The Lady of Fairhaven (8 page)

“
Lady Gillian, what are you doing here?” a knight asked quietly as he forced his destrier between Gillian’s mare and the destrier of the unknown knight.

“
This good knight has rescued me more than once, Sir Giles. Although I tried to convince him to let me flee now, he insisted on providing his protection.”

“
Lady Gillian?” Luke exploded. “You told me your name was Anne!”

“’
Tis true. I certainly wouldn’t have any chance of escape if you knew my real name and where I came from. Feeling the heat of your anger was a risk worth taking.”

“
Then you are the lady I seek. You will be returning with me to wed my father.” Luke’s voice quieted suddenly. It was obvious he was quite shaken at the revelation of who this Lady was. “But that does not explain your attempts to escape. Is marriage so unpalatable that you risk your life?”

“
Not at all, Sir,” Gillian replied. “I look forward to the comfort of it if my husband is kind.”

The sound of horses’ hooves broke up the conversation. All eyes turned to the portcullis where the hunting party entered. Dust and dirt swirled as the horses were brought to an abrupt halt. Every bit of color drained from Gillian’s face. A small cry of distress leaked out as her defensive posture returned.

“
What are you about you stupid chit?” Sir Oliver bellowed.

He slid from his saddle and stormed over to Gillian’s horse, where he grabbed his niece by the wrist and yanked her to the ground. Her sore ankle collapsed beneath her, and she crumpled to the ground. As her rump crashed down against the ground she screamed in pain.

Instantly, Sir Luke dismounted and menacingly stalked over to Oliver, shielding Lady Gillian with his own body. He watched Oliver’s retreat in front of him. The lady couldn’t gather a breath, and as she struggled to drag air into her body she swayed and started to pass out. As Luke was about to request Simon’s help, a maid stepped over and assisted the lady to her feet.

“
Who are you to dare enter our manor with its chatelaine and defy its lord?” Oliver asked. His face was flaming red with anger and his eyes bulging.

“
I am Sir Luke Thornburgh, an emissary for my father. I am to bring the chatelaine of this manor to wed him.”

“
Indeed,” Oliver managed to croak out. Oliver’s face, once bright red, paled dramatically. “We will speak more of this. For now we must get this stupid girl into the castle. She has caused me more than her share of trouble.”

Gillian struggled at last to her feet and stood proudly, looking the object of her fear directly in the eye. Traces of the fear he had seen before had vanished and replaced by determination to survive.

Luke once again swept Lady Gillian from her feet. Following Oliver into the great hall, Gillian was pressed once again close to his chest. Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck as if he were the only solid object in a world filled with quicksand.

“
Please forgive me, Luke” Gillian whispered. Her forehead nuzzled against the soft flesh of his neck. “And thank you,”

“
Certainly you cannot be thanking me for returning you to a man who would do you physical harm.”

A lady stepped up and blocked Luke’s path. “My Lord, thank you for returning Gillian to her Uncle. I’m afraid she has been disobedient and caused many people problems.” Katherine’s eyes glowed with something indefinable. “I would see to your needs and to those of your men.”

Gillian squirmed to get free and gulped in another painful breath, but Luke held her tight. “Please put me down, Sir Luke.” Gillian straightened her tunic as her feet touched the ground. She faced her uncle’s leman. Luke watched in silence. “Katherine! I am chatelaine of this manor, and as long as I am in residence it is my responsibility to see to the needs of those within its walls. Do you understand?”

Katherine’s face tinted pink and her lips tightened with anger, but her head nodded with understanding. Finally, Katherine said, “You appear to be having trouble taking care of yourself at this time. I suggest you rest before you begin journey to your husband.”

“
I am quite capable of taking care of myself and do not need your thoughts on the matter. Any duties that might fall to the chatelaine are not your concern. I will rest when my responsibilities are complete, and thank you for your concern.”

“
Alice,” Gillian called. The maid scurried up in haste. “Please see to the needs of my most honored guests, Sir Luke, and his men. They have been on the road and require a bath, food, and rest. Please see that Gerald tends their horses, and make sure any other needs they might have are satisfied.”

Katherine looked over the knight, then turned and flounced up the stairs. Gillian again settled the fabric of her tunic and limped toward the stairs.

With a skip in his step, Luke ran over to Lady Gillian and picked her up and carried her up the stairs. “You are a woman of many surprises, Lady Gillian,” he said. “I look forward to getting to the bottom of all of them.”

Luke stood watching the woman he knew as Anne; take Katherine on without a concern for the fight she might have ahead. Clearly, Gillian commanded the respect of those around her as well as their affection. Katherine, to be sure would be the exception to that rule. There was no love lost between the two women.

“I have been overseeing the care of the manor in your absence,” Katherine asserted.

“Perhaps that is why it smells stale like sweat and dirty feet. It is best that I have returned to my duties.” The chatelaine’s head tilted upward.

“’Tis improper for you to assure the comforts of men. You are a maiden. Perhaps you should let me see to their needs.” Katherine’s gaze instantly turned on the strong form of the visiting knight.

If it hadn’t been for the fight Gillian engaged in, she would have laughed at the presumptuousness of Katherine’s flirtation. Perhaps there was a touch of some other emotion. But it was impossible to feel jealous, she barely knew the knight.

“
It is hardly proper for you either, Katherine. For in your own way, you are still considered a maiden. And it has been my responsibility to see to the needs of our guests for far longer than you have resided in this manor. Chatelaine is my right, not yours. I will not relinquish it. Do not overstep yourself.” Gillian’s words came forth as if the issue at hand was already settled and indeed at the moment it seemed she was awarded with a victory.

“You will be sorry you are addressing me thus. Oliver will see that you suffer for any ill you spew at me. Soon you will be gone, and I will be left to the matters of Fairhaven. You will be abed with your legs spread for a new husband who after all these years probably has a leman of his own. And can anyone blame him. Who would want a scrawny girl child when he can love a woman? You could hold no allure. You are an innocent and could never be able to please a man with healthy appetites.” Again Katherine’s gaze fell on Luke.

Luke was ready to step forward and defend the good name and honor of his father and his future bride. To his family a leman was not an option. Husbands worked to please their wives and were much desired for their efforts. Some whore was not going to slander his family values. He took a step forward before Gillian spoke.

“You know nothing of Phillip Thornburgh. So do not pretend you do. It is unwise to speak of things you do not understand. And if I should assume that role I shall still be chatelaine of his holdings as well as Fairhaven. Take care of how you insult me, and my future husband, Katherine. I may have little patience dealing with the leman of a man who has treated me ill.”

Katherine turned and flounced up the stairs, disappearing in her room. Luke stood in silent esteem of the Gillian. She had overcome a most difficult situation and triumphed. The lady of Fairhaven Manor was a tigress. He could only imagine what ills had befallen her while in her Uncle’s care.

Luke struggled with his feelings for a woman he would never be able to possess. He respected her courage, character, and her passion, and he was coming to have some very strong feelings for the Lady of Fairhaven. How could he ever give her up to his father? He would see this woman frequently knowing he would have to deal with the lust for her body that had grown daily? It seemed a hopeless task.

“
May I carry you upstairs, Lady Gillian?” Luke asked. “You seem uncomfortable from your adventures.” His anger over being deceived had cooled a bit with her defense of his father.

“
It is unseemly to be carried around, but if I can’t make it up on my own, then I will request more. I thank you for your kind offer. You are kinder to me than I deserve.” She stared into his eyes a bit too long before she turned and hobbled toward the
stairs. Luke’s arm encircled her shoulders and Gillian slipped her arm around his waist for support.

“
Mayhap I should position myself at either the top or the bottom of the stairs for the lucky chance of carrying you in my arms again,” Luke whispered slyly. Gillian glanced at him in surprise.

At the top of the stairs, Gillian turned and opened the first door to the right. “This will be your room. If you desire anything you do not have, please let me know. You can always call on Alice as well. Would you like me to assist you with your bath? I’m sure I can find another who is suitable to the task if that is your wish.”

For the first time in his life, Luke stood speechless. How could he tell her that what he wanted, but couldn’t have, was her? He could think of nothing that would please him more than to have her hands sliding over his body. And if he let her attend him in his bath, his desires might dishonor her, himself, and his father. He was burning with lust and desire.

“
If you could find an agreeable wench, I would be most appreciative,” he said at last. “But please, do not send the viper, Katherine. He saw the hurt in her eyes at not being desired, but he could not share his feelings. He had already shared too much of himself and could not bear for her to know of the intensity of the feelings he felt for her.

“
Very well,” was all Gillian said before she turned and left him standing alone in the middle of his room.

A few minutes later a young woman who called herself Cecily stepped in and prepared Luke for his bath. She was a comely lass and appeared more than willing to ease his needs. Gillian had chosen well. After explaining the schedule for the day, she set out to scrub and massage the travel dirt and fatigue from his body.

Cecily’s black hair flowed in a rich fall down her back and over her shoulders. Her lashes were thick black fringes hiding nearly almond shaped black eyes. Her pale skin hinted at being untried and hidden from the light of day as well as the eyes of other men. A deep natural blush tinted each cheek making the whole appearance of her face rather angelic and pleasing. But it was her body that held Luke’s attention.

Her breasts were perhaps a bit overlarge. A man could imagine them more than filling his hands. They tilted upward with the nipples hidden just below her chemise. Her waist was narrow enough and her hips promised adequate girth for child bearing. And besides having a youthful look, she had the soft plump skin of an innocent maiden.

Bending over Luke’s shoulders and back, her breasts bobbled just over the top of her chemise. When she moved to his front, they wiggled temptingly in front of his eager mouth. With one slight nudge forward, Luke’s lips clamped onto the soft flesh. She moaned softly and leaned closer. His hands cupped the generous flesh and his thumbs rubbed downward, exposing the hidden nipples. The rose tipped swell hardened at the touch of his tongue as it circled and teased the tasty morsels. The hard nub teased his lips open again and again. He buried his head in the valley between the honey sweet mounds. As he nuzzled her, his hands squeezed gently and Cecily groaned in satisfaction.

Her hand clutched the washing linen and she rubbed down over his flat male chest and taut stomach. She was rewarded with an erect manhood willing to satisfy.

If he could only close his eyes and continue blindly on, then his lust would have been sated. However, unexpected and unwanted visions of Gillian kept playing in his mind. He wanted her, not Cecily. As the luscious hands dipped below the water, he imagined Gillian’s hands exploring the intimate bulge of flesh. He knew these thoughts were dangerous. Gillian had not encouraged him except to offer the best of hospitality.

Scolding himself for dishonoring the thought of his hostess, Luke unconsciously drifted from the erotic thoughts that spurred his manhood. He could not couple with Cecily while he was entertaining sinful thoughts about Gillian. With a playful kiss and one last gentle squeeze of Cecily’s breast, he rose from the bath. Even the intimate touching of her hands drifting over his naked body with the drying linen did little for his sexual appetite. Cecily attempted to entice Luke into a satisfactory completion. Her breasts continued to rub against him as she rubbed the linen over his hard muscles. But in the end, although Luke remained painfully hard, he was also unsatisfied.

Gillian stalked as best she could back and forth inside her bedchamber. Her temper was as short as her ankle sore. Not only had she been brought sedately back to the manor by the man who would spell the end of any happiness she might know, but his vision brought her to an discontented and confused state. It was a feeling of which she had no comprehension.

Something was missing that he alone seemed to provide. At this point in time, two men held sway over her life. And it was a life that up until two years ago was carefree and happy. It was a life that she had had some control of. Now she was only fluff floating at the whim of the wind.