Velvet Bond (36 page)

After offering his thanks, Raynor handed the object to his daughter with a flourish. “My lady.”

Willow was completely entranced, and accepted the toy with enormous brown eyes. “Thank you, Papa,” she breathed. She turned to the robust merchant, who smiled widely, showing large, widely spaced teeth. “My thanks to you.”

When she tried to make it work as her father had done, the toy refused to obey her tiny hands, but she did not cry, merely looking to Elizabeth for help. Elizabeth laughed and told her that it would simply take some practice to work the thing properly. With a determined expression, Willow tucked it under her arm.

Elizabeth and Raynor exchanged a tolerant glance. They thanked the man again and moved on.

As she watched the little girl, Elizabeth could see that, despite the fact that she was not related to Raynor by blood, she was often like him in her manner. He often placed things beneath his arm just that way to carry them.

Elizabeth realized she was wearing a ridiculous grin, then also realized that she didn’t care. Never had she been so happy as she was at this moment.

She had her husband and her child—for she did think of Willow as her own, as surely as if she had borne the little girl herself. No matter that she hoped to give birth to Raynor’s babe, Willow would ever be her daughter in all but flesh.

Drawing a deep breath of sheer happiness as they moved along, Elizabeth caught a deliciously spicy scent and realized that she was hungry. Glancing about, Elizabeth saw that the clove-and-cinnamon-laden smell of roasted pears came from a booth to her right.

She looked up at Raynor from beneath her black lashes. “I find I am famished, my lord husband. I fear I was most wakeful during the night, and need more sustenance than usual.” From the darkening of his walnut eyes, Elizabeth knew he understood what she was saying. They had made love until the wee hours of the morning, when they had fallen into each other’s arms, sated, at least for that moment.

Raynor smiled down at her, his expression warm with suppressed desire. He leaned close to her ear. “Ah, my lovely maid, I had best feed you then, for I would see you have enough strength to sustain the same level of activity this eve.”

A pretty blush colored her creamy skin, and her blue eyes brightened. “You are most considerate of my health and happiness, my dearest lord.”

He laughed, kissing her with barely held longing, and her toes fair curled with response as she thought of the coming night with anticipation.

Then, with great reluctance, Raynor turned to purchase the three of them roasted pears.

The fruit was delicious, and just the right temperature to hold in the hand. When hers was gone, Elizabeth licked her fingers with delight, blushing anew when Raynor took her hand to flick away a morsel with his own tongue.

She gasped at the heat that coursed through her lower belly. “Raynor, not before the child! What will she think?”

A bawdy chuckle escaped him, and then he sobered, meeting her uncertain gaze. “She will think nothing but that I love her mother very much.” He turned to Willow, who watched them with a grin as she finished her pear. “Is that not true, little one? Do you not see how I love your mother?”

“Aye, you love her.” She nodded sagely. “And I love Mother, too.”

Elizabeth’s heart soared at the words. It was the first time Willow had addressed her in this manner, and she determined anew to be worthy of the title. She, too, would protect Willow from all that might hurt her, regardless of the cost, and that included Nigel Harrington. She leaned down and gave the tiny girl a hug.

When Elizabeth looked up at Raynor, he seemed to sense how much the moment meant to her, to them as a family, for he reached down and picked Willow up. They continued on that way, their daughter nestled in the crook of his arm.

In the center of the rows of tents, a space had been left clear. As they entered it, Elizabeth saw that the area had not been left bare by accident. A loose crowd of observers were grouped around a troupe of acrobatic entertainers who performed at its center.

As they stopped to watch the exhibition, Elizabeth saw Olwyn in the crowd across from her. And the serving woman was not alone.

At her side stood Bronic.

Clearly he had decided to make his suit known to all. The very attentive air he directed toward the tall blond woman told the world of his feelings. Though he did not touch her in this public setting, Bronic’s attention and care were totally centered on Olwyn.

And hers on him. She seemed oblivious of everything as she stared up into the golden-haired man’s blue eyes.

Elizabeth could not prevent herself smiling as she nudged Raynor.

He looked where she directed, then smiled himself. His expression when he turned to his wife was one of gladness. “I am well pleased,” he said. “Bronic loves her. I hope she will make him as happy as you have me.”

Elizabeth nodded. “They are most suited to each other.” Her shrug was teasingly smug. “Though I knew that from the very beginning.”

Her husband raised dark brows. “Oh, did you now?”

“Aye,” she told him. “As I knew we were.”

As if he could not help himself, Raynor kissed her, to Willow’s pleased laughter.

Elizabeth realized he had been right before. It was good for Willow to see them happy, to see them loving each other.

But feeling her pulse beat increase so drastically with just that simple kiss, Elizabeth knew it would be best for her to turn her attention to something else. At least for the moment.

When they were alone, now, that would be another matter entirely.

The acrobats were a true wonder. There were five of them, dressed in colorful costumes of brightly patterned reds and blues. And they appeared to have no small amount of skill in their work. Having seen such performances before, at the king’s court, Elizabeth felt she had some basis for deciding this.

She watched as a man climbed atop the shoulders of his fellow, then stood on his hands while the one beneath hopped on one leg.

The crowd of onlookers cheered in encouragement while the men went on to demonstrate other such astounding feats. They made human towers, walked on their hands while singing, and tumbled over and about one another in wild abandon.

Willow clapped happily in her father’s arms at each new trick, and they began to bow and smile in her direction, obviously marking her as the daughter of the house. Elizabeth felt Willow was truly an adorable child, but she also knew this deference was part of the performance.

She shrugged. It was no shame for these men to pay special attention to the family of the one who might give them a few coppers. They had to earn their livelihood.

Besides, Willow was enjoying the special attention greatly, if her squeals of delight were any indication.

While the five began to string a sturdy line from the stone wall to a heavy post in the ground, Raynor turned to set Willow on the ground beside Elizabeth. When he straightened, he smiled at her warmly. “I have just remembered something I have to do, Elizabeth. Would you be so good as to excuse me for a few minutes?”

Pensively she frowned. The barely suppressed excitement in his dark eyes made her wonder what he was about. But she said nothing. Raynor was up to something, but she trusted him enough to know it was something good. The frown disappeared.

She smiled at her husband, lazily, seductively. “Aye, my lord. But do not be so very long that I forget who brought me to the fair.”

He gave her a swift, hard hug, whispering intimate reminders of exactly why she would not forget him. The words, however hurried and low, left her feeling weak at the knees, and even more eager for night to fall.

He held her away from him then, his eyes knowing as he saw the desire in hers. “I will return ere long. Stay right here.”

“Yes,” she answered breathlessly.

As Raynor left them, she watched his broad back with an incredible sense of yearning. And unaccountably she was reminded of the loneliness she’d known so many times in the past, watching his back as he walked away from her. Quickly Elizabeth set the thought aside. All that was gone. Raynor could accept his love for her now, and would not reject her again.

Elizabeth came out of her reverie when she felt a tug on her skirt. Looking down, she saw Willow studying her strangely.

“Well?” the child questioned.

“What is it, love?” Elizabeth asked. “I am sorry I was not attending that first time.”

“Why are the men putting up that rope?” She pointed a chubby finger toward the scene before them.

“Well, I cannot imagine,” Elizabeth told Willow, her blue eyes round with feigned wonder. “But if we watch, we are sure to find out. Don’t you think?” Elizabeth did have some idea of what was to happen, but she didn’t want to give it away and spoil Willow’s delight in the possible surprise of seeing the men walk on that piece of rope.

Soon the next phase of the act began, and Elizabeth saw that her suspicions had proved true. And the expression of complete amazement and awe on Willow’s face told her she had been right to keep the knowledge to herself.

Soon Elizabeth’s gaze was as rapt as the child’s.

The men had certainly been agile on the ground. But what was amazing was that they were equally gifted in performing on the thin rope. They did more acrobatics, climbed into pyramids, jumped and pirouetted. Never had Elizabeth seen anything more amazing.

Elizabeth found herself cheering them on with the rest of the crowd. When she looked about, she saw that the throng of onlookers was now quite heavy. Some of the crowd began to throw coins, which were quickly scooped up by the ones who took their respective turns on the ground.

After the man on the rope had done a backward somersault, Elizabeth looked down to see how Willow was reacting to this new amazement, and realized the child was no longer beside her.

Immediately Elizabeth glanced across the circle of faces to where Olwyn had been standing before. Mayhap Willow had gone to her. Olwyn was no longer there. Searching the crowd, Elizabeth could find neither her companion nor the child.

An unbidden sense of dread rose up inside her like oil in water, covering the surface of her contentment. There were many strangers in the keep. It was not safe for the child to be wandering about alone. But Elizabeth fought to push the feeling down. Willow had simply wandered away. Perhaps she had even seen Olwyn leave the area, and was with her at this very moment.

Yes, she told herself with determination. She would surely find them together.

With this in mind, she set off in search of them.

And as she moved through the now thick crowds, watching for any sign of those she sought, she began to wonder where Raynor was. He had said he would not be long. Elizabeth had no idea of how long she had watched the acrobats, but it had surely been some time.

She became doubly determined to find Willow before Raynor realized she was missing. For Elizabeth did not want to worry him. He was fearful for the child at the best of times. This incident must not be allowed to mar the day he had worked so hard to provide them.

It was only a moment later that Elizabeth spied Olwyn standing beside Jean, who was attending one of the cooking fires, where a whole pig turned on the spit. Willow was not with them. Elizabeth’s heart sank, and as she approached, the two women looked at her.

Obviously Olwyn saw by Elizabeth’s expression that something was wrong. “What is it?” she asked.

Elizabeth made no effort to hide her burgeoning panic now. “Willow—have you seen her?”

Olwyn shook her head, grasping the situation immediately. Her expression grew fixed with worry. “Nay, not since I saw her with you at the performers. How long has she been missing?”

“Oh, dear me, Lord!” Jean cried in a harsh voice, causing Elizabeth to turn to her. The woman held her hand to her bosom, and her face was white with dread.

“What is it?” Elizabeth asked.

“My girl Hyla, she was here in the keep, not more than minutes ago!”

“Yes?” Elizabeth prodded. Hyla had been banned from the keep, and should certainly not be there, but what had that to do with Willow? Surely the woman could not wish to seriously harm the child.

“Oh, my lady! I should have called the guards and had her taken away, I should! As soon as she told me!”

“Told you what?” Elizabeth was near to screaming in frustration.

But Jean rattled on as if she hadn’t heard. “Yes, that’s what I should have done, as soon as she told me she was living at Harrington keep. But she said she’d only come back to see me. Not to make any mischief. Even asked me where little Willow might be. Said she wanted to be sure and stay clear of her and Lord Raynor and his lady.”

Elizabeth felt her heart sink to her shoes, and she swayed as the blood rushed in her head. Dear God, no. Nigel. As panic rose up to grip her throat, Elizabeth grabbed Jean by the shoulders and shook her. “Think now, how long has it been since you spoke with her?”

Jean was crying now. “Oh, some time, my lady. She’s gone and done it, hasn’t she? Taken our babe?”

Think, Elizabeth told herself, you must think of what to do. Letting go of the other woman, Elizabeth turned to Olwyn. “Go and find Raynor. Tell him what has happened. I will go on ahead. Mayhap, if I am quick, I can catch up to them.”