Samantha James (45 page)

"Why, indeed," she said bitterly. Suddenly she was crying, laughing, sobbing, beating her fists against his chest. "You asked me before if I was angry. . . aye, I am angry! Angry that you are so blind. Angry that I must hide all that I feel!"

"And what do you feel, Kathryn?" He trapped her flailing hands within his, catching her wrists and dragging her close to stare into her face with the steely probe of his eyes.

With her hands thus imprisoned, she could not dash away the salty trickle of tears which seeped down her cheeks; the taste of despair was bitter upon her tongue. Even in this he defeated her .

All the fight drained from her abruptly. She longed to shut out the relentless glitter of his eyes, but she could not. Her breath wavered, and when she was able to find her voice again, it emerged as a trembling, broken whisper. "Don't you know?"

He stared down into eyes as green as the hills of Wales, misty-bright and suspiciously moist. For an instant, it was as if he reached clear inside her, all the way into her heart. . .

His own stopped beating, then resumed with thick uneven strokes.

His expression was taut. 'Tell me, Kathryn. Tell me what you feel. .. and why you must hide it."

Tears brimmed anew. "Because it's been you all along! You accuse me of dallying with another, when there has been none but you . .. All along it has been you," she cried wildly. Her voice caught painfully, thick with tears both shed and unshed, the words a desperation of the soul. "I did not want to, but I.. . oh, God! Don't you know that I love you—"

From without came a thunderous pounding on the chamber door. "Milord!" someone shouted.

Guy swore hotly, torn between the trembling woman in his arms and the man at the door. He was sorely tempted to ignore him but the pounding came again.

"Milord! I must speak with you on a matter most urgent!"

Guy spun about, muttering under his breath as he wrenched open the door. Sir Edward and two other knights stood in the hall. Sir Edward stepped forward. "Milord, we've just received a message that Ramsay Keep is under attack!"

"Under attack!" Guy's gaze encompassed the three. "Who are these raiders? Whose pennon do they carry?"

Sir Edward shook his head. "We do not know," he said. "The messenger says he fled under cover of darkness when the siege first began, and thus did not see them." He paused. "Your men-at-arms even now ready themselves in the stable. Will you ride with them, milord?"

Guy's nod was terse. He bitterly cursed the fates for such an untimely intervention. He had no desire to leave his wife's side... now or ever again. "Have my destrier saddled," he told Sir Edward. "I'll be there shortly."

The three hurried away. Guy turned to Kathryn, who hovered just a pace behind him. "I have no choice but to go with them," he said grimly.

"I know." A horrible ache gripped her heart, but she masked it with a tremulous smile.

Hands at her waist, he caught her to him almost roughly. "I'll be back as soon as I can, Kathryn. I swear it." There was barely time to nod her assent before his mouth crushed hers. His kiss was fervent and consuming, passionate and tender. Her arms twined about his neck. She clung to him helplessly, wishing desperately that it could go on and on forever, that never again would he have to leave her.

But it was over far too soon. . . and then he was gone.

Moments later she watched him thunder through the gates along with his troops; it was then that an eerie tingle sneaked its way up her spine. She felt suddenly cold as death, despite the cozy warmth of the fire. Try as she might, she could not banish the terrifying sensation that something awful was about to happen...

In that, she was right.

Chapter 21

Try as she might, Kathryn could not dispel the notion that something was wrong. Though she sought to reassure herself that all was well, that Guy would soon return home safe and unharmed, the feeling of apprehension remained. She retired to the solar to feed Brenna, while Peter played at her feet. Scarcely an hour had passed since Guy's departure than Kathryn heard the watchman shout—the thunder of hooves followed. She rose and eased Brenna into the cradle, then peered toward the bailey. A groom was leading a dark stallion she didn't recognize into the stable. The rider had already disappeared.

A moment later there was a knock on the door. Gerda opened it and peered within. "Milady, you have a visitor."

Roderick stepped around the girl and across the threshold. Kathryn inhaled sharply, stunned at his appearance. "Roderick! Guy told me you'd gone on to Warwickshire."

Gerda had already quietly withdrawn. A smile twisting his full lips, Roderick raised his brows. "I must speak with you, Kathryn." He glanced at Peter. "Alone," he added pointedly.

Kathryn hesitated. His stance was almost arrogant, his manner overbearing. She paused, then lifted Peter to his feet. "Peter, love, can you be a good lad and go find Gerda?" His lower lip trembled. Clearly he was clearly unhappy. Kathryn smiled and tweaked his cheek. "The two of you can ask Cook for one of those fruited honey cakes you liked so well last eve." The boy's face brightened. Kathryn gave him a quick kiss on the forehead and he ran off.

The heavy door closed for the second time. Slowly Kathryn straightened. She did not like the way Roderick eyed her. His regard was avid and bold.

She wet her lips nervously. "I must confess I am surprised you have returned. Why do you not join your men in Warwickshire?"

He shook his head. "I've changed my mind. Instead I return to Ashbury."

His smile sent a prickle of unease winging down the back of her neck. She wished fervently that Gerda had remained, for she had no desire to "be alone with Roderick.

She started toward the door. "I'll have someone prepare food and drink," she said stiffly, "but then you must be on your way."

Ruthless fingers dug into the flesh of her arm. He whirled her around so abruptly that she fell against him. But he did not release her—nay, his arms encircled her. He clamped her tight against his chest, his expression rife with triumph as one hand trespassed over the roundness of her buttocks.

"Roderick!" Kathryn screamed her outrage and slammed her fists against his chest. "I am a married woman! I demand that you cease handling me in this manner and release me at once!"

Unmoved by her struggles, he threw back his tawny head and laughed. "Ah, love, that's rich, for you will be a widow this very day!" A strange light seemed to burn in his eyes. "But fear not, Kathryn. I promise I'll not let you remain a widow for long. We'll be wed as soon as I can arrange it."

Kathryn's heart froze. Her hands became as still as her mind. She stared at him blankly. A vague assumption uncurled in her brain. She tried to thrust it away, for it was too horrible to even consider, but there was no help for it.

"What have you done, damn you? Where is Guy?"

His laugh sent a prickle of warning rippling over her skin. "Even now he rides toward death, Kathryn."

Her mouth had gone dry. "Nay!" she cried. "He rides to Ramsay Keep!"

"Ah, but he'll not reach it! He will be attacked most unexpectedly, Kathryn. He and his men will not expect it so soon and so they will be at their most vulnerable. He was lucky the other day in the forest, you see. But this time my men will make certain he does not survive."

A jolt of raw pain ripped through her; her breath came jerkily. "It's a trap—you tricked him!"

"Aye, and so easy it was, too! He did not even suspect that the messenger was one of my own!" Roderick laughed in evil delight.

Guy... dead. Dead. Nay! Her heart cried out the injustice, even while fury flooded her veins.

She went wild, wrenching from Roderick's hold, pummeling his chest and clawing him. Roderick cursed lewdly when her nails found their mark, tearing into the flesh of his cheek. He shoved her back against the wall with a force that slammed the breath from her lungs.

Huddled against the wall, she struggled for breath, all the while staring at Roderick furiously, hating him with her glare, damning him with all her soul.

"Why?" she cried bitterly. "Why should you seek to kill him? You have nothing to gain from Guy's death."

"But you do, my love." His eyes gleamed when dawning realization widened her own. "Ah, yes, I see you take my meaning. As Guy's widow, you are entitled to one-third of his estates. You'll be one of the wealthiest widows in all of England. And it will all be mine once we are wed!"

"How? Peter is his son!"

An ugly smile dallied about his mouth.

"You are mad if you think I will wed my husband's murderer!"

A tawny brow rose high. "You were not so angry when I disposed of your uncle."

Her blood ran cold. The world seemed to blacken and tilt. "Dear God," she said faintly. "It was you—you murdered Uncle!" She shook her head dazedly. This was too much to take in. "I do not understand... Guy had already taken possession of Ashbury . .. why would you kill Richard instead?"

"Because I'd not take the chance Richard would interfere later." His expression had turned ugly. "You see, Kathryn, Guy would have been the next to die. With Richard and Guy out of the way, Ashbury would have been mine .. . ours! But Guy left before I could execute my plan—and he took you with him. I must admit, for a time I thought there was little hope. I could have gladly killed the bastard when he married you and granted Ashbury's title to Sir Hugh!" The searing hatred in his eyes frightened her, as did the slow smile he gave her. "But as you can see, it's all turned out so much better than I ever dreamed, for now I'll have so much more than just Ashbury."

Kathryn pressed her back against the wall. "The night you came here—" She had to force her lips to do her bidding. "—you and your men were not attacked by cutthroats, were you? Your wound was naught but a ploy."

"I had to gain entrance to Sedgewick somehow. And I could hardly be certain of a hearty welcome by de Marche." His laughter taunted her cruelly. "So little pain," he whispered, "for so much gain."

She tilted her head, fiercely defiant. "And I say again, I'll never marry you, Roderick."

He shrugged. "You loved me once. You'll love me again."

"I never loved you, Roderick. Never! I merely sought to use you to gain Ashbury, even as you now seek to use me to gain Guy's lands!"

'Then we are a well-matched pair, are we not?" His look hardened. He crossed to her. "Pack what you need for yourself and your babe. We leave for Ashbury at once, for I dare not be found here lest someone connect me with the earl's slaying. If you are on your way to Ashbury with me when word of his death is received, no one will ever suspect me."

Her dainty chin tipped high. "I'll go nowhere with you," she said clearly. "Not now, nor ever."

His fingers bit into the soft flesh of her arm so brutally she bit back a gasp of pain. Roderick towered over her, his expression tight, his hp curled into a snarl. Menace raged across his features and for an instant Kathryn feared he would strike her. She braced herself, but the dreaded blow was never to fall.

He dropped her arm and spun around. Before she knew what he was about, he had snatched Brenna from her cradle. "Were I you, Kathryn, I'd reconsider." The softness of his voice belied the savage intent on his face. He lowered his gaze. His bland smile sent chills the length of her. "Your daughter is so tiny and fragile, my love. 'Twould be so easy to snap her neck, so easy to crush the breath from her in but an instant."

Kathryn stared at him in stricken horror. Would he truly rob an innocent child of life? His features bore a look of shuttered indifference. Before her was a cold and ruthless killer. She shuddered, no longer doubting that Roderick would do exactly as he said. She had no choice, she realized—no choice but to do as he demanded.

She turned and stuffed clothing into a bundle, scarcely aware of what she was doing. A curtain of numbness descended over her when they descended into the great hall. Roderick refused to relinquish Brenna. The infant slept on in his arms, unaware of the turmoil all around her.

Gerda was just coming in from the kitchens. She stopped short, her smooth brow knit in puzzlement as she spied the bundle of clothing Kathryn carried.

"My lady," the girl said with concern, "surely you are not leaving!"

Roderick's voice rang out over Kathryn's head. "Aye, but she is," he said coolly. "It has been a long time since your lady has seen her sister. She has decided to return with me to Ashbury."

Kathryn could feel Gerda looking at her. She opened her mouth, seeking desperately to convey some sign of her plight that Roderick would overlook. Alas, his grip tightened to a point just short of pain. Her heart beat with pounding fury, yet she dared not say a word.

""But my lady—" she was wringing her hands. "—what am I to tell the earl when he returns?"

It was Roderick who answered, a smile dallying about his lips. "You may tell the earl he need not worry. I will guard his lady's safety as well as my own."

Kathryn's gaze swung sharply to his. Oh, how she longed to smack the insolent smirk from his handsome face! But already he was ushering her from the hall. Outside the stable, Esmerelda and Roderick's horse were saddled and waiting. A groom assisted her in mounting. Kathryn's lips compressed and she turned to Roderick, holding out her arms for Brenna. For a moment she feared he would refuse. At last he laid the babe in her arms, but his eyes stabbed into hers. Kathryn did not delude herself—he was warning her not to raise the alarm.