By Queen's Grace Read online

  “I truly hate your chain mail,” she said. “You keep yourself encased in cold metal.”

  “Right now you should be thankful for it. ‘Tis all that keeps you safe from me.”

  “What if I do not wish to be safe from you?”

  “Judith-”

  She put her fingertips to his mouth. “I know of every reason you are about to give me for holding to duty. You have yours, and I mine. Nothing will change that. But Corwin, from now until we reach Wilmont, could we not forget?”

  Her eyes had dried. Her words, delivered in a steady voice, reverberated through him, strumming cords of desire already tightly strung. Corwin struggled to save them both from sure disaster.

  “There will be regrets,” he said.

  “Not on my part. I love you, Corwin. If all I can have of you is a few days, then I want all of it.”

  Judith loves me. His heart rejoiced even as it broke.

  Corwin lost the battle. “Two days, three nights, and most of it spent riding hard. ‘Tis all we have.”

  Judith reached around his neck and began unfastening his chain mail.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Corwin pulled at the ties of her cloak. Judith felt it slip from her shoulders, but concentrated on ridding Corwin of the metal rings encasing him. Her focus wavered whenever Corwin’s hands moved-down her arms, around her waist, along her ribs and near her breasts.

  Frustrated at her lack of progress, she finally said, “Help me.”

  While he unfastened his sword and tugged off his chain mail, Judith picked up the cloak and spread it over-the spot he’d chosen for their bed. When she turned back, she found he’d also made quick work of removing his gambeson and the linen sherte beneath as well.

  She’d seen him stripped thus before, down to his breeches. Now as then, she marveled at the sculptured perfection of Corwin’s upper body. When he reached for her, she slid. into his arms and pressed against him. Her cheek to his chest, her palms to his back, Judith gave up a sigh when he closed his arms around her and squeezed tightly.

  His kisses were as potent as wine. With each, she became ever more aware of the brush of his soft beard against her chin. Of the cool breeze wafting across her skin as he removed her gown, then her shift. He eased her down on the cloak, then knelt near her feet.

  He picked up her foot and slowly removed her boot and short hose, while his gaze traveled the length of her. She

  grew warm where his gaze paused-on her breasts, at the juncture of her thighs. She squirmed at the intensity of his perusal, hungry and dangerous, but also rather liked the

  thrill of his eyes on her-evaluating. And if she read his

  expression aright, appreciative.

  “Well?” she asked as he removed her second boot, flushing at her unsubtle appeal for praise.

  “You are lovely, Judith,” he said. “From those wondrous silver eyes of yours to the tips of your toes.”

  Her flush deepened. He smiled as he tossed the footwear aside, then slid a hand up her calf. “On the day we met, I took one look at you and fantasized about the treasure a man might find beneath your unrevealing robe.”

  “Did you?” she managed to say despite her delighted shiver.

  “I did, and I am happy to say my fantasies are well

  met-nay, exceeded. A Greek goddess come to earth in

  human form.”

  “Corwin, stop,” she said, lightly protesting his overdone glorification of her attributes.

  “I fear I cannot, my lady,” he said, shifting to remove

  his own boots. “I am compelled to utter poetic praise to thy beauty and grace.”

  “You have gone daft, then.”

  He tossed his boots next to hers.

  “Mayhap I have,” he said, turning serious. His azure eyes heated. “Mayhap you should put your clothes back on, wait for some other man who can give you-”

  “Nay!” she said, rising to face him. “As you once noticed me, so I noticed you. I, too, suffered fantasies.” Judith ran a finger along his prominent collarbone. “My nighttime visions of you fell short. You are magnificent to look upon. I want no other man, Corwin. Only you. All of you.”

  She leaned forward for a kiss. He granted her wish thoroughly, then pulled her into his arms and onto his lap. His hands roamed. Judith leaned into the caresses and kisses. Her own hands weren’t still. She touched him where she could reach, and basked in a moment of triumph when his muscles twitched beneath her fingertips. ‘Twas a heady revelation-that her touch affected him as his did her.

  He fell backward, down onto the cloak, taking her with him. He tugged the tie from her braid to free her hair, separating the long strands with his fingers.

  “There, one of my fantasies come true,” he said.

  “Have you others?”

  “Oh, aye.”

  “Show me.”

  He rolled her over, leaned above her and assaulted her senses. This was what she’d yearned for-Corwin’s loving. She thrilled to each arousing caress, thought she might melt when those caresses became increasingly intimate.

  Once more Corwin drew away from her. He shucked his breeches, revealing the whole imposing length of him, laying open to her view the truly magnificent physical proof of his male need.

  Her body responded with a shocking flash of raw hunger, an urgent desire to mate.

  Corwin sat still, allowing Judith to look her fill. He knew he would be her first, and wanted to go slowly. But she responded to him with such eagerness that his resolve had begun to wane. Now, she stared at his arousal as though ready to pounce on it. Instead, her delicate hand reached out to touch him, gently but firmly, caressing him along the sensitive underside. Ache and longing became pain. Control all but vanished. Her innocent exploration fired him from raw steel to tempered blade.

  He wanted to dive into her, to lose himself within the softness of Judith’s sweet body. Perversely, he wanted a hard and fast coupling, but one that lasted the whole night long.

  He wouldn’t last that long, not in the state he was in. A few strokes and he’d be gone. So Judith had to be ready for him. He pressed his hand to the juncture of her thighs. She hissed and rose up. Hot and wet, she offered him a gift no man could refuse, least of all the man she claimed to love.

  No woman had ever told him she loved him, not even in the throes of passion. In truth, there had never been another woman he’d wanted to hear words of love from, and Corwin hadn’t realized how badly he’d wanted them from Judith until she’d said them.

  He covered her, nuzzling in the valley of her breasts, giving himself-and her-a bit more time. Too, he wanted to be sure there would be no surprises on her part.

  “Judith, do you know what we are about to do?”

  She ran her fingers through his hair. “Only that you will join with me and we will be one. I assume it will be as pleasurable as the rest.”

  He dearly hoped so. “There may be some pain, but I will ease it, I swear to you.”

  “Then I shall not worry, for you always keep your vows.”

  Not always. He broke one tonight-having more than touched the woman he swore to protect, even from himself. He was about to bury himself deep within Judith and take her virginity, and couldn’t come up with a dram of remorse.

  Corwin rolled off of her and propped himself up on an arm, and Judith once more admired the power of the man. Sheer male animal in the guise of Corwin of Lenvil. Fierce knight and tender lover. Her lover.

  He put his hand between her thighs. “Spread your legs for me, love,” he said softly.

  Whatever Corwin wanted her to do, Judith swore she would, for she could do nothing else. Her body screamed for his, for the completion of an act that would make her a woman in every way. Corwin’s woman.

  She closed her eyes as he touched her again in that place wet and aching, waiting for him. He caressed her until she thought she might die from the pleasure of it. Then his hand came away, and he rose above her. He gripped her hips, and ever so slo
wly slid the tip of his male sword into her female sheath-then plunged to the hilt. Only on the edge of awareness did she feel a brief shot of pain. Her body convulsed upward, meeting his, feeling full and alive and on the verge of shattering.

  The deed done, Corwin lowered himself to his elbows and kissed Judith’s face and neck until she relaxed somewhat. Only her short-lived grimace had confirmed her pain. From now on, for as long as he could manage, he would give her only pleasure.

  With slow, strong strokes he loved her. He held his own need at tight rein, ensuring Judith’s pleasure came first and with splendor. ‘Twas not easy.

  She clutched his shoulders and breathed in soft little pants, driving him wild. Her face twisted with the sweet agony of a woman about to come apart, feeding his need for release. And still he hung on, thrusting her ever upward-and then over.

  She reached ecstasy with a gasp of surprise, and then a long, heartfelt moan of pleasure. Not a moment too soon. He lay atop her, his body pounding with a fierce release, his heart and soul soaring in perfect satisfaction.

  Her silver eyes opened, sparkling. “I did not know,” she said softly.

  Nor did I. Not like this. Not with such mind-numbing awe or so complete a physical drain. Moving seemed impossible, but move he must to allow her to breathe. Unwilling to separate from her, when he rolled to his back he took her with him.

  She snuggled atop him and nuzzled her face into his neck. Content, or so he thought.

  “Can we do it again?” she whispered.

  To his amazement, his body answered instantly that they could. So they did. With Judith atop. Harder and faster. With no less glorious results.

  She slept afterward, curled into his side, using his shoulder as her pillow.

  Corwin lay awake, listening to the night sounds, wanting badly to hold back the dawn. It would come, as would the days after. Two days, two more nights. Not enough time.

  He craved more-a lifetime. One could not cram an entire lifetime into the hours left until they reached Wilmont.

  He kissed Judith’s forehead, making her the silent vow he’d made to himself amid the bouts of mindless passion, and meant no less now.

  If there were some way for them to be together, to wed and build a life together, he would find it-no matter who he must placate or defy. Judith was his, and he wouldn’t give her up without one hell of a fight.

  Judith had always wanted to visit Wilmont, to see the castle where Ardith lived so happily with Gerard, and get to know the boys mentioned so frequently in her newsy letters. Nearing Wilmont’s gate, Judith wished she were as far away from the place as she could get. But knowing Corwin wouldn’t go with her, she rode on.

  The days had been long and hard, riding as fast and far as the horses could bear. The nights had fled by, spent loving and sleeping curled in each other’s embrace. Each dawn meant the passing of another night together, and even so, Corwin had been up and about at the break of each, readying the horses and cajoling her into rising. This dawn, their very last, had been no exception.

  Corwin was in a hurry to reach Wilmont. She knew his reasons. They’d talked more about his unusual link with his sister; one Judith didn’t understand fully. But she acknowledged his need to see Ardith and her new child. And there was still the rebellion to deal with. Corwin felt sure Gerard would not only want to hear about it, but might know what to make of information Corwin had stolen from Ruford’s chamber.

  Still, he could be a little more upset about the end of their too brief affair.

  From atop Wilmont’s palisade she heard a shout. A guard near the gate waved his lance, calling out, pointing down at them. Others soon joined him. From her side, Corwin laughed and then waved. A cheer went up.

  “Ah, ‘tis good to be back,” Corwin said, and urged his horse to a faster pace. She followed him through the gate into the sprawling, busy bailey. People made way for them, smiling up at Corwin, some shouting a welcome. As they rode up to the castle’s stairway, young men rushed forward to take the horses. Corwin bounded out of his saddle, then reached up to help her down. Once on her feet, Judith had little time to either look about or gain some manner of composure. Corwin grabbed her hand and rushed her up the stairs.

  He pushed open the huge oak doors, and they-entered the great hall of Wilmont. Judith gasped at its splendor. Columns of glimmering marble supported the high, ornate oak rafters. All manner of ancient weapons hung on the whitened stone walls, the trappings of soldiers interspersed with large, colorful banners.

  Dogs lounged in the warmth of a huge hearth, where women worked with distaff and spindle. On the dais stood a table covered with pearl-white linen, presided over by several dark, high-backed chairs. Beyond the dais, hawks and falcons preened on their perches.

  For all its expanse and show of wealth, ‘twas still a warm, homey room, made so by Ardith-who rose from her hearth-side chair, squealed Corwin’s name and came running across the room. She fairly leaped into her brother’s arms. Corwin spun Ardith around once before putting her back on her feet.

  “Thank God,” Corwin said, relief strong in his voice. “From the force of your pain, I did not expect you to be on your feet this soon.”

  “Truly? ‘Twas not as bad this time as last.” Ardith touched the hair on his face. “A beard?”

  “What think you?”

  “It makes you look.changed, somehow. For the good, I think.”

  Ardith then turned and opened her arms. Judith stepped into her friend’s hug and returned it with equal fervor.

  “I am so glad to see you both,” Ardith said. “We have all been so worried. Your aunt Matilda is near frantic.”

  “She need not have been. Corwin has kept me safe these many weeks.”

  Ardith sent a questioning glance Corwin’s way. “Did he, now? I sense a story here.”

  “Aye, and a long one,” Corwin said. “If you would see to Judith, I need to talk to Gerard. Upstairs?”

  At her nod, he requested ale be sent up, then hurried off.

  Ardith grasped Judith’s hands. “You look done in. Come, sit by the hearth. We will get you some wine and you can tell me this long story.”

  She would rather put it off, let Corwin do the telling, but knowing Ardith’s tenacious ways, she might as well begin. “I shall trade you a story for a look at the new baby.”

  “Done,” Ardith said. “Come meet Matthew.”

  The door to Gerard’s counting chamber stood open. Gerard sat behind a table stacked with parchments. He looked up, his eyes narrowing, as Corwin entered.

  “Corwin?”

  “Aye, ‘tis me, and aye, I grew a beard.” Corwin sank down into the chair opposite Gerard, wishing he’d shaved the beard to spare himself the strange looks he was getting.

  “Did you find her?” Gerard asked, diving right to the heart of the matter.

  “I did. Judith Canmore is in the hall, in Ardith’s care.”

  “Well done, though it took you long enough. You do realize that authorities from two kingdoms are looking for both of you?”

  “I suspected as much. ‘Twas a constant worry that someone might actually find us.”

  Before Gerard could express the surprise on his face, the ale arrived-a large bucket full to the brim with frothy brew, accompanied by two goblets. The obliging servant closed the door behind her when she left.

  With goblets filled, Corwin said, “I imagine William sent you a report on how this whole thing got started.”

  “I have also heard from others. William said the last he saw you, you were riding west and had planned to return to Romsey Abbey before nightfall. I have also heard from the sheriff of Hampshire, who feared you might have fallen victim to Judith’s kidnappers because you did not return to Romsey as you told him you would do.”

  Corwin recognized the signs of an upcoming lecture, but didn’t dodge it, wanting to hear what Gerard knew.

  Gerard rummaged among the parchments on his table and came up with what he looked for. “Three days ago, t
his arrived. ‘Tis a request for payment for a mare you borrowed but did not return. She must be coated in gold for the price de Saville asks.” He tossed the paper aside, his ire rising. “It badly upset Ardith on a day she did not need upset. She had been able to brush aside the sheriffs concerns about you until this came.”

  Corwin voiced his sudden insight. “That is why I felt her pain so acutely. Her thoughts must have been focused on me.”

  “I hope it hurt.”

  “Oh, it did. She caught me in the midst of a sword fight. Imagine being hit in the gut with a plank while blocking a downstroke.”

  Gerard winced, then asked, “Where were you?”

  “Norgate. We were making our escape when-”

  “What the devil were you doing clear up there?”

  Corwin smiled. “Saving England.”

  Gerard picked up his goblet and dipped it in the bucket. “I think you had best start from the beginning.”

  Corwin picked up the story where William had left off, telling Gerard of finding Judith’s kidnappers, learning of. the rebellion and deciding on a plan of action.

  The story poured out as the ale went down. Gerard sat back in his chair, listening, asking few questions, looking over the papers Corwin gave him. Soon Corwin found himself back in the stable, facing Duncan.

  “Oswuld was waiting for us to get the horses. Judith ran toward her mare and Duncan popped out of a stall with his sword drawn. I no more than drew mine when I felt Ardith.”

  Corwin checked the ale bucket. Empty.

  “You managed to overcome Duncan, I gather.”

  “Nay. I managed to hold him at bay until Judith rescued me. She backed my destrier out of his stall and I used his training against Duncan. Woman could have gotten herself killed.”

  “You could have all died.”

  “But we did not. We need more ale.”

  Gerard tossed Ruford’s papers on the table. “You need food, then sleep. I will send a fast messenger to London, to tell Matilda her niece is here, and inform Henry that I send knights and foot soldiers to Norgate. If the rebels have not all fled, mayhap we can catch a few, especially this Ruford Clark.”