Telepathy of Hearts (26 page)

“There is a hatch behind the shield
…meet me?
” he appealed.

Looking like she was veiled in the finest silk gossamer, for the castle spiders had dressed their lady in cobwebs, Eleanor popped her head out of the secret hatch. Beaming at her betrothed
,
she giggled.
“Goody snorts and my gaoler, Master Godwin, snores. Their talent is so in tune I think we should request they play the quadrille for us upon our wedding.
”

Matheus grinned.
“For you are mighty wicked, Wife
…now pray let me li
ft you out of the rabbit hole.
”

She was soon in his arms. His body curved to her
s
. And he smiled on her neck with a kiss. Burning in his veins, his passion inflamed, his heartache sated
…
mine.
He breathed, sighing
—t
he audible sound of the solace his heart had been craving.

Yes, all mine. Every inch my own tamed she-
wolf.

Cocking her head, she spoke with her eyes, questioning his grin.

“
Come on, little wolf cub, let
's go find this Eden of yours.
”

Big eyes greeted his words. Her face hallowed and her head lowered.

Laughing in response, Matheus kissed her.
“Trust me, if I were referring to that
…it would be heaven you found, my Lady, not the Eden you search for.
” Matheus winked as he spoke.
He felt like the little knight again
—
playful, protective
,
and as all those years ago
,
lost in the magic of her hazel eyes.
“On my back, wench,
” he ordered, smirking.

Lifting Eleanor upon his back, he relished the feel of her clinging to his body, her fine arms around his neck and her ankles daintily crossed at his waist.

Perhaps this is Eden right here
…wherever she is.

She giggled.
“
Come on
,
Sire, be a good mount and I might give you an apple.
”

As he made his way from the allure, much to Eleanor
's delight, he haunted the guards once more. He not only heard her giggles, he felt them. The tremble of glee was enchanting. Out on the open ground
,
Matheus instructed her,
“You can dismount now wench
…dear God
,
for I know why Arthur
's lame. With your bonnie nates upon his back, poor nag is quite exhausted.
” He feigned injury as he fielded the glance of her slap.

“But I
'm bare foot.
”

“This is Eden
…well the Lincoln version and it is the first of your wedding presents
…so get running and feeling the grass
…well, snow beneath your feet.
”

She turned to look at him. Her head cocked and her mouth creased.

He felt that burn, the one that tightens your belly and boils your blood. Taking her head in his hands he blew her a kiss. She looked at him quizzically. Her head cocked and her mouth creased.
“
'Tis the wind in your hair you demand so
…on a crisp night so still, a man must do his best.
”

Her giggles rang out, making such a sweet sound, Matheus thought it sounded like the angels themselves tickled her. She ran into the dark, just illuminated by the torchlight. Her cloak billowed out around her. Matheus grinned.
“If the guards see you now, they will indeed think that the Grey Lady
's Ghost has risen.
”

She beamed back, her golden tresses running in ribbons wild about her face. She was more witch th
an phantom. For the petite bare
foot figure who danced and giggled in the
Christmas Day snow had bewitched him.

“Snow angels
…come Matheus, lay with me?
” She called, already in the snow waving her arms to make her snow angels.

“
Priest
's
bones
…you don
't know what that invitation
‘lay with me
' does to a man
…for at this moment I am minded to say damnation to the priest and lay claim, coupling with you here and now, making a woman of the maid before me.
”

Eleanor rose and looked to her betrothed. Her eyes glowing amber in the torch light filled with a well of tears. With her bottom lip quivering, a pout formed on her face. She pulled her cloak tight about her. Words mixing with tears she spoke.
“My Lord I have not had word from the Abbess and I
—
”

Her voice was interrupted, Matheus
' fingers silencing the words upon her lips.
“Ssssshhh
.
” Dropping to his knees in the snow, Matheus knelt at her feet. Taking her hands in his and looking up to her tearful face, he smiled.
“Dear Lady
,
I love you because I have no choice.
'Tis simple, my heart instructs and I follow. Every beat whispers your name. I have a thirst and a hunger that only you can quench and feed. In my grief, I waited patiently for God to deliver you
in
to my arms. I know you fear what lies before you. But I am strong strength enough for two and have a back
broad enough to carry us both.
”

Matheus straightened to stand. He was a tower of man, masculine and graceful as he bent over her. He cupped her face, his thumb caressing her bottom lip as it quivered, he lifted her gaze to his. She tried to look away, but he held her fast.
“You will not run, Eleanor.
” Throwing his arms about her, he said,
“This is Eden
…this here.
” Taking back her hands, he took them to his chest, pushing her palm to his heart.
“And here
… Eden is
here
.
”

Eleanor met his
gaze. Her voice quiet and timid in response.
“But that night
…you
… your eyes and words
…you were so angry at me. I saw it. I felt it. You shook with anger
…clenched fists and
…well I
…you frightened me.
”

“I was angry Eleanor. I was furious
…I could barely rein in the rage that burned, molten in my veins. I failed you, I failed us both. Sweet child, I will split his spleen for laying a finger on what is mine. I am a possessive man and mighty vengeful too. I care not for an abbess to lay hands on you
…in fact I command that you go not.
” His fingertips wiped a tear. As he kissed her cheek, his hands stroked her hair.
“Let me kiss these dry
…
Pray let me? Your heart is what I have always desired, not your virginity. I will not have hands that are not mine ever again touch you so. But
'tis in my mind that you honour me by letting
…nay wanting me be the last man ever to couple with you and that is gift enough for me, sweet lady.
”

He castled Eleanor in his embrace
. She nuzzled into his neck. And his body purred in response.

“Wife,
'tis Yule now. The eve is over and my
Christmas present I wish to give you. I have too someone I desire you meet. For he will dearly love you all his life. Jealous though as I am,
'tis agreeable to me if you love him too.
”

Soon at the stables
,
his surprise was revealed. In the hay curled with her puppies was a large wolf hound.
“This is Matilda; Mace was her beau.
”

As Matheus spoke, Eleanor put her hand to her open mouth.
“Oh poor Mace, his babies?
”

Matheus nodded as he took the scraps of cockatrice from his gillet and fed Matilda. The smallest pup ran to him growling as he worried some sheep fleece. He picked the pup up, and it protested as it was made bereft of its mother. He gave the pup to Eleanor and said,
“He is the bravest, see how he growled at me? But already he knows you, his Mistress.
”

Making a nest in her arms, the pup closed its eyes.

“He will protect you just as his father did
…just as I failed to do.
” Matheus turned away. His head lowered. The pain of culpability etched on his face.

Resting her head on him, the pup still held in her embrace, she soothed.
“What is he called
…Husband?
”

The weight of the world lifted from Matheus
's shoulders. He returned her smile.
“
'Tis fine to hear the word husband pass your lips.
” Laughing a little he grinned.
“I had a mind to call him Godwin.
”

Interrupting, Eleanor said through her giggles,
“For he is a hairy, godless beast who smells a little.
”

Shaking his head and giving her a playful scowl he replied,
“No, because he will be bold, brave and obedient, serving you even if death is the cost of his devotion
…but yes smelly, hairy and godless too.
”

“I shall call him Gelert after the King
's hound. A brave little knight protecte
d me that day and he does still,
if only he would open his eyes and see how well he does it.
”

Eleanor was to spend
Christmas day in her chambers. Goody insisted on it.

“You are not going anywhere save the chapel to beg upon Our Lady
's feet for a fruitful marriage and to wish our saviour the blessings of the day, being his birth and all.
” Wagging her finger and narrowing her eyes Goody straightened to her full four-
foot height.

Her attempts to master her mistress left Eleanor most amused and she grinned. Her face quite wicked as she thought of how Goody would react if she knew it had been mere hours since she was held in his arms, his hands in her hair and his breath on her neck.

S
he will fair faint if she knew I rode upon my betrothed
's stallion
's back.

“Don
not
you be looking so at me.
'Tis the look of a sprite intent on wicked business and I dunna care for it. There has been trouble enough getting you to this day to have the luck turn because your husband takes sight of you.
”

The delicious smell of him, horse and man, still lingered in her nostrils. She had been trembling at the recollection of his touch, and Godwin thought her cold and swathed her in a Fur.
Which was soon tickling her face where not long since Matheus
's fingers had
.
Touching the glass, she smiled at St
Crispin and a blush broke across her face.
“I think him more the Knave, dear Saint,
” she whispered.