The Lady of Fairhaven (31 page)

The messenger turned to leave, saying nothing else. Luke’s frustration grew. They stood at a vulnerable spot. Should they remain, they put themselves in the path of arrows and hot oil or sand. If they retreated to a safe distance, they might miss the opening of the gate. Both men stood fast and their warriors with them.

As they waited, the far off sounds of metal against metal reached their ears. Although they could not make out what was being said, they could see men running from the walls. Obviously, Giles had surprised the defenders within the castle.

Anxious to join the fray, Luke and his men instead had to wait for as ‘Giles and his men fought their way to the portcullis gears. They were soon relieved to see the portcullis moving upward. Soon they too were inside, overpowering the meager castle defense.

Anger over his father’s menacing blows, his sister’s abduction, and Gillian’s suffering surged through Luke’s veins. Every muscle tightened in anticipation of striking a blow against the enemy. Moving forward with both strength and grace, each man Luke faced fell under the power and emotional drive now concentrated in each stroke of his blade.

Five men were slain by his hand before Luke looked around to the isolated skirmishes still ensuing. The skirmish had emotionally cleansed his bloodlust. He now watched as many castle defenders now surrendered and were taken prisoner. After a matter of minutes of brutal fighting, the entire siege was at an end.

Lowering himself from his horse, Luke stormed the great hall, his sword drawn, ready to claim the manor that rightfully belonged to his family. The rustle of ruffled petticoats and kirtle alerted Luke to where Lady Katherine had gathered her skirts preparing for retreat. One fearful glance was shot in his direction before the lady bolted for the stairs.

Luke strode with the ease and confidence of a well-practiced, assured warrior. His hand caught the flesh of Katherine’s arm as she skittered up the first set of stairs. A squeal of surprise and pain spurt out of her mouth when his fingertips bit into her skin.

Refusing to let go, Luke roughly escorted Lady Katherine into the great hall. “Where are Lady Alyssa and Lady Gillian?” Luke demanded hotly. His patience had worn thin over the past few days.

“
Lady Alyssa is my honored guest,” Katherine said coolly.

“
Where?” Luke bellowed. His imposing size standing just a foot in front of Katherine sent a ripple of fear coursing through her body. His eyes bore into hers with an emotion too filled with anger and loathing to read anything more.

“
You need not get so angry, Sir Luke,” Katherine purred. However, the squaring of her shoulders fooled no one. Her fear was basic and complete, robbing her of breath and strength in her legs. She wobbled slightly, hoping she could draw his body seductively close to hers. Finally she walked over to Luke and smiled. “She has been well treated. You will see for yourself.”

“
You had best be telling the truth. For you shall suffer the fate of either woman should they have been mistreated.”

Luke saw Katherine visibly pale. The muscle in Luke’s jaw ticked to his racing heartbeat as he studied the woman. Luke suddenly grabbed Katherine by both arms. His fingers pinched into the tender flesh until she yelped in pain. Never letting go he propelled her forward with a push. Katherine stumbled slightly and Luke merely steadied her.

“
Where are you hiding Gillian?” Luke growled ominously.

“
How should I know where the silly little chit would be?” Katherine spat.

Luke’s arms forced her to look into his determined face. “I know you’ve had her here. Tell me what you’ve done with her.” His face was just inches from hers.

“
I know naught,” Katherine repeated. “I’ve done naught with her, neither good nor bad. You falsely accuse me sir.”

“
Your words had better prove to be true.” Luke turned her by the arm and again pushed her along the corridor. Her arm bruised under his rough touch.

Upstairs, outside Alyssa’s room, a guard stood. Katherine waved him away. “Just a safeguard to make sure your sister remains out of danger.

Luke knew better. He signaled for two of his men to take the knight’s sword and escort him outside with the others. He then opened the door. Inside stood Alyssa. She was pacing back and forth. Upon seeing Luke she cried and raced into his open arms. His embrace cradled her quivering body.

Her kirtle was one Luke recognized as Gillian’s. It was an emerald green, which highlighted the green in Gillian’s hazel eyes. Alyssa looked tired and unhappy, but healthy.

“
Oh Luke, you’ve come for us.” Alyssa exclaimed. Her voice broke down into a series of sobs.

“
Are you well?” Luke asked. God help Katherine if she said no.

“
After I was brought here from the dungeon, I have been cared for, although I have not been allowed out of this room.” Alyssa’s cries melted together uncontrollably.

“
What were you doing in the dungeon?” Luke asked. His voice lowered to a whisper.

“
When we were brought to Fairhaven, we were pushed into the dungeon and left there for some time. I do not know how long. We were left alone without the aid of candles. Mayhap it was two days, maybe more. There was no food, nor little water. It was horrible, Luke.” Alyssa again broke down into hysterical weeping. This time she was unable to stop.

Luke’s strong arms continued to wrap around his frail sister. His gaze met Katherine’s over the top of Alyssa’s head. “What have you to say about her claims?”

“
I told you truthfully. I did nothing to Lady Alyssa. I was occupied and I neglected to properly care for her, but as you can see she is well.”

Luke started to reach out to grab Katherine. His countenance had darkened to ungovernable proportions. Damn this black-hearted witch! Luke moved again toward Katherine, but Alyssa tugged him back to her.

“
Luke, have you found Lady Gillian?” she asked weakly. “We were brought here together, but only I was brought in here.”

“
Where is she?” Luke shouted wildly. His eyes narrowed to furious slits causing Katherine to step back and away. His hands reached out and grasped both shoulders. He gave her a shake. “Where!”

“
I’m sure I do not know what you mean, sir,” Katherine said with more force than she felt.

“
You will be locked into the dungeon until you talk,” Luke declared.

Katherine swayed. Her knees buckled and Luke’s rough grip bit once again into her bruised skin. He stalked off down the stairs yanking her along at his rapid pace. She stumbled twice, but his brutal grip saved her from a nasty fall.

The entire trip to the dungeon, Katherine begged for him to have mercy upon her. Luke was not listening to the amoral wench. It would do her good to sit and reflect on her unscrupulous ways.

At the top of the steps, Luke grabbed a candle and lit it. Momentarily freed, Katherine tried to escape, but Luke gave her a toss and she fell down the last of the steps to the dirt floor below. She squealed in pain as she landed. Uncaring of her condition, Luke wrenched her to her feet then tossed her once again toward the cells.

Behind him, Luke heard a noise. It was a young man hiding in the shadows. “What are you doing here in the dark, lad?” Luke barked out.

“
I am here to bring food to the Lady Gillian,” the boy said. “I have been bringing her food and water as often as I could, but,” Cedric paused for a moment, caught in emotion. “But I was delayed this time because of the fighting. I fear she is dead. No matter how much I call to her, she remains silent.” He pointed to the small form huddled in the corner of a cell.

The sight of Gillian in her chemise curled up in a corner of the cell shook Luke more than any battle he had ever experienced. “Gillian, its Luke. I have come to take you away from here.” He was unnerved as Gillian lay still as stone. His heart clenched.

“
What have you done to her? And where are the keys to this cell?” Luke asked as he took a step forward. He placed his hands around Katherine’s neck and began to squeeze.

“
I did naught to her. Not really. I just left her here,” Katherine said in her defense. “The responsibility remains elsewhere.”

“
I hold you responsible. Where is the key?” Luke growled.

“
In my room.” Katherine squeaked under the increased pressure of Luke’s hands around her neck.

“
Stay with Lady Gillian,” Luke said in a voice that would brook no opposition.

In an instant Luke released Katherine’s throat and grabbed her wrist. Up the stairs he strode, with Katherine skip stepping to catch up with his furious pace.

Once in her room, he released her arm and demanded the key. Reluctantly, Katherine opened a drawer and reached in. She turned and handed over the key. “It’s probably too late. You know I have control of the castle now and we could live here quite comfortably together. Happy.”

Luke looked at her with astonishment. Then, pulling his arm back, he released every ounce of strength he could muster, letting loose like a cannon with the back of his hand against Katherine’s face. She was hurled across the room. “You are quite mad, Lady Katherine. I’m sure there is a place quite suitable to women such as you. In the meantime, you shall be comfortably housed in the dungeon.” He then grabbed the nearly unconscious woman and carried her by her arms back down the stairs to the dungeon.

As quickly as he could, Luke descended the stairs with Katherine in tow. When he reached the cell Gillian was in, Luke unlocked the door and tossed Katherine inside.

On his knees beside her, Luke touched Gillian’s face softly, tenderly. Instantly, she screamed in terror. Her hands swatted frantically at his hand. “No! Get off me. No!”

Relieved she was still alive, Luke’s hands gathered her smaller ones in his and held on tight. “Gillian, wake up. You are caught in a bad dream.”

“
No!” Gillian screamed. Her hands tugged violently away from Luke’s. Her fingers swatted his away as though they brought certain death. Luke captured her wrists to keep her from hurting herself.

Ragged and frayed tears dotted her chemise in every possible spot. Rat feces dotted and stained the thin material that had no chance to protect her from the cold damp air of the dungeon. Her dark smudged fragile features haunted Luke. Every motion took great effort and her hands shook from exhaustion as she attempted to crawl back and away from the new intruder in her cell.

Luke swept Gillian into his arms. “I have come for you, love,” he whispered for her only. “Let me take you to your room.”

Finding a source of warmth, Gillian snuggled her tangled dirty hair against Luke’s neck. The gentle rhythm of his gait as he climbed the stairwell to her bedchamber lulled her to sleep.

Luke sat on the bed next to Gillian. She had lost a good deal of weight since last he had seen her. She had not been a large woman before her confinement. And now, well now-if he had not known her well he might have had trouble recognizing her. She was hardly more than skin over bones, and he feared she might die. The spirit he admired seemed somehow veiled or defeated as she rested propped up in goose down and covered with soft woolen blankets.

Every inch of her body was covered with grime. A small army of household help swarmed around her, busy with a specific task. Hot water and herbs were placed in a bathtub. It was then that two women began shooing him out of the room as if he were a naughty puppy.

“
You Sir, are not needed here,” one older household maid informed him. She sounded like the lord of the manor. That was the last he heard until he was summoned some time later.

Finally Luke was summoned back to Gillian’s room. The servants kept a wary eye on him. He approached and took survey of Gillian once she had been cleaned. He leaned close. His warrior’s hands clasped her smaller, tender ones and he tenderly kissed her knuckles. Pressing her palm against his cheek, he prayed for swift healing. Every muscle tensed with the agony of worry. The sweet scent of her filled his lungs. Desperation shot through him and he trembled with the thought of losing her. Her sunny smile and bright laughter had conquered his will and now he craved to have those for all time.

But he was still torn. Only two days after taking Fairhaven, word had come that his father had died. This sadness, mixed with his improper love for Gillian, had torn at him almost every waking hour. But watching over her the past few days had strengthened his resolve to claim her. This time he was determined to keep her close, if only she could survive.

Silently, he sat lost in his study of the perfection of her face until the healer’s crooked hand against his back jerked him back to the present.

“
Please!” he implored the old woman, “Help her.” His eyes revealed the despair he felt at his lady’s condition and silently appealed to the woman to restore her health.

“
God willing,” the old woman said. Her knowing smile reassured Luke and he nodded. “I shall do my very best, sir. She is an angel sent to Fairhaven and for you too, I think. If you please, sir, I would need a large quantity of meaty broth. From what I hear she had been without food for some days. We had to start her back on food, but very slowly. She is recovering, and in a few days may be able to leave her bed for short walks.”

“
Whatever you wish, just ask and it will be provided,” Luke said as he watched. “Thank you for helping,” Luke said. His hand brushed lightly on her arm as she fussed over Gillian. “I will order the broth.” He turned and rushed for the kitchen, happy to provide some service, no matter how small.