Chapter Seven #2
The men knew that Gates was to be obeyed, in all cases, and they quickly quieted down and moved to take their seats for a polite meal with a woman in their midst. Since Lady de Lara never attended meals, they were unused to feminine company.
Gates and Alexander prowled around the room, ensuring the men were prepared to behave, and when Gates was confident his men were at least moderately capable of being around a woman, he turned towards the entry where he had left Kathalin only to find it empty
Kathalin was gone.
It happened so fast that Kathalin barely realized what had occurred until she was nearly halfway across the bailey.
Someone, smelling heavily of alcohol, had grabbed her from behind the moment Gates and Alexander had left her side in order to tame the room full of drunk and lively soldiers, and whoever had grabbed her was strong.
He put his dirty hand over her mouth and lifted her up, carrying her from the hall and out into the night before she realized what was happening.
But once she became aware of the fact that someone was trying to take her away, abduct her no less, she came alive with kicking and screaming. She bit the hand that was over her mouth and the man grunted angrily, letting her go and dropping her to the muddy ground as he cursed loudly.
“You little chit!” he exclaimed. “You’ll not bite me again, do you hear? I will kill you if you do!”
On the ground, Kathalin had quickly scrambled to her feet, running away from the very drunk and very big soldier, an older man with a bushy red beard.
They weren’t too far from the hall, thankfully, and she ran back for it as he thundered after her, unable to keep pace with her because he was so drunk.
By the time she reached the entry door and shoved it open, Gates and Alexander were barreling out and Gates collided with her, knocking her backwards.
She would have fallen onto her arse had he not been fast enough to grab her.
“My lady!” Gates said, surprised with Kathalin in his grip. “Where did you –?”
Kathalin wouldn’t let him finish. She pointed at the drunk soldier, now having come to a halt in his pursuit of her. “He grabbed me!” she cried, her voice quivering. “He put his hand over my mouth and carried me out here! He was trying to take me away!”
Gates turned to look at the soldier accusingly but Alexander was already moving to the man, coming up to him and grabbing him around the throat. The soldier, being choked by the big knight, fell to his knees as he struggled to breathe.
“You abducted her?” Alexander growled. “Did you do it?”
He was squeezing the man’s throat, shaking him, and the soldier was turning shades of deep red. “Aye!” he managed to gasp. “I thought – she was another whore! I thought –!”
Alexander let go of the man and slugged him squarely in the face, sending him to the ground.
Meanwhile, Gates held on to Kathalin, unwilling to let her go at that point.
Truth be told, his heart was still racing from the fright he’d had when he realized she was missing.
Therefore, he let Alexander punish the soldier, watching as his friend pummeled the man unconscious.
Kathalin, who had been watching the scene with terror, turned away and clutched at Gates, her head against his chest.
“Please,” she begged, in tears. “I want to go home. I want to go back to St. Milburga’s!”
Gates put his arms around her, taking her in the direction of the keep.
“Come along,” he said, forgoing the usually polite protocol between them.
The woman was frightened, seeking comfort, and he couldn’t help himself from giving it.
“Mayhap I should not have taken you into the hall. It can sometimes be difficult around soldiers who do not know limitations when it comes to women.”
Kathalin gasped, trying to pull away from him. “Do not know limitations?” she repeated, horrified. “You would knowingly bring me to such a place? Is that what happens here at Hyssington? Men have no restraint?”
He shook his head, retaining his grip on her.
“I did not mean it that way,” he said calmly.
“’Tis simply that Hyssington is a fortress without women for the most part.
There are serving wenches, and your mother, and that is all.
Men become accustomed to men for companionship and when they see a woman, it tests their control.
I am very sorry I left you alone. I should not have, but I truly did not think someone would take the opportunity to abscond with you. ”
Kathalin wouldn’t let him move her towards the keep; she was still in his grip, that was true, but she was trying to pull away from him, digging her heels in because she didn’t want to go with him. The expression on her face was one of great distress.
“Then this is a terrible place,” she hissed at him. “How could you take me out of the safety of St. Milburga’s and bring me to a place where men would think I am a whore?”
Gates grabbed her by the other arm, now holding her with both hands, and forced her to stop pulling away from him. His gaze was intense.
“Lady,” he said quietly, “you must calm yourself. I realize you were raised in a place where men did not live, but understand that what happened just now is not unique. Hyssington Castle is not unique. There are men all over England, in any given castle or tavern or establishment, who might have done the same thing to you. The soldier who grabbed you has been properly punished and the reasons behind his punishment will serve to show every man here that you are not to be trifled with. It was an unfortunate occurrence but one that will have a greater end. Men will be too fearful of the punishment, and of my wrath in particular, should they so much as look at you. Do you understand what I am telling you? Kathalin, I would never have knowingly placed you in danger. I hope you would have more faith in me than that.”
Kathalin. He called her by her name, without the courtesy title of “lady” before it, and Kathalin was quite sure she had never heard her name sound so sweet.
In fact, it was enough to bring her some pause in her distress and she looked up at him, seeing something of warmth and hope in his features.
Rescuer… great protector… was it possible he would be all of these things to her in her time of need?
Was it possible that this man who had carried her out of St. Milburga’s under duress would turn out to be someone she could always depend on?
Someone she could love?
Love!
The word struck a chord in Kathalin so strongly that she gasped as it reverberated through her body.
Dear God, she could not love him! Would not love him!
He was the only man she had ever known so it would have been natural to feel some kind of attachment towards him…
wouldn’t it? He had been kind and gentle at times, firm when she needed it, and humorous when the situation called for it.
What wasn’t there to love about him?”
Frightened by her thoughts, exhausted from the trip, and upset by being grabbed, the tears came and Kathalin lowered her head, struggling not to weep. Gates, still holding on to both of her arms, loosened his grip.
“I am sorry this happened,” he said softly. “Please let me take you to a chamber where you can rest and where you will feel safe. Will you allow me to do that for you?”
“I want to go home,” she wept softly.
He rubbed her arms gently, trying not to appear too comforting or too solicitous. It was dangerous for him, on many levels, and that voice inside his head was beginning to scream at him as he bordered on impropriety.
Don’t touch her, you fool! It shouted. Don’t let her get under your skin!
“I know,” he said softly. “But you cannot go home right now. Will you please let me take you to your chamber so you may rest?”
Kathalin simply nodded and he pulled her along, holding her elbow tightly as he guided her towards the keep. They were nearly to the door when a voice came from behind.
“Gates? Where are you going?”
Gates knew the voice before he even turned around.
With Kathalin still in his grip, he turned to see Jasper a few feet behind him, his bearded face full of curiosity and confusion.
Before Gates could answer, Jasper’s gaze moved to Kathalin, who was wiping tears from her eyes, and his entire expression changed.
“Kathalin?” he murmured incredulously, inspecting her hooded features with the same shock Gates and Alexander had shown upon meeting the woman. Jasper, too, could hardly believe what he was seeing. “Kathalin, is that truly you?”
Gates spoke before Kathalin could. “We looked for you in the hall, my lord,” he said.
“But it is full of men and Lady Kathalin has just suffered a distressing experience, so it may be best to allow her to rest first before engaging in any meaningful conversation. May I have permission to take her to her chamber, then?”
Jasper couldn’t take his eyes off his daughter.
Ignoring Gates’ question, he moved towards his daughter, reaching out a hand that came near her head.
Kathalin visibly flinched, her eyes big at her father, but all Jasper did was peel back the hood of the cloak to get a good look at her. When he did, he sighed.
“God’s Bones,” he said softly, with awe in his voice. “You look just like your mother did as a young woman.”
Kathalin gazed back at her father, reacquainting herself with the man. Truthfully, she didn’t have much memory of him. She had been so young when she had been sent away that all she really remembered of him was dark hair and a booming voice. Essentially, she was looking at a stranger.
“Greetings, my lord,” she said, unsure what more to say.
But Jasper shook his head at her, grasping her by the shoulders and pulling her away from Gates. “My lord, is it?” he said, looking her over in detail. “I am your father. You will kiss me.”