Desperation. Arissa began to think of Richmond again, experiencing the longing that even one short hour had provoked. He promised to escort her to supper this night and the wait for his appearance was nearly more than she could bear.
She glanced at Penelope and Emma, wishing she could tell them of the most thrilling, wondrous experience of her life. Even if she decided to tell them, she seriously wondered if they would believe her outrageous claim. After all, what would a great knight like Richmond le Bec want with the daughter of an earl? Not an heiress, or even a countess, but a simple lady. Practically a nobody.
But she would not question his reasons for his interest, as she could not question her own. The only matter of import was that they loved one another. She could scarcely believe she had endured her entire life wondering about his feelings, dreaming of the day that he would declare his intentions. Yet even as she dreamt of love, she never truly believed her dreams would become truth.
There was a knock at the door, startling Arissa from her thoughts. Penelope moved to answer the call and they were all shocked when Regine spilled forth, sobbing and sputtering. Daniel stood behind her.
“You shall stay here, you wicked little wench, until I can decide what needs to be done,” he jabbed his finger at her.
Regine fell into Arissa’s arms. Arissa drew her tight, her eyes wide at the young knight. “By what right do you speak to the earl’s daughter in such a manner?”
He moved into the room, making certain to close the door behind him. Only when it was bolted did he return his attention to Arissa. His gaze, however, lingered on Regine.
“Well? Are you going to tell her or am I?”
Regine sobbed harder, all but ruining the front of Arissa’s surcoat. Daniel waited a respectable amount of time for the girl to reply; however, when it became evident she had no intention of elaborating, he took charge.
“I was making my rounds tonight, as Carlton was seeing to the safety of the guests inside the castle. As I was nearing the storage area by Mossy’s tower, I heard muffled voices and what I thought to be crying. Curious, I peered into the small room where we store hand-to-hand weapons,” he cast a long glance at Regine. “Your sister was inside the room with a soldier, her skirts hiked up around her waist as the man went to work on her. I cannot say that I was in time to save her virginity, but I do not think he spent himself on her.”
Arissa looked horrified. Penelope was absolutely white and Emma’s mouth hung agape. As frisky and curious as Regine was, certainly they did not believe her capable of such an adult act. The three of them immediately turned to the sobbing young girl as if she had committed a mortal sin.
Arissa swallowed hard, trying desperately to recover a measure of composure. Gazing down at her sister’s blond head, she shook the girl gently. “Regine, is this true?”
Regine sobbed and sniffled, and Arissa was suddenly seized with a tremendous anger; snatching her sister by the arms, she tore her free of their protective embrace. Giving Regine a good shake, she forced her to meet her eye. “Damnation, Regine, is this true? You will answer me now!”
Regine gazed into her sister’s pale green eyes, never more afraid or more remorseful of anything in her life. But regret did not quite begin to describe the long-term repercussions of her actions, as she was more fearful of her punishment than of the act itself. “I…. he told me I was beautiful and he promised to teach me all there is to know about love. Riss, I simply wanted to know the experience and…..”
Arissa’s grip tightened. “And you let him…. you actually coupled with him?”
Regine nodded unsteadily, tears flowing down her cheeks. She was truly terrified. “It was…. I liked it until he…. my God, Riss, it was so painful I thought I might die. He told me to lie still and I would enjoy it eventually. I was beginning to understand what he meant when….” her voice faded, overcome by sobs of shock and fear.
“When I interrupted,” Daniel’s voice was considerably softer. “Riss, it was one of Richmond’s men. I placed him in the vault.”
Arissa closed her eyes for a brief moment as if to ward off the greater implications. “Have you told him?”
Daniel shook his head. “He caught Regine himself the last time she attempted something like this and blistered her behind. In faith, I fear for his temper should he discover a repeat offense.”
Richmond’s temper was legendary; once aroused, it had a tendency to be fierce. Every soldier, every knight under his command knew of Richmond’s powerful, decisive temper and went to great lengths to avoid an encounter.
Arissa dropped her hands from her sister, gazing at the young girl as if she had completely lost her mind. “How could you be so foolish, Regine? Do not you know what father is going to say to this, not to mention Richmond?”
Regine was a shaking, disheveled mess. “You do not have to tell them. Do not tell, Riss. I promise I shall never do it again!”
Arissa sighed heavily, disgusted and wracked with disbelief. Her sister’s promises were impotent and sorely lacking, as Regine had proven many a time. She glanced up at Emma and Penelope. “This does not go beyond this room, do you comprehend me?” she said.
Both young women nodded solemnly. Daniel stood waiting, hands on hips, for Arissa to make the final decision regarding the fate of her promiscuous sister. But Arissa could only stare at Regine in wonder.
“I never thought you to be daft, Regine,” she said softly, her tone laced with pain. “You gave yourself to a common soldier rather than wait for your noble husband.”
Regine wiped her nose on her sleeve, regaining her senses somewhat. Glancing about at the shocked and disgusted expressions, an instinctive surge of self-righteousness filled her. “It’s not as if my husband will be virgin when he comes to me. He will appreciate the fact that his wife has not come to him a naive maiden, but rather a woman who can match his experience and know the meaning of pleasure.”
Arissa let out a hissing sigh, indicative of the amazement at her sister’s preposterous statement. “I am not going to argue this with you. What you have done is wrong and the soldier will be punished. Are you not the least bit remorseful for causing the suffering of another?”
Tears fading, Regine’s stubborn nature was beginning to regain control. “I do not want him punished. ’Twas my idea.”
Arissa shook her head, at a loss to understand. “But why?”
Regine averted her willful gaze. “Because…. because Penelope has Daniel, and Emma has eyes for Tad, and…. Tessa de Rydal is already married and she’s only eleven years old. I am older and not even betrothed.”
“You want to grow up too fast, Regine,” Arissa said softly. “In your haste, I fear you may have ruined your chances for a decent marriage.”
Regine met her sister’s eyes. “That is not true. Especially if father does not know the truth.”
Arissa looked to Daniel, torn in her decision. Part of her wanted to forget the incident, and part of her wanted to confess the entire occurrence to her father and pray for his wisdom in the matter. But the majority of her wanted to take Regine over her knee and beat her backside raw.
“Daniel,” she said softly, “I am afraid I will have to ponder this for a time. Not a word to anyone until I have made a decision.”
Daniel nodded, casting a long, regretful glance at Regine. Then his gaze moved to Penelope as he turned for the door. “If you are ready, I shall escort you to the hall. The guests are already beginning to assemble.”
Penelope nodded weakly, taking his offered arm. Daniel had barely opened the door when Richmond was suddenly in the archway, his beautiful face grim. He focused directly on Regine.
“You,” he pointed a long finger at her. “Come here.”
Regine shrieked and ducked behind Arissa. Richmond swept into the room, snaking an arm behind Arissa and snatching Regine by the sleeve. Regine’s shrieking turned to full-blown screams as he tore her away from her sister’s protective custody. Without a word, he bent at the waist a
nd threw Regine over his shoulder, turning for the door in one effortless, unhurried motion.
Arissa was stunned speechless by the knight’s sharp actions until Richmond was nearly through the doorway. Suddenly finding her tongue, she dashed after him.
“No, Richmond!” she cried. When he did not respond, she grabbed hold of his arm and dug her heels into the floor. “Put her down!”
He paused, his blue-hued eyes like blue steel. “This is none of your affair, my lady. Kindly refrain from interfering.”
“I will not!” she retorted urgently. “What are your plans with my sister?”
His expression was entirely emotionless, purely professional. She was so accustomed to being greeted by his smile that she felt a certain amount of devastation at his seeming indifference. But she’d seen this persona before her many a time; the cold, professional soldier. And he scared her to death.
“As I said, it is none of your affair. I will deal with your sister alone.”
Arissa forced herself to calm. Her hands moved from his forearm to his hand, curling around his massive fingers tightly. She hoped her touch would soften him somewhat, although glancing at his face, she deemed that result improbable. Still, she had to try.
“Who told you?”
He gazed at her a moment before answering. “I went in search of an errant soldier who failed to show at his post at the proper time. I was told by one of the earl’s men that he had seen Daniel take my soldier to the vault. The moment I entered the man’s cell, he confessed his sins and begged forgiveness.”
Arissa took a deep breath, attempting desperately to swallow her fear. She squeezed his hand tightly. “What are you going to do?”
“That will be for your father to decide when he’s made aware of Lady Regine’s escapade.”
Over his massive shoulder, Regine kicked and moaned in protest. Arissa passed her sister a despairing glance before refocusing on Richmond.
“If you tell him now, you shall ruin the entire evening,” she said in a low voice. “This can wait until the festivities are over.”
His jaw ticked. “My lady, one of my personal soldiers is presently awaiting a harsh sentence for molesting a woman of noble breeding. You fail to understand the severity of the situation.”
Regine kicked and cried again, catching Arissa’s attention once more. Her fingers tightened around Richmond’s free hand. “Put Regine down and we shall discuss this further.”
“There is nothing to discuss,” he pulled his hand free. “After I have seen to your sister, I shall return to escort you to the feast.”
His manner was cold. Hard. A spark of anger ignited in Arissa’s chest, immediately becoming a blaze of fury. She continued to gaze at him, her pale green eyes transforming from softly pleading to razor shards of ice. Damn him and his determined sense of duty!
“Do not bother,” she said coldly. “Since you see fit to ruin my birthday feast, I shall not be attending. For that matter, Richmond le Bec, I do not care if I ever see you again. Any man who would brutally handle a young girl and threaten chaos over a situation that could just as well wait until the morrow is unworthy of my attention or friendship.”
His gaze was steady. “I am sorry you feel that way.” Turning for the corridor, he called to Daniel over his shoulder. “Since Lady Arissa wants nothing more to do with me, you will have the privilege of escorting the three young ladies to the feast. Do not be late.”
They could hear Regine’s grunts and shrieks over Richmond’s footfalls as they faded down the hall. Arissa stood in the center of her chamber, stunned and bewildered. The anger that had consumed her manner not a moment before was suddenly gone, replaced by tears of frustration and disbelief at Richmond’s behavior.
Penelope, Emma and Daniel exchanged uneasy glances as Arissa began to wipe at the tears that were bathing her cheeks. Daniel cleared his throat and moved toward her timidly.
“My lady,” he said softly. “Mayhap we should retire to the gallery and….”
“Nay,” she shook her head, cutting him off. “I shall not attend. Tell mother and father that I am feeling ill and wish to be left alone.”
“Riss….” Penelope began pleadingly.
Arissa whirled toward her fair-haired friend. “Nay, Penelope! Tell my parents that I am ill; I am always ill and they will believe you without question. You and Emma and Daniel enjoy yourselves, but I am not in the mood for such gaiety. Go now. Please.”
“But it’s your party, Riss,” Emma pleaded softly.
Arissa shook her head, turning away. “I am not…. going. Leave me.”
Daniel glanced to Penelope, who merely shrugged. Without another word, he herded the two young women out of the room, passing a long look at Arissa’s dark head before shutting the door softly.
Somehow, he had a feeling that she would not remain sequestered all night. He would not be at all surprised to find her in the gallery later, dancing the evening away in the arms of several admirers. And he would not be at all shocked if Richmond was included in that throng.
Somehow, the two couldn’t seem to remain apart. If he did not know better, he would have suspected the feelings ran beyond those of typical camaraderie. He would have suspected that there was far more to their relationship than met the eye. But Daniel knew that Richmond had practically raised Arissa; therefore, an intimate association would have been something of an incestuous action.
But the fact remained that Richmond was not a blood relative. Daniel chewed his lip, deep in thought as he escorted Penelope and Emma to the stairs. If he did not know better….
*
Regine was bawling her eyes out; even so, she could have been dealt far worse. After Richmond took his hand to her backside, he had issued several commandments and, extracting her word that his demands would be adhered to, left her to compose herself.
Alone in her bower, she had ripped the place apart in her anger and frustration towards Richmond le Bec. She did not bother to consider herself fortunate that a spanking was all she had been dealt. All that matter was the fact that Richmond was a hateful monster who did not understand her, and she would hate him forever.
But it was not as if this was the first time he had disciplined her. He had become quite familiar with her fat white bottom over the years and she feared Richmond far more than any other authority figure, including her father. Richmond was not afraid to punish her, and her father allowed him the duty simply because he was not overly involved or interested in his children’s lives. Unless the crime was of mortal consequence, he would not be bothered with it.
But Richmond would. Where she perceived herself as suffering punishment and humiliation at the hands of the massive knight, the reality of the matter was that Richmond was trying to shape her character and instill the morals of right and wrong into her thick skull. Where she perceived his actions as cruelty, he knew them to be the result of his concern for her.
And like any good father, Richmond knew of her fury and annoyance toward him, but he was impervious to it. As far as he was concerned, he had dealt with her in an extremely fair manner considering her offense and had no desire to waste another moment on the matter. His attention moved onward, away from the spoiled child, and focused on the arrival of his second in command less than a half hour earlier.
Leaving Regine a howling mess, he descended the stairs into the gallery. Almost immediately, his gaze fell on Gavan in discussion with the earl. Thoughts of Regine and her deviant behavior faded altogether as he approached the two men.
Gavan Hage was closer to him than a brother, an extremely handsome man of massive build. Eight years younger than Richmond with uncanny wisdom, Richmond was glad to see the man and shook the man’s hand amiably.
“If it isn’t my wandering general,” he said with a grin. “How gracious of you to bless us with your presence.”
Gavan cocked an eyebrow. “I did not come to see you, merely the Lady Arissa. It is her birthday, after all.”
“But you missed
the festivities of the day,” Richmond reminded him. “You had better have an excellent excuse if the lady is going to forgive your truancy.”
“Excellent, indeed,” Gavan snorted. “I have spent the better part of yesterday searching for an appropriate gift. She will forgive me when she sees the lovely candle I brought her.”
Richmond scowled. “A mere candle for her birthday?” Laughing softly, he clapped the man on the shoulder. “You and I must have a talk regarding the gifts ladies prefer. I should hardly consider a candle a much-desired item.”
Gavan’s lips pressed into a wry, flat line. “The earl thought it to be most suitable,” he glanced to the rounded man beside him. “I am sorry, my lord. Richmond does not agree with your opinion.”
The earl snorted, reeking of the fine alcohol he had been imbibing in for the better part of an hour. “He rarely does where it pertains to Arissa,” he muttered. “Since he deems your gift inappropriate, I should ask him what he selected for this most auspicious day. Well?”
Richmond’s expression did not waver, thinking on the lovely cross, the stolen kisses, and the amazing process of discovery taking place between them. “I am sure she will tell you in her own time, announcing my token of esteem to be the finest she’s received this day,” he was half-jesting, half not. Wanting off the subject, he returned his focus to Gavan. “Tell me – how goes the situation in London?”
Gavan’s expression changed. It was not so much an obvious transformation as it was in the light in his eyes. Richmond caught the alteration and was needful to get the man alone.
“Busy,” Gavan replied evenly. “I have brought a few items for you, from Henry. In fact, I left them in my saddlebags. I shall go and get them.”
“I shall go with you,” Richmond volunteered in a perfect excuse. When William dismissed them both and went about his business, Richmond and Gavan strolled casually from the gallery. Instead of moving for the bailey en route to the knight’s quarters, Gavan headed for a smaller solar off the main corridor, rarely used except by visitors and dallying servants.