by unfulfilled desires, Alexis and Kate must face a shadowy evil before they can surrender to the deepest pleasures of love…