Chapter 11 #2
“Oh, I intend to do that, Maugris.” Renaud’s gaze traveled up the stairs. “Very close.”
“I will leave you then to your bride.” Maugris grinned and headed toward the hall.
Renaud could still hear the sounds of his men indulging in their entertainments but he had no tolerance for games or small talk this night. His head was pounding, and he was more exhausted than he could remember being. But he still had one last task.
Climbing the stairs to Serena’s chamber, he sent Sir Niel to his dinner and to his pallet. Renaud entered to find the room dark, save for one candle. He recognized the flowery scent and chided himself for not identifying it before. It was her scent.
Flickering golden light bathed the lone figure curled up on the furs at the end of the bed. Dressed, from all appearances, only in a white robe, her eyes were closed and her head rested on her hand. A cloth was clasped in her other hand. She must have fallen asleep while drying her hair.
She had the face of an angel with delicate features, ivory skin and rose-colored lips.
Her long flaxen hair fell around her, glistening in the candlelight, a crowning glory so magnificent it could have hidden wings had she possessed them.
Certainly his woman, soon his bride, was an otherworldly creature.
Fierce with a bow, quick with her tongue and the voice of heaven in her throat when she sang.
And curves to entice the most monkish of knights.
No man, be he warrior priest or no, could resist her when she lay like this.
William had given him no ordinary woman. Renaud had only to claim her.
Quietly he approached the sleeping girl and lifted her into his arms. She stirred but did not wake as he carried her to his own chamber, her pale hair falling over his arm nearly to the floor.
Laying her down on his bed, her robe fell open revealing the full breasts he had feasted upon next to the stream.
His manhood stirred. Brushing her long silvered hair to one side, he shed his clothes and climbed into the bed to lie beside her, pulling her body into the curve of his own.
He drew the cover over them and his body responded to her softness, his aroused flesh eager to sink into her sheath.
Serena softly moaned in her sleep as he cupped a warm breast. But it was more than lust he felt.
He wanted to protect her, to care for her, feelings he’d never had for another woman.
He doubted he had won her fully. Mayhap their sons would bind her to him, as the king’s decree could not.
Renaud had intended to wake her to his lovemaking, but he was so exhausted after riding hard without sleep for so long, his last waking thought was to shut his eyes for a few minutes. Then he would wake and claim his bride.
* * *
A pounding on the door woke Serena from a deep sleep.
Still groggy, she heard a voice shout, “My lord, a messenger from the king!”
The arm that held her slipped away and the bed cushion beneath her was jostled, making Serena realize she was not alone.
The one sleeping next to her lifted from the bed.
She opened her eyes, surprised to see she was in the lord’s chamber—and in the Red Wolf’s bed.
She caught only a glimpse of his naked form as he reached for a dark blue robe.
His body was that of a warrior, his powerful muscles beneath his skin rippling as he moved. As she had observed when she’d helped him with his bath, his back was bronze to his waist. But his muscled buttocks and long legs were a lighter shade. A man to make any maiden blush.
She’d not seen the scars on his midsection before. So, he had not always fought wearing mail.
Donning his robe, he opened the door a slit. What she could see of Sir Geoffroi’s face bore a grave expression. “The king summons you,” he said to the Red Wolf. “His messenger awaits below.”
“I’ll join you as soon as I am clothed.”
The Red Wolf closed the door and turned. Serena pulled the covers under her chin and kept her eyes on his face.
“My lady,” he said, taking off his robe.
He seemed entirely comfortable in just his skin.
“I would we had this morning to lie abed and become better acquainted, but as you heard, I am summoned. The consummation of our marriage must wait upon the king’s needs.
” Reaching for his hosen, linen shirt and tunic, he leaned over the bed and kissed her forehead.
Her eyes slid to the dark thatch of hair at his groin and to his large manhood.
“If you keep staring at me like that I will find myself in trouble with the king.”
Embarrassed that he had caught her staring, Serena’s cheeks burned.
“’Twould be best if you dress quickly and join me below. It is time my men met their lady.”
Once he was dressed, he left, the door closing behind him.
Serena lay back against the pillow, thinking of all that had happened.
There had been no words between them after they had returned to the manor the evening before.
Her last memories were of his harsh words on the ride home and his instructions to Maggie.
But his kiss on her forehead a few moments before had been tender.
Did he assume she was now resigned to being his bride?
Was she?
Twice she had tried to escape. Twice she had failed.
She had fought her attraction to him as the servant girl Sarah, but in that, too, she had not succeeded.
She might fight him still if it would change her fate or that of her people.
Sadly, she believed it would not. Thoughts of Steinar filled her mind.
Was he still in Scotland? Though she was reluctant to admit it, she had little desire to flee again.
She had shouted her hatred of the Norman knight, but even in that she had not been sincere.
He had raised a desire within her no other man had.
No man had ever touched her the way he did, and caused her to want him.
As a Norman he might repulse her, but as a man he entranced her.
Even as she had ridden from Talisand, she had missed him.
When he had discovered her in the woods, a part of her had been relieved the ruse was over.
The Red Wolf had ordered a guard at her door, so little was his trust of her.
No longer the maid Sarah or the thegn’s daughter, she belonged to the Norman knight.
Yet neither fully trusted the other. She reminded herself of her new resolve.
For the sake of her people, she would take her place at his side.
He was right when he said not only her country had been conquered, but that she had been conquered.
Conflicting emotions warred within her. She was the proud daughter of a thegn, and only reluctantly did she accept her fate as the wife of the powerful Red Wolf.
Serena slowly climbed from the bed, and reached for her robe lying at the foot of the bed.
Once she was sufficiently covered, she returned to her chamber, hugging the wall of the corridor so that none below could see her.
She could hear the knights speaking, their murmurs loud enough to reach her.
They seemed excited about something, mayhap the messenger who had come from their king.
She opened the door to her chamber to find Cassie waiting.
“M’lady!” The handmaiden ran to Serena and embraced her. “Me mother told me last night ye were brought back by the Red Wolf. He has sent me to help dress ye, and not, as ye might imagine, in the clothes of a servant. He asks ye to wear the gowns of yer station as the Lady of Talisand.”
Serena sank onto the edge of her bed, twining her fingers through her now flaxen tresses. “Yea, ’tis nay something I can escape this time.”
“Did he hurt ye, m’lady?” Cassie asked with a worried look as her gaze roamed over Serena.
“Nay.” At Cassie’s surprised expression, Serena added, “I did not wake when he carried me to his chamber last night. We shared a bed but naught more. He was likely as drained of strength as was I. Sir Geoffroi awakened us both. I do not doubt the Red Wolf would have done more but for the messenger. He said as much.”
“Yea, a messenger arrived from the Norman king. Sir Maurin and the others were called together as I was coming up for ye. Ye’d best dress, m’lady. Something is afoot.”
Serena rose. “This time I must face them as the thegn’s daughter.”
Her handmaiden smiled. “Come, let us show the Red Wolf’s men the real Lady of Talisand.” Pride gleamed in Cassie’s green eyes. “I think the purple gown of fine wool, embroidered with the golden silk thread yer father gave ye, would be fitting. ’Tis nearly the color of yer eyes.”
Serena washed her face and slipped on her linen undertunic, happy to have the fine cloth next to her body once again.
Cassie lifted the elegant gown over Serena’s head and let it fall in soft folds about her.
Her handmaiden pulled the lacings tight so that the gown hugged her slender form.
Brushing her hair ’til it shone like moonlight, Cassie sat back with admiring eyes and then began to braid it.
“Nay, Cassie. This day I will wear my hair unbound and uncovered. It may well be the last time.”
“Then let me secure it with the circlet yer father gave ye.”
Cassie opened the chest at the foot of the bed and pulled from it the precious circlet of silver woven with intricate gold leaves and set with amethyst stones.
Standing back, the handmaiden smiled. “Now ye look like yerself, m’lady. Willna all of Talisand be happy to see such a grand sight?”
“In truth, I cannot say. It is not what I wanted, Cassie, but it might be for the best. If it is my fate to serve the people at the Norman’s side, so be it. It is my fervent hope I can help him understand their needs.”
“Ye can lift yer head high, m’lady. Never forget ye are a powerful thegn’s daughter.”
“I never shall.” She hugged her childhood friend, straightened her shoulders and raised her chin. It was time to greet the Red Wolf and his men.