Velvet & steel (19 page)

Royce's lips lingered against hers, tasting the sweetness and slowly savoring it as if there were nothing and no one in their world but them.

"Ah, Lynette, how I will miss you. Just the thought has made me lonely."

His eyes captured her gaze, and she could feel her breath become short and fast; her heart's steady beat began a new and rapid rhythm. Again she met his kiss eagerly, her soft lips warm and moist against his. The blood surged through his veins, as wild and turbulent as the ocean's waves in a storm.

Then he lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed, heated by her warm and willing response. He kissed her long and passionately, and the building passion exploded through him like flame. The same throbbing need tore through her with such force that she could only breathe his name.

They fell to the bed together, and soft laughter followed as they untangled themselves from clothes that seemed to number more than they had donned in the morning.

Soon they lay flesh to flesh, and he caressed the smooth coolness of her body until she could hardly think. Almost of their own volition, her hands returned his heated seeking and brushed the breadth of his chest and lean ribs. They sought more and more of each other's touch, holding at bay the end to this magnificent torment.

But the passion spiraled upward, ever upward until neither could bear it. When he joined their bodies she trembled with the joy of it, and moved with him to a shattering climax.

Later they lay together, savoring these few stolen moments for as long as they could.

"Royce?" Lynette said quietly.

"Mmm?"

"What of Cerise?"

Royce considered this for a long time. "I would like nothing better than for her to stay here with me. But I will be at court most of the time, and she would be allowed no freedom, for I could not guard her as I should. It would be better for her to go with you."

"Maybe we should go to her now and tell her so that she has time to prepare, for I think she will resist just a bit. She has found you, and will not let go so easily."

"That is heartening news, but we must look to her welfare."

"I will leave tomorrow?"

"In the morning. I would like as much distance between you and London as possible before you make camp. I will tell Robert to make the journey as fast as you can safely travel."

"Then I must be up and about the packing," she said, but Royce was not ready to release her so quickly.

"A few minutes more," he murmured as he pressed a soft kiss to the curve of her shoulder. "I would hold you for a while."

But the minutes passed, and still he could not release her. There was an urgency in his grip that could have made Lynette weep, for she knew he clung to happiness as if he might never hold it again.

When they went to Cerise, she was both excited and dismayed at the same time.

"Why can I not stay with you, Papa?"

"Because I will be away from here and I do not want you to be lonesome. If you go with Lynette, I will not have to worry. I will come for you as soon as I can ... or I will send for you as soon as possible."

Lynette knew what he meant. He would come for them ... if the wedding presented some problem, and he would send for them if all was well. She closed her eyes in a silent prayer.

Cerise and Lynette spent the next hour packing their things, while Royce spent the time making sure Robert knew just how careful he had to be.

That night when they all gathered for the evening meal, the entire company was doing its best to remain cheerful. Royce watched as each of his men, trying to be as subtle as possible, took the time to speak to Lynette and tell her how missed she would be, while they also tried not to show that they were overly concerned.

Royce would have been amused if he was not already missing Lynette and Cerise. Cerise was so excited that it was hard for Lynette to get her to bed. While she took over this task, Royce and the men were talking.

"Tearlach sounds overly sure of himself," Robert grumbled. "Mayhap his posturing was just for your benefit, and he has no plan."

"No," Royce disagreed. "Beltane is the one to bluster and to grow angry. But Tearlach is dangerously sure of himself. He is certain that William will change his plans, yet I cannot believe that is so."

"Nor can I," Giles said. "I know one thing. If Lynette's father dies and the king does change his mind, neither Lynette nor Cerise will be safe at Creganwald. Tearlach would like nothing better than to have Beltane master there, and himself in residence as ..." he shrugged. "You know what would happen to Lynette."

"Aye," Robert agreed. "How better to get back at you than to hold the two you value? You"—he looked closely at Royce— "would do whatever he demanded, and that would mean surrendering all."

"He will never have that pleasure," Royce said. "I will see Beltane dead before I will let him touch Lynette."

"We have gathered a small force, Royce," Giles said, "but how would we hold Creganwald with it if he has the king's word? It will mean disobedience."

"Then ... I will disobey," Royce said quietly. This silenced the group, for Royce's loyalty to William was well established.

None of them knew what to say, and one at a time they drifted from the group to consider private thoughts. Only Robert and Royce were near the fire when Lynette came down. She found a stool and sat near Royce.

"Lynette, we will leave very early in the morning. It would be best to travel as fast as we can. I do not want word to reach Tearlach until we are well gone." Robert spoke quietly, but Lynette already knew the danger if Tearlach chose to take them along the way.

"I will be ready, Robert. And do not worry about me. I have ridden hard over Creganwald many times. I, too, would be gone early, and hope to find my father's health improved. I would not find ..." She paused, and could not finish the thought. Royce took her hand, rose from his chair, and walked with her to the stairs.

Robert watched them go, and the old pain struck him. If Royce were to lose her, too... The thought was not one he wanted to face. He, too, sought his bed. After a while the hall grew quiet.

No one saw the young man who slipped from the hall and went to the stable. He led his horse out and rode into the night. He rode hard through the quiet streets of London in the wee hours of the morning. The man to whom he was to deliver the message was waiting, and he was well rewarded.

Tearlach crumpled the hastily scrawled note in his hand and smiled in satisfaction. "The lady and his brat leave for Creganwald in the morning," he said quietly, as if his thoughts dwelt on something pleasurable.

Beltane stood near, and his eyes reflected the same interest. "I shall follow."

"Nay, not yet. Let them arrive in safety."

"If I come to Creganwald after they are safely behind its walls, I will never be allowed inside."

"Royce will see that they are well protected on the road. Nay, in the morning you will ride to the court. There you will request that Giles and his sister, the Lady Oriel, accompany you to Creganwald."

"But it is well known that Giles is a friend of Royce's."

"Of course it is. How else will the doors of Creganwald open to you? The man is trusted, both by Robert and by all the men who follow Royce. If he rides with you and asks to enter, none will deny him. Even if you are there. They will suspect naught."

"Aye, there would be no reason not to open the doors, for there will be no fear of me."

"There will be no fear... and you will cause no concern. You will be charming, and attentive to the lady and the child. We will let word be known that she has welcomed you at Creganwald, and that you find her... enchanting."

"What can we gain from that? Let us take what we want."

"Can you not see the forest because of the trees? William will be the first to hear the rumors about the 'lady' of Creganwald. He will wonder that she has invited you within, and perhaps feel he has chosen the wrong man to hold Creganwald. That will make it easier for me to force him to make his decision."

"I have felt it is more than a 'decision.' "

"Aye, William will do as I have asked, because he is the man he is. But I will make it easier for him to make the decision."

"How will you bring the king to our way of thinking?"

"That is a secret I intend to share with no one... not even you."
Especially not you
, he thought. "It is enough that I give you Creganwald, and the wench. William thinks upon it at this moment, but he will find no way around it. It is now only a matter of time before I have what has taken me long years to get. Be content with that."

Beltane asked no more questions, but he considered how he would rid himself of the hold Tearlach had on him as well. He would rule Creganwald without any help from anyone... and he would enjoy Lynette for a long, long time.

Royce found it painful to let Lynette and Cerise go the next morning, but finally, in the first gray light of dawn, he watched them ride away.

When he re-entered his home, it suddenly felt very hollow and empty. He stood for a moment, realizing that he had lived a life of loneliness for years, until Lynette had opened the doors and shed light, casting out the shadows. He also realized what the empty years would be like if Lynette and Cerise were not part of his life. The thought would have overwhelmed him if the memory of Lynette's last kiss had not built a shield.

He had to be busy or his problems would seem insurmountable. He had his horse saddled and rode from the city, spending the balance of the day considering his plans for Creganwald ... and his future.

Giles was surprised when Oriel asked to accompany him to Creganwald a few days later. He knew there was no love for Lynette in it, and he had thought she meant to stay near Royce.

"Nay, brother, it is best I keep some distance between us. I would make peace with Lynette, and bury what has passed."

He was pleased, and agreed quickly. He hoped Oriel would find pleasure at Creganwald, and perhaps some peace for her troubled nature.

Robert was vastly relieved when Creganwald came into view. Lynette rushed to her father's chamber, to find that he was very ill indeed. He was abed, which was a rare thing for him. His breathing came in shallow gasps, and his color alarmed her. She could see the faint bluish color of his skin, and there was glistening perspiration on his brow. Lynette swallowed her fear and knelt beside him.

"Papa?"

"Lynette... my child . . , you have returned. Is ... is the wedding done with, then? Does Royce come... with you?"

"Nay, Papa, do not talk. You must get well."

"You are not wed?"

"The king had affairs to attend to, and the wedding will take place upon his return. Papa, why did you not send for me sooner?"

"Do not weep, child. I will be all right, now that you are here." He seemed to drift off into a shallow sleep, and Lynette took that time to see to the household, and to give orders for her father's care.

For the next three days, Lynette hovered over him, and there seemed to be no improvement. She was not the only one who worried about her father's condition; Robert was just as concerned. So concerned that when word came to him that Giles and Oriel had arrived with a body of men and sought entrance, he welcomed the addition of a friend.

Giles had not realized that Beltane rode with the company until they were well on their way. By then he was helpless to do anything about it, for Beltane was a knight of good standing with William and he could not challenge him. He decided to let Robert give him the advice he needed. He flinched inwardly when he considered Robert's reaction.

It was only after Robert had given orders to greet the guests and make them comfortable that the name Beltane was mentioned as one of the guests. He was stricken and raced down the stairs to find Giles, Oriel, and Beltane in the great hall. With them were a number of Beltane's trusted men. Robert had unwittingly let the enemy within.

Robert's glare at an ashen-faced Giles promised mayhem when he had the opportunity to get him alone. He sucked in a harsh breath and even harsher words and held it until reason took over. Giles was most likely a pawn and helpless to prevent Beltane from traveling where he would. He knew Giles's loyalty.

Robert walked into the room, and both men turned from their conversation to greet him. One in innocent friendship and the other with a satisfied and frighteningly open smile.

"Beltane, what do you do here at Creganwald?"

"I but seek friendly hospitality."

"The king ... ?"

"The king has not returned to London yet, Robert. We have traveled hard, and a horn of ale would quench a dry throat."

"Of course," Robert replied, and gave the order for ale to be brought. "Why do you travel so far from London now? I had thought your mind would be on the king's return."

"It is, but I feel safe in his decision and would determine for myself the condition of Creganwald."

At that moment Beltane's eye caught Lynette coming down the stairs. He watched her approach, and Robert watched him. He cursed himself again and again for the mistake he had just made. Yet he was not outnumbered, and he meant to put his men on their guard. They would keep a close eye on Beltane. One misstep, and Robert swore to himself that he would lock Beltane away, even if the king hanged him for it.

Robert did not miss the hungry look in Beltane's eyes, or the heat of his gaze as he watched Lynette approach.

Lynette came to an abrupt stop when she saw Beltane. Her look of fear was soon masked. She approached the men and tried to keep her uncertainty and discomfort from them.

"Lynette, had I known you were traveling home, I would have offered our services as an escort," Beltane said. "You left London rather suddenly. Nothing is amiss, I hope?"

His solicitude was much too sweet to suit Robert, and Lynette viewed it with suspicion as well. She would order the household to see to the comfort of her unwelcome guest, but she herself would stay out of his way caring for her father.

"I am afraid my father is very ill and I must see to his care. Please feel free to request anything you need. I am sure Robert will see that you are well taken care of."