Christopher’s eyes were glittering at the statement. He had no idea why the words had riled him so, for he had been issued hundreds of challenges and had not so much as batted an eyelash in return. He had no doubt that the man was sincere, and he had no doubt that it would be a hell of a fight from the size of the man. But a peculiar gripping warmth was spreading through him at the confession the man had made for Dustin and he was at a loss as to why, but he knew that the emotion was most overwhelming.
“I will remember if you will also remember one thing. Lady Dustin is now my wife and I do not want you anywhere near her,” he said, his voice like cold steel. “If I ever hear that you have so much as speak her name, then I will find you and cut your heart out. Forget what you feel for her, for your emotions will surely be your death.”
The two men stared at each other viciously, each trying to read the other, trying to discern any emotion other than hate.
“She is nothing but chattel to you,” Jeffrey hissed after a moment. “You would kill me over a piece of property? Are you that possessive?”
“She is my wife,” Christopher answered, evading his questions. “That is reason enough to kill for her.”
Jeffrey’s jaw ticked and his fists clenched. “You are dooming her to a life of unhappiness, you know that,” he said. “At least with me, there would have been a chance for joy.”
“Then I am curious,” Christopher said. “Why did you not marry her before I got here? Surely you could have spoken to Lady Mary.”
“I did,” he shot back, then quickly regained his control. “She would not consent to anything without Sir Arthur’s permission. She said that I would have to wait until he returned from the Holy Land.” His gaze turned bitter. “As we know now, he did not return.”
Christopher suddenly saw quite a few things clearly and his anger, though not lessened, went no further. The man was in love with his wife and bitterly disappointed that the situation was out of his control. With Arthur’s death and the king’s decree, there was nothing he could do and he was understandably disappointed.
“Does Dustin know any of this?” Christopher asked after a moment.
“Nay,” Jeffrey met his look. “Lady Mary never told her. She knew, as I did, that Lady Dustin had no interest in marriage.”
Christopher dropped his gaze thoughtfully. Jeffrey slowly moved toward him, the anger and hatred between them somewhat lessened over the last few moments. After several moments of reflection, Christopher snickered.
“She certainly did not want to marry me,” he said ironically. “Nor I, her, for that matter.”
“She did not want to marry anyone,” Jeffrey said. “The number of suitors Lady Dustin has had over the past three years is staggering. The list of prospects fill an entire drawer in Lady Mary’s desk. Knights, barons, a few earls, and even a duke. There was nothing to do but wait until Arthur’s return to plead for Lady Dustin’s hand.”
So Dustin was much pursued? Certainly she was beautiful enough and he was not surprised. He wondered what would happen now when the word got out that Lady Dustin had taken a husband. He wondered if he would be fighting off armies of scorned suitors. Ah, well, let them come. He was up to it. He glanced up at Jeffrey.
“Tell me, then,” he said. “With all of the suitors, she was not interested in any of them? I find that hard to believe.”
Jeffrey smiled, a real one. “You do not know your wife very well,” he said. “She would rather tend a garden than recite poetry, or ride a horse rather than sit quietly and embroider. Men are of no interest to her, and I cannot count the times when I have had to pull her off of some hapless fool because he tried to hold her hand or steal a kiss. She is completely unaware of her beauty and her femininity, my lord, I assure you.”
Christopher listened to him, absorbing his words. Jeffrey was right; he did not know his wife at all. The big German knight could see the uncertainty in Christopher’s eyes.
“Tell me,” Jeffrey said softly. “What do you intend to do with her? What I mean is that if you do not want her, and you obviously do not, would you deny her happiness?”
Christopher turned his full attention to the man, studying him. “If you are asking if I would allow her to take a lover simply because you believe I don’t want her, the answer is nay. She is my wife and she will not commit adultery.”
“But you will give her no affection,” Jeffrey said sharply. “The only thing that holds your interest is this damn keep. Your eyes glaze over it as if it were the most beautiful woman in the world and, for that fact, you have already taken a mistress. Lioncross.”
Christopher stiffened. “She is my wife, Jeffrey. No amount of pleading and reasoning will change that fact.”
Jeffrey’s jaw ticked, forcing himself to calm, but there was not the same hatred in his eyes as had been earlier. He was in a no-win situation and he knew it. He was not daft and he knew there was nothing more to say.
“Then I will take my leave, my lord,” he said quietly. “But before I go, I would ask a favor of you. Treat Lady Dustin with respect, please. I would be indebted to you for the kindness.”
Christopher gazed back at the man, seeing no malice or ulterior motives in the statement. He could see that Jeffrey truly loved his wife, and he suddenly felt a bit of sympathy for the man.
“She is most stubborn and abrasive,” Christopher replied grimly. “May I at least spank her on occasion, should she warrant it?”
Jeffrey smiled faintly. “Yah, I have wanted to do the same at times.”
Christopher nodded, his gaze impassive. He began to rethink his harsh stance on banishing the man now that he understood why. He felt there was an understanding between them now, and given Jeffrey’s experience with Lioncross and the land, he did not want to rid himself so quickly of his valuable knowledge because of a jealous whim. Perhaps it would be better to allow him to remain.
He paused before speaking. “If you wish to stay, I will not oppose you.”
Jeffrey s eyes widened. “But you said, I mean, yah, my lord, I would serve you well.”
Christopher cocked a stern eyebrow. “Yet there are two conditions. My brother, David, is now captain of the troops.”
Jeffrey nodded. “Yah, my lord. He is a fine soldier.”
“And you will bank the fever you have for my wife,” Christopher finished in a low voice.
Jeffrey cleared his throat, though his gaze never wavered. “With all of my strength, my lord, I swear it.”
“You had better,” Christopher said, moving past him.
The men proceeded into the great hall, with Christopher confident he had acquired another fine knight and pleased with the turn of events. Now that he understood Jeffrey, his mind was a bit more at ease. Yet that strange feeling of jealousy still filled him every time he thought of the man’s admission, but he shrugged it off. He had no idea how to deal with it.
Jeffrey exited the castle with a slight bow, leaving the wide open front doors and crossing the compound to disappear into a wall turret. Christopher stood at the entrance to the castle for a moment, running his fingers through his thick blond hair, his thoughts turning back to Dustin and wondering where she was.
He did not have to wait long. A familiar figure suddenly appeared, walking across the drawbridge and through the front gates. Not far behind was a big man on a destrier, plodding along. Relieved she had returned, he wondered if he should go and greet her or if he should simply go along his way now that he knew she was back, safe. He decided on the latter until he saw Dustin wipe at her eyes, a clear sign that she was crying.
He could not stop himself, he went to her.
“What ails you, my lady?” he asked impassively.
Dustin looked up at him quickly and then immediately lowered her head. Her lovely face was smeared with dirt and tears and Christopher looked up at Leeton in confusion. His friend merely shrugged back.
“Dustin, what is wrong?” he asked again.
She shook her head, quickening he
r pace for the castle. He followed, catching up with her just as she entered the dim interior. He reached out and gently grasped her arm.
“Tell me what the matter is. Mayhap I can help,” he said softly.
She stopped but pulled her arm from his grip. She fully intended to answer him calmly, but when she opened her mouth, she began blubbering again. “Nothing,” she bawled.
Concerned, he reached out before he could stop himself and put a comforting arm around her. When he realized what he was doing, he quickly removed his arm and stepped back, putting a hand underneath her chin and forcing her to look at him.
“Stop this now,” he ordered gently. “Stop crying and tell me what’s wrong.”
She sniffled, wiping her eyes and pulling free of his grasp again. “My….my cat,” she sniffed and coughed. “Caesar is gone.”
“Gone?” Christopher repeated.
She nodded firmly. “He sleeps with me. He has always slept with me, and this morning he was nowhere to be found.” She wiped her eyes again. “He has never left before I have woken up, ever since he was a kitten. He always waits for his cream, but this morning I awoke and he was gone. I have looked everywhere for him, in all of his usual places.”
She was starting to cry again and he put both hands on her face, gazing down into her beauty. “He is not gone,” he insisted quietly, wanting her to stop crying. “I know where he is.”
As he hoped, she stopped immediately. “You do?” she gasped. “Where?”
He gave her a little smile and took her hand in his big one. “Come on.”
He took her up to his chamber, hoping the cat was still there, and pleased to see the fat animal had not left his comfortable spot. He pointed to the bed. “There.”
Dustin’s jaw opened as she rushed to the bed. Caesar opened his eyes and stretched contently, purring loudly for his mistress. She gazed at the cat and looked to Christopher, puzzled.
“What is he doing here?” she asked.
Christopher shrugged. “He came to me last night,” he said. “I tried to toss him out, but he bit me and refused to leave. So I allowed him to stay, just this once.”
Dustin’s face suddenly took on a look of utter hurt and jealousy. Then her pretty eyebrows drew together. “Why would he do this? Why would he come to you?”
“I do not know, my lady,” he answered.
Caesar stood up and tried to rub against Dustin’s hand, but she jumped back and pointed accusingly at the animal.
“Don’t you dare try to make up for your disloyalty, Caesar Augustus,” she said. “You unfaithful creature. You are hereby banished from my bed, do you hear me? If you want to sleep with the baron, then he can have you. After everything I have done for you, you have the gall to seek him out.”
She flew out of the room in a rage, leaving the cat licking his chops. Staring at the open door, Christopher was somewhat amused that she should talk to her cat as if it were a person. Hell, he didn’t want the hairy beast. He turned a reproving glance at the cat.
“You have been branded a traitor,” he said. “ ’Tis only right that you prostrate yourself at your mistress’s feet and beg for mercy.”
The cat looked at him, blinking lazily and licking his chops again. Christopher went over and picked the cat up. “However, since you have a speech impediment, I will do the talking for you. Come on.”
Dustin, laying on her bed and allowing hot, angry tears to drip onto her coverlet, heard the knock at the door.
“Go away,” she yelled.
Christopher opened the door and entered. “My lady, I have come to speak on the accused’s behalf,” he said solemnly.
She ignored him and he came around the side of the bed, looking down at her with Caesar clutched against his chest. She looked so entirely miserable and hurt that he was truly touched. She cared a great deal for this animal and was quite miffed by the rejection. He didn’t know why the cat had come to him, but he could certainly think of something, couldn’t he?
“I lured him,” he said after a moment. “Caesar came to me because I lured him with cheese.”
She sniffed, her lower lip stuck out in a pout. “He doesn’t like cheese.”
“A cat that doesn’t like cheese? Well, nonetheless, I lured him, and I apologize,” he said. “I do not know why I did it. You had gone to sleep and mayhap I needed someone to talk to.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “You have David and Edward and the others to talk to,” she said, looking at the cat. “Caesar is all I have left. You would take him, too?”
His amusement was gone and he felt like a heel. “Dustin, I didn’t take your cat.” He set the animal down next to her. Caesar bumped against her a couple of times before she reached out to stroke him.
Christopher eased himself down on the edge of the bed, watching the two of them, watching Caesar stick his nose against her lips for a kiss. He agreed with the cat, her lips were entirely kissable.
“Do you feel so alone?” he asked after a few moments. “You aren’t, you know.”
She looked up at him, still petting the cat. “My mother is gone and my father is gone,” she said. “I have no family left.”
“But I am your husband.” Christopher reached up to scratch Caesar’s nose as the cat came close to him. “Does that not make me your family also?”
She gazed back at him a moment and he could see the thoughts rolling through the gray eyes. Arthur’s eyes, he thought.
“Aye, it does,” she said softly. “But I do not know you, my lord. You are a stranger to me.”
He wasn’t looking at her, instead he was watching the cat absently. “Would it be so terrible to know me?”
She sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. He gazed up at her then, noticing the peasant dress she wore, her beautiful hair flowing free. She didn’t answer for a while.
“I don’t know,” she whispered, her head lowered.
He drew in a long breath, rising from the bed and moving to the window. The sun was well up now and the courtyard was busy and alive below.
“I suppose what I am trying to say, my lady, is that I understand how you feel being left alone in the world; at least I had David,” he said. “ ’Tis a terrible thing to be alone.”
Dustin stood up and went over to him, timidly. She was studying him openly, touched at his words and comforted by his tone. His voice had a tremendously soothing quality, and she found it amazing that the same voice could bark orders so harshly that it could chip mortar from stone.
He caught her from the corner of his eye and turned to look down at her. Her expression was so unguarded and guileless that he could not help but match her gaze. Christ, those gray eyes seemed to reach out and touch him. Even when she lowered her gaze, he could not take his eyes from her.
“We are family now, my lord,” she said softly. “We are not alone anymore.”
He cracked a smile. “That is true,” he replied. “I have something now I never thought to have, a wife.”
Her head came up and she saw his smile and responded hesitantly. She had a beautiful smile.
“And I hoped I would never have a husband,” she said.
He smiled wider. “Is that so? And why not?”
She turned away from him in a coy move. “Because,” she replied evasively.
He leaned against the window, crossing his huge arms. “Because why?”
She sat back on the bed and teased the cat. “Because….because husbands are only good for one thing.”
“And that is?” he snorted, wondering if she was going to say something rather titillating.
She looked at him, still smiling. “Giving orders.”
Relieved her thoughts were as innocent as the rest of her, he snickered and nodded. “I see. And you do not like orders.”
“Nay,” she replied. “I would rather give them.”
His eyes twinkled when he looked at her. “I thought that of you,” he said. “See? I am getting to know you better already. Mayhap we shall no
t be strangers too much longer.”
“Mayhap,” she shrugged, watching Caesar chase a piece of string.
Christopher watched her play with the cat. “Jeffrey tells me that you had hundreds of suitors,” he said. “Is this true?”
She shrugged and made a wry face. “Who can count? Men with honeyed words and soft eyes annoy me to death. I paid them no heed.”
“None of them?” he pressed, still amused.
“None.” Her chin went up into the air firmly. “Fools that only wish to talk of love and romance, and the color of my hair. Pah.” She stuck out her tongue.
He laughed then, a hearty booming laugh that made her heart jump, although she did not know why.
“Good girl,” he applauded. “I do not like those fools, either.”
She smiled in spite of herself. “There was one man, a baron, who told me my eyes were the color of bruised clouds. I showed him what a bruise was.”
He laughed until tears came. “My lady, you are a unique soul. I should like to hear more of your adventures.”
She shrugged, somewhat embarrassed by all of the attention. But she liked it, and she liked to hear him laugh. She thought a moment. “There was a viscount, son of the Earl of Leeds. Now, there was a slobbery idiot if I ever saw one. He told me I had a spot of dirt on my neck, and when he bent over and pretended to wipe it off, he kissed me.” When Christopher feigned disbelief, she nodded vigorously. “Aye, he did. Right on the mouth. And do you know what I did to him?”
“What?” He stretched out his long legs and crossed them at the ankles, thoroughly enjoying her.
She held up her index and middle finger on her right hand. “I put my fingers in his eyes, and when he was blinded, I rammed my fist into his nose.” She was animated with her story, mimicking all of her original movements. “Broke it clean through. He had bone chips coming from his skin.”