Page 16 of The Sword and the Damsel

“There’s a wounded man in the cellar. Tie him up and take him to the castle dungeon,” Victor ordered, and his men rushed to comply.

The horror and disgust on every single face in the common room made for a comical picture. If only Victor was in a laughing mood. “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m afraid this establishment is closed until further notice, though I will pay good coin to whoever can point me to a bucket of water to get this filth off me.” Most of them fled the room, though one enterprising young woman with an admirable bosom held her nose and showed him to a well in the back. He dumped a bucket over his head before extracting his soggy bag of coins and paying her for her service.

Upon his return to the castle, he got some clean clothes from his room and went down to the bathing room for a lengthy bath.

As he emerged, thoroughly cleansed, and smelling a bit too strongly of lavender oil, a servant informed him that Lords Rossignol and de Vere wished to speak with him, and he followed him to Lord Daniel’s study.

“Did you just kill seven men and shut down a brothel on Birdie Street?” Lord Daniel demanded with no preamble. Victor wasn’t sure whether he was angry or impressed.

But then Lord Daniel sniffed and looked confused.Definitely too much lavender oil.

“The Watch informed me a money lender named Matthew was responsible for the murder of a silk trader. I went to investigate. We don’t want trouble this close to the tournament. When I tried to apprehend the criminal, I was attacked by his lackeys.”

“Matthew,” Lord Martin mused. “We’ve been trying to get at him for years. This is the first time we’ve made any headway. The man you captured is Matthew’s right hand. I’m amazed we didn’t lose anyone. When we’ve tried this in the past, we’ve always hadcasualties of our own. Frankly, I’m astonished you’re still alive. I’m told you fought your way through seven men?”

Victor nodded. He wasn’t sure what to say. Other than it was the most fun he’d had in weeks, but that sounded like boasting so he stayed quiet.

Lord Daniel whistled. “I underestimated you.”

“Most people do.” Victor shrugged. It was hardly the first time.

“Why in heaven’s name did Lady Helisende let you go?” Lord Daniel asked, running a hand through his dark hair. “She must have known what she was giving up.”

“I needed to leave Hastings, and I told her so.” And she had been none too pleased. “Too many people there remember me from before—” he gestured at his face—“and I got tired of all the pitying looks. I threatened to join the Templars, and she proposed I come here instead. I think this was her way of keeping me close.”

Lord Daniel and Lord de Vere looked at each other for a long moment.

“Well, I’m glad you’re here,” Lord Daniel said. “I need a new commander for my troops. John, who holds the position currently, is getting too old for this work and asked to retire. I think we’ve found a worthy replacement at long last. Also, if you’re willing, I’d like you to take over as my swordsmanship instructor. Seven men! Good Lord in Heaven, I would like to be that good.”

Victor swallowed and nodded, trying not to grin. “Thank you, my lord.” Saints above! Did he just get a promotion? His aunt would be ecstatic. So far, his mission to Winchelsea was a rousing success. If only life were simpler, and he could escape all the women who were complicating it.

*

That evening afterdinner, he made his way down the winding street from the castle to Jane, proud of his success, and still smelling a bit too strongly of lavender oil.

“My lord, I hope this fragrance isn’t for my benefit,” she said pulling back in surprise after kissing him.

“It’s for my own benefit as well. I had a messy day. You wouldn’t have appreciated my stench from earlier.”

He nuzzled her neck and grazed it with his teeth, making her gasp. It was so much fun to make her do that.

Grabbing the front of his cotte, she pulled him into another kiss.

“I heard all about your messy day,” she murmured in his ear. “Several ladies came here seeking employment after you shut down their establishment.” She hastily unlaced his cotte and pulled off his shirt, kissing her way down his chest, then unlaced his breeches so that she could stroke him. “I was worried about you.” She knelt and took him in her mouth, and he moaned at the intensity of the sensation.

“Oh God…oh God… Wait, Jane!” He pulled away from her exquisite torture, panting. “You know I always insist on ladies first.”

Pulling back, he lifted her to her feet, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pressed her back on the straw pallet, climbing on top. He pulled up her skirts and rendered her speechless, not relenting until he felt her convulse beneath him. “God, I love watching you come.” Sliding into her, he lost himself in record time.

As they lay catching their breath, she asked, “Did something new happen with Lady Alais today? You were quicker than usual. I can always tell when she’s done something new to set you off. I’m starting to suspect you have feelings for her ladyship.”

He shook his head vehemently. Feelings? He couldn’t afford any of those. For heaven’s sake, he was supposed to be guardingher, not trailing after her like some lovesick swain. He had a sworn duty to defend her from all comers, himself included. Not to mention that she would never look twice at him when so many whole and handsome men vied for her hand.

“I hardly saw Lady Alais, but I did get a new, irritating, Lady-Alais-related assignment. Actually, I could use your help with it. Come to think of it, you may be uniquely positioned to assist me. I’ll make it worth your while.”

He explained about the research he was supposed to do into Lady Alais’s suitors.

“If you hear of anything or know of anything that you think might be useful, let me know.”

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