Chapter Two #2
Dustin stared at the empty doorway, outraged and shaken. They were not even officially married yet and already he was giving her orders. She looked at her mother but dared not speak to her, afraid he was lingering in the hallway waiting for her to disobey him.
How could her father have selected this man for her husband? Her father loved her. How in the world could he have sentenced his only child to a life of misery with a man who was such a cold bastard? She shook her head, disoriented with the contents of the entire day. It was all too unbelievable.
“Dustin, dear, mayhap you should go and freshen up a bit before the priest arrives,” her mother said softly.
Dustin looked hard at her mother. “And you will just accept this?” she demanded softly.
Mary rose wearily. “There is nothing to reject or accept, Dustin. ’Tis simply the way of things.
” Her daughter turned away in disgust and Mary sighed.
“Think of the positive, dear. Sir Christopher is as fine and tall and strong a man as I have ever seen, and I am sure he will protect Lioncross admirably. The fortress will be in capable hands.”
“But what about me?” Dustin whispered, appalled that she was on the verge of angry tears. “What will happen to me?”
Mary put her thin hands on Dustin’s shoulders. “Pray treat him well, daughter. Ye shall reap as ye sow.”
Dustin rolled her eyes and turned to face her mother. “I do not want to marry anyone. I am only nineteen and I.…”
Mary shook her head, “You should have been married two years ago. You know that as well as I.” She dropped her hands from her daughter’s shoulders. “Now, I am exceedingly weary and wish to rest a bit before attending your wedding.”
Dustin gazed at her delicate mother, her heart once again aching for the loss of her father.
She could only imagine the pain her mother was feeling.
She had loved him so. For the moment, she forgot her own torment.
Her mother was right; there was nothing she could do and the sooner she accepted that, the better.
But she still could not swallow the thought of being married to that monstrous man.
“I shall come with you, Mother,” she said softly.
There was nothing more to say.
*
Outside in the bailey, Edward and David had everything under control. Edward, his dark hair plastered with perspiration, approached Christopher as the man emerged from the keep.
“Well? How did it go?” he demanded with restrained humor.
Christopher looked at his friend and flashed a brief look of distaste. “I am marrying the lady as soon as the priest arrives.”
Edward grinned, deep dimples in each cheek. “Congratulations, old man. And do not look so displeased. She is quite lovely.”
Christopher shook his head, not wanting to discuss Lady Dustin further. His mind was already racing ahead, thinking on his return trip to London.
“When we return to London, I wish to leave my own men in charge. I do not trust nor do I like their Germanic captain. I would establish Lioncross as my own from the start.”
“Agreed,” Edward nodded, but did not volunteer to stay behind.
Christopher eyed him. “One of my own knights, I said.”
Edward avoided his gaze. “Understood, my lord. But I wish to accompany you to London. Leave David here.”
“David will wish to accompany me as well,” Christopher reminded him. “And he is my brother.”
Edward let out a heavy sigh and shrugged. “Aye, my lord,” he answered grudgingly. “I will stay.”
Christopher slapped a heavy hand on Edward’s shoulder. “I knew you would see things my way.”
Edward nodded in resignation as he followed Christopher across the compound.
Christopher studied every inch of his keep critically, seeing things he had not seen in his first sweep.
There were sections of the battlements that were missing stone and in spots there were great holes in the bailey.
Everything needed to be smoothed out and resurfaced, and the keep needed work.
Still, it was worth it. The prize was still mighty.
They met up with David near the squat and sturdy gatehouse, discussing everything from the upcoming wedding to Prince John in London.
Christopher knew Edward was terribly disappointed that he would not be able to accompany him to London, but Christopher truly needed his trusted man here.
When Edward was called away by one of the men-at-arms, David faced his brother.
“You could use him, Chris,” he said softly. “Lioncross will do well with your men-at-arms establishing themselves here. Your presence will be known to all.
“I need no one with me in London, even you,” Christopher replied. “Richard asked this task of me and me alone.”
“What Richard asked was for you to keep an eye on his brother and report back to him,” David hissed. “For all purposes, Christopher, you are a spy, a royal plant. Should John discover this, he will execute you as an enemy of the crown.”
Christopher snorted. “He cannot. He has not the authority.”
“You saw how he has established himself in London,” David persisted, at a loss to understand his brother’s attitude. “He has done everything but declare himself king. He rules England, not Richard.”
Christopher’s eyes flashed at his brother. “Richard is our king,” he said slowly. “Whatever I do in London, I do it for our sovereign lord. John has no power over me. My orders come directly from Richard.”
David shook his head faintly, not knowing what else to say. “As you say, Lion’s Claw. I can only hope that you are not the one to be gored.”
Christopher looked at his brother a long moment. Then he smiled. “You worry like an old woman, little brother.”
David shrugged. “I do not know why I even bother. You always do what you want to, anyway.”
Christopher’s jocularity faded. “Not in this case,” he glanced at Lioncross. “To obtain this mighty fortress, I must do something I most definitely do not want to do.”
“Marry Lady Dustin?” David smiled. “Why not, Chris? Jesus Christ, she’s beautiful. Big tits, too.”
Christopher cocked an eyebrow. “Does she? I didn’t notice. In fact, I can’t seem to get past all that hair. She’s got enough hair for three women.”
David nodded seductively. “Think about it, Chris, all of that hair flowing over you as she mounts you.”
Christopher waved his brother off. “I get the picture. She’s so damn small that I will probably tear her asunder. Not the most auspicious way to begin a marriage.”
David laughed heartily and Christopher joined him for a few moments, chuckling at Dustin’s expense.
“On second thought, Chris, maybe I will stay here,” David snickered. “ ’Twill be a pleasure to watch after my brother’s wife, the poor lonely woman.”
Christopher’s amusement vanished. “You will not touch her. Is that clear?”
David was taken aback by the tone and by the deadly flicker in his brother’s eye.
He was suddenly very curious about the sudden burst of husbandly protectiveness.
The only person Christopher was passionate about was Richard, and himself.
Strange that his new bride would provoke that kind of a response.
“Aye, verily,” he said. “It was only a jest.”
Christopher was embarrassed for his outburst and looked away, wondering why in the hell he had done that.
He was a reasonable man and deduced that he was naturally protective of Lady Dustin for obvious reasons.
Firstly, she was his chattel. Secondly, she was a weaker female and fell under the category of knightly chivalry.
Any other reason disturbed him too much.
“You could always take her to London with you and keep an eye on her yourself,” David suggested, goading his brother to see what other responses he could get. “John would go mad for such a lovely woman.”
Christopher shook his head. “I’d spend all of my time fighting the prince off her,” he said, but in faith, did not think the suggestion to be a bad one.
After all, he could keep an eye on her and get to know her better.
There was no knowing how long he would be staying in London, and if he left Dustin here, he would be just as much a stranger upon his return.
As he mulled over the possibilities, there was a shout from high atop the wall. Riders had been sighted and were rapidly approaching the village. There were only three, riding fast for Lioncross.
The gates were open and Christopher positioned himself dead center, his huge serrated broadsword in his left hand. David and Edward joined him, a grim welcoming party for the intruders.
As Christopher watched three knights approach, he was aware of his protective feelings towards Lioncross as well.
He hadn’t been at the fortress for an hour and already he was ready and willing to die for it.
It was his, already under his skin. It took him a moment to realize he had finally come home.
The riders reined their great destriers to within several feet of the drawbridge, their horses dancing and kicking up dust. Christopher waited, ready to spring into action and cut off a head should it be so required. He was as coiled as a spring.
The rider in the middle suddenly began to laugh, it was a curiously familiar laugh. Ripping off his helmet, he continued to laugh heartily.
“So the rumors were true, Lion’s Claw,” he said, dismounting his steed.