De Warenne Dynasty 01 - The Conquerer (44 page)

"We will take Aelfgar and then you need not worry any more,"Edwin said.

Rolfelearned of the attempt upon Ceidre's life the instant he returned, before he had set foot within the Great Hall. "Was she harmed?" he demanded.

"No,"Guy said. "Shaken, of course, but it quickly passed."

"And what was done withAlice ?" His heart was thudding.Alice had almost succeeded in pushing Ceidre out of the window and to her death!

"We locked her in her chamber with a guard, my lord,"Guy 's voice lowered. "She is sane now, but truly, she was insane to do such a thing. I saw her. She was howling like a madwoman, screaming how she wanted to kill Ceidre. Beltain andAthelstan saw it too.,,

RolfeleftGuy and strode up the stairs, controlling his temper with vast will and great difficulty.Alice had gone too far. He would not stand it any longer. At the top of the stairs he paused and looked at the bolted door behind which Ceidre was imprisoned. It had been .over a month since he had seen her, and he had the urge to, throw open the lock and go within--to make sureGuy told the truth, that she was unharmed. that she lived. He struggled with himself and won. He turned to his own chamber, entered, and dismissed the guard.

Alicestood, hands clasped, eyes wide. "They are all lying," she said huskily. " 'Twas a mere spat. I did not intend to push her to her death. I swear it."

"You are leaving Aelfgar in the morning,"Rolfe said relentlessly. "Pack everything you wish to take with you."

"Where are you sending me?"Alice cried.

"You are going toFrance , my lady,"Rolfe said coldly. "To the Convent of the Sisters ofSaint John ."

"I-for how long?" She gasped.

"In the convent you may repent your deeds, if you wish. If not-" He shrugged. "There, at least, you will not be able to harm your sister, or anyone else."

"For how long?"

"Until you are old and gray, my lady,"Rolfe said.

"You cannot mean it!"Alice shrieked. "You cannot do this!"

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"No? I do mean it, and I can do it. You are not the first wife to be exiled to religious seclusion. You were warned, yet you failed to take me seriously. Were you one of my men you would have been dismissed forthright, long since. Prepare what you need,Alice , for an extended stay."

Rolfepaced his chamber. He had removedAlice , under guard, to the old manor, never wanting to set eyes upon her again. He was still angry, furious at her attempt to murder Ceidre. This realization made him livid with himself. He still harbored some kind of feelings for that deceitful whore.

She was so close, behind the door across the hall. He paused in his pacing and imagined her asleep on the pallet, her beauty unsurpassed, a seductress's unnatural beauty. He hated her with every fiber of his being. He did not care thatAlice had almost murdered her, he told himself, he cared only thatAlice had defied him and nearly killed the royal prisoner who was his responsibility. His frustration and wrath increased.

He needed a woman. There had been no one in the past month since his own wife, bedded with rage and frustration just before he had left for his northeastern borders. All his men had gone celibate, for there were no villages and no wenches about in that far, savage clime. He did not think he had ever gone so long without a woman since he was a bare-faced boy. He thought of Ceidre, just across the hall. He could easily fuck her brains out this night.

He hated her, and he would not. Why not?

She was a whore. He desired her. She had been his whore. She was now his prisoner. She could not deny him, and if she did, he would take her anyway. He was so hard just thinking about it he thought he might 'explode. With no thoughts now beyond that of instant gratification with the woman who had betrayed him, he stalked to her door, threw the bolt, and flung it open.

She was asleep. The sight of her curled up on her side-a sight he had seen many times before-halted him in his tracks. For a moment his resolve wavered, and then, with renewed fury, he pushed it aside. He reached her and shook her roughly. "Wake up," he said with a snarl.

She blinked awake in confusion.Rolfe squatted, taking her chin in his hand, pushing his face near hers.

"Are you awake, witch?"

She gasped with recognition.

"Good." He smiled and stood, hands already pushing down his hose to free his straining, angry member.

Ceidre gasped again, eyes widening. "I have need of a whore,"Rolfe said coolly. "Spread yourself for me."

She did not move.

He pushed her down on her back, hard, hoping to hurt her, reaching for her thighs to spread them. He was unprepared for her arms, which went fiercely around his neck, her face buried there. "Take me, my lord," she breathed. "I will never deny you."

Her words, her acceptance, her serenity inflamed him. "You cannot deny me, whore," he spat, already on top of her. He thrust into her and she whimpered. Unlike the night he had raped her on her wedding
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day, she was dry and tight and he knew he had hurt her. He told himself he did not care. Yet he froze just the same, unable to continue ruthlessly.

She stroked the curls at the nape of his neck tenderly, kissing his jaw. "Your whore's games will not work," he shouted, thrusting fiercely into her. She met his rhythm fervently, gasping now with pleasure-he recognized the sound too well. He did not want to pleasure her. He only wanted to use her. He intended to spill his seed quickly, as quickly as possible. In the past, he had had to fight himself from finishing, wanting to give her ecstasy; now he welcomed his unbearable arousal, encouraged it. He reminded himself of every lie she had told, every instance of treason, and the final act-the one resulting in the loss of a dozen of his men. She had probably lied aboutGuy too, had probably shared his bed many times. After all, why not spy in two beds, or even more? He came violently.

He stood, smiling coldly, adjusting his hose. He could see that she had not been assuaged, her eyes were black with passion and desire. He was pleased to have found release-and even more pleased to have excited her and then denied her hers. "From now on you are not just my prisoner," he said, raking her contemptuously. His gaze lingered on her femininity, damp and exposed with her gown still up around her waist. She did not try to cover herself "You are my whore. When I feel the need, I will take you. I think this suits you very well, Ceidre."

Her eyes were wide and violet, and he saw the shimmer of tears. "I will never hate you, my lord," she whispered.

"Then I will hate strongly enough for the two of us," he stated, and he turned abruptly and walked out.

It was four days later.

Rolfecautiously looked around the woods. He was six kilometers from the village, near a huge fallen tree that crossed the racing creek like a bridge. This was most definitely the place for the rendezvous.

He was mounted on his gray, alone. At least, he appeared to be alone. In truth, his men were hidden in the forest, not far-in case this was a trap. His hand rested lightly upon the hilt of his sword.

He heard him before he saw him. Staring across the river,Rolfe watched the rider appear through the trees until he had reined in on the creek's rocky bank. As one,Rolfe and the rider dismounted, moving to the fallen tree.Rolfe leapt nimbly up and walked carefully to the middle, as did the other man. All around them the creek gurgled happily, the sound innocent and bell-like and loud enough to drown out their words should anyone try and listen.

"Aelfgar will be attacked. There will be five dozen men. The maidBeth will let them in through the secret door in the wall.Edwin and Morcar and Hereward lead."

"When?"

"The thirtieth-in ten days."

"You have done well,"Rolfe said. "If you speak the truth, asWilliam has promised, your reward is the fief ofLindley inSussex ."

"Oh, I speak the truth," Albie said.

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Chapter 5 7

The Saxon camp was nestled in a hidden dale, within twenty kilometers of Aelfgar.

It was the twenty-ninth of September. The night was pitch-black and moonless, promising a gray, cloudy morning. The camp was completely hushed. There was no whispered conversation. No fires burned.

Few were sleeping, however, on the eve of battle.

"Even the weather favors us," Morcar said, low.

Edwinsaid nothing. The brothers sat side by side on a log. The night sounds were all around them-crickets, an owl, a lonely wolf.

"We will win,Ed ," Morcar said, barely suppressing his voice in his excitement. "The time has come to take back what is ours! I can feel it!"

Edsmiled slightly.

"Bethknows what she must do," Morcar whispered. "Just before dawn she will open the door. With me and my men in the lead, no one will know what has hit them! I think we will be within the keep before an alarm is even sounded."

Edwintouched his brother's shoulder, then clasped it firmly. "This time," he said, "it does appear that the .

gods have favored us."

Ceidre was waiting.

He had not come to her again, not since the one night when he had tried to use her cruelly and coldly, yet every night Ceidre waited, hoping. If he still desired her there was a chance for them, a slim chance, true, but she would gladly take it. In his arms she would show him how she felt-how she repented her betrayal, how she loved him.

It had hurt unbearably to be treated as a whore, but in a way she welcomed punishment, for she deserved it. Yet, in truth, even though he hated her, she still loved him, and being in his arms could not be a punishment no matter how cruel he tried to be. She sensed the raw, gaping wound she had left, the one he hid with anger and hate. She ached unbearably with love and hurt for him-she had not lied when she had said she could never hate him.

She knew she should hate him. To love one who hated her so thoroughly was hopeless. Yet she could not just as she could not deny him. If only he would come to her againl Something was amiss this night. It was already very late. Ceidre was tense in her vigil, for the keep was
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hushed, and she sensed that something dire was about to happen, was happening. She hugged her knees, staring through the candlelit room at the door.Rolfe , where are you? Come to me!

WhenRolfe suddenly entered, approaching her with hard, quick strides, Ceidre felt both dread and joy.

His face was so closed, his eyes like ice, and what if she failed? What if he came to seek release and hurt her and she could not thaw the freeze in his heart? She was already standing, trembling. "My lord," she managed. "I am glad you have come." She prayed her heart's deepest feelings shone in her eyes.

Something flickered in his gaze. "Do you think I care?" He laughed, yanking her to him. "I am bored with the pallet, whore. Show me some new tricks."

Tears came to her eyes. "Which kind would you prefer?"

"Any kind," he snapped.

Ceidre lowered her lashes to hold back the tears, knowing she was a fool-she would never penetrate his hate and disperse it. Never. But how to give up her hopes, her dreams?

He made a sound, of disgust, and wrenched her hand down until her palm covered his manhood. It was rock-hard and straining to his navel already. She stroked it blindly, despair filling her. She could not continue like this-but hadn't she prayed for the chance for them to be together? Why did her heart have to feel as if it were breaking? She must be strong and filled with resolve! And then, as she felt him coming under her power, under her spell, she heard him utter a short, hard sound, and she looked up. His eyes were closed, his face dark and strained with arousal. The stabbing of desire was like lightning-her own body grew tense and eager. For she loved him. "Rolfe," she whispered.

He heard her, she saw the flitting of something undefinable across his face, but he did not open his eyes.

She leaned against the wall and lifted one thigh to wrap it around his waist. He needed no encouragement, soon he was plunging into her, her legs anchored on his hips, back against the wall. To her surprise, he kissed her, fiercely, the first time he had done so since her treachery. With a cry she kissed him back, claiming his mouth as he possessed hers. They kissed and kissed as their hips thrust, tongues entwining in a desperate dance. She loved him. She loved him so much. "Rolfe," she cried when her orgasm spun her away. "Rolfe,Rolfe !"

He slid her to her feet, stared at her, and she saw something in his eyes, something that had nothing to do with hatred and anger. He suddenly lifted her in his arms and laid her on the pallet. Ceidre's heart clenched. "I want to see your witch's body," he said, and his tone was unsteady instead of mocking.

"What is it?" she said, worry gripping her, all her intuition coming into play. Something was amiss, something was happening! He ignored her, pulling off her gown. For a moment he just stared at her breasts, at her belly, at her long legs. His hand swept over her. "What is it? What happens?" There was fear in her tone.

He did not answer, his eyes on her swollen bosom, his hands testing their weight and feel. Ceidre froze.

He can tell, she thought, panicked, that I am with babe. He had not undressed her and seen her naked body in six weeks, not since Cavlidockk.

He groaned and sought her nipple with the eagerness of a nursing infant. Ceidre relaxed. Soon she was gripping his head, and then he was entering her, leisurely this time-gently. She wanted to weep at the beauty of his coming to her. His mouth found her throat, her jaw, her cheeks and ear. His hands played her like a viol. He touched her everywhere, even pausing, magnificently still and full within her, on his
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