Page 31 of Saxon Blade Norman Blood
“I told you she had pursued me relentlessly. Now you know why. As I said, I gave her exactly what she wanted. Her freedom. She never really wanted me, what she wanted was someone to kill her husband. She must have thought I would be capable of doing it, even though he was my overlord. She must have seen I would be unable to resist my urges if she came to me, and she was right. I could not see past my desire for a beautiful woman, and the respect I owed my overlord did not stop me.”
William ran a hand through his hair. He seemed disappointed with himself.
“What about the child?”
“The child died. The comtesse lost it the same evening, no doubt due to the beating she received,” he answered in a clipped voice.
“I’m sorry.”
He regarded her curiously, as if he had not expected her to feel sorry for him. Then he gave a sigh.
“The babe wasn’t mine. She told me so after her husband had died. She had another lover, one she planned to marry afterher mourning period. The babe was his. Once I had done what I had been selected for, namely killing the comte, I was to be disposed of. I managed to flee to the coast before I was arrested. My brother Stéphane had followed Duke Guillaume to England ten years previously, urging me many times to come and make the most of the opportunity for myself.”
“So your official story is partially true.” Rowena managed a wan smile.
“Yes. I had never thought to set a foot on your island before, but suddenly the prospect was not without its merits,” William said wryly, continuing to gaze at her. “So you see, I was not lying when I told you I believe women can be as ruthless as men, just as vindictive, clever, and manipulative. I learned it the hard way.”
“Yes.” Women like her, he meant, determined to kill him.
“I’m not taking any chances with you. I found you in my bed, dagger in hand, or near enough. I would be a fool not to take that threat seriously.”
She did not contradict him. “What happened to the Comtesse du Vallon and her lover?” she asked instead.
“I do not know, nor do I care.” His jaw clenched. “What do you think then? Next time someone asks me why I am here in England, shall I tell them the truth?”
“No,” she answered without hesitation. “You had better stick to your version of being a man in search of an opportunity.”
“Yes,” he said with a faint smile. “I think I will.”
*
From his observation point on the palisade William saw a woman dressed in green cross over the bridge. He stiffened, his attention immediately caught. The graceful figure could only belong to one person. The Saxon girl had claimed to have no secret assignments, no master, yet here she was again, sneaking away for the second time in two days.
Before he could think about his actions, he set out after her.
She headed straight for the forest, which he had not expected. This was an unlikely place for a meeting, be it with a lover or a fellow conspirator. Was she telling the truth after all?
He was surprised to see her stop by the river next, even more to see her sit on the ground and start removing her shoes and stockings. Her small, white feet offered a pleasant contrast against the green blades of grass, whilst her emerald gown blended into the meadow, making the fire in her hair stand out like a beacon.
Gingerly, she went into the water, lifting her hem as she went, before tucking it into her girdle to keep it dry. The sight of her legs so daringly exposed could have been provoking, but it was instead strangely moving. Because she thought herself alone, she behaved in an artless way that made her even more irresistible. When she reached a spot of sunshine, she lifted her face to the sky and closed her eyes in a gesture that had become familiar to him.
After a while she opened her eyes and looked at her left hand, making her fingers waggle. The metal caught a sunray and caused the ring to wink at him. Maybe she had told the truth about having found it in the river, after all she was not a woman prone to lying. She had never pretended she didn’t want to kill him. And if she indeed had a lover, as he had accused her of having, he was sure she’d have flaunted his existence in his face and warned him to let her go before the man came to find her.
With effortless grace, she walked back to the riverbank. The icy water must have numbed her legs, for she sat down and rubbed them energetically. William afforded a smile when he remembered how cold her feet always were in bed. By rights tonight they would be freezing.
When she was satisfied, she lay back on the grass and gazed at the sky for a while, shielding her eyes with her hand. Then, incredibly, as if lulled by the peaceful atmosphere, the girl turned to her side and settled for a sleep without even checking her surroundings. She was alone, unarmed, and utterly unafraid.
Was she so tired she needed to sleep during the day? For the first time he wondered whether she didn’t stay awake in bed next to him at night, in fear of what he might do, then he shook his head. No. Every morning when he woke, she was asleep, as abandoned as a child. She might have preferred to have a room of her own, but she was not afraid of him.
When it became obvious she had indeed fallen asleep, William wondered what to do next. He had followed her to ascertain her destination, and he had done that. Now that he had established she was not plotting with anyone, he should go.
A branch snapped in the distance, and all thoughts of leaving were forgotten. Someone was coming. Had he been right to be suspicious? Had she come here to meet with someone?
He took a few steps toward the sleeping girl, careful to remain hidden from view.
Two young men emerged into the clearing and stopped in their tracks when they saw her lying on the ground. They looked at each other in alarm, perhaps fearing she was dead. Then they smiled at each other when they realized she was only asleep. The smallest one took a few silent steps toward her and winked at his friend.
William stayed crouched low, invisible behind the trees. He could read the man’s unguarded face like a book. The scoundrel’s gaze roved all over the girl’s body, a hungry expression coloring his features. The corners of his mouth lifted in a sinister grin. He said something to his friend, then, hand on his hose, he stepped forward.
