stomach just now,? he remarked to her.
?That is not so,? she insisted.
?Is it not?? he replied doubtfully, then with a cold edge added,
?And never counter my cornmand again, wench. Did Master Blouet obey you instead
of me, he would receive ten lashes for it.?
Having heard that, the poor cook was now racing up the stairs to wake the butler.
Rowena stopped eating, bringing her hands to her lap so Warrick would know he
was ruining her appetite.
?You are contemptible in your spite.?
Bernard drew in a sharp breath at her effrontery, but she still asked ?What will
you do with the wine? For I will not drink it.?
?I will have it delivered to my solar for my own useas you will be delivered
there as soon as you are finished with that mealunless you are finished now??
Rowena reached for the food so fast, that humorless smile came to Warrick?s lips.
?Bernard??
Bernard did not need to be told.
?Aye, my lord, as soon as she is finished,? the boy assured him.
Warrick put a finger under her chin, which was moving vigorously with her
chewing.
?Do not stuff yourself, wench, and do not be long, else I will have to return
here to see what delays you, and I would not like that.?
So saying, he left her alone with the squire and the food. Rowena chewed more
slowly now, but anxiety was beginning to knot her stomach.
He was going to rape her again. He as much as promised he would.
Mayhap she ought to fight the boy instead of Warrick, then run off and hide.
Bernard was bigger than she, though not fully grown, so she would certainly have
a better chance of winning free from him than from his master. But would that
not get the squire punished? And if Warrick came looking for her, would he not
wake others to help in the search? Inconsiderate wretch, of course he would. He
did not care that his castlefolk worked hard all day and needed their sleep. She
should not care either, but she did not want the whole of Fulkhurst mad at her,
when there was not a single soul there who would protect her from their
retaliating abuse.
?Best you hurry, Mistress,? Bernard said from behind her.
?His mood does not include patience for waiting long.?
She did not look back to answer ?So he has to come and fetch me again. Think you
I care? Either way I have to deal with his anger.?
And his little punishments?
She wondered what would be her humiliation this time for defying him outside the
weaving room, for running from him, for annoying him here. The begging he had
mentioned? Worse? Nay, what could be worse than begging for pleasure from a man
she despised?
?You are a perverse woman, not to be grateful for his generosity.?
Rowena choked on the beef she was chewing. When the coughing spasms eased, she
turned around to glare at the young man who had made that outrageous statement.
?What generosity?? she demanded.
?He feeds you after the kitchen has been locked for the night. Never has it been
opened before. Master Blouet would not even dare were he starving.?
Twas a standard rule in most castles. Too much pilferage would ensue otherwise.
But Rowena was not impressed.
?He feeds his child, not me,? she scoffed.
?He would not open the kitchen for his daughters,? the boy scoffed back.
?You know naught!? she snapped impatiently.
?The man hates me.?
?When he desires you instead of another? When he debated for hours whether to
wake you, though his need was great? When he even carried you so you would not
catch a chill in your bare feet??
She could have shot down each of those statements with ease, but she was
blushing crimson over his mention of Warrick?s need, which she knew she had
caused at his bath. She had assumed he would send for Celia. Why had he not?
Because with you he gets revenge and his need seen to. But why wait so long?
Because, in truth, he could not bear to touch her, any more than she could bear
to touchnay, she was lying to herself. She had never really minded touching that
finely made body when she had him in her power. And tonight, she had actually
become aroused from touching him, while he had not touched her back. But she
minded that! She minded his effect on her!
?Does it not matter that I want none of his attention?? she asked as if the boy
could be made to understand and change his view.
All he replied was ?As I said, you are perverse.?
?And you are ignorant and biased! Your lord is a cruel, vengeful?
?Nay!? Bernard cried, upset himself now.
?He is good and benevolent to those who serve him. He is only swift in
retribution with his enemies.?
?And I am one of those enemies,? she whispered, turning her back on him.
She stared at the food she no longer desired, and heard Bernard say behind her ?His
enemy? A woman? What could you have done to earn his enmity??
Only rape him and steal his child. But that was a crime so appalling in her own
mind, she would never willingly admit it to anyone. Warrick would likely change
his mind and murder her if she did, because at least half his hate must come
from the fact that such could have been done to him, so powerful a lord.
So she did not answer the question, saying dejectedly instead ?Do you mean to
take me to him, do so. I am finished here.?
The cook returned with the butler then, and hurried over to her.
?You did not care for leftovers, girl??
? Twas excellent fare, Master Blouet, merely have I had my fill. And I will be
sure to eat at ?JB?TOWBPHR? are not disturbed
? ??? normal times henceforth so you are not disturbea again.?
He waved that aside.
?The babe must have nourishment. I will see that you have extra portions at your
meals.?
?Nay, you need not?
?Lord Warrick would have it so.?
And whatever Lord Warrick would have, so it would be done.
Rowena ground her teeth together and headed out of the kitchen. But before she
reached the stone steps, she was picked up from behind, just like before. Only
she did not feel secure in these arms. She felt as if she was about to fall.
?Put me down, Bernard. I am perfectly capable?
?Perverse,? he huffed to himself as he trudged up the stairs.
?She would rather catch her death so that I will be flayed alive. Utterly
perverse.?
? Tis more like I will break my neck when you drop me, you fool.?
? ?Tis chivalrous to assist all womenbut next time wear shoes, Mistress.?
He was complaining? Rowena would have boxed his ears if she did not think he
would drop her in startlement. God save her from aspiring knights.
?There,? he said at last, and set her quickly on her feet.
?The wooden floor is not so cold. I needs catch my breath, but you may go on.?
She could, could she? Rowena decided to be as perverse as he had called her.
?How would you know how cold the floor is when your feet are not bare? My toes
are freezing. You will have to carry me after all.?
He was standing there laboring for every breath. The dark hall stretched long
before them, with only a torch at the far end to light the narrow path through
; the sleeping bodies of the servants.
Bernard looked at her in horror.
?Ahmayhap you could wear my shoes instead??
?Mayhap I will return to my own bed.?
His horror magnified.
?You cannot do that!?
?Watch me, sirrah.?
She turned and started down the path, but no more than five seconds had passed
before she was picked up again. Now Bernard was angry, and it came out in biting
scorn.
?Your ladylike airs do not become you, Mistress. Think you the lord?s favor
elevates you to that status? It does not, and best you remember that.?
His words stung, prompting a thoughtless reply.
?I do not need elevation to a status already mine. Tis your good and benevolent
lord who would make me other than what I am, which is Lady of? Her common sense
returned before she blurted out ?Tures.?
?Kirkburough,? she amended.
?Which he did recently destroy.?
?You lie, wench.?
?And you sound like your master, lout,? she retorted.
?Verily, the only thing I lied about was the freezing of my toes. Now put me
down!?
He did, half dropping her as the strength in his arms gave out. But little good
it did her, for they had reached the antechamber to the solar, and the door to
the inner chamber stood open and promptly filled with the presence of her
nemesis, drawn by her raised voice.
?What ails you?? Warrick asked his squire, for the boy was truly wheezing now.
Rowena answered before Bernard could.
?He thought to mimic you and carry me, but found he must grow some ere he starts
acting the barbarian in forcing women to his will.?
The double gibe was not lost on either male. Bernard flushed with angry color.
Warrick smiled, that chilling smile she hated.
?So my new serf has claws, does she?? he remarked.
?I will have to see what I can do about plucking them. Come inside, Rowena.?
She did not move an inch, horrified by what she had just done. What had made her
think she could taunt and insult him without paying for it? But as long as she
was damned anyway?
?II am through accepting punishments that have naught to do with? She cast a
glance at Bernard before ending with ?What lies between us. Do you want me in
there, you will have to drag me in. I told you, I do not go willingly.?
It would have been nice if Bernard were not blocking the only exit from there,
but he was, and so there was nowhere to run to when Warrick accepted her
challenge and came to get her. And although she tried with every bit of strength
she possessed to remove her wrist from the clamp of his fingers, she was
summarily dragged into his solar, where he slammed the door closed behind them.
Nor did he stop until he had reached his bed and shoved her down on it.
Then slowly, with a good deal of obvious pleasure, he lowered his body over hers
until she was left with the sure knowledge that she could not budge him.
?You see now how little it matters, your unwillingness?? he taunted.
?I hate you.?
?The feeling is returned wholeheartedly, and I assure you I am much better at it
than you could ever be.?
He was wearing his cruel smile, so she had little doubt about that either.
Suddenly she felt like crying. A few tears even gathered to brighten her eyes to
a jewellike radiance.
He noticed and studied them thoughtfully for a moment before he said ?You would
not be thinking to make this easy for me, would you? Where is the fight you
promised me??
?You take too much pleasure in my hate and my resistance. I would prefer not to
give you any pleasure at all.?
?Selfish, wench,? he chided, though there was suddenly real humor in his eyes.
?So you think to lie there like a dead thing and hope I will grow bored and let
you go??
She had yet to meet this particular mood of his and said warily ?Now that you
mention it??
He laughed, confounding her, and laughed even more when he saw her confusion.
Then his hand came to her cheek, so gentle, and his thumb rubbed slowly,
tantalizingly, over her full lower lip.
?What am I to do with you??
The question did not seem to be for her, actually, merely was he wondering it
aloud. But she answered him anyway.
?Let me go.?
?Nay, never that,? he said softly as his eyes dropped to her lips.
?You were virgin in more than one area. What about these, too??
There was warmth now in his eyes and smile that made him so handsome she was
nearly mesmerized. And then his lips touched hers.
She had seen it coming, had been prepared to resist, but she was unprepared for
the unexpected involvement of the rest of her that she had no control of. His
tongue licked at her lips, and she felt sensations in her belly. His tongue
slipped between her teeth to caress her own, and she felt heat in her loins.
Twas true that no lover?s lips had ever shown her the way of kissing. What
Gilbert had done just before he left her to Warrick?s mercy was naught like this.
That kiss had been brief, hard, and repugnant to her. This one was soft,
unending, and she wished she were not being made to know the difference. There
should have been no difference. But she could not deny this was another thing
about her enemy that she did not mind.
?As I thought, another virgin terrain to explore,? he said, and seemed pleased
by it.
?You must have been locked away until I found you.?
Words seemed to be the only defense he would allow her. She used them now as a
desperate measure, for she realized that she would have herself to fight as much
as him if this continued.
?You did not find me, you were found for me.
Remember that, and that you do not really want to do this. Let me go, Warrick.?
His answer was to kiss her again, a kiss not so gentle this time, but still not
the least bit repulsive. In fact, she was caught up in the passion of it so
quickly, she forgot the taunt she had just used to avoid it.
He did not. He was as angry with her as she had hoped he would be, merely was
the result not what she had wanted. Nor did she become aware of it until much
later, when she heard his whispered command ?Beg me,? and she had reached the
point of such frustrating needthat she did.
Chapter 23
Warrick was in a bemused state of utter repletion and disgruntlement. Neither
feeling sat well with him at the moment, but neither would leave him alone. The
one made him wish he could deny the other, but he could not, for burying himself
deep inside that flaxen haired witch had been unbelievably satisfying. Of course,
obtaining revenge against her had made it so good. Such immense pleasure could
not be for any other reason.
But he should not have experienced that at all, for he had had no intention of
touching her again after she had been released from her chains. He had meant to
continue plaguing her, certainly, and heaping shame on her. He still meant to,
for he had not allowed her to live without paying a price for it, and he wanted
her constantly reminded of that.
But tonight had shown him that he was a fool to think he could shame her by
>
having her perform intimate services and not pay a price for it himself. He
could have if she had continued to feel only shamebut she had become aroused
instead, though she tried so hard not to show it, and her wanting him had sent
him over the edge. Still, he had resisted her siren?s call and sent her away.
Yet she had continued to prey on his mindand body.
That should have enraged him, that she could still make him want her so
powerfully. Verily, it did infuriate him, for ?twas no different from his lack
of control when she had had him in her power. And he had fought the overwhelming
urge to go and fetch her back to him tonight. But once it had occurred to him
that her very status now gave him all the excuse he needed to have her again, he
lost the fight.