Lords of Darkness and Shadow (60 page)

“Lady Elyse is a very sweet woman,” she said neutrally, sipping at her wine. “I like her a great deal.”

Merradoc’s gaze lingered on her a moment before returning his focus to his satchel. He began packing items away. “I will return in the morning,” he said. “In the meanwhile, stay off of that leg and limit your nocturnal activities. You need your rest.”

He was looking at Devlin as he said it. But Devlin didn’t react and the old man collected his bag, pushing past the two of them on his way to the door. Hand on the big iron latch, he paused before leaving.

“I would not sleep in the same bed if I were you,” he said quietly, looking between the two of them. “Lady Elyse is an early riser and unless you want her to find you together, I would suggest you sleep in separate beds.”

Emllyn gave one last stab at maintaining a proper illusion between her and Devlin. “We most certainly will not sleep in the same bed,” she said firmly. “You are a nosy old man with unclean thoughts.”

Merradoc’s lips tugged with the beginnings of a smile. “And you, lady, smell like a man has been all over you.”

Emllyn’s eyes narrowed. “How would you know what such a thing smells like? I would wager it has been centuries since you last saw companionship.”

Merradoc snorted as he opened the door. “Mayhap, Lady Emllyn,” he said, shaking a finger at her. “Mayhap indeed. But you must be careful nonetheless.”

He shut the door softly behind him and Devlin moved over to throw the bolt, locking the door. He turned to look at Emllyn, who was still standing by the bed with a cup of wine in her hand. They stood there a moment, looking at each other, each feeling a certain measure of apprehension.

“You will not trust anyone here,” Devlin finally said, his voice soft and firm. “Especially not him.”

Emllyn nodded, downing the rest of the wine in the cup. “It is strange,” she said quietly as she set the cup down. “When I was at Black Castle, I could not trust anyone,” she said. “I was surrounded by people who considered me the enemy. Now, at Glenteige, I still cannot trust anyone even though we are allies. It is a difficult world I live in.”

Devlin could see her perspective. In many ways, her world was more difficult than his; at least he had people he could depend on. She had no one. But she had him.

Silently, he made his way over to her and wrapped her up in his big, strong arms. Emllyn collapsed against him, her arms around his waist and her head against his chest. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world. There was so much warmth and comfort between them, so much power and emotion, that it brought tears to her eyes.

“Promise me that you will not leave me here long,” she whispered. “Promise me that you will return for me very soon.”

Devlin kissed the top of her head. “I swear I will not leave you here any longer than necessary,” he said. “I want you with me and not imprisoned in this English hell. My greatest thought will be of taking you back with me to Black Castle where we both belong.”

Emllyn looked up at him, her eyes moist with unshed tears. “I told you once I did not want to be your concubine,” she murmured. “I have changed my mind. It would be an honor.”

He smiled faintly. “I would rather have you as my wife,” he said. “Would that not be a greater honor?”

“The greatest.”

He grinned and kissed her, tasting her sweetness as if he had been longing for it all of his life. To feel such a connection with someone, to feel physical pain at the thought of separation or physical excitement when their bodies touched, was an entirely new experience for him. Even now, the thought of leaving her tomorrow made him feel ill. He was dreading it.

“Then I will marry you the day we return to Black Castle,” he said. “I will cherish the day when I can call you Lady de Bermingham.”

Emllyn grinned, touching his face and watching him kiss her palms. “It will give my brother fits.”

“Does this concern you?”

“Not in the least. You are the most important thing in the world to me.” Her smile faded as her thoughts turned to the bargain they had struck back at Black Castle. It seemed so long ago now. “Dev, what of the English prisoners you still hold? Will you still kill them? Or will you let them go?”

He sobered, thinking of Trevor, the man who had literally brought them together, moldering down in his vault. “Do you still want to see if Trevor is among them?” he asked even though he already knew the answer.

“It hardly matters now.”

“Then what do you want me to do with them?”
Emllyn pondered his question seriously. “It was our bargain that you let me see theEnglish prisoners if I came to Glenteige to discover de Cleveley’s plans against you.”

“I know.”

“I will discover what I can without need to see the prisoners. I simply do not care any longer if Trevor is with them or not.”

He debated whether or not he should tell her what he knew, but he opted not to mention that Trevor was indeed among his captives because he didn’t want anything to cloud their joy. He was selfish, he knew it, but he didn’t care. He didn’t want her to think thoughts of Trevor when she should only be thinking of him.

“Then I will put them on a boat and send them back to England,” he said quietly. “I have no more use for them. If you wish for me to spare them, then I will.”

She smiled at him; it was surely a generous offer coming from Black Sword and the importance of it was not lost on her. “You are very generous,” she said. “I am grateful.”

His smile broadened and he gazed at her steadily for several long moments. It was evident that he was pondering something. After a moment, he reached out to tenderly touch her cheek.

“My mother used to say something to me when I was young, something that I never fully understood until this moment,” he said softly. “She used to say to me, ‘Everything leads me to thee’. I was her only child and she was very attached to me, and every time she left me, even if it was just for a short while, she used to say that. ‘Everything leads me to thee.’ Now that I look at you, I understand what she meant. There isn’t a move I will make or a thought I will think that will not cause me to think of you. Everything, ultimately, will lead me to thee so when I leave on the morrow, I want you to remember that. Everything leads me to thee, and I will return for you.”

It was such a sweet sentiment. Emllyn smiled sweetly at him. “That is the most wonderful thing I have ever heard.”

“Say it for me.”

She did. “Everything leads me to thee,” she murmured.

Hearing it in her voice made him believe the words as if God himself had spoken it. Devlin kissed her forehead and her cheeks before lifting her up and carrying her over to the big, luxurious bed. He carefully laid her down and then lay down beside her. They faced each other, their first moment together on a bed when they weren’t fighting with one another or experiencing untold passion. It was just the two of them, a man and a woman, embarking on a remarkable voyage of discovery.

They talked of all things, both serious and trivial, for most of the night.

∾

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Two weeks later

Glenteige Castle

It had been thirteen days since Devlin’s return to Black Castle, but to Emllyn, it felt like a lifetime.

Seated in Elyse’s fine solar, so fine and fancy that it looked as if a queen lived there, Emllyn sat before an embroidery frame, working on a piece she had started a few days before. It was of an angel in the Garden of Eden, an ambitious piece with flowers and birds. Emllyn was very good at sewing, so she took delight in a challenge. 

Emllyn had been sewing on the piece steadily since she had started it, putting angels and animals to needle when her thoughts were far away with Devlin. At the top of the piece were the five little words Devlin had said to her, words she would never forget. They were the most important words she had ever heard.

Everything leads me to thee.

This day in March was cool and dreary, as a storm had blown in off the Irish Sea and continued to drench the countryside with a heavy downpour. A fire burned brightly in the hearth as a cool and damp breeze blew in through the thin lancet windows. Emllyn sat, wrapped up in a fur-lined robe and warm slippers, as Elyse chattered continuously as she sat at her beautifully carved drawing table and sketched with charcoal. These days with Elyse were comfortable and companionable, and Emllyn had come to like her a great deal.

Elyse was quite an artist, the result of many hours of spending time alone. She had to fill the time somehow, so she had practiced her drawing and had become very proficient at it. At this moment, she was working very hard on something that Emllyn had yet to see, but she knew the woman had been working on it for a couple of days. Charcoal on parchment made for the most beautiful and emotive art. But the woman was talking so much that Emllyn was surprised she was able to get anything accomplished at all.

“… and then he told me that he did not even like for me to look at another man,” she was saying as she sketched. “Of course, I told him he was ridiculous. We are not even pledged, after all.”

Emllyn smiled weakly, glancing up from her sewing. “Has he spoken to your father yet?”

Elyse shook her head. “Not yet,” she said. “I believe he feels as if it is a mere formality. After all, he is the most eligible candidate at Glenteige so I do believe he feels as if it’s understood by all that he will someday be my husband.”

Emllyn wriggled her eyebrows as she focused on her needle. “Very presumptive,” she said. “I do not like any man who assumes things before he has been given permission.”

Elyse stopped drawing and looked at her. “Nor do I,” she declared. “In fact, I have been thinking of ignoring him for a time to teach him a lesson. I’ll not come so easily to him, you know. I am not a prize to be won or a commodity to be bartered for.”

Emllyn grinned. “Are there no other eligible bachelors here other than Connaught?”

Elyse cocked her head thoughtfully as she went back to work. “Christopher has a younger brother, Drew,” she said. “He is quite handsome. But he is also quite young and quite frisky with women, if you get my meaning. I have heard he has at least two bastards.”

Emllyn giggled. “You do
not
want a man with bastards,” she said. “Who else?”

Elyse was carefully shading something. “There are a couple of lesser knights,” she said. “My father has an entire stable of knights, but only a few I would even look at more than once. I suppose the reality is that Christopher is the only true marital candidate for me.”

Emllyn looked up at her. “And this displeases you?”

Elyse shrugged. “It would be nice to have more of a selection,” she said. As they giggled, her focus on Emllyn grew more intense. “And what of you? Do you have any prospects for marriage?”

Emllyn was careful in her answer. “Nay,” she said softly. “I have told you of the man I thought to marry, but he was killed.”

Elyse had heard the story of Sir Trevor, Emllyn’s one and true love, and how the man had been killed in the battle at Black Castle those weeks ago. She had tried to get more of the story out of her but Emllyn didn’t seem to want to talk about it. Although Elyse was trying to be tactful when discussing Emllyn’s recently lost love, it frustrated her to no end that the woman wouldn’t elaborate. She was very curious.

“I am sorry for you, of course,” Elyse said quietly. “But shouldn’t you think of your future, or do you plan to pine away for a dead man? You are young and beautiful, but you will not be that way forever. You must marry while you are still attractive.”

It was a harsh way of putting it but she wasn’t far wrong. Still, Emllyn shook her head. “Mayhap,” she said. “But I am not thinking of marriage now.”

“But you will someday?”

“Of course I will.”

Elyse sighed dreamily, thinking on Emllyn’s future lover. “Will you at least invite me to your wedding when you do marry? I should like to see the husband you finally choose.”

Emllyn had a mental picture of Elyse at her wedding to Devlin and it almost made her laugh. “If you will come, of course I will invite you.”

Elyse was thrilled. She went back to her drawing. “My father would chastise me if he heard me say this,” she said, “but I have seen many handsome Irishmen since I have been in Ireland. I swear that the country is overrun with handsome men. It is unfortunate that I cannot marry an Irishman, for I would dearly love to have a handsome and exotic husband.”

Emlllyn grinned at her. “Connaught is not handsome or exotic enough?”

Elyse waved her off. “He is very handsome,” she said. “But he is so…
English.
To hear a man say my name in an Irish accent… ‘tis heavenly!”

Emllyn giggled at the woman’s silly romantic notions. They were sweet. As she focused on her work again and took another stitch, she heard Elyse’s soft voice upon the air.

“John is a very handsome man,” she ventured. “He told my father that his wife and daughter died. Do… do you know much about him?”

Emllyn’s good humor fled and jealousy filled her veins. She could tell just by the woman’s tone that she was interested in Devlin and it was an effort not to fly over the table and wrap her hands around Elyse’s neck. But she remained calm and cool, reminding herself that Elyse had no true knowledge of who Devlin was or of his relationship to Emllyn. Moreover, she couldn’t fault the woman for her excellent taste; he most definitely
was
a big, handsome man.

“He is a farmer,” she said, avoiding the question. “Your father would never allow you to marry an Irish farmer.”

Elyse sighed. “I know,” she said. “But he is still devilishly handsome. What do you know of him?”

It was the same question; Emllyn realized that the woman wasn’t going to let it go. She had insatiable curiosity, more than likely because she really hadn’t had any female companionship to talk to before Emllyn had come along. It was as if she was making up for all of those lonely days with no one to pass the time with.

“Not too terribly much,” Emllyn replied, focused on her needlework. “He was very kind to me and helped me a great deal.”

“He cares for you.”

Emllyn shrugged. “It is only normal concern, I am sure.”

Elyse had stopped drawing; she was gazing intently at Emllyn. “To dream of a man like that with his arms around me, in my bed,” she murmured. “It makes me warm all over.”

Emllyn’s head shot up, looking at Elyse with a mixture of curiosity and shock. “God’s Blood, Elyse,” she said; she had long since stopped addressing her formally as “lady” since they had become fast friends. “What a deviant mind you have.”

Elyse cocked an eyebrow at her before breaking down into giggles. “I have a healthy curiosity for men in general,” she admitted. “Christopher may be handsome but he is a boring lover. I’ve had better.”

Emllyn nearly choked. “Better
lovers
?” she repeated. “Surely you do not mean…?”

Elyse nodded swiftly, cutting her off as she returned to her drawing. “The young, strong ones are usually more exciting in bed, but often with them it is over too soon,” she said. “Older men can control themselves better but they are usually so unimaginative.”

Emllyn’s eyes widened. “Elyse!” she gasped. “You… you are shameless!”

Elyse giggled. “Do not play coy with me,” she said, a knowing twinkle in her eye. “Merradoc told me what you and John did. He said the entire chamber smelled like rough and sweaty mating. Tell me – was his manhood big and full? Did he use it wisely?”

Emllyn almost fell out of her chair. She could hardly believe the twist the conversation had taken, shocked to the point of giggling uncontrollably. Elyse giggled right along with her. Emllyn covered her mouth, giggling so hard that she could barely breathe.

“But… but your father,” she gasped. “He is a very proper and moralistic man. How do you… what if he…?”

“I am very careful,” Elyse said. “But the truth is that my father does not come near my chamber. His chamber is on the second floor and he leaves me well enough alone.”

Emllyn was still struggling with the thought of a reckless and sexually active Elyse; she’d never heard anything more astonishing because the woman, for all appearances, seemed like a properly prudish lady. After having sat with the woman for hours each day for the past two weeks discussing all manner of subjects, this was the first Elyse had mentioned her carnal pleasures. The realization was therefore a shock.

“God’s Blood,” Emllyn finally hissed. “You are full of surprises, my lady.”

Elyse nodded as she continued to titter in a maidenly manner. “Let us speak of John again,” she said. “Was he wonderful? He is such a big and strong man, I imagine it would rather be like mating with a bull.”

Emllyn’s giggles diminished as she considered Elyse’s question. She certainly didn’t want to discuss it but she had a feeling Elyse wouldn’t understand that. The seemingly pure and pristine English lady evidently had a nasty streak. So she tried to form an answer that would satisfy her.

“Merradoc has a wild imagination,” she said. “John is a complete and utter gentleman and we enjoy a fine friendship.”

Elyse looked confused. “Then… then he did not bed you?”

“I have already told you my heart lies with another,” she said. “To take another man to my bed would be wrong at best. How much plainer can I be?”

Even though Emllyn’s fine English knight was dead at Black Sword’s hand, in Elyse’s mind, there was no reason why the woman couldn’t immediately focus her attention on another man, especially one as big and handsome as John. Elyse cocked her head curiously.

“Then mayhap I can find out what John is like, then,” she said. “My father said he should be returning soon. Mayhap I can coerce him into my bed. I will let you know what you have missed.”

Emllyn clamped her lips together, wanting very much to tell the woman that Devlin was her property and to leave him alone, but she had a feeling that Elyse already suspected that and was simply trying to get a reaction from her. So she shrugged her shoulders.

“I wish you luck,” she said, returning to her sewing. “It may be quite a task. Mayhap he doesn’t even like women.”

Elyse grinned slyly. “I will find out.”

Emllyn didn’t like that reply at all. She stabbed at her sewing with increasing frustration, irritated at Elyse and her wanton ways. But any word out of her mouth would find its way into the rumor mill; she knew that now. Between Elyse and Merradoc, all of Glenteige seemed to be full of gossips. She’d certainly come to discover that, too, in the past two weeks. As she sat and fumed in silence, Elyse began to speak of a stable boy she once shared her bed with. It was rather ribald talk that was fortunately interrupted by a knock on the solar door.

Elyse rose to answer the door, permitting a few serving women entrance. Their arms were laden with trays and pitchers.

“It must be time for the nooning meal,” Elyse commented as the servants moved to put the items on a pretty carved table. “I had completely lost track of time.”

Emllyn was grateful for the distraction. “It is easy to lose track of time when you are focused on your task,” she said, gesturing towards Elyse’s drawing table. “What marvelous thing are you working on? May I see it?”

Elyse grinned and went over to her drawing table as the servants spread out a beautiful meal on the other table. Picking up the rather large piece of yellowed parchment, she blew any remaining grains of loose charcoal off of it as she brought it over and presented it to Emllyn.

“There,” she said. “What do you think?”

Emllyn found herself looking at a perfect likeness of herself, skillfully sketched in charcoal. Elyse had drawn her looking over her right shoulder with her hair flowing and curled, and flowers woven into it. It was astonishing and life-like, and so very beautiful. Emllyn’s jaw dropped.

“Oh… my,” she breathed. “Elyse, you drew an image of
me
. I have never seen anything so remarkable. It’s magnificent!”

Elyse beamed. “I am not done with it but it is a good start, don’t you think?” she inspected her drawing carefully. “You are an excellent subject because your features are so fine.  Do you like it?”