Great Protector (27 page)

She
sighed heavily. "I almost wish my birthday had never happened," she
said softly. "Other than your victory in the archery contest, the day has
gone from bad to worse."

"What
about our.... encounter in your father's solar?" he looked down at her,
raising his eyebrows inquisitively when she met his gaze. "Had you not
been rude to Tad, I would have never followed you and we might not have had the
chance to admit our feelings to one another. All events occur for a reason,
Riss. We may not realize the greater significance at the time, but there is a
purpose for everything that happens. Good or bad."

He
watched her as she gazed up at him, feeling his veins flush with a surge of
desire. Yet before he could succumb to the thrill of their newly-found passion,
he had a short task to complete. In fact, his errand was the reason for posting
the guards outside Arissa's door; he did not want to leave her unprotected
while he was away. But the longer he gazed at her pink lips and incredible
eyes, the weaker his resistance.

"I
have a small errand to complete," he said hoarsely, reluctantly releasing
her from his embrace. "I shall return as quickly as I can."

"Where
are you going?"

He
smiled faintly, moving for the door before his willpower dissolved completely.
"Just a short task. I shall be right back."

He
did not answer her entirely, but she was frankly unaware of the evasive reply.
All that mattered was that he was leaving and she missed him already. She
watched him sadly as he opened the door.

"Hurry?"
she pleaded softly.

He
was in great danger of being further weakened by the lost expression on her face.
Casting her a bold wink, he nodded. "I shall run. I promise."

He
closed the door behind him, leaving Arissa standing in the center of the room.
She continued to stare at the closed door for several long moments, as if
expecting him to magically reappear after completing his task in record time.
After a few lengthy minutes, she realized that he was going to be gone longer
than she had hoped.

With
a long sigh, she turned for the glowing hearth. Absently, she began to stoke
the dying coals, pondering silly, insignificant thoughts. Ovid and Tad aside,
it had been a most eventful day and she thanked God that He had been gracious
enough to listen to the prayers of a foolish young girl. All she had ever
wanted in this life had mercifully been granted.

As
the fire sparked and crackled, Arissa found herself wondering where she and
Richmond were going to live after they were married. After all, he spent the
majority of his time in London or at Lambourn and had no lands of his own that
she was aware of. Be it in a cave or in a palace, she did not care where they
lived. So long as they were together.

And
they would be, no matter what.

***

Richmond's
task had been completed in short order. Retrieving a small parcel from his borrowed
bower, he was in the process of making his way back to Arissa's chamber when Gavan
suddenly appeared out of the shadows. Richmond saw the outline of the massive
body before he ever saw a face, but he was unconcerned by the approaching
silhouette. There was no man on earth as wide as Gavan Hage.

"Why
aren't you chasing the de Rydal tribe back to their hovel?" he asked as Gavan
came into the light.

The
man shrugged. "There was no need. The earl's men are herding them back to
Goring Hall like a band of unruly cattle. Moreover, I am quite interested to
know what is going on. Care to elaborate?"

Richmond
braced his thick legs apart, folding his arms across his chest. "Believe
me when I say that I am as puzzled as you are. It all started this morning when
Tad de Rydal was quite assertive with Arissa. At one point, he became rude and
aggressive and I was forced to subdue his attentions. I proceeded to beat him
in the archery competition, for which he decided to deal me a lashing while we
were playing Stick and Ball."

Gavan
indicated the cut above Richmond's eye. "Is that how you acquired your new
beauty mark?"

"Indeed,"
Richmond replied. "I thought he had broken my nose, too, but it seems to
be all right. Mossy doesn't believe it to be broken, merely bruised."

Gavan
cocked an eyebrow ironically. "So Ovid presumes that you sent your men to
ambush his crafty son in revenge for your injury?"

"Something
like that," Richmond said. "At any rate, what concerns me is not the
father's anger but the mere fact that someone went to a bit of trouble to make
it appear as if I am guilty of attempted murder."

Gavan
shook his head. "Certainly Henry has his share of enemies, but I too am
curious as to why one of them would single out you in particular. More
importantly, for what purpose?"

Richmond
sighed heavily and began to move toward the stairs along his original course. Gavan
followed.

"If
they wanted to kill me, they would have had several opportunities today while I
was armorless,” Richmond said. “In lieu of an assassination, they are either
trying to make my life miserable or implicate me in a greater scheme. Mayhap
someone is trying to cause friction between the House of de Rydal and the Earl
of Berkshire."

They
reached the stairs, dimly lit by the polished iron chandelier above their
heads. "If your last assumption is true, then why single you out? If
someone were attempting to cause trouble between the earl and one of his
vassals, they could just as easily make Bart the target, or the earl for that
matter. Why you?"

"I
do not know. But I think for the next several days we should post extra guards
on the battlements and make sure that anyone passing through the gates of
Lambourn is rigorously checked out. I shall not have a paid assassin make his
way into the earl's camp."

"Agreed.
I shall speak with Carlton and Daniel regarding the matter."

Richmond
left Gavan at the top of the stairs, his mind fogged with the possibilities as
he made his way toward Arissa's room. Gradually, he became aware of the parcel
he still clutched within his hand and his thoughts shifted from intrigue to the
delights that had come with the day.

Coming
upon her door, he dismissed the soldiers. Knocking softly, he heard her soft
footfalls approach.

Her
sweet smile greeted him. He returned the gesture, stepping into the room
without a word. Arissa closed the door softly and bolted it, turning to him
expectantly.

"Well?
Did you complete your errand?"

His
grin broadened, filling the room with everything he was feeling for her. "I
am about to."

CHAPTER
NINE

"What's
this?" she asked, gazing at the parcel in his outstretched hand.

"Open
it."

Timidly,
she took it from him, examining the silken wrapping. "A gift,
Richmond?"

He
watched her with glittering eyes. "That is the usual show of tribute for one's
birthday."

She
smiled, fumbling with the ties. "I never expected.... that is, you did not
have to do this."

"Aye,
I did," he eased himself into a hide-covered chair, his gaze never leaving
her. "Why are you being so careful? I have seen you tear through gifts as
if the wrapping was made of spider's web."

She
gave him an exasperated expression, although it was laced with humor. "I
am trying to show some respect for your token. Do be quiet while I wrestle with
these bindings."

"So
sorry," his elbow propped on the arm of the chair, he cupped his chin in
his hand. Splayed fingers covered his smirking lips. "Do hurry. I shall
die of old age before you finish."

She
cocked an eyebrow. "Surely that is of no surprise, considering your
advanced years," the bindings fell away, revealing an exquisitely carved
box. Arissa's mouth opened with delight. "Oh, Richmond, it is lovely. What
a wonderful box!"

He
snorted. "Silly wench, the gift is inside. Open the box."

She
giggled, her gaze lingering on him as she carefully opened the lid.

A
beautifully crafted rosary lay upon a bed of satin. Made from polished beads of
a beautiful pale wood, it glistened in the dim light as she drew it forth from
the box. Richmond watched her face as she inspected the string of beads, delighting
in the play of emotions across her lovely features.

It
was a simple rosary, perfect and solid. It would be the one item the nuns at
Whitby would most likely allow her to retain when she surrendered all of her
material possessions. He had planned it that way.

"The
wooded beads are from the Holy Land," he said softly. "Look at the
base of the cross."

She
scrutinized the delicately carved cross, her eyes widening when she realized
what she was witnessing. Astonished, she looked to him. "You had your name
carved into it."

He
nodded faintly. "I am sure some would consider it sacrilege. But I wanted
you to remember who gave it to you."

She
swallowed hard, fingering the exquisite piece. "As if I would
forget," she turned it over in her hands, the resplendence of the gift inadvertently
reminding her of her dictated destiny. When she began to blink rapidly, chasing
off the threat of tears, Richmond reached out and pulled her onto his lap.

"No
tears, kitten," he whispered, knowing her thoughts. Naturally, she disobeyed
his command and sobbed quietly onto his shoulder. Listening to her muted
sniffles, he kissed her head tenderly. "There is no need for sorrow. All
will be well."

"But....
but I do not want to go," she wept softly. "You said yourself that I
will have to keep my appointment, and I do not want to. I want to be with
you."

He
held her tightly, as if to chase away all of her fear and sorrow with his
imposing presence and strength. "And you shall be, I promise. Have I ever
gone back on my word?"

She
shook her head unsteadily and he smiled, stroking her raven-colored hair.
"Your father and I are going to come to terms with the change in the
situation soon enough and I do not want you to worry," he grasped her
gently by the chin, forcing her to look at him. "Do you comprehend me? Any
more tears from you and I shall mostly likely join you. 'Twould be most
humiliating for a knight of my standing to be seen sobbing like a woman."

She
tried to smile, wiping at her tears. "I-I shall try."

His
expression was soft as his gaze caressed her damp face. Gently, he helped her
dry her eyes. "Now tell me; do you like the gift?"

She
nodded eagerly, gazing down at the strand of wooden beads clutched in her hand.
"I love it. I shall always carry it with me."

"Good,"
his gentle hand moved from stroking her cheek to touching her shoulder,
trailing down her arm. A surge of excitement bolted through her slight body
when his hand came to rest on the small fist that clutched the rosary.
Squeezing her fingers tightly, he buried his face against her fragrant neck.

From
one emotion to the next, from one level of tenderness to the very heights of
arousal, Arissa moaned softly as his lips came to bear on her tender flesh. The
heat of passion electrified the very air between them as Richmond took great
delight with her delectable skin.

Arissa
gripped his shoulders tightly as his mouth moved down her neck, roving
tauntingly over the soft swell of her bosom. His wicked tongue, hot and lusty,
lapped at the sweet valley between her breasts and she groaned breathlessly,
one hand weaving itself into the thick silk of his hair while the other, still
clutching the rosary, grasped his shoulder with a death-grip.

The
fire crackled softly in the hearth, sending sparks into the chimney as Richmond
swept Arissa into his arms and deposited her upon her curtain-shrouded bed.
Gently, he deposited kisses over her face, her eyelids, her nose, moving to her
chin and neck as his fingers went to work on the stays of her surcoat.

Arissa
turned on her side, allowing him free access to the garment, wondering how far
they were going to progress before he called a halt to their mounting passion.
With a growl, Richmond flipped her onto her stomach, kissing the flesh of her
back as the last of the fastens were disengaged. Arissa groaned softly with the
pleasure of his scorching lips, realizing that she did not want him to cease
the process of their new-found desire. She never wanted him to stop.

Richmond
removed the surcoat inch by exquisite inch, running his lips and tongue over
every delectable portion of exhibited flesh. Arissa remained on her stomach as
the surcoat came off her shoulders, her arms, baring her breasts against the
fluffy bedrug. Although she should have been properly embarrassed when he
pulled the surcoat over her hips and slid it the length of her buttocks, she was
not fearful in the least.

He
moved down her legs, kissing the back of her knees and drawing giggles amidst
the moans. Tearing the surcoat free of her feet, he gently removed her slippers
and ran his tongue over the tips of her dainty toes.