A Knight to Remember (4 page)

With the pale moonlight filtering through a tiny opening in the roof slats, she managed to unlock the stall doors and let some of the horses out. They tossed their heads, afraid at the intrusion to their night time routine. Once they were all out, Jenny opened the main doors and slapped them on their rumps. With loud snorts, they cantered out of their home and ran into the darkness, their hooves sounding like thunder in the still night air.

Jenny peered around the corner in time to hear the guards call out to each other, their voices frantic as mayhem broke out.

"The horses are out!"

"Damn and blast! How didst they escape?"

Quickly, Jenny ran towards the perimeter wall and headed to the small side gate nearest to her; one she had seen a guard vacate. She slipped through the opening and ran down the steep hill towards the lane leading to the church.

* * *

William, Stephen's head guard, alerted him to the problem outside. "There is trouble afoot, milord! Someone hath set the horses free."

Stephen scowled. "Is the problem under thy control?"

"Aye, milord. All horses art back in the stable. I thought thee should know. I hath seen no poachers or strangers within the castle grounds."

Stephen nodded. He had a feeling he knew who had set the horses free and why.

"Make my horse ready, I shall ride out. I would hath two guards accompany me."

"Aye, milord."

"And bring the two Irish Wolfhounds!"

William rushed off to do as he was bid and a few minutes later, Stephen was riding out of the main gate with two guards on either side of him.

* * *

Jenny was lost. What had looked so easy in the daylight now seemed like a completely dumb idea. Where on earth was the church? She'd been so sure she was heading in the right direction, but, now, she'd arrived at an open field and there was no sign of the chapel anywhere. Glumly, she plonked herself down on a fallen log and looked out into the moonlit field, wondering in which direction she should go next.

Suddenly, she heard the sounds of dogs barking. Dogs? This time of night? Oh, bloody hell, what if some of the locals were hunting? What if they mistook her for a deer or other animal, from a distance? Frantic, she looked around for somewhere to hide. There was only one thing for it. She'd have to climb a tree...luckily for her that was something she was used to doing, thanks to Seth's apple trees.

The baying of the dogs grew nearer. Jenny quickly swung her leg up onto the branch of the closest tree. With a lot of heaving and effort, she managed to climb up into the densest part, where she was hopefully obscured from view. She stayed absolutely still as the dogs approached. Of course, she knew that they could follow her scent to the tree, but they couldn't get up it and she had no other choice.

"Search her out, boys, go on!" she heard a man urge. She groaned silently. He'd said 'her.' That most likely meant that they were castle guards and not hunters as she'd previously thought. Great! Just what she didn't need.

The undergrowth below her was suddenly disturbed as the dogs arrived beneath her tree. She could hear loud panting and snuffling noises and then they began to howl. One placed both of his great paws on the thick tree trunk, and Jenny stayed stock still, hardly daring to breathe.

* * *

Stephen approached his guard and jumped down from his horse.

The man spoke to him, a hint of excitement in his voice. "They hath found something, milord. Up in that tree."

Stephen walked to it and tried to peer up into the half light but could see nothing. "Art thou positive?"

"Aye, milord. The dogs hath never failed me yet."

"Well, make them quiet now. I wish to find the wench."

"Shoosh! Hush!" The dogs whimpered but fell almost silent, apart from their loud panting.

Stephen called up into the tree. "Jenny Peverel, I order thee to come down!"

He stared up into the branches but nothing moved, not even a leaf.

"Jenny! This is thy last warning."

Stephen listened for signs of someone above but all was still and silent. If he didn't know better, he'd say the dogs were wrong, but his guard seemed adamant that there was someone or some animal up there. If indeed it was Jenny, then he would blister her bottom when they got back to the castle for leading him a merry chase. He had better things to do...oversee his guests, for one!

Angry now, he thrust his horse's reins at his guard and made to climb the tree.

"I can do that, milord!" The other guard stepped forward, offering his services, but Stephen declined loudly.

"Nay. I would catch this one myself." Aside, and for the guard's ears only, he whispered for him to go up the other side.

For someone so large, Stephen scaled the tree with ease, his strong forearms hoisting him up, branch by branch. He could hear his nimble guard just slightly below him. A sudden rustle alerted him to the fact that there was definitely someone above him. He looked up just in time to see a pair of startled eyes looking back at him. It
was
Jenny!

"Come hither, this instant, Jenny! I will not ask thee again."

"Ask! Huh! Order, you mean!" hissed Jenny as she moved onto another branch, higher up. "I don't want to come back, and you can't make me! Go away and leave me alone!"

* * *

There he went again, ordering her about. How dare he
order
her to do anything. If she came down, he would spank her, so what was the point? No, she intended to remain up there, out of his reach. Hopefully, he'd get bored and leave.

He uttered an oath and she heard him move nearer. "Nay, I cannot and will not leave thee alone in the dark. 'Tis too dangerous."

"I can look after myself," said Jenny with a bravado she was far from feeling.

But she wouldn't let him know that. Suddenly, she felt a pair of hands clamp around her waist and pull her downwards. She screamed and kicked out, but the guard that had hold of her was used to the battlefield, and a mere slip of a girl was nothing to his strength.

"I hath her, milord!"

"You bastard! Let me be!"

"I assure thee, milady, I am no bastard. My mother and father were wed."

"I didn't mean it like that, you cretin! Let me go!" She struggled and tried to elbow him in the side, but he gave no reaction, and she just ended up with a painful elbow where she'd hit his chain mail.

Nearly at the bottom of the tree, he jumped down and handed Jenny to Stephen, who had already descended to wait for his prize.

Stephen grabbed her with both arms and pulled her to his strong form. "Thou shall be punished for this act of foolishness. My guards hath better things to do than chase thee around the county. Come!" He pushed her forward to his horse and lifted her up as though she weighed nothing, to place her in his saddle. He immediately mounted behind her and turned his horse towards home.

Jenny was disconcerted. His strong thighs were sending emotions soaring through her. His big arms held the reins on either side of her body, and she felt well and truly safe...and turned on! She frowned. This was ridiculous! She hardly knew the man. A little voice inside argued back that it didn't matter. If the chemistry was there, it was there. You couldn't just conjure it up. The thought of her impending punishment didn't help, either. Imagining going over his solid thighs brought only excitement. God, give her strength!

* * *

Once back at the castle, Stephen jumped down and then pulled Jenny off his horse, putting her beside him on the ground. She stood quietly by his side, for once not trying to escape.

One of the guards led his horse away whilst the other took the dogs. Stephen stared down at Jenny, his expression stern and puzzled.

"Wherefore doth thou try and escape so oft?"

"I-I don't belong here. I want to go back to my own ti...town!"

"I will not let thee leave until Hugh demands it is so." In all truth, Stephen was becoming enamoured of the petite woman that stood before him. She intrigued him. Her independence, her feisty spirit...he enjoyed the challenge she brought to his household. He certainly wasn't ready to let her out of his life. He grabbed her arm and drew her towards the main keep.

"We will adjourn to my chamber, where I shall administer thy punishment. Perhaps a burning backside will make thee think twice afore leaving these castle walls again!"

Jenny gasped and tried to pull away, but Stephen just kept on walking.

"You can't spank me again. It's unfair. I didn't ask to be kept here! I only want to go home," she wailed.

"And thee
shall
go home, but only when Hugh orders it. Wherefore must I repeat myself?"

* * *

Jenny could tell by his tone that the last vestiges of his patience were rapidly disappearing, and if she carried on fighting him, it could only lead to a far harsher punishment. She clamped her mouth shut and followed him through the keep, into the main castle. He quickly led her to his chamber.

Once inside, he ordered her to take off her cloak whilst he made himself comfortable on a wooden chair. She slowly unclipped the metal clasp and took the heavy garment off, laying it on his bed.

She looked at him sullenly. "Why do you have to spank me?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Thou dareth to question me?"

"Yes!" she answered with a voice full of anger. "Doesn't anyone ever question your actions?"

He answered sincerely, "Nay. They do not." He held out his hand. "Come. Thou hath upset my evening as it is; anger me no further."

Butterflies swarmed in Jenny's stomach as their eyes locked. He gave off an air of strength, not just in stature but in character, and Jenny found herself walking towards him, mesmerised. Stephen grabbed her arm and pulled her down over his solid thighs. She felt the cold evening air hit her buttocks as he raised her skirts to reveal the undergarments that Annie had given her.

"I am glad thou hath taken to wearing proper attire beneath thy skirts," he said. "At least in that, thou art obedient."

His hand came down with full force on both buttocks, making her jump at the suddenness of his attack. She yelped and tried to protest, but he continued to rain down a series of swats on both cheeks, and before long, her bottom was just a stinging mass of pain.

"Aow! Can't you stop? Oof!"

"Nay. Thou art disobedient,"
Smack!
"and hath brought this punishment,"
Smack!
"upon thyself!"
Smack! Smack! Smack!

Jenny gripped his leather boots to keep her balance and grit her teeth as she tried to combat the fiery pain in her backside. His hand was like a leather paddle, huge and hard, perfect for battle but not her bottom, she thought.

"Please...I promise to obey you!" she wailed.

"Thy words art empty, Jenny. Thou hath uttered the same words afore, and yet thee still disobey me. Nay, I shall stop when I think thou art
truly
sorry."

Smack! Smack! Smack!

"My guards hath had to round up the horses thee set free this eve."
Smack! Smack! Smack!
"'Twas a foolish thing thee did. I intend to make sure it doth not happen again."

Smack! Smack! Smack!

The spanking continued, with Jenny trying her best to wriggle off his lap and Stephen swinging his arm down to plant full, resonating slaps on her tender bottom. Before long, she
was
truly regretting her earlier actions and wondering how she could have forgotten how hard Stephen could spank. She gave up trying to get away as his strength was just too much to fight against. Instead, she hung limply over his lap, a long sob escaping her lips as he finally brought the punishment to an end. He pulled her up and stood her in front of him.

"Jenny Peverel, I will not hath an unruly household. Doth thou understand?"

Jenny sniffled and pushed out her lower lip. "Yes, I understand."

"I will not tolerate laziness, either. On the morrow, as punishment for disobeying my orders, thy time will be spent aiding Annie with the soap-making."

Jenny groaned aloud. "A whole day?"

Stephen raised an eyebrow. "Nay. Fortunately for thee, as Helena and Geoffroy are here, we shall be riding into Okehampton village at noon. Helena wishes to see the marketplace and mayhap purchase some trinkets, as she has a penchant for them. I would that thee accompany us. So, thee shall rise at dawn."

"
Dawn?
" Jenny interrupted, aghast.

"Aye, dawn. If thee fails to comply, then I shall punish thee, doth thou understand?"

Jenny huffed. "Yes."

He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked deeply into her eyes. "Promise me thy obedience!"

Jenny stared back at him, transfixed. Where his hands brushed her shoulders, her skin tingled as though touched by a thousand volts. She could feel her heart pumping loudly in her chest at the close contact. He smelled of leather and earth, fire and spirit...and she had a sudden yearning to touch him back. Her lips parted softly as she looked at his.