A Lord For Haughmond Part 5

She nodded and looked miserable. "Perchance, 'tis not too late for me to make amends?"

Rhys thought of his gallant vows, of his courageous duty to the crown, of his unflinching ambition to avenge lost honor. Indeed, he was chivalrous. Indeed, he could aptly afford to exercise patience. Mayhap he could exhort Lady Katherine to champion his cause. They could join forces, so to speak.

Considering, he moved across the chamber to her. "Pray, trust in me, Lady Katherine. I have done my utmost to insure your safety." He lifted a brow. "Have I not suspended my own mission to escort you to the king?"

Finally meeting his gaze, Katherine's dark eyes widened in alarm. "We have induced you from your own destination? I thought you journeyed the same direction as we."

"Nay, lady, we were bound elsewhere."

"Faith!" She looked away with the deflated exclamation.

He placed his hands on her sagging shoulders. At the contact, his l.u.s.t melted into a need to protect this damsel, the switch so lightning-quick, it stunned him.

He had set a quest of vengeance. Though some would turn him from it, he intended to see justice done. But could he shoulder the mantle of Lady Katherine's quest, thereto?

Could he win the day? He must!

"Rest a.s.sured, I'll abide as your champion." With gentle fingers, he lifted her chin, forcing her eyes to meet his. "Have I not given you my troth?"

Katherine nodded and bit her lip. "Yea, my sister and I are sore indebted to you. We-"

"-will speak of this no more. Tus.h.!.+" He placed a finger against her lips and wished he had not. Their warm trembling set him aflame. He dropped his hand.

Katherine's eyelids flickered.

He shouldn't have touched her. He'd given offense.

"You will abide with us? You will champion us?" she whispered, not seemingly vexed.

"Aye, I've given my troth." Would that she'd ask for more, he'd bestow it gladly.

She gazed at him with grat.i.tude s.h.i.+ning in her eyes, then presented him with a perfect curtsy.

He'd rather have had a kiss, but he must needs remember he was merely a champion-naught more. "By all that is holy, I will sustain you," he murmured unsteadily, inclining his head.

"Thanks be to the Blessed Mother for your succor," she whispered and settled a hesitant hand on his shoulder.

How he wished the magical spell could last forever, that her feather light touch would be a daily occurrence, that they'd share a mult.i.tude of moments such as this. Desire, and the need for something other than his life presently held, brought the reality of his empty existence cras.h.i.+ng over him. The heavy pounding of his heart filled his ears and made him short of breath. Was it in response to Katherine, or was his heart simply breaking in twain, that he could not possess the joy of a lovely damsel like other men?

Chapter Five.

"I have accepted Simon's protection," Anne announced, arriving at Sir Rhys's chamber long after a servant had been sent to fetch her.

Katherine's nettled concern must have been apparent, for her sister would not meet her gaze, kept her focus locked on the silent squire standing just inside the entry and looking supremely ill at ease.

"I feel safe with him," she added, as though that made it proper. It didn't.

"You will lodge, unaccompanied, in a squire's tent?" Katherine threw out the harsh censure, hoping Anne would feel chagrined enough to alter her outrageous plan. "'Tis unseemly-"

"No worse than you, sister, locked up with a knight. Who will be your nursemaid?" Anne interrupted with a defiant look. "As for me, the whole garrison will hear my every sneeze. Goodness, Simon can be naught but chivalrous." With a determined set to her lips, she swept from the chamber. The squire made haste to follow.

Katherine scowled at the empty doorway. "Simon's kind intercession appropriates Anne's good sense."

"He's an honorable lad." Sir Rhys stepped to the door and bolted it. "No harm shall befall her."

"Oh, would that we could cease our dependency upon your good offices!" Katherine's frustration boiled up, nigh choked her.

"'Tis an abrupt s.h.i.+ft of purpose, lady," the knight commented with a look of surprise. "Whereon does your grat.i.tude depend? It bodes ill should it s.h.i.+ft with the wind."

"Alack, cannot you see?" Katherine clasped her hands, unable to contain her frustration. "My sister is blinded by your squire's velvet tongue. I had not antic.i.p.ated this wrinkle. What do you to protect her?"

Rhys sighed into the darkness, sorry he and Lady Katherine remained at odds. Lying within the narrow wooden bedstead he had shoved against the far wall to make room for the pallet on the floor, his thoughts raced, making sleep nigh impossible. He regretted the argument over his squire's supposed shortcomings. Absently he stroked the newly sprouted stubble of hair on his chin. He had found it necessary to defend the squire's integrity, as his observations of Simon were far different from the lady's.

Their difference of opinion had ended when Katherine gave him her back, then had flung herself down upon the straw pallet-which was to have been his bed-and buried herself beneath the coverlet. Zeus had curled up beside her on the drafty floor.

He couldn't blame her for her sensitivity. Sir Geoffrey was reputed to be a licentious tup. He scratched at his new and profoundly irritating moustache. Only G.o.d knew what the de la Motte women had endured under that parental guise. Thankful he had been spared a similar horror, he recognized he must needs own a greater breadth of patience with Katherine.

With that in mind, he levered himself on an elbow and peered down at the straw pallet. "Did you come across a unicorn whilst in the forest?" In the flickering firelight, he could barely glimpse the outline of her slender back. The only sound within the small chamber was the steady rhythm of Zeus' loud breathing. Mayhap Katherine's displeasure was greater than he had surmised. Faced with her slight, he was surprised by the extent of his disappointment.

He began to lower himself down to his mattress, but a stirring of straw gave him pause. Katherine turned onto her back and slanted up a glance. "A unicorn?" she inquired in a small voice.

Rhys swallowed his relief as he hurried an answer. "Aye, do you not recall the ancient tale of the white horned beast that only a beautiful maiden can capture?"

Katherine offered him a tight smile. "It pa.s.sed me by, thinking me a lowly page."

Rhys chuckled and settled himself on his mattress. "A pity." He scrubbed his p.r.i.c.kly beard with his knuckles. "Its protection would be useful against the Basilisk."

"Who is that, pray?"

"You never heard of the Basilisk?"

"Troubadours weren't encouraged by Sir Geoffrey. Who is this person?"

"Monster!" He corrected.

"Mon Dieu!" A nervous giggle bubbled up from below, along with another rustle of straw.

Encouraged by her amus.e.m.e.nt, he folded his hands behind his head and watching the flickering shadows of the dying fire dance across the blackened ceiling beams, told the story of the great and deadly snake that had been pa.s.sed down to him in his youth from a friendly squire.

Katherine clucked her tongue. "I beseech you to set aside such a tale. Have you none happier?"

Rhys grinned at the ceiling. "I've saved a damsel or two from fierce dragons."

"'Twould be more pleasant to hear those accounts." Katherine's relief flowed through her reply.

"Breathing fire or one of the winged variety?" Delighted by her interest, his pulse raced with excited pleasure. Katherine was as ticklish as a newborn colt, yet 'twas not so difficult to ply his patience, he decided.

Indeed, 'twas most agreeable.

"'Twould be excellent, methinks, did it spew fire." She sent another giggle in his direction. "Perchance the beast did h.o.a.rd a cask of gold, to make it worth your while?"

"Ah, bloodthirsty wench! 'Tis meet I face so dangerous an adversary. Aye, a treasure trove needs be part of every great tale, to appease the eager listener." Rhys chuckled, gratified his stratagem showed success. He settled his shoulders more comfortably into the feather mattress, his mind racing in the creation of the tale.

"Once upon a time there was a lovely princess with long flowing brown locks, who was kidnapped and held hostage by a ferocious dragon. All who lived nearby were sore afraid, for this huge beast breathed flames that scorched the land and dispatched any n.o.ble knight who attempted to slay him."

"My pardon, sir knight, but I thought 'twould be a happy tale."

"Oh, aye," exclaimed Rhys, coming up on his elbow and fixing Katherine with a credible expression. She'd turned onto her side and her hair drifted across the straw pallet behind her in a sensuous rippling wave. She lay curled beneath the thick coverlet, a small frown furrowing her brow, the ticking bunched beneath her head for support.

Distracted by her enticing and vulnerable appearance, he stumbled to a halt. Occupied by such tender beauty, his train of thought retreated into confusion. She was captivating. He forced aside the t.i.tillating thought, remembering he was merely her champion. He must needs maintain his present course. Katherine, with her luminous and trusting eyes, was one entanglement he'd be unlikely to forebear. 'Twas meet he did possess a will of iron.

He cleared his throat and continued. "I survived the ordeal, madame. I slew the dragon and saved the damsel in distress."

"Pray, how is it you survived, where others failed?"

"Ah, the audience wishes to descry my secrets," he murmured, pondering her frown of consternation. "If truth be told, I masqueraded as a lowly page. The dragon was unable to sense the danger before my arrows did find their mark in his scaly hide."

Katherine's frown disappeared and she laughed aloud. "That is your tale? Forsooth, 'tis rather brief by any measure, would you not agree?"

"Mayhap," he responded, thinking him chastised, yet fascinated by her s.h.i.+fting expressions. At the moment 'twas obvious she was trying to suspend her disbelief. Her eyes, full of suspicion, glittered like moonbeams in the dim light. Absolutely charming! "Know you the consequence of your complaint is that you needs tell a better tale," he admonished with a good-natured chuckle.

Katherine's countenance changed yet again. Her incredulity transformed into alarm. "I know none," she exclaimed.

Regretting that he'd aggrieved her, Rhys responded gently. "Fair lady, 'tis the penalty for fault-finding, do you know."

"Faith!" She let loose a groan. 'Twas a long moment before she spoke. "Once-once upon a time there was a princess-"

"It must needs be a lovely princess, with long flowing dark locks," he interrupted, flopping onto his side and grinning down at her, supporting his head on the heel of his hand.

"Yea, if you wish it," Katherine replied with a slow smile. "-who fell asleep in the forest. While she slept a magnificent unicorn, with a long white mane and a beautiful swirled horn upon its forehead, came and laid its head upon her breast-"

He could well imagine the scene, with Katherine reclined upon a carpet of green moss and a dreamy look within the depths of her dark, trusting eyes. Clothed in her tresses alone, that flowed over her shoulders and curled about her naked b.r.e.a.s.t.s, she offered up a sweet and gentle smile, much like her present expression.

A tremor s.h.i.+vered through him at the scintillating image.

"Fortunate animal!" His breathy comment came out with a vengeance.

She gave him a sharp look and hastily corrected herself, "-lay its head upon her gown."

The picture shattered in his imagination. Disheartened, he conjured up a gown. 'Twas sewn of sheer linen and very scant and very short and displaying her long limbs to advantage. He knew precisely how they should appear. Long and slender, with the smallest curve beneath her knee that tapered to a delicate ankle, so dainty and refined he marveled at their st.u.r.diness.

Yea, he knew precisely the shape of her limbs, and their length. 'Twas not an image he'd likely forget, for he'd been driven to distraction the entire day.

Katherine's low voice continued and he strove to pay attention. "The lovely princess with the long, flowing, brown locks awakened and spied the unicorn. She threw her arms about its neck. And-and so they lived happily thereafter."

Through the silence that followed, Rhys continued to stare at Katherine on her straw pallet, with her hair swirling about her. 'Twas easy, indeed, to imagine she lay naked upon forest mosses.

G.o.d's bones, she was more enchanting than he'd realized. How had it been possible he'd thought her a shrew? The fading firelight danced shadows across her small face, making her soft and desirable and bewitching.

His gaze s.h.i.+fted to the shadows dancing across the wall, looking much like nuns on their way to prayer. That gave him pause. Out of necessity he should have resisted the urge to shoulder more responsibility.

"Must a scowl be permanently affixed to your brow?"

Katherine's sharp query jolted him from his thoughts. "Was it?" He schooled his features. "I dare say I was not aware of it."

Her sad, hollow sigh filled the chamber. "Mayhap my storytelling was unworthy."

"'Twas a fine beginning, as was mine," he hastened to rea.s.sure. "With greater thought, you can enlarge upon it. Practice on Anne. The two of you shall remain within this chamber. Entertain me when we retire on the morrow." He laughed, quick and easy. "Though I must admit, betwixt storyteller and page, I prefer you in the latter role."

Katherine bestowed upon him a brilliant smile. "Then I shall endeavor to compose a better tale."

"Um-m," he replied, enjoying the tantalizing arrangement of her tresses, how they drifted over her shoulder and dipped low to follow the line of her waist, then flared again at the curve of her hip. 'Twas as fine a form as he'd ever beheld. "Truth to tell, 'tis my consideration you are already in possession of a very fine 'tail.'"

His waggling eyebrows must have given her the hint of his jest, though it took some moments for her disapproving frown to follow.

Amused once more by her transformation, Rhys chuckled. "I'll leave you to your disgust, Lady Katherine. Good eventide." Rubbing at his scratchy chin, he rolled over and pulled the coverlet up around his shoulders. He tried to sleep, but a lively and very precise imagination of limbs and tresses wrecked that ambition and plagued him far into the night.

Sequestered within the small chamber, the hours dragged. Yet 'twas welcome respite after fear and flight, and far easier on Katherine's hand than hefting unwieldy baggage. Her wound did not smart as greatly as yester day. She found the creation of a newly fledged tale less problematic than she'd supposed, and 'twas easy to charm Anne with her version of a crusading knight returned home to find his castle occupied by a neighboring knight. But he'd brought with him a magical elixir that, when drunk, turned him into a ferocious dragon. She made sure this was one story wherein the poor dragon won the fight. And so her a.s.signed task was accomplished before the castle residents had been dismissed from morning ma.s.s, leaving the remainder of the day. Anne and she sought to entertain themselves, but even singing songs they recalled and humming those they'd forgot could not diminish the monotony. She was grateful when dusk drew nigh.

With lamp lit and fire stoked against the evening chill, they snuggled together beneath the thick coverlet on Rhys's narrow bed and listened longingly to the music and singing and loud merrymaking drifting up from the evening feast in the great hall below. Would Rhys never return?

Finally, his pounding fist and command to open brought blessed relief to their weary day.

Katherine flung aside the coverlet and hurried to the stout door, lifting away the bar. But the moment he and Simon entered, she knew something was amiss. Worry etched both men's features.

Rhys carefully closed the door and bolted it before turning and speaking to them. "The king is delayed. He broke his journey at Amesbury, to pray with the queen dowager during Eastertide," he explained in a low voice. "Now he is postponed by a fortnight, as the Earl of Bereford claims his time."

Dread rose within her. "'Tis naught the whole of it!" she exclaimed, spying the wary glance the two men exchanged, sensing their tension.

Rhys s.h.i.+fted his gaze to her. "Sir Geoffrey has arrived at Warwick," he said.

"Oh, sweet Jesu, protect us," Anne gasped, clasping her cheeks.

"He took longer to arrive than I reckoned."

Katherine frowned at Rhys's offhand comment.

The knight tilted his head and threw her a meaningful look seeming surprised she didn't understand. "He searches for you, else he'd be long past this s.h.i.+re."