“Are you awake?” he whispered. “Are you well? I did not hurt you, did I?”
Lyssa suddenly took a long, deep breath and her eyes fluttered open. “I-I am well,” she said, though she seemed a little dazed. “W-What… what was that? W-What made my body…?”
She couldn’t quite put it into words what had happened. It was also new and so mystifying. Garret smiled and shifted off of her as much as he could given the size of the bed. Laying down beside her, he pulled her up against him.
“That was the peak of your pleasure,” he murmured. “Did you not enjoy it?”
Lyssa was limp, exhausted, but she nodded her head. “A-Aye,” she said. “W-When you touched me….”
“I know.”
“W-Will it happen again? T-The next time, I mean?”
He grinned, rather wolfishly. “I hope so.”
Lyssa turned her head to see the expression on his face. She couldn’t help but smile at his rather devilish expression. But her smile soon faded. “I-It was overwhelming.”
Garret couldn’t tell if she had any regrets or not. He sought to make some amends. “I suppose I should apologize,” he said. “I suppose I should say that it was not my intention that should happen, and it would be the truth. I was not my intention, at least not tonight. But I will not apologize. It makes it so that I must marry you and no other man can take you from me.”
Lyssa regarded him in the dim light. “Y-You would claim me?”
“With everything that I am.”
He said it so resolutely, bringing a smile to her lips. Reaching out, she touched his face, running her fingers over his lips as he closed his eyes and relished the sensation.
“Y-You needn’t worry,” she murmured. “I-I belonged to you the moment you rescued me from those ruffians outside of Westminster. I-I have never belonged to anyone but you, Garret.”
He kissed her fingers. “Swear it to me.”
“I-I do,” she breathed, leaning over to kiss his smooth lips. “I-I belong to you and no other until my last breath.”
Garret smiled faintly, hearing his words echoed in hers. He kissed her again before pulling her close, spending their last few precious hours together until he had to take her back to The Wix. The fire crackled and the dull roar of the tavern below permeated the walls, but wrapped up in each other’s arms, it was as if they were in a world of their own. Nothing else existed; only them.
I will adore you until my last breath.
A last breath and beyond.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The Wix
It was dark in the chamber but for the light of the taper on the table beside the bed. The taper was almost finished, giving off an oily smell and very little light. Had the moon been any brighter, the taper wouldn’t have been needed, but Juliana felt better with it burning. Even that tiny spot of light held off the phantoms in the chamber and the ghosts that were all over The Wix.
There was something in the air tonight.
Juliana wasn’t quite sure what it was. All she knew was that something didn’t feel right and it more than likely centered around the fact that Lyssa was gone. Juliana hadn’t seen her since the morning when they were all working in the garden. Then, Sir Garret came and Rose chased him away, and promptly pulled Lyssa into the manse to presumably punish her for speaking to the man. Juliana didn’t dare ask Lady Rose where Lyssa was, so she lay in the bed they shared in their small chamber and worried about her friend.
She was frightened.
For Lyssa or for herself, she couldn’t be sure. Certainly, Lyssa had the advantage of having Lady Rose about and surely Lady Rose would protect her from the prowling duke who was now on her scent. But the truth was that Juliana didn’t like being alone in The Wix; none of the women did. She was seriously considering going to Lady Cecily’s chamber and sleeping there when there was a soft knock at the door.
Lyssa!
Thrilled, relieved, Juliana tossed back the coverlet and leapt out of bed, running to the door and unbolting it. But the moment she pulled it open, the door slammed back on her and she stumbled, falling against the bed as a body pushed its way in. By the time she caught her balance, she looked up to see Jago bolting the door.
Terror filled her.
Swallowing hard, Juliana backed away from the door, back by the head of the bed, as far away as she could get from the man. When he finally turned to her and their eyes met, she whimpered in terror.
“My lord,” she gasped. “What is the meaning of this?”
Jago didn’t have a particular look about him, meaning he didn’t look as if he’d come to kill or rape. In fact, he appeared rather tame, at least as far as Jago was concerned. He didn’t try to come into the room, either; he simply stood by the door, eyeing Juliana.
“Where is your friend?” he asked.
Juliana knew he meant Lyssa and her blood ran cold. She wondered if she could somehow lure him away from the door and then make a break for it, running to safety somewhere. Her mind was whirling with her options.
“I do not know, my lord,” she said truthfully. “I have not seen her since this morning when we were in the garden.”
Jago’s gaze lingered on her. “Where could she have gone?”
Juliana shook her head. “I saw Lady Rose take her away,” she said. “Mayhap you should ask Lady Rose. I am sure she knows.”
Jago had no intention of asking Rose, who wouldn’t tell him, anyway. The woman was a strong ally of his wife and he didn’t want to tip Grace off that he was hunting with more determination than ever for Lyssa.
After seeing the woman at the tavern with de Moray, he was obsessing over her. He’d returned from the tavern shortly after watching Garret take Lyssa to the sleeping rooms above the common room, and he’d been sitting in his lavish solar since that time, watching the front gate, waiting for her to return.
At some point, he’d dozed off and then he’d awoken in a panic, thinking he’d missed the woman’s return. Or perhaps she was never returning. The only way he could find out was to go to her chamber and ask her friend, who seemed reluctant to tell him. But it would not be healthy of her to withhold information from him.
He wanted answers.
“But you are her friend and I believe you know her better than her aunt would,” he said, trying not to sound threatening. “Come, lady; sit. I will not hurt you. I simply want to know where Lady Lyssa is.”
Juliana didn’t move; she remained pressed against the wall. “Truly, my lord, I last saw her this morning with Lady Rose,” she said. “I do not know where she has gone. In fact… in fact, I was just wondering myself. Would… would you like for me to go and ask Lady Rose where Lady Lyssa is?”
Jago shook his head. “Nay,” he said. “Surely she must return some time. I will wait for her.”
Juliana was struggling to keep her panic at bay. “Mayhap you would be more comfortable in your solar, my lord,” she said. “I will send word to you when she returns.”
Jago moved away from the door, causing Juliana to startle with fear. It was then that she noticed he had something in his hand. When he turned slightly, she saw that it was a rope. Total fear swept her.
“That will not be necessary,” Jago said, now bringing the rope into full view. “I will wait here. Tell me something; how well do you know your friend?”
Juliana couldn’t take her eyes off of the rope. She was quivering in fear. “I… I do not understand, my lord.”
“It is a simple question. How well do you know her?”
“Well enough, my lord.”
“How long has she been a courtesan?”
Juliana was surprised by the question. “A… a courtesan, my lord?”
Jago nodded. “You do not need to pretend that you do not know, for I know you must,” he said. “I saw her tonight with one of Richard’s men. I had no idea we had a whore in our midst.”
Astonishment mingled with her fear. “My lord, I surely do not know what you mean,” she insisted. “Lady Lys
sa is an honorable woman. Surely you must be mistaken.”
Jago simply looked at her. “Do you take me for a fool?”
Juliana shook her head firmly. “Nay, my lord, but Lady Lyssa is not a courtesan, I can assure you.”
Jago was finished being patient. In fact, he was becoming rather frustrated. “Come here.”
Juliana shook her head, terrified. “Nay, my lord, please….”
“Come here!”
With a cry, Juliana leapt over the bed and bolted for the door. She was fast, but Jago was faster. Grabbing the iron candlestick with the nearly-finished taper still flaming, he grabbed Juliana before she could make it to the door, slamming the candlestick on the back of her head. Hot wax sprayed into her hair and on the wall behind her. She went limp but she didn’t go out completely; she was still struggling so he hit her again. It was enough to send her to the floor, unconscious.
By the light of the half-moon streaming in through the open window, Jago tied Juliana up, as tightly as he could, and went over to the big wardrobe on the opposite side of the chamber. Opening it up, he began pulling forth scarves and hose, finally finding what he was looking for. Returning to his unconscious victim, he gagged her with a heavy woolen hose, tying it tightly over her nose and mouth, before tossing her into the wardrobe, piling clothing on top of her, and slamming the door.
With Lady Lyssa’s bed mate secured, Jago climbed into the bed the two women shared to wait for Lady Lyssa’s return.
Once she crawled into bed beside him, he would have her exactly where he wanted her.
*
It was near midnight when Garret and Lyssa finally rode into the grounds of The Wix beneath a half-moon.
Torches on the walls lit up the night sky as they passed through the gatehouse and into the big bailey. There were a few soldiers about, men on their rounds, and Garret sent one of the men running for Rickard. He would only leave Lyssa in Rickard’s hands. As the soldier headed off, Garret lowered Lyssa to the ground and dismounted from his steed behind her.
The night was damp, with a breeze blowing off the river that was both sticky and cold. The massive manse was behind them, backing up to the river, and Garret could see a few candles inside the windows. He knew people were moving about, but he wasn’t sure if one of those candles belonged to Jago, so he took Lyssa’s elbow and escorted her over to the towering garden wall, essentially out of sight of the manse. In the shadows of the wall, he shielded her from view with his big body.
“Do you want me to have Rickard put you in a room that is not in the manse?” he asked quietly. “I want to make sure you are comfortable until morning.”
Lyssa shook her head. “N-Nay,” she said, forcing a smile at him. “I-It was silly for me to be afraid, just for a few short hours. Y-You will return at dawn and we will leave this place forever. I-I am content.”
He took a step closer, pulling her hands up into his two big palms. He held them against his chest as he gazed down at her.
“Make sure you pack what you wish to bring, but you do not have to pack too much,” he said. “Remember that I have the trunk with all of the things we purchased for you earlier, so you need only bring that which you very much do not wish to leave behind.”
She shook her head. “I-I do not have many possessions, to be truthful,” she said. “J-Just a few personal things, like combs and shifts and two dresses I wish to bring. E-Everything else was borrowed.”
He kissed her hands. “I have a feeling that the trip to town today will not be the last one we take,” he said, winking at her. “My apartment at Westminster is small and a man who does not care much for comforts has been living there.”
She grinned. “Y-You mean you?”
“I mean me.”
She laughed softly. “D-Do I have your permission to make it in to something lovely and comfortable, then.”
He nodded. “I fear you will have to or you shall be very embarrassed.”
Lyssa’s smile faded as she gazed up at him. “A-As long as you are there, that is all that matters,” she said. “B-But I am honored to make a lovely and comfortable home for my husband.”
His eyebrows lifted. “That reminds me – once I leave here, I must go to Westminster Abbey and make the arrangements for our marriage. I intend that it should be at sunrise, so be ready to depart before dawn. I should not like to be late for my own wedding.”
Lyssa nodded eagerly. “I-I will be ready, I promise,” she said. “I-I shall be waiting at the gatehouse and if you do not come soon enough, then I shall walk all the way to the abbey and wait for you.”
He kissed her hands. “I will be here; have no doubt. I am as eager as you are to begin the rest of my life. Mayhap the best part of my life.”
Lyssa reached up, touching his face tenderly in response to his sweet declaration, when a figure approached through the darkness. Both Garret and Lyssa turned to see Rickard emerging from the shadows.
“So?” Rickard said to his brother. “You have finally returned? Rose and I made a wager on whether or not you would.”
He said it with some humor and Lyssa blushed as Garret pursed his lips irritably. “I said I would bring her back and here she is,” he said. “I hope you lost money.”
Rickard chuckled. “I am the one who wagered that you would return.”
Garret simply shrugged at his brother’s smug answer. “I have, indeed. But the lady’s stay is only temporary. I will be returning for her before dawn, as we are to be married at sunrise. Make sure she is waiting for me, Rickard. That is your task.”
Rickard’s eyebrows lifted. “Married at sunrise?” he repeated in shock. He was thrilled, of course, and offered Lyssa a brotherly kiss to the cheek, but he was still a bit surprise. His focus remained on his brother. “I must say that I am astonished, Garret. Does Rose know?”
Garret shook his head. “I’ve not told her,” he said. “I’ve not had time. Lyssa and I just decided this tonight. Instead of going to Lioncross Abbey to get her away from Colchester, I’m simply going to marry her and we are going to live at Westminster, at least for the time being.”
Now, Rickard was starting to understand. His stoic, serious brother evidently had an impetuous streak in him. But, then again, Garret’s entire manner had been impetuous since meeting the lovely Lady Lyssa and Rickard was genuinely overjoyed for the man. There was nothing he could do but simply go along with whatever Garret wanted to do. It was his life, after all, and Rickard wouldn’t dream of interfering.
“I believe it is the perfect solution,” he said, looking at Lyssa. “Tristiana is going to miss you terribly. She is quite fond of you.”
Lyssa smiled, putting her hand on the man’s arm. “A-And I am quite fond of her,” she said. “I-If she needs me, please send for me, will you? I-I am most concerned now that the birth of your son is approaching.”
Rickard sobered, just a little. “As am I,” he said. “Tristiana does not know it, though. Do not tell her.”
Lyssa chuckled. “S-She knows, Rickard. Y-You have not been very good at hiding your concerns.”
Rickard grinned, embarrassed, and Garret spoke. “Not to break up this sentimental discussion, but I have duties I am to attend to if I plan to be married at sunrise,” he said. “That means I must leave Lyssa in your care, Rickard. She is your responsibility until I come for her. Has Colchester returned?”
Rickard sobered unusually fast. “He did, earlier today,” he said, glancing at the manse behind them. “I have not seen him since but his manservant said he has been in his solar all day, which means if he was awake when you rode in, he could have very well seen you.”
Garret didn’t like that at all. Now, the happy mood plummeted and thoughts of the duke were brought to the forefront. Garret looked at Lyssa to see her reaction and was met by something he could only describe as a steely resolve. She had faith that everything would work out for the best, just as Garret had promised, and he admired her for not falling back on her fears. She remained strong while
he was now the one in danger of wavering.
He didn’t like the fact that Colchester might have seen her return.
“I wonder if it would be wiser to house Lyssa somewhere other than the manse for the night,” he said to his brother. “Do you have a small chamber somewhere in the barracks that you can lock her in? If Colchester is on the prowl, I do not want her anywhere near him. I would prefer that you hide her.”
Lyssa put her hand on Garret’s arm. “I-It will be all right,” she assured him. “T-The chamber I share with Juliana is far from the lord’s solar and we can bolt the door. E-Even if he comes knocking, we shall not answer. M-Moreover, all of my possessions are in that room and if I am to pack, I will need to be where my things are.”
He looked at her dubiously. “Are you certain?”
She nodded firmly. “I-I am,” she said. “R-Rickard will take me there right now and I will bolt the door when he leaves.”
It was with the greatest reluctance that Garret agreed, but he didn’t want to frighten Lyssa with his hesitation, so he swallowed it. Still, he was uneasy.
“Very well,” he said, looking to his brother. “Then I turn her over to you now. Take good care of her and make sure she is waiting for me before dawn.”
Rickard nodded. “And if I run into Rose?”
“I-I will tell my aunt everything,” Lyssa said quietly. “Y-You needn’t worry, Rickard. I-I will tell her.”
That seemed to resolve the situation. The plan was set and there was nothing more to say. As Rickard stepped away to allow them a private farewell, Garret wrapped his arms around Lyssa.
“Stay in your chamber and do not open it for anyone but Rickard or your aunt,” he told her quietly. “If you are frightened and do not want to stay to your chamber, then send a servant for Rickard. He will send for me and I will come.”
She nodded, trying to be brave because he seemed very uneasy now. She wanted to reassure him that all would be well.
“I-I will,” she said. “B-But I am sure everything will be well, so go and make the arrangements at the abbey. I will be waiting for you before dawn.”