Lord of the Manor (11 page)

She obeyed immediately. He picked her up and carried her to the pallet that nature had so thoughtfully provided. Within moments, Lucinda lay right where he wanted her—stretched out beside him.

They didn’t have time to remove garments, to caress and linger over each other’s bodies. Only time to appease the driving hunger that gnawed at them both.

Yet he couldn’t bring himself to push Lucinda’s skirts up and rut like a beast. Her face, her neck, were soft and smooth beneath his lips. Her hair felt like silk, her lips tasted like warm honey. He found and explored her woman’s curves, wishing he could gaze upon and touch her naked breasts instead of her wool
gown. Her nipples hardened as if they were uncovered, responding to the stroke of his fingers.

When he could stand no more, he reached for her hems, pushing the garments toward her waist, his hand skimming the inside of her leg. Her knees came up when he reached the apex. She gasped when he petted her private hair, and arched into his hand as his fingers found and caressed the moist, hot entrance to her female berth.

One more time he kissed her, hard and long, until her breath came in short, sharp bursts. Satisfied that she was fully prepared for him, he knelt between her spread legs and uncovered that which he’d touched but not yet seen. And gazed upon perfection.

His lover possessed the shapeliest, creamy white legs he’d ever had the pleasure to gaze upon. Her firm thighs were made to clamp a man to her through the fiercest coupling.

Lucinda squirmed under this most intimate gaze. She knew he would be tender and giving, unlike anything she’d ever experienced.

Richard lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her gently, moving to her earlobe, her neck…He lavished her with kisses and caresses, sweet and yet demanding. She reached for Richard. Her fingers in his hair, she pulled him away before she shattered into nonexistence. A deep breath helped calm her raging ache, eased her yearning to be filled and possessed. He would possess her when he entered her. She would be his, whether he wanted it so or not, because for the first time in her life she wanted to be filled, to take a man into her.

He shifted, then rose above her slightly. She knew
what the movement meant She put a hand on his broad shoulder.

“Wait,” she said.

He gave her an incredulous look.

“I want…I should…” She shook her head. She lacked the courage to express her wishes out loud. These feelings were too new, the emotions too heady. She might be dazed, but not so far gone as to neglect her part in this.

She pushed on that solid shoulder. “Up. On your knees.”

Slowly, he obeyed, his tunic falling down to cover him. ’Twas that under the tunic which had gone neglected.

Richard watched Lucinda scoot forward slightly, then reach for his tunic, her stare directed at the place where his manroot prodded the garment outward.

Bold minx.
He didn’t stop her from satisfying her curiosity, from uncovering what she wished to see, or from tucking the hem into the girdle at his waist, exposing him to the soft spring breeze and her gaze.

“Oh, my,” she whispered, her eyes wide.

He hadn’t thought his loins could feel heavier or more coiled. Hadn’t realized how difficult it would be to keep from howling like a wolf at the moon, delighted with her obvious admiration and approval.

Then she touched him, just one finger on the tip. He hissed at the shock, but held statue still as her hand moved around and down to between his legs, then up his shaft.

“Lucinda?”

“Hmm?”

She didn’t even look up, still mesmerized. And while a part of him reveled in her enthrallment, another
part urged him to use the part of his body that fascinated her before it disappointed her.

“Must we still wait?”

“Nay,” she said, easing back down onto the grass. “I see there is no need.”

She raised her hands, inviting him back down. He needed no further urging to join her and slip inside her warmth, so deep, so tight. Those shapely legs curled around his, and the thighs he’d judged firm pressed him further into her snug berth.

Hellfire, she was tight around him, driving him to near release at her slightest move. He strained to hold himself back to give her time.

“Wait,” he breathed.

She arched upward.

“Hellfire.”

He gave her all he had, stroke after penetrating stroke. Her face twisted with near pain, her breathing labored. And then, on an upstroke, her head went back and her legs tightened around him. She came apart, taking him with her into a bliss he hadn’t known existed.

On the very edge of his awareness, Richard heard the second tree fall.

“Hellfire,” she said.

He agreed.

Sweet heaven, with a bit more time, on a mattress or pile of furs, and naked—oh, aye, definitely naked—what utter delight might they find in each other.

“Next time we will do this right, on a comfortable pallet with no one around to disturb us,” he vowed, then realized he’d said it aloud.

Lucinda didn’t look upset at the prospect She cupped his cheek with her hand.

“Aye, my lord, next time.”

R
ichard slowly opened the door to Lucinda’s hut. Though he needed to rouse Lucinda, he hoped to let Philip sleep. ’Twas barely dawn, the sun’s rays providing a soft light so he could see them on their pallets.

Lucinda rose up to almost sitting the moment he stepped over the threshold. Alarmed, she stared at him until she identified the intruder, then relaxed.

Richard nearly forgot what he’d come for. The woman was a beauty when mussed. Her unplaited black hair swept around her shoulders like a cloud of dark smoke, framing her face of creamy white. She blinked several times, clearing her mind of sleep. Those eyes narrowed, questioning his presence.

He whispered. “Edric is hurt. Come.”

She nodded, but didn’t get up. He knew she waited for him to leave the hut, so she could rise and change from night rail to gown. He forced his feet to move.

Richard stood outside the hut, imagining her removing the night rail, baring her body. As yet, he’d seen only half of what promised to be a glorious sight in whole—Lucinda, naked and sprawled on a pallet
awaiting him. For the past two days, since their coupling in the forest, he’d watched for the chance for another such coupling. It hadn’t come as he’d hoped. Their first had been an impulsive coming together. The next would require planning, an arranged tryst.

The thought didn’t sit well. He could more easily excuse giving in to a moment’s fancy than a devised joining with a woman he shouldn’t want, but lusted after as he’d never lusted after a woman before.

She came out of the hut, covered with her rough-weave gown, her hair hastily plaited and unveiled. “What ails Edric?”

“His knee. One of my soldiers came to fetch me, saying Edric had tried to walk but the knee buckled under him.”

Her head tilted. “Why come for me?”

“Philip once commented that you had some skill in the healing arts.”

“You test me?”

“Nay. I simply thought you the most suited to tend the captain of my guard.”

He hadn’t really thought out his motives that far. But ‘twas true. The moment he’d heard of Edric’s ailment, he’d also thought to fetch Lucinda.

“Did Edric injure his knee?”

“I have no notion. I have not spoken to him yet. Will Philip be alarmed if he wakes to find you gone?”

She shook her head. “He will be fine. He knows I would not go far.”

They walked to the armory in silence.

Edric sat on his cot, clad in only a tunic, the affected leg stretched out. Two men-at-arms stood nearby, chatting with him. Richard waved them out of the armory.

Edric glanced at Lucinda, a slight frown on his face.

“What did you do to your knee, Edric?” Richard asked, drawing the old soldier’s attention.

“Nothing. ’Tis fine. I will walk out the pain—”

“I hear you already tried to put weight on it and could not. I brought Lucinda to have a look.”

Edric gave an aggrieved sigh. “If you insist, my lord.”

Lucinda brought a hand up to cover the hint of a smile that hovered at the corners of her mouth. Richard wished she would let the smile break through, though Edric might not appreciate it.

“I insist. Lucinda?”

She bent to grasp Edric’s bare, bony knee, then ran her hands along the sides. Lucky Edric. Richard could almost feel the gentle massage of her thumbs on his own leg as she searched for the source and cause of Edric’s pain.

“Well?” Richard asked.

“’Tis fine,” Edric stated again.

“’Tis not fine, but could be worse,” Lucinda said. “Nothing is broken, or knotted, so far as I can tell. A stiffness of the joint, I would say. A treated hot compress should ease the discomfort. After a few days’ rest—”

“Days?” Edric exclaimed, incredulous. This time her smile burst forth, directed full force at Edric. “Days. Remember when you insisted that I not use my twisted ankle? Well, Edric, I now prescribe that you not use your knee.”

“’Twill not take days. I am not a fragile woman.”

“Nor am I. Pain, however, takes its own sweet time
to subside, whether in a woman or a gruff soldier. Once wrapped, you can walk on it, but sparingly.”

“I have duties to perform. I cannot be lying about—”

Richard interrupted. “Aye, you can, and will,” he told Edric, then turned to Lucinda. “Get whatever you need from the manor. You know where the herbs and bandages are kept?”

“I have seen the basket.”

Collinwood boasted no healer. Women tended to their own family’s hurts. A large basket, filled with linen strips for bandages, dried herbs, jars of salves and healing oils, sat in a corner of the manor for everyone’s use.

“If there is something you need that you cannot find, ask Connor or one of the serving women.”

She nodded, but looked unhappy at the prospect. She’d no more than left the room when she came back in. “Do not let him off that cot,” she said, then left again.

“That sounded suspiciously like an order, my lord. Never thought I would see the day when one of Northbryre would be giving orders around here again,” Edric said without rancor. ’Twas simply an observation, not a condemnation.

Richard had chosen Edric for the captain of his guard from among Gerard’s highly trained men-at-arms. The old soldier had helped whip into fighting shape the capable, if not matchless, small garrison of local men who took pride in their status as soldiers in service to Richard of Wilmont.

Without being ordered, or even asked, Edric had also taken on the task of beginning Philip’s training. Wherever Edric could be found, there would be Philip
trailing close behind. Richard knew he needed to become more involved with the boy’s training and education. He’d given the matter some thought, but hadn’t yet acted on it.

“How does Philip?” Richard asked.

Edric thought a moment, then answered, “Not badly. Smart little tyke, that one. And a charmer. If it were not for who sired him…” Edric shrugged. “The men seem to accept him among them.”

Edric’s doing, by example. Now, if only Connor were a better example for the rest of the people…

“The rest of the people will take a while longer,” Richard observed.

“Aye, and they will accept the boy before the woman. ’Tis easier to like a charming child than a haughty noblewoman.”

Richard thought “haughty” too harsh a term, but could see where her self-protective aloofness could be seen as such.

“Lucinda should smile more.”

“She might, if she had something to smile about. Mayhap you should send her out to gather kindling again,” Edric suggested. “She enjoyed the outing, judging from the look on her face when the party returned.”

Richard didn’t comment on what else she’d done in the forest that she enjoyed. Thoroughly. As had he. He’d made her his lover, and part of her look upon returning had been the result of being well pleasured.

Edric did have a point, however. Lucinda’s delight at having some chore to do had been obvious.

As it was this morn. Tending Edric had made her smile.

She wasn’t smiling when she returned to the armory,
empty-handed. “The women will not allow me near the herbs. Connor told them that I am not to touch anything within the manor unless he was there to watch me. He is not about.”

Richard sighed inwardly. Of all the people at Collinwood, Connor was Lucinda’s biggest challenge. The man hated too much, too hard, to come around to accepting her any time soon. If ever.

Richard put a hand out to Edric. “Come, lean on me. We will go into the manor. Lucinda can wrap your knee there.”

“My lord, you cannot expect me to cross the bailey using your lordship as a crutch!”

“Would you rather be seen draped over my shoulder? Your choice, Edric.”

Edric grumbled during the whole, slow walk to the manor. Richard eased him onto a bench, then fetched the basket and handed it to Lucinda. He didn’t reprimand the worried-looking servants, they’d been obeying Connor’s orders. Orders he would tell Connor to rescind.

The servants returned to the task of preparing the tables where the manor folk would soon break fast. Lucinda dug out what she wanted from the basket and set about making a compress. People straggled into the manor, among them Philip, who followed his natural inclination to seek out Edric.

“I have a chore for you this day, Philip,” Richard said. “Edric has watched over you for many days and done a good job of it. ’Tis now your day to watch over Edric.”

The boy’s eyes went wide. “Me?”

“Aye, you.”

Lucinda bent down in front of Edric, an herbcoated
bandage in her hands. Edric hissed when it hit his knee.

“’Tis best hot,” Lucinda said. “The heat will ease the soreness and speed the healing power of the herbs.”

With deft hands she wrapped the knee, tight, and tied off the bandage.

“What did you do to your knee?” Philip asked Edric.

“Nothing.”

“Then why does Mother wrap it?”

“Because Lord Richard insisted.”

“Can you walk?”

“Nay, he cannot,” Richard injected. “Your duty today, Philip, is to keep Edric from using his leg unless necessary. Should he try to ignore my order to rest, you are to come and tell me. Understood?”

Philip’s expression turned somber. “Aye, my lord.”

“Good. Now, let us break fast.”

Edric tried to get up. Philip put his hand on Edric’s chest and pushed him back down—not hard for the boy to do because of Edric’s unbalance.

“Stay where you are,” Philip said with a good deal of command in his voice for one so young. “I will bring the food to you.”

Philip scampered off.

Edric looked up at Richard with narrowed eyes. “’Tis a sorry day, indeed, when I must answer to a whelp of six.”

“You answer to me. The boy is my enforcer. Give him grief and I will find a way to make you suffer.”

Edric cussed as Philip walked up, a cup of ale in
one hand, a piece of cheese balanced on a chunk of bread in the other.

Philip handed over the food to Edric. “Mayhap, when we finish, we could play a game or two.”

“Aye, mayhap,” Edric grumbled and tucked into his cheese.

Richard left the two to their own devices. Lucinda followed him to the table. Connor still hadn’t returned from wherever he’d gone off to.

“I hope Edric knows other games than how to toss dice. Philip need not learn too many vices before he is grown,” Lucinda said, with a hint of suggestion that Richard should talk to Edric about it.

“One cannot be around a group of soldiers without learning to toss dice. Besides, my father felt the game a good way to practice ciphering and the handling of coins.”

“There are better ways to learn one’s numbers than by gambling.”

Aye. Dull ways. Richard remembered one tutor who thought it fun to place columns of numbers on a slate and watch young boys struggle to add them up. He’d disliked it then, and didn’t care for it now, though he must to keep his accounts in order.

The discussion with Edric about Lucinda’s lack of duties rolled around in Richard’s head. She’d once been the chatelaine of a large household, and kept Basil’s accounts. Those damn ledgers filled with all of those numbers.

He grinned to himself. If Lucinda wanted a chore, he knew just which one to give her.

Connor appeared and lowered onto his seat. “Forgive my tardiness, my lord. One of the mares is due to foal and I wished to check on her progress.”

“How does she?”

“Nicely. In a few more days we should have a foal to add to your list of possessions.” He looked down the table. “I see the servants carried on without me so no one suffered unduly.”

“Only Edric,” Richard said, nodding Edric’s way. “His knee pains him. When I sent Lucinda for bandages the servants turned her away. ’Twas an unnecessary annoyance, Connor. Lucinda is to have the same access to the manor’s resources as everyone else. You will make that known.”

Connor shifted on the bench. “My lord, some of those herbs could prove deadly in the wrong hands.”

Lucinda let out a small gasp at Connor’s insinuation.

Richard folded his arms on the table and leaned toward his steward. “If Lucinda intended to poison anyone, I suspect it would be you. And if that were her intent, I also suspect she would have found a way to do so long before now. Since you still live, I feel we are all safe. Lucinda is not a prisoner here, Connor. You will cease treating her as one.”

Connor replied in the only manner he could. “As you wish, my lord.”

Feeling the matter settled, Richard got up and retrieved several rolled pieces of parchment from a chest near his pallet.

“Bring the remains of your meal to your hut, Lucinda. I have a chore in mind for you and wish to discuss it in private.”

On the small table in her hut, Richard spread out the accounts of his holdings. All but two of the holdings had once belonged to Basil.

Richard stood behind her, looking over her shoulder, almost touching her, but not quite.

“I see you know these holdings,” Richard said, his warm breath teasing her ear.

“Aye,” she said, struggling to concentrate on the parchment in front of her and not the man behind her. “I see many of Basil’s former English holdings. You wish me to verify these for you?” she asked, thinking it the only reason why he would expose the extent of his wealth.

“Aye, but I also wish you to take over the recording. Soon the spring rents and goods will arrive. I like receiving them, but dislike recording them.”

Delight warred with disbelief. “You would trust me with your ledgers?”

“You know exactly what to expect from each holding. I have no doubt you can keep the ledgers in order.”

She turned slightly to study his face, now very close to hers. With little movement on her part, she could wrap her arms around him, kiss him, draw his attention from the ledgers. But ’twas the ledgers they’d come to her hut to discuss, and the man was actually serious about his offer.

“You do not fear I would steal funds from you?”

He shook his head. “I also know exactly what to expect from each holding, and will check the recording once completed. Should you try some scheme, I would know of it.”