Page 71 of The Sword and the Damsel

Carenza and Daniel gave each other knowing glances.

“We should visit the nursery and see how little Charles is doing,” Carenza said, pulling Daniel along.

Alone again, they climbed the grand stone staircase holding hands and headed toward her room.Theirroom now. She would have to ask him if he wanted to redecorate. Tapestries of ladies on palfreys might be a touch feminine for his tastes.

The heavy wooden door closed behind them, and Victor immediately pulled her into his arms, touching his lips to hers and sending a little thrill through every part of her.

When he broke the kiss, he said, “Much as I would love to pick up where we left off, I should let you have some time to yourself. I’m sure you want to bathe and put on fresh clothes for dinner. And I should see the healer about my shoulder.”

Sadly, he was right. Though she still craved him, shewasrather sore, and a bath would be heaven after everything that had happened. “Such a shame,” she murmured into his neck, giving it a lick, then nibbling on his ear.

She was rewarded with an animal noise, rumbling deep in his chest.

“I suppose I will have to let you go until dinner,” he said, pulling her closer so that she could feel his growing arousal.

“Wicked man.” She nipped at his neck and grazed her nails down his back.

“Devilish temptress.” He squeezed her buttocks so that she was pressed against the hot length of him, leaving her panting. “Until later, my love.” Giving her one last squeeze, he released her.

With heavily lidded eyes, she smiled at him. Yes, soon enough they would be frolicking in bed once again. Now for a bath.

He poured himself a glass of water and composed himself before heading to the door, giving her one last, searing look. Then he was gone.

What a delicious man she’d married. She fanned herself with her hand.

Moments later, there was a quiet knock on the door.

“My lady? It’s me, Dora.”

“Dora! Come in, come in!”

As the old woman ambled into the room, Alais pulled her into a hug. “It’s so wonderful to see you!”

“And you, my lady. We were all so worried when we heard what that nasty man did to you. Thank the Blessed Mother you’re home where you belong.” Dora took a step back and looked her over. “You look like you need a chance to freshen up. Let me have a bath drawn for you.”

After stepping out into the hall to give instructions to another servant, Dora returned and tsked at her gown.

“This has seen better days,” Dora said, examining it closely. “I’ll see what the ladies downstairs can do to salvage it. Let’s head to the bathing chamber.”

Picking out a clean shift and gown, Dora led the way downstairs and along the hall to a small room at the back of the castle that housed the enormous barrel for bathing. There were hooks on the side of the room for hanging clothes and a small wooden stool with a clean cotton cloth for drying off. The tub was full of hot, steaming water, strewn with fresh herbs. Dorahelped her take off her dress then left her in privacy, and for the first time since she was captured, she was able to take full stock of the state of her body.

Her wrists and ankles had marks from where she was tied up. Her forehead was still swollen and tender where Sir Robert had hit it to knock her out. She must look a fright but thank the Lord he didn’t do worse.

Lower down, she had a sweeter ache from her afternoon in bed with her husband. He had almost succeeded in chasing away her lingering horror at her abduction. But now that she was alone again, unwelcome thoughts and memories returned to haunt her.

She climbed into the hot water and let it leach away her aches and the lingering chill in her bones, as well as the feelings of filth and disgust that enveloped her at the thought of Robert’s touch, thick as a second skin. Her mind kept bringing her back to her mother berating her for not marrying Sir Robert. She shied away from it, trying to think of anything else, but something in her kept circling back to it, worrying at the wound.

Victor. She was married to Victor, who loved her and trusted her. It was clear in everything he did. His love was a balm for her battered soul. He loved her despite her sins, perhaps even because of them. The pleasure they shared was beyond anything she’d ever imagined, and he celebrated her rather than condemned her for it. She was lucky beyond all measure to have found such a husband.

And she was filled with his seed. Perhaps even now, her womb was quickening. She smiled at the thought. What adorable little babies they would make together. But was she ready to be a mother?

She thought of her own mother, pulled away from her family several years younger than Alais was now to marry a stranger. She’d met her husband for the first time on their wedding day.How fortunate her mother was to be married to a man as kind and generous as her father. If only that experience had mellowed her and made her more sympathetic. But her mother was who she was, and Alais would never change that.

The only thing Alais could do was commit to being a better mother herself. She ran her hand over her flat stomach and smiled. With Victor by her side, she could do anything, even raise children, unready though she might feel.

She dunked her head under the water and then massaged scented oils through her hair, working through the knots with her fingers. At last, she climbed out of the tub and dried off with a cloth. She felt better, cleaner, readier to face what was to come. Sir Robert would pay for his crimes. She would see to it if it was the last thing she did.

Dora knocked on the door and helped her dress, then led her upstairs to do her hair. By the time she headed down to dinner, she felt almost like her old self. Her heart skipped a beat on seeing Victor, clean and shaved, wearing a fresh set of clothes. His gaze held all the smoldering promise she could hope for as he took her hand and settled her into her chair beside him. She would almost have forgotten the state of her forehead if Iselda hadn’t gasped and offered to make her a poultice on seeing her.

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