Vengeance 03 - Believe In Me Read online

  “Impossible to say, isn’t it? For I’ve never been without it. I’m certain your brother and I have several things in common. I should like to meet him.”

  “He and the lady I mentioned, Elizabeth, are now married and she is with child.”

  “Truly?” She appeared astonished at the thought. “Isn’t it interesting how fate intervenes in our lives?”

  William decided he wasn’t ready to have that conversation. Fate had not been kind to him of late. He’d already explored why and the answer distressed him hence his service to the bishop. “I’m sorry I reacted badly after you healed me. I didn’t understand. It didn’t make sense to me.”

  Those brown eyes met his. “People’s reactions always surprise me. I’m not sure why. You’d think I would expect the worst and that way, I’d never be disappointed.”

  He cupped her cheek with his hand, the sadness in her expression pulling at him. “I didn’t mean to disappoint you or hurt you. I was merely...taken aback.”

  She said nothing, only continued to look at him with those bottomless brown eyes. They drew him, tugged and wrenched at him in places deep inside him better left alone. Unwillingly, his gaze dropped to her lips, which parted as he watched.

  He dipped his head, the lure of her lips proving too much to resist. They were so sweet, just as he’d remembered. Soft. Warm. Moving beneath his.

  Hunger, sharp and piercing, and definitely unexpected, shot through him. He deepened the kiss, stepping closer to better taste her.

  Her curves pressed against him, making him wish he hadn’t donned his chain mail. Her fingers twined through his hair and sent shivers down his spine.

  “Lady Cristiana? Yoo-hoo! Where are you?” Sister Mawde’s shrill voice cut through the fog in his brain.

  Cristiana jerked back, her expression one of surprise.

  He couldn’t help but wonder if she was startled at the nun’s call or at the intensity of their kiss.

  A glance around assured him they remained hidden from view. He trailed a finger along her cheek, reluctant to end the moment.

  “I had better see what Sister Mawde needs.” Cristiana drew back until she was out of his reach and then spun away to leave the secluded spot in which they’d stood.

  William watched her go, wondering what he’d gotten himself into with this mission. His promise to deliver the lady grew more complicated each day.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Cristiana was grateful their small party stopped early for the night. The sleep she’d gotten the previous night hadn’t been sufficient to restore her strength. Weariness cloaked her like a heavy blanket, dulling her thoughts and weighting her limbs. Her mind obviously wasn’t functioning or she would’ve pushed away William before he’d kissed her earlier.

  She sat on a rock as the others prepared the tents, too tired to offer assistance. One of the men-at-arms had sworn he’d spotted a rabbit and left in search of it. The others sent him off with enthusiasm as the dried meat and stale bread they’d eaten each day had lost all appeal.

  Sister Mawde found an apple tree near the edge of the meadow that still held a few pieces of fruit. She convinced Henry to shake the tree for her so she could gather the apples that fell. Cristiana rose to assist them, but Sister Mawde waved her away. Cristiana wondered if the nun secretly enjoyed Henry’s company for she giggled like a young girl at the knight’s comments.

  “Are you well, my lady?” William asked as he came to stand beside her.

  “Aye. Merely tired.” She kept telling herself she needed to plan her escape, but the notion took more effort than she could muster.

  Still, her tiredness did not keep her cheeks from flushing as William remained next to her. The memory of their kiss sent butterflies dancing in her middle. She clamped her arms over her stomach, hoping to settle them down.

  Now that she was a mature woman of two and twenty, she hadn’t thought exchanging kisses would be a pulse-pounding experience. Especially with a knight she didn’t even like. She paused to berate herself for not admitting the truth. She did like him. Very much in fact. She admired his determination, his kindness, his sense of honor, and his humor.

  But at this moment, he was all that kept her from what she wanted: freedom.

  So how could it be that pressing her lips to his could create such chaos inside her? Even the memory of their kiss made her mouth go dry, her cheeks heat. It made no sense.

  She was saved from worrying that she’d do something she might regret by the return of the man-at-arms with his prize: three rabbits dangling by their feet.

  “We will dine well this night!” he declared. The broad smile on his face was contagious. Even Sister Mawde clapped in delight.

  Soon a fire was built and the meat was roasting nicely, sending an appetizing aroma into the cool evening air.

  “How much longer before we reach Longsbury?” Cristiana asked William as they sat near the flames.

  He reached for a piece of wood to throw on the fire with his left hand but stopped mid-air. With a smile at her and a twinkle in his eyes, he picked it up with his right hand and easily tossed the wood onto the flames.

  “It will take some time to get used to that.”

  She couldn’t help but smile in return. Rarely did she get to see the results of her work. “When did the injury occur?”

  “Several months past.”

  “Then it will take a few weeks to regain your strength,” she warned him. While she could heal the damage, she couldn’t aid the loss of muscle that oft accompanied it. Her gift had limitations most of which she’d learned the hard way.

  “As for our arrival at Longsbury, we probably have another two days of travel, depending on how many stops we make.” He glanced at Sister Mawde as he spoke.

  Cristiana said nothing. She was in no hurry to reach the bishop’s so she wasn’t about to comment on the nun’s frequent requests to halt.

  The man-at-arms who had caught the rabbits had also gathered some ingredients for a soup to go along with it. He’d found ground ivy, leeks, and winter-cress, and added pieces of the dry bread into the pot as well. The idea of having something hot and filling for supper made Cristiana’s stomach grumble.

  Henry told a few stories of his travels as they feasted, entertaining the small party. Cristiana had a hard time guessing what she should believe and what she shouldn’t. The large bald man always had a hint of mirth in his blue eyes and it was difficult to tell when he stretched the truth. He’d found a few chestnuts that they roasted in the fire along with the apples. Those finished off their simple meal in fine style.

  For a brief time, Cristiana’s worries fell away. She enjoyed the conversation, the presence of William at her side, and a warm meal in her stomach. Her knee bumped William’s and her gaze caught his, making her realize this was one of those special moments to be cherished and tucked away so she could relive it later.

  All too soon, her exhaustion caught up with her and she could hardly keep her eyes open. Reluctantly, she bid everyone good night and settled beneath the furs with a smile on her lips as she listened to Henry’s next tale. This feeling of contentment was something she hadn’t experienced in a long while. She savored the sensation as she drifted off to sleep.

  ***

  William listened to the soft breathing of the woman beside him, the rhythm confirming she truly slept. He’d debated the need to bind her to him, but as tired as she was, he found it difficult to believe she would attempt escape.

  But on the morrow, he’d have to watch her like a hawk.

  By then she would’ve recovered and be back to her determined self. He rather looked forward to the challenge, he realized with a smile.

  The fire popped outside. A light breeze ruffled the sides of the tent. The sounds of the night gave him comfort. After being locked in that damned dungeon, he appreciated the outdoors much more. Tight spaces now made him uneasy and he avoided them at all costs. Even the confines of the tent made him restless. Only the opening at the end mad
e it bearable. Barely. That and the lady sleeping at his side.

  One of the man-at-arms stood guard with the other set to relieve him. All was secure for now—as secure as it could be along the road at night.

  Yet still he couldn’t sleep.

  He turned onto his side so he could watch Cristiana, feeling guilty but unable to resist.

  The golden glow of the fire cast her face in shadows. Her cheekbones looked higher, her lashes even longer in the wavering light. The slight tip at the end of her nose suited her perfectly. Her hair was braided loosely but still came nearly to her waist. She slept on her side, knees up, her hands tucked under her chin as though to protect herself.

  He wondered how her future would unfold. What the coming months would bring for her. He hoped the pain of losing her mother would ease. Warm thoughts of his own gave him great sympathy for Cristiana’s loss but she needed protection—the bishop was her best choice. Or rather, her only choice.

  At last he felt his body relax and let sleep take him.

  It seemed he’d rested only a short time when he heard a rustling sound at the back of the tent. Immediately, he awakened, certain Cristiana meant to escape after all.

  A glance to his side proved him wrong.

  The lady slumbered on.

  He held still, trying to determine the source of the noise. Without warning, a blood curdling scream rent the air above him. The flash of a knife blade coming at his head had William scrambling to his knees, putting himself between the attacker and Cristiana.

  He grabbed the man’s arm, easily halting it and caught his other arm as well. The ragged form before him was small, wrapped in tattered garments. He couldn’t see his face as it was covered, except for eyes. Eyes more frightened than fierce.

  “What the hell?”

  “Are you all right?” Cristiana asked from behind him.

  “Aye. No thanks to this one,” William said. He dragged the struggling man out of the tent toward the fire so he could see who it was.

  “Lady Cristiana! Run!”

  Not a man, but a woman, William realized at the sound of the feminine voice.

  Cristiana gasped. Instead of doing the attacker’s bidding, she rushed out of the tent to stare at the woman. “Branwen?”

  “Run!” the woman commanded again. She struggled against William, kicking with all her worth. “I will stop him. Go!”

  “Branwen, cease this madness!” Cristiana demanded.

  At once the woman quieted, breathing hard from her frantic attack. “But, my lady—”

  “You know her?” William asked as he kept a tight hold on her arms.

  “Where have you been?” Cristiana drew nearer, completely ignoring William as she stared at the woman in shock. “We thought you dead.”

  Branwen’s face crumpled and William released her at last, deciding she could do little harm. He took her knife, but she didn’t seem to notice.

  “’Twas terrible. Demons flew out of the night and attacked us.”

  Cristiana drew the shaking woman into her arms. “Demons?”

  “Aye! Great black-winged beasts on horseback. They carried swords. They came at us out of nowhere. The blood. ’Twas everywhere.” She glanced down at her clothing as though expecting to still see it.

  Tears filled Cristiana’s eyes as she glanced at William. The worry on her face tugged at him. She swallowed hard as she guided Branwen to sit by the fire. “Why didn’t you come back to the manor? Did they take you?”

  “The demons...they left me for dead. I pretended I was until they rode away.”

  William watched the woman closely, still uncertain who she was. Henry stood nearby, watching the scene with interest. The man-at-arms who was supposed to be guarding the camp finally awoke, stumbling to his feet as he realized something had happened.

  “Some guard you are,” Sister Mawde berated him from the comfort of her tent.

  “Your mother,” the woman continued, tears streaming down her face. “’Twas terrible. They got her first. I couldn’t stop them.”

  Cristiana’s lips trembled. “Of course not.”

  Branwen pointed at William. “Is he one of them? I’m not sure. Tell me if he is and I’ll kill him now.”

  “Nay,” Cristiana said quickly. She looked as confused as William. “He’s not one of them. They aren’t here.”

  “Are you sure? My knife is sharp.” The woman’s lip trembled. “I didn’t have a knife that night. But I do now. ’Tis sharp. I’ve learned to use it well.”

  William touched the blade. It felt as though she’d been cutting tree limbs with it, it was so dull. Yet she didn’t realize she no longer had it in her possession.

  Cristiana seemed overwhelmed by the entire conversation and the woman now sobbing in her arms. William could make little sense of it.

  “Cristiana?” He knelt beside her. “Who is she?”

  “Our maid. She was with my mother the night she...when she was...murdered.”

  William shared a look with Henry, trying to get his impression of the situation. Henry shook his head as bewildered as William.

  Cristiana drew a shaky breath and rubbed her hand over the maid’s shoulders. “Branwen, calm yourself. I need you to tell me what happened that night.”

  Her request upset the maid further. Her sobbing words about winged demons made no sense.

  Cristiana turned to whisper to William, “If the Branwen I’d known and loved stood next to this person, I’m not certain I would realize the two were the same. She was a sweet girl, eager to please, always neat in appearance and manner.” She shook her head. “I’m terribly sorry that she attacked you.”

  “No harm was done,” William reassured her.

  Cristiana patted the woman’s back, hushing her until at last her sobs quieted to hiccups. “How did you find me?”

  The maid calmed, pulling off her hood as she spoke. “I’ve been following you. I couldn’t get into the convent to free you. There were too many there. The walls were too high. Then the knight took you. Yesterday you traveled so fast, but this night I finally caught up with you.”

  “I’m glad you found me,” Cristiana told her.

  Branwen glanced nervously over her shoulder at William, seemingly unaware that he could hear all she said. “We must leave, my lady,” she whispered. “We must not go home. We must not go to Lonsgsbury. We must hide.”

  Cristiana bit her lower lip. “Branwen, I have to know what happened the night Mother was killed.”

  Panic filled the maid’s wide eyes and her breath came faster and faster as did her words. “The demons. I don’t know. They came at us so quick. I—I—”

  With a worried glance at William, Cristiana hushed her. “’Tis all right. Calm yourself, Branwen. We will speak of it later.”

  The maid’s agitation eased as Cristiana continued to reassure her.

  “Are you hungry?” Cristiana asked.

  Branwen nodded.

  Henry poured what little soup remained into a wooden bowl and handed it to the maid with a spoon. She stared at it for a long moment as though uncertain what it was. At last she took the soup with a sniffle and shaking hands. “Thank...you.”

  William stayed nearby in case the woman did anything crazed. She seemed less than stable and he didn’t want to risk Cristiana being harmed.

  Cristiana continued to ask her questions in a gentle voice as the maid ate. The way she shoveled in the food made William think she hadn’t eaten for some time. Some of Cristiana’s questions she responded to and some she ignored. “Where have you been staying?” Cristiana asked.

  The maid blinked at her. “In the woods.”

  “All this time? But it’s been nearly two months.”

  “It has?” The maid shook her head, the odd look in her eyes confirmed to William that she was not in her right mind. “I—I don’t know where I was. I couldn’t go home. They might be there. They want to kill us all.”

  Henry moved to stand beside William. “I thought some food in her
belly might give her wits back to her,” he said quietly.

  “Lack of food will do that to a person, but I don’t think that is her only problem. Sounds like she’s been in hiding for some time.”

  “From who?”

  “Therein lies the question. What simple thieves attack on horseback?”

  “That was my question as well. The tale grows more complicated.”

  “I can understand why Cristiana wants to discover who murdered her mother,” William said. “I would want to do the same.” If someone had killed his mother or father, he wouldn’t rest until he found the guilty ones. The need for vengeance ran deep in his family.

  “I think the culprits should be caught, but Cristiana should not be the one to do the catching, if you understand my meaning,” Henry said.

  “Indeed. She could end up as their next victim.”

  Henry shook his head. “We have to make certain that doesn’t happen. She needs someone with influence to aid her.”

  “Which means Bishop Duval is still her best chance.” William sighed. “Obviously the maid doesn’t want her to go to Longsbury either. We’ll question her in the morning after she gets some sleep. Maybe she’ll be more coherent then. We’ll ask her and Cristiana to explain their concerns about the bishop.”

  “All right, but if that woman is staying in our camp, I’ll be sleeping with one eye open. I don’t trust her one bit.”

  “Then you can take the next watch,” William told him with a smile.

  ***

  Despite the interruption in the night, Cristiana slept well and felt much refreshed when she awakened. Discovering Branwen in their camp had been a shock, but her attack on William had been an even bigger one. The woman who had attacked William was nothing like the Branwen she’d last seen.

  Had witnessing the murders changed her or had surviving in the woods for so long done it? How had she endured it? What had she eaten? Not much by the look of her. The thought of sleeping on the cold, hard ground night after night, not certain where your next meal was coming from and constantly on guard made Cristiana shudder. Never mind that was her intent as soon as she escaped William.

  Now she watched the maid devour another serving of bread and cheese to break her fast, her manners long forgotten. Survival took good behavior away from anyone, Cristiana supposed.