Defiant Surrender (16 page)

He entered her in one swift stroke. Fulfilment and pleasure overwhelmed her and she moaned. His arms came around her in an immovable grip. His chest rasped against her back and left her feeling cherished and wholly loved. His murmurs of delight tickled her ear and sent her insides to quake.

“William,” she gasped, unable to form any further words as endless jolts of pleasure spiked throughout her body. He continued to love her, allowed her to enjoy every moment of her orgasm. Maddie squirmed as his hands tightened. His thrusts became less guarded, barbaric. He stiffened before his own release shot deep within her womb. He moaned, a deep satisfied rumble against her back.

“Madeline…”

Tears pricked her eyes as he whispered her name against her back in reverential tone. She fell irrevocably in love with her knight in shining armor, on the spot and without doubt.

*

Maddie sat up in bed with a start and wiped the sleep from her eyes. She looked over to the other side of the bed and noticed William’s imprint on the pillow, but the man himself absent.

Mistress Rhode bustled about and opened the tapestries. The morning air—less chilled now spring was on the way flowed into the room. Maddie breathed deep the smell of earth and sea then jumped from the covers.

“M’lady, ’tis a beautiful day. Just the weather for the moot,” Mistress Rhode said, pulling out an ornate golden embroidered gown Maddie hadn’t seen before.

Maddie looked from the gown back to her maid. “What moot? What are you talking about?”

Her maid stripped her of her chemise and passed her a damp cloth. Maddie walked over to the basin and washed as best she could, missing her shower dreadfully in the twenty-first century.

“The hall moot, m’lady. With your illness, Lord William sat in your stead at the last one. Today, you will once more take your father’s chair and rule over your people.”

Nerves fluttered in her stomach. Maddie clutched the cloth in her hands and stared at the grey stone wall. “You mean, I have sit before these people, who will come to me with their problems and I will have to make a decision of what’s right and wrong,” Maddie asked, her fear of public speaking closing her throat.

“Aye, m’lady. The dais is set up already in the bailey. After your morning mass, the moot will begin.”

Maddie turned to her maid. “I can’t. I can’t do it,” she said, her words muffled as her maid placed a clean chemise over her head.

“’Tis easy, m’lady. As long as you are fair, your people will be pleased.”

At her maid’s calming tone, Maddie pushed away her fear. Mistress Rhode was right. She had to do this, and would do it well. Hopefully.

The golden gown sat heavy, its intricate stitching adding to the importance of this day. “Do you know what they’ll ask me?” Maddie asked, allowing Mistress Rhode to place a silk veil over her hair, a fillet of gold holding it in its place.

“Nay, m’lady. But ’twould seem we will soon find out.” Her maid smiled and stepped back. “Now, where did I put those cursed shoes?”

Maddie smiled and waited for Mistress Rhode to find her footwear. She walked over to the narrow window and looked out over the ocean. The calming waters in no way calmed the fear of knowing she would have to sound noble and intelligent to pull off the next few hours without her people thinking she’d gone completely nuts.

*

Maddie stepped up on the wooden dais and looked about at the gathered throng of serfs and vassals. William helped her to her chair and she smiled at him in thanks. Adjusting her seat, she noted Lady Veronica and Sir Alex as part of the crowd.

At a table to her left, the parish clerk sat parchment and quill in hand. Maddie rubbed her forehead, having no idea how to act as judge and jury.

She took a calming breath as the first villager stepped before her.

“Mr. Robert Boyle has been caught baking in a personal oven instead of using the castle oven, m’lady,” her steward said, then stepped back. Maddie looked down at the man, his clothes far from clean, his frame ill and sickly looking.

“Why did you do this, Mr Boyle?” she asked, inwardly fuming at such a pathetic offense.

“M’lady, I was ill. I could not make the distance to me front door, nevertheless the castle. ’Tis my only excuse.”

Maddie nodded, the sincerity of his voice paying truth to his words. She looked down at the man’s pants and noticed the small boy whimpering into his leg. “You could not help your circumstance; therefore I will let you off with a warning, Mr. Boyle. The next time you are ill, send your child to me and I will ensure you are kept fed by my oven.”

The man clasped his hat against his chest and bowed. “Oh, thank you, m’lady. You are most kind.”

Maddie smiled and nodded to her steward for the next complaint or query.

Overall, the day went well. She gave her blessing to two marriages between her people. Settled a dispute with a farmer who lived outside the castle walls and warned a young woman not to gossip. It was only when a local freeman brought forward one of the village children and stated he had caught the young boy stealing the barony’s game did Maddie pause with thought.

She summoned the boy forward and noted his mother stood behind. Again, these people were poor and underfed and Maddie felt an overwhelming desire to take them in and give them everything she owned. “You stole some game from my woods. Is that right, young man?” Maddie asked gently.

“Aye, m’lady. But as I already told him,” the boy said, pointing to the local freeman. “I scared a fox off that was killing the rabbit. It would have died anyways and, well, I just helped it. I thought because the rabbit had been in partly eaten, it wasn’t fit for ye table, m’lady.”

The freeman protested and Maddie ordered him to be quiet. She knew her people expected her to deal a harsh treatment out to the boy due to the fact she hadn’t fined or punished anyone this day. She could not. If her people were hungry, it was her fault. She could not bring down the force of the law on an innocent child whose story did sound plausible. And the lad was right, she wouldn’t want to eat anything partly eaten by a fox. She sat back.

“Due to the fact the fox had already munched on the rabbit, I will let you off with a warning. But the next time such a situation occurs, I want you to bring it to me so I can gift you the rabbit,” Maddie said, winking.

She gasped as the boy ran up on the dais and hugged her. Tears prickled her eyes as his mumbles of how he thought she would kill him, met her ears. Had that been the punishment for such a felony? Maddie rubbed his back then set him away and looked at him.

“You’re a child, I would never do that,” she said.

The boy nodded but bit his lip. “Ye did last year, m’lady. My friend G
eorge—,” his voice trailed off when William stepped forward.

Maddie’s mouth gaped as she watched the young lad run to his mother. The bile rose in her throat and she sought confirmation with Mistress Rhode that such a thing was true. Her maid’s solemn expression was all the answer she needed.

“Come, Madeline. The moot is over. ’Twill be time for supper soon,” William said, pulling her from her chair.

Maddie’s vision of William blurred in a pool of tears. “Did I really kill a child, William?”

He frowned and nodded. “Aye. The lad had been poaching on both our lands, but was caught on yours. ’Twould be a year ago now you held a trial and found him guilty. He was executed immediately by one of your knights.” William paused, his eyes searching. “Why do you cry?”

“Lady Madeline killed a child because he was hungry. That is such a barbaric thing to do.” Maddie’s voice trembled as the tears streamed down her cheeks. “She should have helped him, not killed him. Given him employ somewhere in the village to keep him out of trouble. Not kill him as if he was nothing.”

William pulled her into his arms. “Nay, Madeline. ’Twas no hope for the boy, he was set in his ways. Do not punish yourself. ’Twas what I would have done.”

Maddie wrenched out of his arms and walked into the keep then headed for her chamber. She determined to be present at every future moot, and steadfast that all would be dealt fairly with the law. And ensure that no one faced the sword under any circumstance. Ever again.

As the first weeks of spring arrived, Maddie set out to weed the kitchen garden. She stood and breathed in the smell of herbs and spices that slowly rose into the air. After a hard winter, the plants seemed eager to bud and bask in the mild sunlight. A smile played on her lips as she realized she was happy. That she had come to think this wondrous journey back in time a blessing, especially now, as a woman in love.

Finished with the bed before her she sat on the wooden seat, made not a week past, by her husband’s decree. The sun was warm on her face, not a breath of wind marred the day. She raised her face toward the heat and thought of William, a man who made every day as warm and bright as that star in the sky.

As the sound of brisk footsteps sounded behind her, Maddie turned to look over her shoulder and smiled as Sir Alex came toward her. She had not seen him for many weeks, the knight having travelled to London for a time.

“Hello, Sir Alex, long time no see.”

Sir Alex laughed and sat beside her. “How are you, Lady Madeline? I hope all is well?”

She raised her brows and smiled. “All is very well, Sir Alex. I understand you’ve been away.”

“Yes, to London. In fact, I will be away again shortly. The king has given me permission to marry, so within a few months I shall commence the care of my own holdings in Kent.”

Maddie lost some of the joy in seeing her friend again. He would be so far away; she may never see him again. “I cannot say I will be happy to see you go, Sir Alex. Although, of course, I understand you must live your own life and start a family. Congratulations on your future marriage. Please do not forget us up here, and visit whenever you can.”

He nodded in assent. “Of course, m’lady. Although, because of the great distance I am not sure ’twill be as often as I’d like.” He looked down at her in all seriousness. Maddie shifted on the seat as a fear curled within her belly.

“I do have a missive for you and Lord William from the king, m’lady.”

She slumped back and cursed her stupidity at writing the missive. Serve her right if the king did allow the annulment and she lost William through her own foolishness.

“Well, I dare say I will read it tonight. Are you joining us for supper, Sir Alex?”

“Of course,” he said, a thoughtful frown upon his brow. He paused. “If there is anything you ever need, you only have to write or send for me. I will keep you safe, m’lady.”

Maddie clasped his arm in thanks. Sir Alex was such a nice man and a good friend. She would miss him dearly. However, he deserved a life and happiness like her. It would be selfish to keep him here just for her comfort. Maddie leant over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you, Sir Alex. I am happy to know I have a friend should the need arise.”

Something in his gaze made her pause. For the first time within Sir Alex’s company Maddie wasn’t sure of his intent. She froze as his hand pulled a stray leaf from her hair. She sat back with a laugh, hoped he had not noticed her unease. His eyes and what she’d seen in them made her uncomfortable.

“Thank you, Sir Alex.”

He nodded and continued to stare. She watched a myriad of emotions flow from him before common sense seemed to reign supreme in his mind and he stood and strode away. Maddie frowned after him, worried she had inadvertently hurt her friend somehow. She hoped not, but to her, that was all he was, a friend. She looked back at her garden and mused she should probably get back to it.

*

William stood across the bailey and watched Madeline and Sir Alex with a simmering temper. His wife had a genuine attachment to his first knight. He knew it was wholly innocent on her side. However, of the other party involved, he was not so sure. His jaw clenched; foolish bastard to have insinuated the friendship in the first place. All in the hopes Sir Alex would keep his wife away while he bedded his whore.

It would be wrong to blame either of them for the closeness he had allowed to form. From her crestfallen expression, it seemed Sir Alex had informed his wife of his imminent departure. He fought the urge to go to her, give her comfort. Whether wholly for her ease or his own he wasn’t sure. Either way, he did not like her distress and it would not hurt to inform his knight whose wife she was.

A red haze settled over his vision as Madeline kissed the man before her. His hand clenched his sword while his mind fought to comprehend what she had done. Was Madeline in love with Sir Alex? A rage welled within him. Had she played him a fool all these weeks? She had certainly never declared her love for him. He turned away, yelled to his page to fetch his horse. Either that or kill them both.

If Madeline thought such goings on would be allowed within their marriage she was very much mistaken. Her excuses this day would want to hold true. Or she would feel the full force of his temper…tonight.

*

That night at dinner, Maddie sat as usual next to William and tried to hide her confusion over her husband’s manner. She absently kept up conversation with Sir Bryan, who sat upon her left and wondered what the hell was wrong with William?

She stole a glance at him—his face hard and unreadable—gave no sign as to his thoughts or problem. It had hurt more than she cared to know when he’d greeted her this eve with barely a nod. As for talking to her, which was normally constant, he’d barely made a sound. She frowned, wondered if it was the king’s letter that had caused such a turn of countenance, or was it something she had done. What though, she had no idea. As far as she understood, they were getting along
marvelously.

“Is something the matter, my lord?”

Maddie kept her eye on William as she waited for his reply. A flush bloomed on her cheeks by his refusal to answer. The only sign he had even heard her was the ticking muscle in his jaw as he continued to stare down at his knights. Out of curiosity, she followed his glare and noted it lodged firmly on Sir Alex. Sir Alex, it seemed, was not the only one to notice William’s curiosity.

Maddie’s temper snapped. “Don’t you dare sit there, William, and ignore me. If you have a problem, bloody well spit it out so I can have the pleasure of putting you back in your place,” she said, annoyed.

That question at least warranted her a look. Her husband’s cold glare froze her blood as he took a sip of mead. What had she done to have so much hate aimed at her?

“I saw you today, Lady Madeline, embracing another man.” He glowered. “Does that answer your question?”

She quirked an eyebrow and glared, her mouth set in a hard line. Was he daft? Obviously. Because if he thought after what they had been doing together over these last week’s she would look elsewhere, he was batty in the head.

“Yes, I did. I won’t deny it. I found out this morning that Sir Alex is leaving and I was saying goodbye.” She put down her knife lest she poke him with it for being an idiot. “Now if you had seen me with my tongue down his throat you should be worried. I like Sir Alex…as a friend, and I was being nice. There was nothing more to it than that. Please don’t be angry and become all lordly and painful.”

His gazed bored into her. She held her breath, as the seconds that seemed like minutes ticked by. She relaxed when the tension in him slowly drained away. She bit back the urge to tease him on his jealously. Her heart tweaked in her chest as she watched him run a hand across his jaw, a sigh of regret expelled.

He caught her eye, his brow furrowed. “I don’t want to lose you, ma chère.”

Maddie leant across and kissed him. Basked in the heat his lips always fired in her blood. It melted her heart to know a man of such stature could be insecure when it came to a woman. And not just any woman…but her.

“You’re not going to lose me, William. Not to Sir Alex, or anyone. Please trust me as I trust you. Can you do that for me?”

He nodded as something flicked in his eyes that Maddie took as understanding. It may have taken a while, but she now trusted him above all else. And she was probably the one person who should be most wary of the man. Especially since all past action between them had been anything but smooth.

“I apologiz
e, my lady.”

She smiled across at him, happy all was well between them once again.

“I need to let you know, Lady Madeline, that I will be away for some weeks to London. I meant to discuss this with you after the meal but since we’re both here, it may as well be now. You may be aware I received a missive from the king via Sir Alex’s hand today.”

Maddie blanched. Had their monarch done as she asked? She didn’t want an annulment now. She loved William, wanted to stay with him. Even odder was her desire to stay in 1102, if that was what would keep her within her husband’s arms for all time.

“What did the letter say? Sir Alex said it came addressed to us both. Is it bad news?” Maddie asked, fear curdling her supper.

“’Twas bad news, for you at least. I’m sorry to inform you, my dear, but your request for an annulment has been denied. In fact, you are now requested to beget an heir within a year.” William chuckled. “Which I might add, a few weeks ago would have been a problem, but not so much these days.”

Maddie laughed at his wink.

“Very true, my lord, but why is it you need to travel to London?” She didn’t want him to go. The thought of weeks away from him troubled her.

He sighed. “Tedious court business pertaining to Kingston land, nothing you need worry about,” he added as he noted her concern. He cleared his throat. “I will also be escorting Lady Veronica back to London, to ensure her safety. Her family have been notified and are expecting her return.”

Maddie continued to look at him. She wanted to gauge his reaction to Lady Veronica’s forthcoming departure. She inwardly sighed in relief when she noted no remorse or regret etched on his features. But that wasn’t where her worries ended. Her stomach clenched in dread. She didn’t like the idea of William’s ex-lover in such close quarters with him and for weeks on end. The Lady Veronica was sly. There was no doubt about that. Maddie wouldn’t trust her as far as she could kick the woman.

No matter William’s actions or declarations to her, he still had a history with this lady. And from what she’d beheld in the castle hallway that very first night in 1102, it had once been a passionate one. Unease crept across her skin. Maddie cleared her throat and remembered to hold onto her trust.

“I suppose I will have to bid you farewell,” she said. “And hope for the best,” she added under her breath.

*

William frowned at Madeline, having not quite caught her last words. Although he had a good idea what they were. She was uncomfortable with him travelling with Lady Veronica. He threw his knife down and ran a hand through his hair. He wanted to comfort her, reassure her. The last thought on his mind was undertaking an illicit affair with his ex-mistress.

To be frank, they were hardly friends before he took her to his bed. He knew his words to Madeline upon her arrival into his life were cruel and hurtful. He shuddered as he remembered the lies he blurted, denigration that shamed him to his core.

It was no secret Lady Veronica had aimed for their relationship to proceed to marriage. Even now, she blamed Madeline for her loss. However, if anyone was to blame for Lady Veronica’s loss of dreams, it was him. Having come to know Madeline as he now did, no other could ever fill her place.

He hated to leave her even for a night, nevertheless weeks at a time. It made it doubly hard knowing she would worry about his faithfulness. He picked up her hand, kissed her delicate fingers, and captured her gaze. Let all the love he held for the marvelous woman shine from his eyes.

“Do not worry, ma chère. You are the only woman I want. There will be no other. As soon as my business is completed, naught will keep me away.” He should tell her he loved her. All but worshiped where she stepped. But he could not. He had other ideas as to when he would mention such sentiments. And London featured heavily in that grand scheme.

A half smile lifted her lips. “How will I get on without you around, my lord? I do believe I’ll be quite lonely. Certainly afternoons will be filled in an entirely different manner.”

“’Twould have to be,” William growled, making his wife laugh. She sighed, her breath warm against his neck when he pulled her into his chest and held her.

“I will miss you, ma chère,” he said, looking down.

She ran a finger upon his cheek and touched his lips. “I’ll miss you too.” She paused. “It’s going to be so boring here without you. I’ll have nothing to do other than household chores. And I don’t really even have them, as the servants carry out most tasks.” William smiled at her mulish tone.

“Running a castle is no minor chore, Madeline. You should know that better than most.”

“When do you leave?” she asked.

“Next week. A carriage as we speak is on its way up from London to carry Lady Veronica home. We’ll leave in a day or two after its arrival.”

“Her family’s carriage?” Maddie frowned.

“Aye, I believe so.”

Maddie looked along the dais to the woman who sat not far away, a smirk of triumph on Lady Veronica’s face. Maddie gritted her teeth. She didn’t like the sound of that at all.

*

Two days later, Maddie sat playing a game of checkers with Mistress Rhode and enjoyed a companionable cup of tea while they competed. The afternoon was cool, and spring showers were often. The air smelled fresh and clean, cleaner than she could ever remember. It was a scent only a storm could bestow and reminded her oddly of her childhood.