Kenric spun around to face Simon.
"Just where have you been?" Kenric bellowed. He pulled Tess forward, as if the sight of her was sufficient excuse for his charge. "You dare let her out of your sight?"
"Milord, there was an urgent matter requiring my attention in the lower bailey," Simon explained.
"There was an urgent matter requiring your attention in my sister"s chamber," he roared. Simon winced and bowed his apology. Kenric brushed by him with Tess towed in his wake. "I will deal with you later, Simon."
"Baron, please," Simon pleaded, scurrying to keep up with Kenric. "I must speak with you concerning my message. Most urgently."
Kenric threw open his chamber door then slammed it shut in Simon"s face. "Later!"
Tess nearly stumbled to her knees from the force propelling her into the room. Trying to put s.p.a.ce between them, she moved closer to the fireplace. He was going to hurt her. He"d just promised as much. Tess clenched her jaw and tried to calm her racing heart. No matter what, she would not shame herself by pleading for mercy. This man had none.
"If you kill me, the MacLeiths will have grounds to annul the marriage and you will lose all claim to Remmington." Pointing out the truth was not begging. Considering Kenric"s strength and size, surviving his beating was unlikely. She tried to meet his gaze but instead caught sight of his hands. Her gaze remained locked there, watching them flex. "The MacLeiths needed me alive too, though Gordon forgot that fact when he was angered. You would do well to remember it, milord."
Tess refused to look higher than his shoulders, afraid of what she might see in his face. He"d taken the time to remove his armor, but he still wore the quilted black tunic that acted as padding beneath the heavy chain mail. He"d not tarried long before seeking her out. The faint aroma of leather and horses drifted across her senses, a reminder that he"d probably ridden hard to reach Montague before nightfall. She wondered if he could smell her fear.
"You want to die, don"t you?"
"By your hand?" she asked tonelessly. "A quicker end, I trow, than the one Gordon planned for me. I stood up for my people when he would abuse them and turned his anger toward me instead. The price was to be my death. You would beat me senseless or to death for gossiping with your sister. There seems little honor in that end."
"Gossiping?" Kenric"s snort sounded like a growl of impotent rage. "You idiot. I don"t give a d.a.m.n what my sister told you."
"I find that hard to believe," Tess said boldly, incensed by his lie. Why else would he be so angry? She decided she had nothing left to lose by asking for the truth. "Did Helen speak the truth? Did you really slaughter women and children in Wales?"
"I did not bring you here to talk about what I did in Wales. You are here to explain your own actions."
An innocent man would have denied the charges to his last dying breath. She was sure of it. Avoiding the question was almost the same as answering it.
"I did nothing but ask your sister a few questions," Tess said quietly. He"d never denied what he was. She did that for him, convinced herself that he was worthy of her affections. He was no less handsome now that she knew the truth. Aside from his anger, she still couldn"t see the darkness in his soul. He was, indeed, unlike any evil man she"d ever known. She"d married the Devil himself.
"I am talking about the trouble you caused in my absence," he corrected. "What Helen told you is of no significance."
She shook her head, unable to let him change the subject so easily. "You think it insignificant that your sister accuses you of murder?"
"What I did in Wales or anywhere else is none of Helen"s concern. Nor yours," he added tersely. "You will tell me why three of my soldiers are busy weaving reeds in the great hall."
"They were being stubborn. Those three-"
"Silence!" The word cracked across the room like a whip. He pointed to a chair near the fire. "Sit down!"
Tess decided it would be best to obey. She slid into the chair and absently rearranged her skirts, wondering how on earth she could manage to get an annulment. Uncle Ian never should have allowed this marriage to take place. It was doubtful he would have agreed, had he known more about the Baron of Montague. Tess"s brows rose as a new idea took shape. An English priest would not annul her marriage, but a Scottish priest might be persuaded to see things her way.
Kenric took a step forward but stopped abruptly, turning to stare sightlessly out the chamber"s narrow window with his hands clasped tightly behind his back. "You will never take it upon yourself to punish any of my men, ever again, for any reason. Is this clear?"
"But I-"
He turned to glare at her. "Is this clear?"
Tess nodded, dismissing the matter as she unconsciously rubbed her chin. Escaping Montague would be even easier, now that she knew the lay of the castle and its routines. Yet Uncle Ian"s lands were more than a week"s journey away and the shortest route would take her within half a mile of Remmington Castle. It would be a journey as dangerous as the one to London.
"My hounds are missing from the hall. Are you responsible?"
Tess nodded again, thinking she would have little problem with a horse and supplies. She"d already figured out how to make her way from the fortress with both.
"Did you threaten to cut off the toes of the kitchen staff?"
Another distracted nod. After the annulment, a convent would be the perfect place to repent for the sins she"d committed these past few months. And the ones she had yet to commit in order to end this marriage. In a convent she would never again be gulled by a handsome face that hid a black heart. She would be safe. Her people would be safe. Relieved that she had a new plan to bolster her hopes, she turned her attention to the conversation at hand.
"Did you requisition one-tenth of my holdings" provender without my permission?"
Tess"s eyes widened, wondering how he"d found out about that so quickly. She nodded uncertainly.
"Are you responsible for the fire at Derry Town"s t.i.thing barn?"
"Aye, but-"
"Yea, or nay!"
"Yea," she whispered, a sense of dread gathering in the pit of her stomach.
"Did you charge one of my soldiers to carry out your orders when, in fact, I left Simon in charge of you?"
Tess looked surprised, her nod not quite as certain.
"And did you disobey Simon"s charge by wandering off into the woods, knowing it was possible to stumble across a band of MacLeiths who are surely waiting for such a golden opportunity?"
"I am guilty of defying Simon about going to the woods, for I knew the risks," Tess admitted, absently twisting a fold of her skirt. "Yet I also know that Martha is old and may not live through the winter. No one has shown an interest in learning her healing skills, and no one knew where she gathered her herbs and medicines. I can take her place and tend the ills and injuries at Montague, should Old Martha fall ill, but I had to know where she finds the ingredients for her potions."
"So you risked your life and that of my men on the chance that a woman might die?" Kenric"s tone was condescending and he rolled his eyes. "There were others who could have gone with Martha. I received word that you have maimed some of the servants," he continued briskly. "You will give me the names of those so punished and your reasons."
"None of the servants have been maimed or harmed in any way," Tess said defensively. "I would not actually inflict such a punishment, but after the fire at Derry Town, the kitchen staff readily believed my threat to remove their toes. That gave them an incentive to serve up the fresh provender as edible meals instead of disgusting slops."
"You never threaten a punishment unless you are ready to carry it out," he told her in a clipped voice. "Did you order my soldiers to strip the b.u.t.tery to the walls, simply to make a cleaning easier for the servants, knowing you took my men away from their duties on the training grounds?"
"You make it sound so-"
The reason for his anger suddenly crystallized in Tess"s mind. He"d learned of everything she"d done in his absence and, amazingly, he was angry.
"Answer!"
"Aye!" Tess"s angry bellow surprised Kenric. He was astonished when she stood up and took a bold step forward, planting her hands defiantly on her hips. "And I would hear some word of praise rather than listen to my accomplishments being shouted out as criminal charges!"
"Praise?" Kenric sputtered. He pointed again to the chair. "I did not give you permission to stand!"
"I did not ask it." Tess tossed her braid over one shoulder with a sharp nod to defy him openly, her temper ignited beyond caution. "Had I guessed what was going on at Montague, known that you were ignoring your duties as lord for a reason, I would not have worked my ringers to the bone these past weeks trying to regain ground that was lost through your neglect. Aye, I will never again interfere in your household, milord. Your soldiers can go back to living like pigs and sleeping amidst their own garbage in the great hall, right alongside the rats who come to feed on the remainders of their meals."
"You dare accuse me of neglecting my duty then refuse your own?" he asked ominously. "I think not. "Tis your duty to see to my household, and well you know it. "Tis not your duty to interfere with my soldiers or to overstep your authority. You will indeed continue the duties that are yours as my wife, without complaint."
Tess opened her mouth to disagree but realized just in time that she needed to continue overseeing the household affairs to gain another opportunity to escape. Her short nod of agreement was mutinous.
"If you have any other explanations for what you"ve done in my absence, I would hear them now."
Explanations he would tear apart to make her look the culprit? Not likely. Tess shook her head, glaring at the floor so he would not see her anger.
"You have done nothing but defy me from the moment we wed," Kenric said quietly. "Look at me, Tess."
She met his gaze boldly. His eyes were almost black, the lines of his face etched by a harsh scowl. Aye, he clearly intended to punish her for working like a draft horse, for doing things he should have done himself long ago. The thought was infuriating. Yet she knew the anger would give her the strength she"d need to withstand the punishment. He needed her alive, she reminded herself.
"Had any one of my men endangered so many lives, or done half what you have done these past weeks, I would see him tied to a post and flogged. If any had died as a result of his foolishness, he would die as well. By luck alone, none have suffered harm by your actions." He gave her a moment to consider his words. The smooth, utterly calm expression on his face was more frightening than any harsh look or word. "I will not order you flogged, or even do the deed myself. Your back was laid open by a whip only weeks ago and another flogging would surely kill you. But this time I cannot ignore what you have done. This time you will be punished."
A knife of dread went through Tess and she swayed slightly. Dear G.o.d, he meant to use his fists on her! She closed her eyes so she couldn"t see his hands, but remembered their size just as clearly. She"d been cuffed by Dunmore and Gordon, but never when they were in a true fury, only when she"d annoyed them in some way and was unfortunate enough to be within striking distance. Despite Kenric"s outward calm, she knew he was furious.
"On the whole, I have found your skill at performing the duties of a wife sadly lacking. Yet there is one duty you seem to have a talent for." His voice was as cold as she felt. "Take off your clothes, Tess."
Tess felt the blood drain from her face. He wasn"t going to beat her, but she felt no relief over the knowledge. What he intended was far worse.
"You would humiliate me further by demanding I perform that duty against my will?"
"There is little you can do to avoid it. You have agreed to perform your wifely duties without complaint. Are you telling me you lied?"
Tess bowed her head, glad he couldn"t see her face. She"d agreed to continue her household duties, and those would likely be threatened if she balked at anything he demanded of her now. As long as she remained his wife, it was not within her power to deny him. She vowed that he would soon learn the difference between what was given willingly, and what was taken. "I did not lie."
She hesitated a moment, then her fingers began to fumble at the laces of her gown, fear making her tremble.
"Get into bed."
Dropping the chemise that she"d been clutching to her chest, Tess obeyed. She slipped into the bed and pulled the covers to her chin. Squeezing her eyes shut, she waited for him to tear the covers back and begin ravishing her. The minutes dragged by. Rather than pounce on her, Kenric barely disturbed her when he slipped under the covers. He didn"t grab her and use her roughly, but instead pulled her almost gently to his side. He was naked.
She felt his hand brush across her hips and she held her body taut. When his hand moved to her legs, she clamped her knees together as tightly as she could. He began to stroke her, coaxing her to respond, his fingertips lightly tracing the line between her legs. Tess refused to obey the unspoken command, yet she felt her muscles relax slightly. He continued caressing her from her neck to her knees. She tried to concentrate on everything Helen told her, tried to picture the bloodshed of innocents. It was impossible. His hands were too much of a distraction. The tautness in her body no longer had much to do with denial, and everything to do with the desire he was stirring to life. Her body could not change its ways so easily. She"d craved his touch too often during the weeks of their separation.
Her breath quickened even as she tried to deny what was happening. He wasn"t going to force her to do her wifely duty. He was going to seduce her into being his lover, shame her with her own needs. He had control of her life, and would control her body as well.
"How many women have you raped, milord?" she asked between clenched teeth. "Did you kill them after you were through, or did you allow a few to live? Killing is what you are best at, is it not? How long will you allow me to live after you gain control of Remmington?"
Kenric shifted his weight abruptly. Before she could lock her knees together, he forced his leg between hers. One hand grabbed hold of her braid, the pressure steady until she opened her eyes to meet his dark gaze. "Does the thought of coming willingly to my bed repulse you so much? Is the thought of being seduced by a b.a.s.t.a.r.d too disgusting for your delicate sensibilities?"
"Nay!" she said honestly, realizing he did indeed care what Helen told her. But he seemed most concerned about the part that mattered least.
"Liar.""
"Nay, I-"
"Silence!"
He released her braid and his hands covered her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Contrary to the harsh words, his hands caressed her until she was biting her lip to keep from responding to him.
"You like what I do to you," he murmured in her ear. "Even if you deny it, your body cannot."
He shifted slightly and slipped his hand lower, trailing down across her belly to her legs, then up again to find her soft core.
"Nay," Tess said hoa.r.s.ely, hoping the word would disguise her groan. It was pointless. There was no disguising the sound she made when he caressed her, no denying her arousal.
"Aye, wife. Your body is ready for mine. You want me. Admit it."
Tess closed her eyes and shook her head. His fingers parted her, exploring until he found the most sensitive part of her womanhood. Then he stroked her, gently and thoroughly. She kept shaking her head, struggling to keep the low moans locked in her throat.
"Tell me you that want me, Tess."
It was pointless to deny the truth. She was only delaying the inevitable. Her voice was a harsh, defeated whisper. "I want you."
He withdrew his hand and she moaned again, but he ignored her wordless plea to continue the pleasure. She felt him caress her legs then her hips, lifting her to receive him. Her hands stretched out to grip the bed as he surged into her, crying out in pleasure when he filled her completely.
Tess couldn"t picture the horrible images his touch was supposed to make her remember, couldn"t think of anything but the urgent cravings that had been too long denied. She felt her body begin to tremble beneath his and she gave herself over completely to his possession, unwilling to examine the wrongness of what felt so right.
13.
Kenric readjusted his clothing with quick, angry jerks. A willing wife was about the only thing he"d wanted of marriage, and Tess tried to deny him even that. He should have taken her by force, he thought darkly, shown her exactly the kind of animal she"d married. She was still lying on the bed with her back to him. He wondered if she was crying.
He raked a hand through his hair then turned and stalked to the door. Making his way back to the hall, he was pleased to find Fitz Alan still in attendance. He needed the company of a friend to distract his thoughts. His soldiers took one look at his scowl and the room emptied as fast as it would if a plague had been announced. Only Fitz Alan and Simon remained.
"I did not expect to see you again until morn," Fitz Alan greeted, his smile uncertain.
Simon approached hesitantly from one side and touched Kenric"s shoulder, then backed up a step when Kenric turned to glare at him.
"Milord, I would speak with you about Lady Tess."
Kenric relished the opportunity to vent some of his anger. "Aye, I would hear why you did not lock her in my chamber the first time she caused trouble, so she could cause no more."
"She is your wife, milord." Simon"s startled tone said he hadn"t thought of such a drastic measure.
"She is a meddlesome troublemaker." Kenric took his seat and poured a mug of ale. "Did it not occur to you that one of my men or the servants might have felt justified in rebelling against her? Your own message said you feared for her safety."
"That message was sent before I knew what the mistress was about. Her actions appeared foolish at first, yet I came to understand her reasons. Everything Lady Tess did was for the good of Montague and your men, Baron."
"She set my soldiers to women"s work," Kenric shouted. "Think you any of those warriors will be quick to forgive the woman responsible for such humiliation? I"ve seen men killed for lesser insults."
"They would not dare harm your lady." Simon shook his head several times to emphasize the fact.
"You think not? I am probably the only reason it did not happen. They knew it was my right and responsibility to see to her punishment myself."
"They have come to appreciate her ways," Simon argued quietly.