A Lady's Charade (Medieval Romance Novel) (30 page)

The woman knocked the wind out of him, the air seemed to leave his body and he could never catch his breath. He didn’t know what the pull was, but he found himself physically needing to see her, talk to her, touch her, and to have her look at him with those eyes. It was obvious to him Chloe felt the same way. When he could take it no longer he would go in search of her and wherever she was, a bright smile covered her face as if she’d been expecting him. He would jump down from Hero and run to her. It was hard not to embrace her and cause more of a disturbance than they already were, so they would hurry inside, where he would pick her up and swing her in the air and the kisses they shared were filled with pleasure. They often parted panting. Their eyes glazed with desire. He had never known he could feel this way about a woman. As much as he wanted to claim her in completion, he made a promise to himself that he wouldn’t make love to her until they were man and wife. As much as his cock raged whenever she was near, or pressed her pouty lips to his. He somehow found the strength to resist the urge.

“I feel like when I am with you my heart is fluttering, and jumping up into my throat. The happiness I feel is so strong I want to burst!” Chloe said to him one afternoon.

He smiled at her, not able to put his own feelings into words as she had. “I feel the same way. This is love,” he replied.

The day before he was to leave to meet with the king, Alexander walked about the keep and the gardens outside to find Chloe without success. He wanted to take her for a ride and show her a clearing he’d found that he thought she would be particularly fond of.

When he found that she was nowhere about, he quickly searched for Harold to ask him where she was.

At first Harold didn’t say anything, just stared at him. His mouth opened to say something, then he seemed to think better of it, and shut it.

“Harold! Where is she?” he repeated his question, losing his patience and panic starting to take hold. Had she left him?

“She has gone to teach the children in the church. It is Sunday.” Harold flinched as if expecting his lord to be angry with what he said.

He remembered her briefly mentioning what she did with the children with a scared look in her eyes. Perhaps she had sworn Harold to secrecy as well. Everyone seemed to follow her bidding. She was probably afraid he would punish her for doing something that had been forbidden in the village. Alexander had simply followed in his father’s footsteps and ordered that no children were to attend school. He felt that their time was better used working his fields, and doing various other tasks. His father warned him against anyone gaining education, saying it gave the possibility for ideas to enter their heads that they were better than their station. Alexander agreed that he wanted no revolutionists. He recalled his conversation with Chloe as he made his way to the church. When he had seen that look in her eyes, he had tried to reason with her. Taking the side of his father, he explained that it helped to balance the power.

“So you don’t agree with me teaching the children to read and write and do simple arithmetic?” Although her voice had been calm, her eyes burned with fire. She was such a passionate woman, and her every emotion crossed her face. He marveled at how her anger flushed her cheeks pink, made her eyes a vibrant violet, and her luscious lips had pursed in a most seductive way.

“I don’t necessarily disagree with you, but I also understand my father’s point. Should the people become educated, they may start to want more things. They may revolt as my father put it.” He’d become defensive. All of these things had never actually crossed his mind until she brought them up. Why was it so important to her?

“Ha!” she’d said in disgust putting her arms across her chest. “Just because someone has some education does not mean that they are going to revolt against their lord. Perhaps if you and your father treated your people better there wouldn’t be the fear of such a result. As I think it, the people are better able to do their duties when they are educated. They also have more things to do in their spare time, like read a book, or write a letter to a far off relative.”

“Hmm…” he’d replied, a concerned look on his face. “I hadn’t thought about it in that sense. Perhaps it is worth looking into.” He tried to dismiss the topic, but she wouldn’t let him.

“It certainly is something to look into!” she nearly shouted. “Don’t you want to be proud of your people, proud that they are knowledgeable workers, not just a bunch of ignorant fools? Don’t you want your people to respect you because you have a sense of respect and pride for them? Did it ever occur to you that your people would look upon you more favorably the more you give to them? If I had my own land, which I certainly do not have, I would make sure that all of people were offered a proper education, that they were all taken care of, and that they were not running in fear of me whenever they heard I might pass by.” She stared at him, her eyes looking deep into his, it was a powerful gaze, as if she was daring him not to agree with her. He simply nodded at her in agreement, not wanting to continue with the argument.

She was so smart, so sensible, and so good. He had never even taken a moment to think about caring for his people. He had grown up with his father, a nasty old brute, who could care less what happened to his people. He was all about oppression, even with his own family members.

She brought out the good in him. She made him think. She made him want to
do
things, to make changes for the better.

So she was teaching the children. He had an idea.

****

Chloe walked from child to child, watching as they scratched their alphabet letters into the dirt, and then followed with the words she had given them to write. They had all taken so well to her lessons, and just about each and every one of them had learned their entire alphabet rather quickly. She’d been able to work with them on small words, and now she was able to say a word, and most of them were able to spell it out.

The children had become quite fond of her, and she of them. They had called her Lady Chloe when no other adults were around, before the truth was revealed to them all. She had asked them why they did that and they said she was so different from the other women in the village that she must be a lady. Chloe found herself only slightly surprised at how astute they were. She’d smiled at the children, and then told them all a story about a princess.

Although most of the people in the village considered what she did with the children to be work, she looked forward to her Sunday afternoons. It was a time of escape for her. The children were so innocent. They seemed oblivious to the ways of the world. It wasn’t yet a cruel place for them. Perhaps with the little education she was able to give them they would have a happier brighter future than what they faced now.

At least they would have these memories. Besides learning to write on the dirt floor, she told them stories from her memory, she read to them, and they explored the outside world, counting flowers, trees and birds. She would have them spell things they saw.

As she walked, she gazed at each child’s scratches in the ground with pride. She had been so horrific to her tutors; what a difference between her and these children.

She heard some of the children behind her gasp and start to whisper. She immediately spun around to see Alexander standing in the doorway. He looked immaculate in his fine white linen shirt, and maroon and black striped over-tunic. His white hose clung seductively to his long muscular legs, making her heart beat faster. He watched her as she took him in. Giving her a knowing look, and stood just so that she could admire him to his full advantage. He was magnificent.

Many emotions flooded her at once. Fear that he had decided he did not like what she was doing and was here to put a stop to it and punish her for going against the rules. The next feeling was shock. How had he known she was there? Looking at his face, she saw that he was smiling at her, his eyes filled with laughter. She knew at that moment he couldn’t have been there for anything ill in manner. Her stomach swirled—a feeling she had come to associate with love and happiness.

Alexander had a large satchel in his hand. What could be inside?

She smiled politely and curtsied.

“Lord Hardwyck, good day. And what brings you to our humble little meeting?” The children looked up at her, a few smiling and whispering to each other that she truly was a lady. Hearing their soft murmurs made her smile wider.

“Hello, Lady Chloe,” he said with a smile and a wink.

How long had he been standing there? Her blush deepened at the thought of him watching her.

“I have come bearing gifts for the children of such a fine lady, begging their pardon that I may speak to you a moment.” He flashed the children a warm smile and beckoned them forward.

At first they were a little nervous about approaching this lord that they had been taught to fear, but after he pulled out a small tart from the satchel and popped it into his mouth, they ran forward to see what he had for them. As he chewed he exclaimed loudly how wonderful the tarts tasted, and he handed the children each one. With bright smiles on their faces and desire in their eyes, their studies completely gone from their minds, they moved to the other end of the room, and sank their teeth into the delicious tarts, loudly verbalizing their pleasure.

“Well Alexander, isn’t this a surprise. I’m sure I won’t hear the end of it!” She smiled at him, disbelieving that he had done such a thing.

“Chloe,” he said in a low voice. “I thought about what you said a great deal, and I want to have pride in my people. I want my people to have pride in themselves.”

“Oh, Alexander! That is wonderful!” she said flashing him a brilliant smile. “You won’t regret it!” She waved in the direction of the children who’d already devoured their tarts, greedily looking at him for more. He waved them over for a second serving. “After today, and giving the children tarts, you will see a difference in your people, the parents of these children will be grateful for what you have done.”

“It is all you, my lady. You are the one who has done this, not I. I never would have done it if you had not opened my eyes.” He discreetly took her hand and squeezed it. She squeezed it back. He winked at her, and she blushed. “Do you mind if I stay for the rest of the lesson? I would like to see what they have learned so far.”

She gave him a devilish look. “I was thinking that now they are filled with sugar, they should go and play for the rest of the day, as should you and I.” His smile widened into a devilish grin.

“That sounds like a fine idea. I had actually been meaning to show you something I found.” His eyes twinkled.

Chloe turned to the children, laughing when she looked at them, their faces covered in berry juices. “Children, what do you say we end the lessons for today, and you go and play?”

They jumped for joy at her suggestion, running toward the door. As an afterthought, two of the girls rushed toward her and curtsied to both her and Alexander. All of the other children, not wanting to miss out, stopped in their tracks—the boys bowing and the girls dipping into curtsies. Chloe couldn’t help but laugh at the spectacle. Turning to Alexander she grabbed his hand and they left the little church.

Outside Hero waited patiently for them. Alexander easily lifted her onto the saddle and mounted behind her. He kicked the horse into a near gallop, and she laughed as she flew back against him. He took her on a ride through the village and out a gate on the side that she had never noticed before. They crossed the stream where everyone got their water, and where further down and in a more private area they had previously swam. He kept going for a few miles and then veered into the woods. He slowed Hero down as they rode into the woods, and soon they came to a clearing. In the center of the clearing was a beautiful spring. At the far end of the spring was a wall of natural rock, from which water fell, creating the most beautiful cascade she had ever seen. The water was so clear. She had never seen water look so pure.

The clearing was completely secluded. Large honeysuckle bushes surrounded the edges, creating a sort of wall that barred the outside world from seeing the lovely grounds. The air was filled with the scent of the honeysuckles, heather and jasmine. The pure green grass was scattered with hundreds of beautiful wild flowers of every shade. Spring had truly taken hold.

The sound of the water burbling, the birds above singing, and the feel of the wonderful man she was with had her heart soaring. Chloe had to stop herself from leaping from the horse, stripping off her clothes and running into the water.

“Alexander,” she said breathlessly, “It is beautiful. I didn’t know places like this existed in England.”

Behind her Alexander leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “I’d hoped you would like it.”

They dismounted from the horse. The ground below her felt soft through the leather soles of her shoes. Alexander took his satchel off and laid a blanket down for them as well as setting out a picnic of wine, cheese, bread, apples and to her delight berry tarts.

“I have a surprise for you,” he said reaching into the satchel. He pulled out a block of something and handed it to her.

She knew what it was immediately. Soap! The little jasmine balls she’d been given when she first arrived in Hardwyck had long since been used up. She clutched the bar and inhaled deeply. It smelled wonderful, like roses.
What a thoughtful man he is! He really does love me. Oh, how silly that this little bar of rose scented soap seems so romantic to me!
She laughed at herself. How funny to think that months ago she would have been offended at such a gift, but now it meant so much to her. She looked longingly at the soap and then at Alexander.

He gave her a knowing smile.

“Go ahead. Behind that waterfall is a pool. It is private back there. I will wait for you.” He lay down on the blanket and began to eat an apple.

Chloe didn’t waste anytime. Hiding behind some brush, she quickly disrobed, leaving on only her chemise, and ran into the spring, reveling at the feel of the water on her body. She swam to the waterfall and dipped under its pounding force into the pool. It was so quiet in there, and with the sun streaming in, it truly was a magical place. Steam rose from the waters of the completely isolated pool. Finding a ledge of rock, she set her soap on it, and glancing about making sure it was completely private, she pulled off her chemise and set it next to the soap. She dipped into the pool letting her hair get wet and nearly moaned at the refreshing feel of it.