The Prize (38 page)

"Nicholaa, you never asked me why I ordered this table moved to the center of the room," he began.

"It isn't my place to question your orders, husband," she answered, repeating his own dictate back to him.

He smiled.

She decided then he was happy because she remembered that lecture.

"I had the table moved because the floorboards under the spot where it used to stand have almost completely rotted through. By all rights, the table should have crashed through to the lower level long ago."

Nicholaa hadn't realized the floors were in such bad condition. She forced herself to keep smiling as she waited for Royce to continue.

"It's a miracle the entire floor hasn't collapsed," Thomas interjected.

Royce nodded. "The second floor is rotted as well. Thomas doesn't believe it can be reinforced."

Thomas volunteered additional information. Nicholaa noticed that Royce nudged the vassal first. "The entire structure should be torn down and a new one built," Thomas blurted out.

"The cost will be four times greater if the baron tries to save this one," Lawrence added.

Nicholaa didn't react to this news. She knew Royce was only telling her the truth. How often had her mother remarked that the keep was falling down around them? Nicholaa remembered the heated debates between her parents. Papa had wanted to leave things just the way they were. He hated change. Mother had been more practical. Nicholaa realized she took after her father; she also hated change. Then she noticed how concerned the three men looked as they stared at her. They were in league together, gently planting the seeds of her eventual acceptance.

Her husband obviously did care about her feelings after all. "I haven't made a final decision," Royce announced in a gruff, no-nonsense voice.

He wasn't telling her the truth. He'd made his decision, all right, but he wanted to give her time to get use to the idea first.

She smiled at her husband and went back to arranging the flowers. All three warriors continued to watch her. She caught Royce's shrug out of the corner of her eye. "I know how much this home means to you, wife. If possible, I'll—"

She finished his sentence for him. "Try to save the keep?"

He nodded. She shook her head. "You mustn't consider my feelings. This is your holding now, not mine. Do what you feel is best. Whatever you decide will be fine with me."

Thomas and Lawrence sighed. Royce frowned. His wife's easy acceptance bothered him.

"We'll discuss this later," he announced.

"If it will please you," she answered.

She was being too accommodating. He was immediately suspicious. He decided to put his wife's unusual behavior out of his mind for the rest of the day and focus his attention on training his soldiers.

Nicholaa continued to arrange the flowers so that she could hear her husband's plans for the day. She was hoping for a word about her brother.

Her patience was finally rewarded. Justin, Lawrence told Royce, was beginning to work within the unit. He still showed no allegiance to the others, but his hostility had lessened and he was giving his opinions more and more often. Lawrence thought that was a good start.

Royce agreed. He noticed how his wife was pulling and tugging on the flowers and took mercy on her. "Nicholaa, would you like to speak to your brother today?"

She almost knocked the vase over. "Oh, yes, I would like to," she answered in a rush. "I couldn't help overhearing your remarks about Justin getting along now, Lawrence. Is my brother also feeling well?"

The vassal smiled. "Yes, my lady, though in truth I haven't asked him," he admitted.

Nicholaa walked over to stand by her husband. She was looking at Lawrence. "You are training Justin, then?"

Royce gave his vassal permission to explain. "I've always been commander of the new soldiers," Lawrence said. "I do very little training in weapons and attack methods, however. My task is to strengthen their bodies. When I feel they're as fit as possible, then they'll move up into Royce's ranks."

"So that is why they are taking those heavy stones from one pile and putting them in another? It isn't punishment, after all?"

"Nicholaa, the soldiers aren't my enemies," Royce interjected, clearly exasperated. "We serve two purposes with that duty. Those men will build a new wall, much wider and taller than the old one, for I want a larger area in which to train," he explained. "And the work will strengthen the men." She nodded, letting him know she understood.

"When will I see Justin? Should I go down to the soldiers' quarters? Yes, I should," she answered in a rush. "I want to make certain Justin has enough blankets for the cold nights."

Royce tried not to laugh. He could just imagine the embarrassment Justin would feel if she tried to coddle him. "You may see him later. I'll send him to the courtyard."

Royce was as good as his word, of course. Nicholaa paced back and forth along the edge of the inner courtyard for what seemed like hours before she spotted her brother walking up the slope toward her. She started running to meet him. Tears came to her eyes, but she forced herself to stop that foolishness.

Nicholaa threw herself into Justin's arms and hugged him tight. How fit he looked! The color was back in his face, and when she finally pulled away and looked up into his eyes, she knew without a doubt that he was going to be all right.

She couldn't find her voice. She kissed his chin and finally let go of him.

"You look happy, sister," Justin announced, his voice gruff with emotion.

"I am happy," she answered. "Happy to see you."

"The baron treats you well?"

He was already beginning to frown when she answered him. "Oh, yes, very well," she said. "He's kind and patient with me."

His frown eased away. He actually laughed when she added that she was also being kind and patient with him.

"Are you getting enough to eat, Justin? Do you have enough blankets at night? Do you need anything?"

"I have enough," Justin answered. He turned and saw Ingelram and Bryan watching. Justin's voice was a bit more gruff when he said, "I'm not a boy, Nicholaa. Do not treat me as such."

She didn't realize they had an audience, nor did she see Royce coming up the slope toward them. Her gaze was fully directed on her brother's face. The sun had darkened his skin and lightened his blond hair. She hadn't realized what a handsome man Justin was becoming.

"Did you know Ulric left?" she asked.

Justin nodded. "The baron told me."

Nicholaa noticed that her brother's voice had taken on a hard edge. "You aren't concerned about Ulric, are you? He'll be well taken care of by Duncan and Millicent," she said.

"No, I'm not concerned," Justin answered. "Ulric will be happy with them."

"Then why are you frowning?" she asked.

"The baron told me Thurston came here. He shouldn't have."

Justin's voice was flat, devoid of emotion. Nicholaa didn't know what to make of that reaction.

Then Royce interrupted them. "Justin, you have one afternoon a week away from your duties. This isn't it. Say good-bye to your sister. Ingelram and Bryan are waiting."

Justin immediately separated himself from his sister and turned to bow to his baron. Nicholaa didn't want him to leave just yet. She reached out to detain him and noticed that his entire left arm was covered with black leather. Two wide loops from elbow to shoulder held the covering in place.

Royce also noticed the contraption. "What's this?" he asked. Justin turned back to his baron just as Bryan and Ingelram came forward. "Bryan made this for me," Justin muttered with a shrug, his gaze on the ground. Royce took hold of one of the two loops. "When you begin training with the Hawks, I'd advise you not to wear this," he announced.

"Would they jeer him, Baron?" Ingelram asked, frowning over that possibility.

Royce laughed. Lord, they were ignorant… and young. He twisted the loop until he had it firmly wedged between his fingers. He kept his gaze on Justin all the while. The boy's face was turning red. "They won't jeer him," he told Ingelram. "But they sure as hell will take advantage."

Royce tightened his hold until Justin could barely move. "Then they'll take their sweet time as they beat some sense into Justin for wearing such a contraption."

Nicholaa was horrified when her husband laughed at Justin. She didn't interfere, though, and when the full explanation had been given, even she realized that the leather covering wasn't a protection but a weapon that could be used against her brother.

Justin understood, too. As soon as Royce let go, her brother took the covering off.

"You've been excused," Royce told the three soldiers.

In unison they bowed to their baron and turned to leave. Justin walked between Bryan and Ingelram. Nicholaa stood next to Royce as she watched her brother walk down the first slope.

She didn't realize she'd taken her husband's hand. He could feel her trembling. He squeezed. "Do you feel better now that you've spoken to Justin?"

She kept her gaze on her brother's back. "Yes."

Then Ingelram's voice reached her. The young soldier obviously thought he was far enough away not to be overheard. "Are you getting enough to eat?" he drawled out in a horrible imitation of a woman's high-pitched voice.

Bryan immediately joined in. "Would you like my blanket tonight, Justin?"

Nicholaa's brother retaliated by shoving Ingelram with his left shoulder and trying to trip Bryan with his right foot.

Both Ingelram and Bryan were laughing, and—miracle of miracles—Justin joined in.

Royce forced himself not to laugh. He didn't want to hurt Nicholaa's feelings. He turned to look down at her and found her smiling.

"I was coddling him like a mother," she admitted. "He laughed, Royce, didn't he? I haven't heard his laughter in so long I'd forgotten. Thank you, husband."

He wasn't sure why she thanked him, but she suddenly threw herself into his arms and kissed him; His wife did lose a bit of her smile when he announced that she wouldn't be able to talk to Justin again until the first phase of his training was completed, in approximately sixty days. She didn't argue with him. Royce thought that was a nice change.

He didn't see his wife again until the dinner hour. She sat beside him at the table, but as soon as the meal was finished and he and Lawrence began to discuss their plans for the following day, Nicholaa excused herself from the table with the request that she be allowed to go up to the chamber.

That routine became the standard. A full two months passed in a peaceful, organized manner. There wasn't one outburst of anger, one surprise to put him on his guard, or one argument. Royce should have been pleased with this remarkable turnaround. He wasn't, though. Nicholaa hadn't lost her temper in almost sixty days. If she became any more serene, he thought he'd have to start checking to make certain the woman was still breathing.

Her attitude frustrated the hell out of him. She granted his every wish. Even before he realized he wanted something, she was there giving it to him.

Her passionate nature asserted itself only when they were in bed together and he was touching her. She couldn't act serene then. Royce was thankful for that blessing, but he wanted more. God's truth, he wanted his impossible wife back.

He missed her glares when she wasn't getting her way. He missed their arguments, too, especially the ones he couldn't possibly win because she was so stubbornly illogical. But most of all, he missed lecturing her.

Nicholaa wore a smile from the time she got out of the bed in the morning until she closed her eyes at night. It seemed to be a permanent condition, and it was making him daft. She couldn't be that happy. No one could be that happy. The sparkle was missing from her eyes, too. She didn't laugh, either.

But then, laughter was spontaneous, wasn't it? And Nicholaa didn't do anything spontaneous anymore.

God help him, he'd done this to her. He took full blame for the change in her. He was getting exactly what he'd set out to get. The problem was finding a way to undo the damage. He considered one plan after another, but none seemed acceptable. Then Justin solved his problem for him—rather nicely, too. It was mid-June. Royce was in the lower bailey supervising the training of the experienced soldiers. Lawrence, who commanded the Doves, rarely requested Royce's assistance.

Today proved to be an exception however. Lawrence called Royce down to the lower hill, and when his baron reached his side, the vassal motioned for Ingelram and Bryan to begin sparring.

Justin stood to one side, waiting his turn.

"Those three have become fast friends," Lawrence remarked. "I'm pleased with Justin's progress on the whole. You can see he's regained the weight he lost, added a bit more bulk, too. Swinging a sword and lifting stones have added to his muscle. Aye, he's coming along nicely."

Ingelram knocked Bryan to the ground, let out a shout of victory, then turned to Justin. Bryan rolled out of the way as Justin swaggered forward. Ingelram and Justin put on quite a show for their baron. Several other soldiers formed a wide circle to watch.