Gayle Callen (16 page)

“W
hat the hell did you do that for?” Reynold demanded, sputtering ale.

James looked at him coldly. “You were alone with my betrothed for how many days?”

“I saved your betrothed’s
life
!” he shot back. “Unless, of course, you knew she did not need to be saved.”

James threw up his hands. “What are you talking about? I didn’t even know she’d been kidnapped!”

They glared at each other, and Reynold found he couldn’t really believe what he’d been thinking. He took a step backwards, and wiped his hands across his face. “Do you have more ale? I was actually thirsty.”

James folded his arms across his chest. “How do you have the gall to face me after what you’ve done?”

“To Katherine?”

“To Edmund! I thought we agreed never to see one another again.”

“You agreed. I did not.” Reynold looked away from his brother, feeling a cold ache of loneliness settle in his heart.

They remained silent, frozen though it was a summer day.

James cleared his throat. “I guess I should thank you for delivering her to me,” he said, no warmth in his voice.

“You can thank Lady Katherine, not I. She led me here.”

James frowned. “But when you recognized her—”

“I had never met your betrothed, remember. I seem to recall you never wanted her near you. When I rescued her, she was too frightened to tell me her full name.”

“But why didn’t you tell my men who you were?” James asked. “Or for that matter, come to me?”

“And receive this kind of gratitude?” Reynold said, then closed his eyes and tried to rein in his temper. It was his own fault that James hated him. He continued in a controlled voice. “Lady Katherine tried to tell your men who she was, and they merely laughed. I never thought I would have better luck. And then once you returned, I did not wish to intrude. I knew you would not want to see me. And now I must return to St. Anthony’s and give an explanation for my sudden disappearance.”

“Damn,” James said, tapping his toe on the ground. “You can’t leave.”

“Why ever not?” Reynold demanded, so close to victory he could feel its breath. “Lady Katherine is safe with you, her secret as well. You can help her.”

James laughed grimly. “You don’t honestly think that His Majesty would believe a word of this?”

“Whether I believe it or not, he should be warned.”

“The man has enough on his mind. The Tudor has landed in Wales.”

Reynold nodded slowly. “I knew it would come, but so soon?”

“He’s marching into England, gathering his supporters. Katherine’s news—if it’s true, and I have my doubts—will probably be useless by now.”

“You told her you had sent men.”

“I’ve told no lies, Reynold,” James insisted angrily. “I did send men, but they won’t be trying to see the king. Yet Katherine’s lovely soul will have peace. After all, I can’t have her worrying when she should be preparing herself for our wedding.”

Reynold felt his heart shrivel painfully in his cold chest. “You delayed the wedding for so many years.”

“Not any longer. She’s a hot-blooded wench. Not that you’re interested in that sort of thing anymore, Brother Reynold.”

James was deliberately toying with him, and Reynold had had a bellyful. He tried to remember the grief they both shared over their brother’s death. James had a right to be angry.

“I have a long journey ahead of me,” Reynold said between gritted teeth. “Have a joyous wedding, James.”

“Won’t you return to officiate?”

The sarcasm grated on Reynold, but he tried to ignore it. “You forget I am but a novice.”

“Aye, well, you still can’t leave.”

“But you want me gone.”

“Of course I do—you’re a bitter reminder, Reynold.” He sighed. “But I’m sure Galway will let slip to Katherine that I’m pursuing her rescuer. The girl will probably wish to thank you properly.”

“Did she say that?”

“I don’t think she realized you had left.” Cold satisfaction laced James’s voice. “Did you tell her about our family history?”

“Of course not.”

“I’m not surprised. Since I don’t want to upset her before the wedding, I will not mention it—for the moment.”

Reynold nodded coolly, despite the threat.

“I wish I could leave you to walk, but I could hardly explain that either. Ride behind me.” James mounted but didn’t offer a hand.

Katherine awaited her midday dinner, trying her best to pay attention to stories regaled to her by each of the knights. Yet the door drew her eye every time it opened. Was Reynold still here? Would he wish to speak with her? Her heartbeat quickened, her breathing grew rough. How she
longed to see him again, to watch his eyes alight when he looked at her, to remember his strength and gentleness.

She tried to rally her anger, her disgust about what she had done with a man who was not her husband. Yet hard emotions slipped away beneath the gentle memories of Reynold loving her.

The double door of the great hall opened again. Katherine gave it a single preoccupied glance, then went back to her brooding. The image of two men suddenly flashed into her brain and she looked up with a gasp. A cowled monk walked beside James.

Katherine began to shake. She could no longer protect Reynold. His identity would be exposed, perhaps his life in danger. Could she hide her guilt when its cause stood before her?

They walked towards her, and still Reynold did not drop his cowl. He was a study in black and shadows, an image she trembled from only a few days before. She still trembled, but not from loathing. There was anticipation and yearning and guilt.

“Katherine!” James’s voice boomed loudly through the hall. Servants picked up their pace, laying out bread and butter on immaculate tablecloths.

Katherine licked her lips and attempted a smile. Her gaze was riveted on Reynold, the way his robe scattered the rushes at his feet, the breadth of his shoulders beneath the coarse wool habit. The cowl remained in place, a dark cavern where his face should be. She clutched her goblet tighter and tried to remain calm.

“Katherine,” James said, coming to a halt before her, “I found your protector trying to leave without a proper good-bye.”

She sipped her wine to hide her trembling lips. “How nice,” she murmured, struggling to keep her gaze on James, and not the silent man behind him.

James pulled a chair out from the table. “Reynold, sit and eat with us.”

Katherine’s eyes widened. James knew Reynold’s name. His identity was no longer a secret. Would her enemies seek him out? Were they already watching, waiting to pounce? She looked around nervously, wondering which of the servants were new.

In her need to protect Reynold, she forgot about her guilt for a moment. Then her wide-eyed gaze returned to James.

Could he tell? Did her face give her secret away? Perhaps that was why Reynold hid his.

Reynold lifted his hands and slowly removed the cowl from his head. Katherine watched in horrified fascination, as she had the first time. His face was oddly still, even pale, and he didn’t meet her eyes. James called for a servant to bring him the platter of venison.

“I must admit the coincidence is startling,” James was saying.

Katherine dragged her gaze from Reynold and blinked. “Coincidence?”

“I had forgotten Reynold had been sent to St. Anthony’s.”

Katherine suddenly had trouble swallowing. “You know him?”

“I admit our last names are deceptive. My father died when I was but an infant. Our mother then married Reynold’s father.”

Katherine shook her head in bewilderment. “My father,” “his father,” “our mother”? And then it all came together with a clash of thunder that seemed to reverberate through Katherine’s head.

They were brothers.

She stared anywhere but at the dark monk and the well-dressed earl. Brothers. And Reynold hadn’t told her.

The last thought threatened to cut off her breathing. Katherine gasped, then took a quick drink of wine, only to end up coughing like a fool.

“Are you all right, Katherine dear?”

She nodded to James, but couldn’t look at him. Then she would have to see Reynold, the man who lured her to betray his own brother in a dungeon.

Katherine shuddered with self-loathing and closed her eyes. Reynold had known from the moment they’d arrived, and never told her. He had allowed Katherine to be locked in a pit, when a simple word from him would have freed her. But then, of course, she would not have debased herself by mating with him again.

Katherine’s stomach threatened to rebel and she put a hand to her mouth. She interrupted whatever James was saying. “Excuse me, I’m not feeling well. I think I’ll retire. A good evening, James, B-Brother Reynold.”

Of its own volition, her gaze lifted momentarily to Reynold. If possible, his face was whiter than before, and his eyes seemed to shine with a terrible intensity. Katherine whirled from him and walked away as quickly as she dared.

Reynold bowed his head, his eyes squeezed shut as he surrendered to the pain in his heart. Katherine’s feelings were overly apparent. She’d never forgive him for his lie. He had tried to keep her from all harm, including the knowledge of his identity, and in the end it had demolished every feeling they’d shared.

James studied him, eyes narrowed. “You know what she’s been through this past week.”

“Yes.”

“She doesn’t like to speak of your journey. Tell me about it.”

Reynold told him the barest details, trying to keep his mind from wandering to the woman upstairs. James didn’t look satisfied.

“I’ll be leaving in the morning,” Reynold said.

“She might insist my brother should be here for the wedding. I wonder how I can get around it.”

Reynold struggled for impassivity. “Married so quickly, James? Your last words about her were not kind.”

“She’s matured into quite a beauty, don’t you think? Oh, so sorry,” he added insincerely. “You’re not supposed to think mat anymore.” He watched Reynold with angry intensity. “I have a hard time imagining what it must be like to be raised as you and I were, only to give it all up. The
women in particular. How do you stand it?”

Reynold opened his mouth, but the words seemed stuck in his throat.

“I know, I know,” James continued, clearly enjoying himself. “Family loyalty and all that. And of course we mustn’t forget Edmund’s death.”

Reynold’s guilt seemed to batter the heart inside his chest. “I am no better than any man, James,” he said. “This isn’t worthy of you. I am going to bed.”

James had the grace to redden. “Allow me to show you to a room.”

Reynold listened without comment as James pointed out the plate and jewels he had amassed in the great hall. He knew most of it was a show for James’s people. He could tell even James’s heart wasn’t in the performance. But once upstairs, Reynold noticed how sparsely furnished the corridor was. No luxuries adorned the room James showed him to.

James looked him directly in the eyes. “Yes, it’s time I married the girl. These rooms need to be furnished.”

Reynold closed the door.

Katherine lifted her wet, hot face from the pillow and gasped fresh air into her lungs. Strands of hair clung to her tear-dampened cheek. With shaking fingers she pushed them away and sat up. Her throat hurt and her eyes were swollen. She must cease her pointless crying.

Sniffing, she gathered a blanket around her
shoulders and got out of bed, sinking into the thick carpet. Every time she came into her room, something new had been added. The comfort was nice, but it made her uneasy. Why such a show of wealth below stairs with so little above?

She sank into a cushioned chair before the bare fireplace and tried to think of anything but her predicament. Her mind was a blank pool of water, with much going on beneath the surface, but nothing rising for her to think about. Just Reynold.

Katherine shuddered. He had lied to her. She took a shaky breath and forced back the ever-threatening tears. She didn’t blame him for not revealing his identity during their first few days together—after all, she hadn’t told him hers. She remembered his hesitation about journeying to the earl’s castle, how she’d practically had to drag him here. Now she knew why.

A flood of anger overpowered her teary emotions. Of course Reynold hadn’t wanted to approach his brother’s castle. He knew his sexual appetites would no longer be appeased.

Katherine groaned in shame. How easily she had given in. She would have traveled on for weeks, not knowing how close they could be to Nottingham, endlessly allowing his seduction until she was with child. Then what would have happened? She could hardly picture Reynold on his knees begging to marry her. And James would have dissolved the contract. She would have had to return to her father in total humiliation.

Katherine stood and began to pace. Thank God
she had come upon James’s castle when she had. Although her conduct in the dungeon mortified her, at least she now knew what kind of man Reynold was. A man who could continue to betray his own brother.

Just as Katherine was about to blow out the smoking rushlight, she heard a knock on her door. She straightened with a feeling of dread.

“Who is it?”

A soft voice answered, “It is I.”

She practically flew to the door and pressed her lips near the crack. “How dare you!” she hissed. “What if your brother sees you pawing at my door?”

“He is already abed. I must speak with you.”

“The servants—”

“No one has seen me. Open the door before someone comes!”

Katherine put her back against the door, spread her legs for balance and held her position. “Go away!”

The latch lifted and the door began to swing slowly open. Her feet slid along the stone floor, then her toes caught on the carpet. She gave up her struggle and whirled to face him, holding the blanket around her like a shield.

“Your gall astounds me,” she said, trying to send him the most menacing of looks while her heart pounded erratically.

Reynold closed the door behind him and leaned against it, watching her with his dark, shadowed
eyes. The monk’s robes hung about his tall, powerful body.