Part 4 (2/2)

”I think all here are hoping he will not. But you know the king will grant the lords.h.i.+p to someone else of his choosing once he's convinced Lord Groswick is dead.””Aye, I know. Is that all, my lord?”

”Nay, are you this insolent when dealing with Lady Juliana?”The man turned whiter, then a tide of red crept up under his skin. ”Nay, my lord. I beg your pardon. I meant no offense. 'Tis just that I worry for Lady Juliana. I fear your inquiries can only cause her pain and make her situation worse. Please, my lord, if you have any compa.s.sion for her, leave here now and ask no more questions.”

”And what would you suggest I tell the king?””Tell him Lord Groswick has disappeared and you have no idea where he has gone.””Right now, that is, in fact, all I know to be true,” Sir Thomas admitted.

Chapter Six.

Juliana seemed more apprehensive than usual at dinner that evening. The smile she gave to those around her as she made her way to the table on the dais looked forced and faded too quickly. Her hand even shook a bit when she picked up her cup.

”My lady, are you nervous?” he asked.She turned a surprised look on him. ”Why do you think that, my lord?”He nodded to the drops of red wine splashed on the white table cloth. ”Your hand is less than steady.”

She sighed and set the cup back down. A small drop of red wine clung to a corner of her mouth. He wanted to kiss it off, but contented himself with wiping his finger across it,

collecting the moisture. As she watched, eyes wide and yearning, he brought the finger to his mouth and licked the droplet of wine off it.”I suppose I'm not quite... Aye, I'm somewhat tense.””Is it the bath I promised you?” He spoke low so that only she could hear his words. He loved the way the rose pink blush colored her cheeks. ”Juliana, if you truly don't wish it, I'll not force it on you. I'll never force anything on you you don't want. And if we go ahead, and I do anything you don't like, you've but to say the word and I'll stop. Do you trust me that far?”

She looked up at him and nodded. Her hesitance suggested the decision to trust was not an easy one for her. What had Lord Groswick done to her to make her this way? Still, his heart expanded at that sign of confidence in him.

Dinner took too long. Far too long. Though he enjoyed the food, the wine, and the

conversation, he wanted it over long before it was.

And then afterward, he had to wait for her to arrive. The tub was set up and servants hauled buckets of water to fill it as he got back to his quarters after the meal. He sent Ralf and Bertram off again. Ralf had the cheek to give him a crooked grin and a wink as he left, and ducked a feigned blow.

”Have a good evening, my lord,” Ralf wished him as he left. ”Do not swim too deep.” It was a tease, but there was also a hint of warning there. Thomas didn't make the mistake of disregarding it completely.

”I'll swim no deeper than I may. I have no plans to drown here.”The boy nodded and left.Juliana entered a few minutes later, unescorted. She looked around with guilty hesitance.”We're private here,” he said. ”My men will not interrupt. Would you have me bar the door so none may enter, or would you feel more secure were I to leave it unbarred that

you may run away from me more quickly?”Her smile was small and nervous still. ”Have many ladies felt the need to flee your presence, Sir Thomas?”

”Only a few. My sister once, when I pulled her hair and tormented her until she kicked me and then fled in fear of my wrath. A wh... A woman of ill repute who thought to rob me when I caught her in the act of going through my purse. By and large, though, the few ladies I've allowed in my quarters have felt no need for a fast exit.”

”I believe I'll trust to your word earlier.” She licked her lips and swallowed hard. ”Sir Thomas-”He was at her side as fast as he could move and put a finger over her lips. ”Nay. No objections. We both believe you have no husband, lady. If he be not dead, and I do believe it is so, he's most certainly dishonored your vows by remaining away so long. I cannot believe you'll ever see him again. You've been too long now carrying the burden of this place on yourself with none to comfort you.”

”Save my mother.””Save your mother. But while mothers can offer a great deal of comfort, there is a kind that can only flow between a man and a woman.””But I've no right to-””Say no more,” he ordered. ”I will not take from you that which only your husband may by right have. But tonight I take all burdens on myself. For tonight you are completely in my hands and in my power. You'll forget all else and do only as I command, save that if there is anything you truly don't wish or can't abide, you have but to tell me and I'll stop. What say you, lady? Will you give all responsibility into my keeping for this night?”

She frowned. ”I do not understand.”He put his hands on her shoulders. ”You lay responsibility for all that happens tonight on me, by agreeing now that you will do whatever I order you to do, save that it truly offends you. You put yourself completely in my control. I give my word I'll not have a husband's way with you, but will only do what will comfort and please you. We'll call it your penance that your hospitality was initially so cold when I arrived. You kept me waiting out in the rain far longer than you should have. In recompense, for this night, you will serve me exactly as I demand.”A slow, almost shy, smile spread over her face as she understood what he wanted. ”Ah, I see, my lord. Our hospitality was lacking that day, and I suppose I do owe you some penance for that. If this is how you would have it, then I offer it to you.” Her expression turned suddenly arch. ”But, my lord, should I fail to obey a command?”

”I'll have to punish you, of course. A loving punishment.”Her eyes widened and a sparkle burst to life in them. She opened her mouth, but couldn't quite bring herself to ask the next question. It didn't matter. She'd already accepted the invitation and was intrigued by the game, though that didn't drive away all her apprehension.”We're wasting the hot water,” he said. ”I'll play your maid and help you disrobe.”He only fumbled a bit with the laces and tapes of her garments, and that more because the sight of her gradually revealed, lovely body made him shake with need and desire for her rather than any innate clumsiness. Though Juliana was quiet while he undid and removed her overgown, her harsh breathing and the fine trembling of her body revealed her nervous excitement. When he loosened the tape at the back of her s.h.i.+ft, she sucked in a sharp breath and said, ”Sir Thomas-”

”Nay, lady,” he cut her off. ”Do you forget already you've given yourself to my use in penance?” She didn't resist when he pushed the loose s.h.i.+ft off her shoulders and guided it down her arms until it fell to the floor by its own weight. Without thinking, she crossed her arms over her front, attempting to hide her lovely b.r.e.a.s.t.s and the secrets hidden at the cleft of her legs.

He didn't object. The struggle to control the raging desire of his engorged c.o.c.k took much of his effort. She was so beautiful, so gloriously, gracefully curved, yet sleek and tight. He wanted to touch her so much that sweat beaded on his temple as he fought the urge.

”Into the tub with you,” he said. His voice didn't sound quite steady.She drew a deep, long breath and walked to the tub. He helped her in and turned away for a moment to find the remnants of his self-control. Once he thought he could keep himself in line, he found a washcloth and soap, and sat on the stool next to the tub, just as she had done the previous evening.He wasn't at all surprised to see she'd slid down the side far enough to submerge all but the top third of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Even so he fought to drag his gaze from the most exquisite and delectable span of flesh he'd ever seen. He couldn't imagine any man going off and leaving her. When she was his, it would take a team of a dozen horses or more to drag him away from her side.

Thomas began to rub the soapy washcloth over her shoulders and down her arms. If she got any more tense, she'd break. Her muscles were as tight and hard as rocks. Remembering how good it had felt when she'd rubbed the soap into his hair yesterday, he set down the washcloth and moved the stool around behind her.

”Duck your head,” he asked. ”We'll start with your hair.”She did as he ordered with no objection. Rubbing the soap into her long hair did slowly relax her and had the advantage of soothing his raging need somewhat as well. He liked the feel of burying his fingers in her hair, smoothing soap all along the length of the gently curling strands, and ma.s.saging her scalp, far more than he expected. That Juliana calmed down under the care was a pleasant bonus. His heart swelled with the knowledge he could help her.She grew so quiet and relaxed he had to ask, ”Are you asleep, my lady?””Nay.” Her voice was lower and husky, but not, he thought, with sleep. ”It does feel wondrously pleasant however.””Good. That was my purpose. But the water begins to cool. Rinse the soap from your hair.” She did so. It gave him another thrill to have her obeying his orders and trusting to his care.”Now lean forward. You'll like this as well.” He rubbed more soap on a cloth and began to scrub her back. She sucked in a breath, then let it out on a long, gusty sigh. Her shoulders flexed and twitched as he ran the cloth up and down her spine, going down to just above her waist.

”That does feel marvelous also, my lord.”

He continued to rub a few minutes longer, until a s.h.i.+ver warned him the water was cooling fast.”Out now, lady,” he said, tossing aside the cloth and finding the larger towel. She looked up at him with wide eyes.”Stand,” he said, making the word hard enough to be an order.She nodded, sighed again, and pushed herself upright.”You need not be ashamed of your body,” he told her. ”It's a wondrous and beautiful body.””Save for the scars.””Enn.o.bled by the scars. I have a few myself. They tell the world you have lived and experienced both the joy and the pain.” He ran a gentle finger over the scar on her temple. ”Only I think you've had little of the joy and much of the pain.””I've known joy, my lord.””Every day?” he asked. ”With Lord Groswick?”She bit her lip before she shook her head. ”Nay.””Did you ever know any pleasure at all at his hands?”

”Nay.”Thomas couldn't decide whether to be furious with Groswick for treating his wife so coldly or grateful that it had been left to him to show her about the pleasures her body could afford her. ”Then I have much to teach you.” He helped her out of the tub and into her robe, then wrapped the towel around her wet hair. After he toweled her hair until it was half-dry, he laid her back on his bed.

She stared up at him, her green eyes wide. ”Does it please you to teach me, my lord?””It does.””'Tis a strange sort of penance,” she admitted, ”but I will not refuse it.””Well that you don't.”Her smile was sweet and just a bit calculating. ”I do not promise to be so accommodating all the time.””And I would not expect it. It would be far too dull in any case. But for now-” He leaned over and loosed the tie that held the robe together in front, then pushed the sides apart.She gasped and tried to cover her b.r.e.a.s.t.s with her hands.”Nay, lady.” He gently lifted her hands and moved them away. ”You're beautiful.

You've no need to hide from me. And as you're under my command, you may not refuse or resist.” Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s weren't large, but their shape was graceful and the rosy pink tips puckered delightfully. Such loveliness demanded a man's devotion; Thomas paid them reverence.

His c.o.c.k throbbed at the sight. Unable to resist, he put out a hand and touched the tip of her left breast with just the end of his finger. She jerked in surprise, but also let out a

gasp of pleasure. He ran his hands down her throat and chest, brus.h.i.+ng over the breast, then repeated it on the other side. Her expression changed from surprise to delighted wonder.

He continued touching her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, sometimes stroking up and down, sometimes circling the nipples with his fingers. Her fine skin was soft as goose down. The plush mounds made perfect handfuls when he cupped them in his palms.

Juliana's breath caught several times as he toyed with her nipples, and her face tightened at the pleasurable tension his touches roused. She sighed, ”My lord,” when he squeezed the tip carefully, not too hard. He played with her for a while, drinking in her sighs and gasps, until his back protested about his leaning over at an awkward angle for too long.

He straightened up and said, ”Roll over.”She gave him a wicked grin and shook her head in refusal.So she wanted to play the game? He couldn't let her see how much that gratified him.

”My lady,” he said instead. ”One last chance. Roll over. If I have to roll you over myself, your bottom will pay the price of your disobedience.”

A flash of panic shot across her face, but when she glanced at him, whatever she saw seemed to rea.s.sure her. She just shook her head again and tried to look both stubborn and solemn.

<script>