When he finally removed his mouth from hers, it was with great reluctance. Her mouth was red from his attention, the small cut on her lip oozing with a drop of red. Tevin saw the blood and licked it hungrily. Cantia responded to his probing mouth and they lost themselves in yet another powerful kiss. He was aggressive and, surprisingly, so was she. In the process, Tevin backed into the candles and promptly lit his tunic on fire.
He smelled the smoke, felt the flame, and quickly quelled it, leaving the hem of his tunic scorched. Cantia’s eyes were wide with concerned until she saw the fire was out completely. Then she burst out in laughter so strong that she had to cover her mouth to quiet the guffaws. Tevin struggled against his own laughter for a half second before erupting in deep chuckles. Cantia was laughing so hard she could barely stand. They must have created something of a commotion because Val, Myles and Simon came rushing to the threshold of the alcove, concern written all over their faces. One look at Cantia with her hands over her mouth and Val thought something horrible had happened.
“What’s wrong?” she demanded. “What’s happened to her?”
Tevin was wiping tears from his eyes. “Nothing,” he turned to show them his singed tunic. “But I almost went up in flames.”
Val’s concern turned to understanding. Cantia took her hand away from her mouth, unable to speak for the laughter that was bubbling forth. Val grinned her toothy, charming grin.
“I see,” she lifted a pale eyebrow. “You are most entertaining, brother.”
“Damn near burned the place down,” he mumbled, taking Cantia gently by the arm and steering her towards the door.
With Cantia still sputtering with laughter, they re-emerged into the sanctuary. Val had Cantia by one hand while Cantia’s other hand was tucked into Tevin’s elbow. A priest moved towards the group, also alerted by the sounds in the alcove. He was a pudgy man in dirty robes.
“Is all well, my lord?” he asked Tevin, though his eyes were on Cantia. He knew Lady Penden and knew of her recent loss. At the moment, it rather looked like she was being supported.
“Indeed it is,” Tevin answered, faking his composure.
The priest looked as if he didn’t believe him. “But I heard.…”
“You heard nothing unusual,” Tevin assured him in his deep voice. He looked at Simon, standing a few feet away. “Give the priest a donation on Brac Penden’s behalf. We wish a mass said for him.”
Simon dug into the change purse he carried, producing a few coins for the priest. The pudgy man accepted them graciously. “A pleasure, my lord.”
As the priest turned away to prepare for the mass, Tevin wriggled his eyebrows at the group. “I would suggest we conduct our business quickly and leave before we wreak any more havoc.”
“Keep him away from the candles,” Cantia muttered to Val.
Val nodded in agreement, biting her lip to fight off the giggles as Tevin cast her a threatening look. Cantia, too, struggled to compose herself. It was difficult to look at Tevin, however, and not break into laughter. So she kept her gaze forward, moving for the pedestal of holy water that was near the western wall. Dipping her fingers in it, she made the sign of the cross across her body and murmured a prayer. She wasn’t sure if she should pray for Brac, or for herself for having allowed such a carnal display with Tevin in the cathedral. It was wicked and she knew it. But at the moment, she almost didn’t care. She had felt more alive in his arms, more vital, than she had in quite some time. It wasn’t wrong to want to feel alive when she’d suffered through so much death.
As she knelt in preparation for the rosary, she could feel Tevin’s dark eyes upon her. He wasn’t kneeling in prayer as she was, but was rather standing behind her respectfully. When she should be praying, all she could think of was the blaze he had ignited within her the moment he had touched her. The memory of those massive arms, the pure passion of his kiss, caused her heart to start racing all over again. She forgot about the prayers. With her eyes closed, she imagined their kiss over and over again in her mind.
Tevin, too, was having a good deal of trouble concentrating. He stood there, staring at the back of her luscious head, wondering just how long he was going to spend in Purgatory for ravaging the new widow. He’d never felt more evil and he was not, by nature, an evil man. But he knew that, whatever the cost to his soul, his brief encounter with her had been worth the price. He could never have imagined anything sweeter. His eyes trailed from her head to her torso, studying the curve of her waist and the gentle flare of her hips through her emerald surcoat. She had a delicious figure. He’d noticed it from the first. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts of her that he barely felt the first tap from Simon. But he felt the second stronger one.
He looked at his knight, who was pointing at the entrance to the cathedral. Several Winterton men stood in the doorway, waiting for their lord’s attention. Tevin left the ladies on their knees, moving to the entrance accompanied by Simon, John and Myles.
“What is it?” he asked his men.
The first soldier, an older man who had seen service with Tevin’s father, spoke. “A missive, my lord,” he handed him the cylinder of yellowed vellum. “It came a short time ago.”
Tevin cocked a dark brow, noting the seal. “It’s from East Anglia,” he said in a low voice.
He moved outside the cathedral with his men in tow. Several kept watch around them while Tevin broke the seal of the missive and unrolled it. Very carefully scripted letters met his gaze as he read the contents. Simon, though he couldn’t read, looked over his shoulder while Myles, who could read, read slowly of the first few words. But Tevin was finished before he was and rolled the vellum up quickly.
“We must return to Rochester immediately,” he said to his knights. “Get the men moving. I shall gather the ladies.”
“What does the missive say, my lord?” Simon asked.
Tevin’s jaw ticked. “Not here. Send John back to Rochester immediately to summon the rest of my knights. I would speak with everyone upon my return.”
Simon moved to carry out his liege’s orders, readying the soldiers who had accompanied them and bringing about the wagon that had carried the ladies. John mounted his big brown destrier and took off in the direction of the castle. Tevin went back inside where the ladies were still kneeling. He moved to them swiftly.
“I am truly sorry, Lady Penden,” he said quietly, “but we must return immediately.”
Startled, she looked up into his dark eyes and saw hardness to them. Something was amiss, though she could not imagine what. Somehow it frightened her. Without a word, she followed him from the cathedral and to the wagon waiting outside. Tevin helped Val in first, being careful of her ribs, but when it came to Cantia, his enormous hands encircled her waist and he gently lifted her into the cab. His hands lingered a moment and she smiled faintly at him. He winked in response. And then he was gone.
*
“De Gael is on his way to Rochester. It would seem that the man has had a change of loyalties.”
Clustered in the musty solar of Rochester Castle, Tevin made the grim announcement. While the knights of his corps remained quiet and calm, Myles eyebrows lifted dramatically.
“Change of loyalties?” de Lohr repeated. “What does that mean?”
Tevin had been through this before with his cousin. The man was an opportunist and a scoundrel. He’d already betrayed Stephen of Blois some time back, pretending to support the man when what he really wanted was to confiscate some of his English holdings. Now it would appear he was doing the same thing to Matilda.
“It means precisely that,” Tevin said steadily. When de Lohr looked flustered, he continued. “These are lawless times, de Lohr. England has no true monarch. Anarchy has been reigning for thirteen years now, ever since Henry passed away and declared Matilda his heir. While she hides in France, the nobles of the country have basically created their own dark worlds in which to govern and murder. Geoffrey is no different, though he is more clever than most. He
supported Stephen for a time until he betrayed the man and stole some of his holdings. Now he betrays Matilda by claiming the fiefdom from Dartford to Canterbury in the name of Stephen.”
Myles was beside himself. “And you accept this?”
Tevin lifted an eyebrow. “He is my liege as well as my cousin. I have little choice in the matter.”
There was more passion in Myles than was healthy. “So you change your own loyalties at the whim of your cousin?” he growled. “You now support the same faction that killed Brac Penden. Now you side with the enemy.”
“There are no enemies during this time. There is only survival.”
“They killed Brac!”
Fortunately, Tevin was not quick to anger. He never had been. He understood Myles’ distress. “What would you suggest I do?”
“Resist him,” Myles snapped. “Support the true empress and deny the usurper.”
Tevin paused in thought. “Let me ask you something, de Lohr, and be honest. If you were in my position, heir apparent to the earldom of East Anglia, and owing all of your power and wealth to the man, would you so easily create a battle that cannot be won?”
Myles stopped pacing. He looked at Tevin, knowing there was some truth to his words but still angered over the changing of tides. He ran his fingers through his blond hair. “You do not know that. You command fifteen hundred men.”
“And East Anglia commands three or four times that. I could not win this battle, Myles. It would be a futile gesture and a lost cause.”
“So you support his change in loyalties without question?”
“Without question.”
“Why would you do this?”
“When you are in a position of power during these evil times, you will understand.”
Myles shut his mouth. He had nothing more to say. With a lingering glance, Tevin turned back to his men. He noted the varying expressions, some supportive, some doubtful. Val sat in a padded chair to support her healing ribs, her expression somewhat veiled. She would do whatever her brother commanded, but he could see that she was distressed.
“Lord East Anglia should be here in a few days,” Tevin said with some resignation in his voice. “We must show him all of the support he requires. I do not know what he will demand of me, but we must be ready.”
The knights of his corps merely nodded. They did as they were told. Myles didn’t reply, but he didn’t protest, either. When Tevin dismissed his men to go about their business, Myles was the last man from the room. Tevin called after him.
“I trust that I have your loyalty, de Lohr,” he said quietly. “If not, then you and I have more to discuss.”
Myles’ gaze move from Tevin to Val and back again. After a moment, he shook his head, perhaps understanding more of Tevin’s position than he let on. “You have always had my loyalty, my lord,” he said. “I suppose I fear for Lady Penden’s reaction when she realizes that her husband died in vain. Had we received this news a month ago, there would have been no bridge to retake. Brac would still be with us.”
“Life is full of choices and what could have been,” Tevin replied. “And I would appreciate it if you would not stress that point to the lady. It will do her no good to anguish over something that cannot be changed.”
Myles nodded and left the solar, leaving Tevin and Val sitting alone. Val watched her brother’s tense brow.
“You are displeased,” she said knowingly.
He shrugged. “I am always displeased when Geoff comes around. Surely a more immoral man has never existed.”
“Keep Cantia away from him,” Val said. “He has no control when it comes to women. I am afraid what he will do when he sees her. And I fear what you will do should he touch her.”
His head snapped in her direction, the dark eyes piercing. “What do you mean?”
Val shook her head. “Do not pretend with me, brother. It is of no use. I see how you look at her. I know your thoughts, though I must say that I am surprised. I thought you well beyond any lady’s charms.”
Tevin was fully prepared to protest but thought better of it. Val wasn’t an idiot. And she wasn’t judgmental, either. With a sigh, he sat in the nearest chair, easing his massive body down wearily. He knew he could confide in her and it would go no further. He felt the sudden need to do so.
“I thought myself well beyond that, too, but it seems I was wrong,” he muttered. “I’ve tried to tell myself how wrong it is, how inappropriate my thoughts are, but it does no good. I see the woman and feel myself turn to putty.”
Val smiled sadly. “I know. I’ve seen it.”
“Has anyone else?”
“I doubt it. Your knights are not as intuitive as I am.” Her gaze lingered on him a moment. “Have you told her how you feel?”
He snorted. “Aye, I have.”
“How did she react?”
He lifted his hands in a helpless gesture. “It caused her more distress than she needs. The woman is still grieving over her husband. I have no right to demand her attention.”
Val fell silent a moment, listening to the sounds of the bailey as they drifted in through the lancet window. Then she looked at her brother pointedly. “Does she know everything?”
He looked at her. “About what?”
“About Louisa?”
He abruptly stood up, shaking his head. “There is no need to tell her that.”
“No need?” Val repeated, incredulous. “Tevin, just what do you plan to do with Cantia? Toy with her feelings and then leave her in despair? What exactly are your intentions?”
Tevin, having strolled halfway across the solar, suddenly stopped and looked at his sister. “I…I do not know,” he snapped in frustration. “All I know is that the woman makes me feel something I have never felt before. She has awakened a part of me that I thought was long dead. I cannot go a moment of the day without thinking of her. So you tell me what my intentions are, for truly, I do not know.”
Val wasn’t trying to agitate him, but she needed for him to think clearly. “You are not a man given to whims, Tevin. Make sure that what you feel for the lady is not simply opportunistic. She is a beautiful, grieving widow and you have felt responsible since the day of Brac’s death. Do not confuse passion with pity. You will do more damage to her if you do.”
His features flickered with hurt. “That is a cruel thing to say.”
Val lifted an eyebrow. “Is it? Or is it the truth and you cannot admit it?”
He sighed heavily, wandering over to where she sat. He sat down beside her heavily, his dark eyes dulled with bewilderment. Val put her hand over his.
“It’s not as if you can marry her,” she said softly.
He hung his head, staring at the floor. “It’s strange,” he muttered. “But that fact never bothered me until you just said it. Louisa has been gone so many years now that I do not feel married. I haven’t since the day she ran off.”
Val hated bringing up the old shame, but given Tevin’s train of thought, she had to. “She may very well be alive,” she said. “But then again, she may not. We simply do not know. But you cannot take the chance that she is still alive, somewhere.”
Tevin grunted, still staring at the floor. “The woman is not a part of my life, yet I am married to her.” He lifted his gaze from the ground, staring off across the room. “Until this moment, it never bothered me.”
Val squeezed his hand. “Then you feel something more for Lady Penden than simple pity,” she confirmed. “But whatever it is, you must stop. It is not fair to the lady. She is still young and beautiful and will make some man a fine wife. You cannot let her fall for a man who will never be able to marry her.”
Tevin looked sharply at his sister. She could read the turmoil in the dark eyes and it pulled at her heart. She could already see that he was far gone for the lady. She put her hands on his face.
“Tevin, for her sake, you must stop this,” she whispered. “The death of her husband has already broken her heart. You cannot possibly think
to destroy it further.”
He opened his mouth to argue with her, but just as quickly closed it. A sardonic smile creased his lips. “Louisa and I were so young when we married. I never even knew her until the day we said our vows. And after she left… I just forgot about her. I didn’t care. She left Arabel with me and that was all that mattered. Just so long as she did not take my daughter, I did not care where she went. But now… now I have, in the most unexpected of places, found a woman I would give up the entire world for and I cannot have her. The irony of the situation is unfathomable.”
“I know.”
“Nay, you do not. I want her, Val. I cannot stomach living the rest of my life without her.”
“Then it would be only as your mistress, not your wife.”
“She is far too worthy to be a mistress. She comes from a long line of consorts to kings. She deserves more.”
“More than you can give her,” Val said.
His gaze was piercing. “I can give her everything but marriage.”
Val didn’t say any more. She had said her piece and the rest was up to her brother. Mostly, she couldn’t say any more because she could see the pain in his eyes. Whatever he was feeling was consuming him. He needed time to sort it out.
“Well,” she stood up stiffly, favoring her torso. “We can talk about this at another time. I fear you have much on your mind with the approach of Geoff.”
He stood up next to her. “You and Cantia must leave before Geoff gets here. I do not want either of you here with him around.”
Val nodded in agreement. Her cousin could not control himself around women, even a blood relative. “Where shall we go?”
Tevin thought a moment. “Rochester has other holdings, including the fiefdom of Gillingham. I shall ask Lady Penden about it. Perhaps she knows of a place you can go until the storm blows over. In fact, I’ll send Myles with you. I’m not sure he should be here when Geoff arrives, either.”
They moved towards the door of the solar. “Then we should probably start making some manner of preparation,” Val said, not entirely upset by the prospect of going into seclusion with de Lohr.