Once Upon A Time (Historical Romance) (26 page)

Ruyen shoved Escobar aside, but the Castilian quickly planted himself in Ruyen's path. "If you could see around that corner, Your Highness, you'd notice the guard who stands before your wife's door. And, there are other soldiers within the sound of my voice. I have but to call out and they will come to me."

With lightning quickness, Ruyen whisked out his sword and placed the point at Escobar's throat. "It is fortunate for me that you came along. Otherwise, I would not have so worthy an accomplice."

Escobar's eyes darted to Ruyen's face and when he saw the raw hatred there, he knew that he looked into the face of death. "You cannot win in this, Your Highness," he said in a trembling voice. "Surrender to me, and your mother will be lenient with you."

"Fool, if I fail in my task, you will never live to see it," Ruyen hissed. He spun Escobar about so his back was to him and then jerked Escobar's dagger free of its sheath. "Dismiss the guard," he said, pressing the dagger against Escobar's spine. "Make one mistake, and you're a dead man. Now, inform the guard that Queen Jilliana is to be placed in my charge."

"He will not believe it," Escobar said spitefully. Then he yelped as he felt the sting of the dagger as it pierced his skin.

"Then you must be very persuasive," Ruyen spat, "or you will die at his feet!"

Escobar knew that the prince made no idle threat, and would not hesitate to end his life.

As they approached the guard, Escobar nodded at the man, trying to sound natural, but it was difficult to keep his voice from trembling as he felt blood drip down his back.

"You are relieved of duty," Escobar said hurriedly.

"Will you require no guard at this door?" the man asked, looking from Escobar to the prince suspiciously.

"Can you not take orders?" Ruyen stated firmly. "Do you question authority?"

"No, Your Highness, it's just that—"

"You stand relieved of duty."

The guard bowed. "As you wish."

Escobar watched his only hope disappear into the dark recesses of the hallway, and then even the man's footsteps faded into silence.

28

Jilliana sat near the window with her sewing in her lap, trying to catch the last dying rays of the sun. Netta had gone below to the garden, where she was allowed to pick roses each day to brighten up the dreary chamber. When the door opened, Jilliana thought it was her maid returning. She was astonished when Escobar landed at her feet, groaning in pain.

She stood quickly to face her husband, who seemed to loom over her. At last she could vent her anger on him. "What is the meaning of this, Ruyen?"

"There is no time to talk," he told her. "Have you a cloak?"

"At last I can tell you what I think of you— You blackguard—miscreant—knave!"

His lip curled in annoyance. "I have no time to swap insults with you." He jerked her cloak from a peg and thrust it at her. "Put this on and hurry."

She crossed her arms and tapped her foot. "Why should I?"

Ruyen let out an impatient breath. "Do as I say, and do it now, Jilliana."

Her voice was even and cold. "I will not."

He grabbed her arm and thrust her toward the door. She was about to blast him with an angry retort, when Escobar stood, a satisfied smile on his thin lips.

"Ah, the trials a man must endure at the hands of a reluctant woman."

Ruyen shoved Escobar against the wall. "I will hear no more from you, spineless ass."

To Jilliana's astonishment, Ruyen brought the handle of a dagger down hard against Escobar's temple and the man crumpled to the floor to lie still at his feet.

Without ceremony, Ruyen took Jilliana's arm and pulled her to the door. "If you want your freedom, you had better come with me and do exactly as I tell you."

That was all she needed to hear. She flung the cloak about her shoulders and nodded. "I agree to come with you only because I see no recourse."

He stepped into the corridor, looking left and right, then motioned for her to follow. When he took her wrist, she had to run to keep pace with his long strides. He led her down the back stairs and into the kitchen. Thus far, luck had been with them, for no one had challenged them.

Amidst looks of astonishment from the kitchen servants, Ruyen hurried Jilliana out the door and into the courtyard. Without ceremony, he swung her onto his horse, then climbed on behind her. Guiding the animal toward the side gate, he steadied the horse until they were safely outside the castle walls.

Drawing a deep breath of relief, he nudged his horse into a gallop. Soon the hue and cry would go out that Jilliana had escaped, and he wanted to be far away when that happened.

She held her body rigid so it would not come in contact with his. To her, Ruyen was still the enemy and she did not trust him. "Where are you taking me?" she demanded.

Grinding his jaw at her high tone, he spoke. "At the moment, where no one will find you."

Hot fury coursed through her. "If this is another scheme you concocted with your mother—"

"Jilliana," he said in exasperation, "later you can call me names and wish me to hell all you want. But for now, spare me the sound of your voice."

His arrogance went through her like a destructive wind. With indignation, she tightened her lips and became even more rigid, but she said nothing more to him.

On they rode, skirting the village and entering the thick undergrowth of vine-covered woods. Nettles tore at her sleeve and branches slapped against her face. Just when she thought she could stand it no longer, they rode into a clearing and then were racing along a stretch of sandy beach.

As the sun made its exit with blazing splashes of fiery color across the western sky, Ruyen jumped from his mount and stared in the direction of the merchant ship that had disappeared from the horizon.

"Damn!" he swore, turning his eyes to Jilliana. "I had not thought they would sail today."

With curious regard, Jilliana stared at him. "Do you mean you were going to set me free?"

His dark eyes sparked anger. "I cannot imagine you would think I would want to keep you. You have been nothing but trouble from the very first day."

Suddenly her heart was soaring with elation. He had not betrayed her! She slid off the horse and went to him, placing her small hand into his. "How could I ever have doubted you?"

He looked at her, his dark eyes burnished with flecks of gold in their fathomless depths. "You had every right to doubt. It seems no one is what they pretend to be and one cannot tell friend from foe until it is too late."

Gently, she brushed her hand against his face. "The fear—the captivity—was all worth it to find that you had kept your word to me."

Sardonic amusement played on his lips. "Careful when you look at a man like that, Jilliana. You might give him reason to hope."

She glanced steadfastly at the swelling waves, then raised her eyes to fix him with a level stare. "Sometimes, Ruyen, hope is all we have."

With a sharp intake of breath, he grabbed her to him, pressing her close. "I do not know what tomorrow will bring, Jilliana, but for this moment, allow me to hold you as if you belonged to me."

She threw her head back, her eyes soft with the light of love. "I will never belong to anyone save you."

Ruyen laughed and brushed the sand from her cheek. "Then I have won the greatest treasure of all."

For a long moment they stared into each other's eyes, looking for, and finding, the love they sought. Gently his lips moved over hers as if he were testing her response. When her mouth softened beneath his, his kiss became possessive, bruising, impressing his ownership on her.

Suddenly Ruyen realized that they were standing in the open where anyone could see them. Lovingly, he lifted her in his arms, then shoved his foot into the stirrup and climbed on the horse, keeping her tightly against him. "You belong to me," he told her.

"Heart and soul," Jilliana replied. Suddenly she felt such a deep love for him that she could not look into his eyes, but buried her face against his broad chest.

Ruyen nudged his horse forward. She loved him, he could see that now. Tomorrow would bring separation and war, but tonight belonged to them.

By now the moon shimmered through the branches and Jilliana raised her face to him. "Where are you taking me?"

"To a secret place that I have never shared with anyone else."

She touched her lips to his cheek. "I don't care where we go as long as I can be with you."

His expression was serious. "You do know that I must send you to safety tomorrow?"

"I do not want to leave you."

"You must. There will be war, and I do not want you caught up in it."

She frowned, knowing what he must be feeling. "You will fight your mother."

He hoped she would understand. "I must."

"Yes, it is the only way."

He slid his arms about her, bringing her tightly against him. "I must find a ship to take you to Talshamar."

"I am not afraid. Let me stand beside you in what you must do."

Ruyen's heart swelled with pride in her. She was fearless and loyal, something he had never encountered in a woman. "You must think of the child," he reminded her. "No matter what, promise me you will do what is best for you and our baby."

She closed her eyes, laying her head against his shoulder. "I promise."

Jilliana lost all sense of time as his mouth moved up her neck, toyed with her ear and brushed her lips. His hands moved over her swollen breasts and she nestled against him. The love she had so newly confessed made her ache for total fulfillment.

He dipped his head and covered her lips with a searing kiss. Jilliana had not realized that they had stopped. Ruyen lifted her from the horse and carried her down a path.

The night was magical, and with a full moon hanging in the sky, it seemed almost like daytime. Thousands of stars twinkled against an ebony background while flirtatious fireflies were carried on the evening breeze. The melodic sound of some exotic night bird sweetened the air, and somewhere in the distance Jilliana could hear the sound of rushing water.

"Are we almost there?" she asked breathlessly as he paused to taste her tempting lips once more.

He lowered her until her feet almost touched the ground, but with strong hands pressed her to his body. "We have arrived," he said against her lips.

She turned and watched, entranced by a rushing stream that glistened like silver. "It's lovely—almost magical."

He turned her to face him. "You make it magical."

Their mouths met and fused. Slowly their bodies drifted downward onto the sweet summer grass, the wonderful aroma enhanced by wild clover.

"I love you, Jilliana," he said, holding her as gently as he would the most fragile flower.

"And I love you," she answered, her eyes glowing as if lit by hundreds of candles.

He gently traced the outline of her face with his thumb. "You do know that this may be the last night we can ever have together?"

Sadness filled her heart as she nodded her head. "Yes, I know."

His hand drifted into her hair and he pulled her forward. "I will make this a night you will never forget. I will always remember you as you are now, with the starlight in your eyes and moonbeams reflecting off your hair."

She took his face between her hands and a sob broke from her lips. "Every night of my life, when I am alone in my bed, I shall relive this moment with you."

"Jilliana, some people have a lifetime together and never know love. We are fortunate, we have only one night, but a lifetime of love."

There were softly murmured words, gentle caresses, lips that hungrily sought reassurance, but created only an aching need. Ruyen slowly and deliberately undressed her, savoring each moment, then she did the same for him.

At last they stood before each other in all their naked glory. He held his arms out to her and she seemed to float to him.

Suddenly touching was not enough. Hot passion flowed between them, fusing and molding them into one body, one mind, one love.

Hardly able to control his passion, Ruyen spread her legs and plunged into her, but remembering the baby that was nourished there, he gentled his movements.

"No one has ever loved as deeply as I, Ruyen," she breathed in his ear.

He could not speak for the pain her words caused him. He felt tears fill his eyes, and was unashamed because of the deep love they shared.

"My heart, my love," he murmured. "Time is our only enemy."

Her face was wet with tears, and he gently kissed them away. They rode the waves of passion. Intoxicating pressure was building inside Jilliana, and she cried out when her body experienced glorious pleasure.

Throughout the night they lay beside each other, sometimes talking softly and often their minds meeting in silence. Jilliana did not want to fall asleep because she did not want to miss one moment of this time with Ruyen. But just before dawn, she drifted off, while he held her cradled in his arms, his lips pressed against her sweet-smelling hair.

The sun was still below the horizon when Ruyen kissed her awake. She stretched and wound her arms about his neck.

"Why did you let me sleep?"

He smiled. "I like watching you. You are beautiful." He gathered her in his arms. "Can you swim?"

"Of course not."

He laughed as he waded into the water while she clung to his neck. "Then you will just have to trust me."

Lovingly, she pressed her cheek to his. "I trust you with my life."

As the sparkling water washed over them, they laughed, splashed, and played like two children just discovering life. Then the sun lit the sky with its golden light and Jilliana became silent, for their time was nearing its end.

Without a word, Ruyen took her hand and led her out of the water. Gently, he helped her dress and then dressed himself.

His eyes were soft as he looked at her. "It is time for us to leave."

"How can I bear it?" she asked.

"You must."

"What about my men, and what about Netta. I cannot leave without them."

"Jilliana, I will do what I can to help them. But you must leave today. You promised."

She lowered her head, praying she would not cry. "I will keep my word."

There, with the morning mist covering the land and the sun spiraling through the branches of the tall trees, they embraced.

"Oh, Ruyen, we wasted so much time fighting each other. If only ... if only—"

Jilliana never finished what she was about to say. Loud voices called out and horses snorted and reared about them. They were surrounded by Queen Melesant's soldiers!

Ruyen pushed Jilliana behind him and lunged for his sword that lay just out of reach.

"Hold, Your Highness," Escobar said, his eyes darting up and down with excitement. "Do not make me give the order to end your life."

"Bastard!" Ruyen cried as he gripped the handle of his sword. Rolling to his feet, he stood before Jilliana. "Your fight is with me. Let her go, and I'll accompany you peacefully."