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  For the next several days, pressure built so strongly in Letia's belly that she could hardly walk. The day she spied Ranald's warriors riding toward Seton, she heaved a thankful sigh. She stood with Leofwan and Edmond at her side to greet Sir Domnall, the competent knight who had trained Ranald to be a warrior. After they made all the arrangements for the men's comfort, Letia was more than ready to leave Seton in the three men's competent hands.

  The babe felt twice as heavy as before. Freki whined and near plastered himself to her side. Leofwan sensed the change and summoned Maud. She and Giles walked with her to her bedchamber. By the time she reached there, her back ached, her knees weakened and Maud called for the midwife to seek her advice.

  They put Letia to bed and dosed her with herbs, hoping to lull the babe into staying within its nest until its full time.

  He was demanding and stubborn and would have none of it. She was shamed to hear her screams sounding like a woman daft with fear. For all his demanding an early entrance, two days later tiny Aubrey howled with rage at leaving her warm body.

  Though the babe was small, his determination was as great as his mother's was. The utter joy of holding her son made up for his surprising arrival.

  o0o

  As was her usual habit when in charge of the castle, she wore clothes much like Giles. For near two months, a sea of tents covered much of the cleared land outside the castle walls. As he had promised Warin, Ranald had provided more than enough men to protect Seton. 'Twas not them Letia objected to early one foggy morn.

  The Raptor's men were welcome.

  The approaching men were not.

  She shivered at the ominous sight of sixty or more warriors galloping through the thick morning fog, escorted by Ranald's Black Raptor patrols. A herald rode at their head, waving a red banner aloft.

  Julian did not lead the men. 'Twas someone she feared even more.

  The Scotsman.

  The brilliant yellow gryphon at the red banner's center, its beak stretched wide as if screeching, appeared to fly through the heavy mist toward them. She needed no more warning than that. She felt Raik's presence even afore she could make out his massive form seated on the great dun destrier.

  Letia gulped. She was not ready for him. Too many things in too short a time had happened.

  The horsemen, surrounded by swirling clouds of fog, cantered smoothly in a straight line up to the ditch. When he found no drawbridge spanned the empty space, the herald's horse near skidded to a stop.

  "Edmund, do not lower the drawbridge," Letia ordered from the shadows. "I do not want him inside the castle walls."

  "But, Lady, 'tis not Julian of Durham but Lord Ranald's cousin Raik?" His voice rose in disbelief. "He comes with King Stephen's herald and escort."

  Leofwan's face was grim with disapproval. "Resistance will be futile and could cause a siege. As Seton's new baron, Lord Raik has the power of the king behind him.

  She really had meant to heed Leofwan, but fear kept her from it. Too well, she remembered when men had taken over her home long ago and she had witnessed their brutal ways.

  Raik's coming was no surprise.

  She had expected it. Dreaded it.

  "Do you go back on your vow to your late husband?" Leofwan's words were clipped and cold.

  "I intended to keep my promise to Warin. Until he appeared. If he would go away for a while, I could fortify myself to surrender the castle.

  Her heart pounded with fear of the man below. Never had she been such a weakling. She hid behind Edmund, something she had never done. Leofwan refused to take part in her defiance.

  The drawbridge stayed up, the castle barred to Raik.

  "Open in the name of King Stephen!"

  "Lady?" Edmund twisted his head to look back at her.

  She gulped and shook her head. "I cannot. Not today. Mayhap tomorrow."

  Ranald's man, Sir Domnall, raised his brows, startled that she denied Raik entrance.

  "Fetch yer man in charge of the castle's defenses," Raik's voice roared from below.

  Edmund stepped forward. "I have received my orders. They are to secure the castle. For now."

  "Do ye think yerself canny enough to keep me camped outside the walls? What do ye do when Sir Julian arrives? He will be hot for Seton once he kens the lady Letia is a widow."

  Heaven help her.

  "Dinna try my patience! Yer mistress is but a weak woman who has not the right to defy me. Lower the drawbridge and raise the portcullis. Now!"

  She flinched at Raik's bellowed order. Anger and disgust flowed from him like a forceful wave, surrounding her with heat. Were he his cousin Ranald, his anger would cause a wind such that Edmund would have needed to anchor her to his side.

  Nay, he did not cause wind to blow. But his words did ignite her anger. She would not take orders from him.

  He was a barbaric Scot!

  Mayhap she was not in her right mind. From the startled way the warriors guarding the walls looked at her, it seemed likely. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Leofwan motioning Sir Domnall to stay back.

  She gritted her teeth, whipped out an arrow, armed the bow, stepped forward and quickly released it. The arrow zinged through the air heading directly at Raik's shoulder.

  His shield flashed. The arrow vibrated from the forceful strike.

  She quickly sent arrows flying in a near constant stream until there were no more.

  Raik's nostrils flared, his lips curled as a deep-throated snarl rumbled from his chest. Ranald's men were likely laughing so hard they pissed themselves. They wouldn't interfere unless he ordered them. Cursed Lucifer! He would go to Hades and back afore he'd call on them.

  Sweat trickled down his back, off his chin.

  His arse felt like he'd been in the saddle for a sennight.

  His hands fisted with suppressed fury.

  This month past, King Stephen had ordered him to the English court. When he learned the king was appointing him baron of Seton, he was as elated as if he had drunk potent wine. Until the king told of the conditions to Raik's new honors. They might as well have laced his wine with mandrake.

  Now some fool rained arrows down at him. As one hit his shield, he glanced to see where the archer aimed then whipped his shield to waylay the next. Though the fog hid the man's face, he realized he was the only target. With his swift maneuvers to thwart the arrows, the edges of his shield rang against his chain mail.

  'Twas strange. The archer took great care not to injure Storm. The horse moved restlessly beneath him.

  Finally, the arrows stopped. Looking up, he spied someone duck behind Edmund's bulk.

  Hearing a gurgle beside him, he lowered his shield to glare at Cormac, his friend and first in command. The man's mouth clamped shut, but his lips stretched in an amused grin. Behind him, men coughed and near strangled with the need to laugh.

  It didn't help his temper.

  "Do ye think me so foolish as to be chased off by some foolish squire who does not yet shave?" The muscles in his neck strained. Inside his sweaty helmet, his bellowed words vibrated against his ears. His temper near reached the point of rage.

  "I but follow orders from my commander," Edmund called back.

  "Then ye have a fool for a commander!"

  He turned to the king's scribe and motioned for him to show himself. The man's palfrey pranced forward. Sitting tall with pride, his face haughty, the scribe whipped up his arms and held aloft the scroll tied with purple ribbons and bearing the king's seal. He twirled it with great dignity so Edmund could see it from all angles, then bowed in his saddle and backed his horse into line.

  Storm stomped his front hooves, digging holes in the ground in his impatience.

  The familiar creaking and groans of the drawbridge lowering drowned out all other sounds. When it was off the ground as high as a man's knees, it dropped with a thud that shook the earth beneath them and sent puffs of fog flying.

  Raik slapped the reins and tightened his thigh, urging Storm fo
rward. The screeching of the portcullis as it inched upward to its hiding place within the barbican walls near muffled their horses' hooves.

  As it slowly clambered upward, Raik didn't wait for it to finish but leaned forward over Storm's neck to pass beneath the lethal iron teeth. Did they want to kill him, they could release the portcullis to slam down, pinning him and Storm in its toothy jaws. Once clear, he sprang upright in his saddle and studied the murder holes above and the arrow slits on each side of the long entranceway. His skin prickled, noting light didn't stream through. Armed archers stood behind them.

  His jaw squared and his eyes hooded. If they met an assault when entering the bailey, he would squelch it afore it got out of hand. Should the need arise, Raik's legs firmed, ready to guide his horse into battle maneuvers. His right hand caressed his sword hilt while the fingers of his left flexed on his shield's grip.

  His teeth ground together when he cleared the passage. He recognized Edmund and Leofwan standing in the middle of the first row of men facing him. Behind them, warriors and archers streaming from the interior of the barbican and those not needed on the wall walks, hastily formed rows.

  Domnall pulled up to Raik's side, shaking his head. As he looked at the line of Seton warriors, his brows rose in surprise while his eyes glinted with suppressed mirth.

  The warriors atop the battlements remained on guard. Raik nodded approval when they stayed put. His face set in a grim line as he halted Storm not five paces from the men. He removed his prickly-looking shield, fixed the men with his glare and threw it to the ground. The arrows embedded in the yellow gryphon painted there looked as if the mystical bird had sprouted long feathers.

  Studying the men, he read disapproval in Leofwan's rigid posture and the thin set of his lips. Edmund fidgeted and avoided meeting Raik's gaze. Edmund's left hand reached behind him with light shoving motions. Why? Edulf stood back and a little to his left. Raik's eyes narrowed even more. He urged his steed forward a step. Edmund retreated a step. And jumped, shifting his feet and quickly putting them down again. He had stepped on someone's foot.

  Raik led Storm even closer until the horse's head was near Edmund's shoulder. He pulled the reins so Storm nudged the warrior aside. Had someone ducked behind Edulf? He stood in his stirrups and leaned forward. A squire, his head down, his chin rested on his chest, hovered behind the taller man. A yellow stain high on the left shoulder marred his tunic. Raik pressed forward. Just as the squire attempted to run, he grabbed a fistful of clothing at the scruff of his neck, lifting him high enough that his feet were running in the air. Had they touched ground, no doubt he would have streaked halfway across the bailey.

  "Nay, my lord!"

  "Have a care, my lord!"

  Startled gasps escaped the men around him. Huh. They thought to spare the lad a thrashing? He could wait for that. 'Twas a more important person he needed at the moment.

  Bone-chilling barks, followed by a fierce howl rent the air.

  Raik spied Freki near falling from the solar window in the keep. The dog seemed angry and distressed. If he didn't take care, his scrabbling against the wall inside the window opening would cause him to catapult to his death.

  "Freki! Down!"

  His bellowed command interrupted the dog's howling, but for how long?

  "Keep hold of this dafty boy. I will deal with him later."

  He shoved the lad at Cormac. The boy struggled and twisted until Cormac wriggled his brows at Raik and grabbed the squire around the waist like a sack of flour.

  Wriggled his brows? Was he feeling the fool?

  Raik pointed down at his bristling shield.

  "I would speak with the fool who commanded the gates locked and chanced a futile siege. And I would know the archer who meant to maim me."

  Why did Leofwan grab young, hm, was it Giles, by the shoulder to keep him from approaching?

  He slowly backed Storm as he looked each man in the eye. They were afeared. Not for themselves but fear that he would harm the squire.

  No one spoke. Many looked down at their feet. At each other. At the sky. The younger warriors darted glances of alarm at Cormac holding the cursing squire. He followed their gazes.

  "Put him on his feet." His words came between near clamped teeth.

  "'Twas I who advised Edmund," Leofwan burst out.

  Raik glared at him to remain silent and watched as Cormac had need to swing his leg over his horses head and slide off, hugging the captive to his side. He eased the squire to his feet and gave him reassuring pats on the back.

  Raik needed to take a slow, calming breath before he spoke.

  "I should have kenned it was the wondrously gentle Lady Letia. Could yer maid not find suitable clothin' for ye this morn?"

  He wanted to shout and rant at her, to send her as far from him as possible. He shuddered.

  He could do nothing. Instead, he must wed her afore nightfall.

  Deep brown eyes glared up at him. He reached over to pull off the cap. Curly brown hair tumbled about her white face and over her shoulders. She raised an impatient hand to shove it away.

  His gaze swept her from her tousled hair to the dust on her boots, then back up again. His brows drew together when his gaze lingered mid-chest. He blinked in disbelief as a stain darkened the tunic and began to spread. Leaning sideways in his saddle, he sniffed at the yellow spot on her shoulder. His nose wrinkled.

  Sour. A bairn's spew.

  Raik jerked upright. His temper erupted.

  "Lucifer's cruddy tar...teeth!"

  She blinked at his shout.

  "Ye put yerself in the way of an injury without a thought to Seton's heir! Lady, get ye inside the keep. Ye will stay within yer chamber till I deal with ye."

  "Do not dare to ..."

  "Silence yer tongue, woman," he snapped out. He ignored her spluttering to turn to Cormac. "Select two men to escort her there and stand guard to see she does not leave. And find old Maud. 'Tis obvious our manly widow has neglected her wee bairn overlong."

  "I did not..."

  "God help me, woman. Get ye gone!"

  The thunderous shout caused more than one brave man to startle. Cormac motioned for two men to follow him then grabbed her elbow and leaned close to her ear. "Come, my lady. 'Tis best ye do not test him. He has not slept..."

  Raik glared at Cormac's back and had the satisfaction of seeing his shoulders flinch. He lengthened his stride as he near hustled Lady Letia from the field.

  CHAPTER 21

  Letia's heart tripped behind her ribs like a captive bird. Saints above! What gremlins prodded her to do such a foolish thing? Had she killed the dratted man, the king would likely have hung her. Had she injured him, Raik would have just cause to thrash her.

  "...yer bairn."

  "Hm?" She drew her mind back to the man who grasped her elbow, not unkindly but gently. Where amusement had softened his face before, lines now formed between his brows.

  "The bairn. He sounds right needful."

  Heavenly saints! Aubrey's mewling cries coming from her bedchamber started her breasts leaking so fast she near cupped them tight to still the flow. Freki snarled warnings on the other side of the door.

  When Cormac attentively leaned around her to open the door, Letia sprang between him and the dog. 'Twas good she had, for Freki was crouched to leap. She motioned him down. His yellow eyes gleamed and his lips curled back to show his lethal teeth as he snarled. A man would be a mindless fool if he were not fearful.

  Not taking his eyes off the beast, Cormac backed through the doorway, cleared his throat and bowed.

  "Lady, should ye have need of aught, send yer nursemaid to the guards."

  She shuddered, hearing the latch snap in place when the door closed. 'Twas one thing to secure the door herself. To have the Scotsman's warrior do so turned her bedchamber into a prison.

  Maud hastened over, raising her voice over the squalling babe held high on her shoulder.

  "Thank the Saints! Now you know why you sho
uld have a wet nurse. If for aught else, for such times as this," she scolded.

  "Nay. Other women may do as they wish. Only I will feed my son." Her jaw thrust out with disgust on thinking of her babe suckling on breasts other than hers.

  Letia pulled a chair close to the window opening and the weak rays of the sun beginning to strain through. She hurriedly unbuckled the belt around her waist and dropped it to the floor. Grabbing the tunic's hem, she tried to whip it over her head, but it tangled with the long-sleeved shirt beneath.

  Ugh! Aubrey had spewed on her shoulder that morn before Raik arrived at the gate. She'd been too busy to change. She wrinkled her nose at the smell then flushed on remembering how his elegant nostrils flared when he leaned down. She also remembered the unwelcome twinge deep in her body when his cheek was close and she caught a hint of pine and musk. Mumbling unintelligible sounds, she near tore the offending garment off and tossed it over her shoulder.

  She yanked the shirt ties open as she sat and exposed one leaking breast. Reaching out to Maud, she took her frantic little love and clasped him to her breast.

  "Shh, sweetling." Aubrey's red face was wet with tears. His rosebud mouth rooted frantically for her nipple, spreading her mother's milk over his nose and soft cheeks. He latched onto her with a mighty suck, and his beating hands and feet stilled. Little hitches in his breath tore her heart, knowing he had cried overlong in hunger.

  Suddenly fearful, Letia hugged him with fierce protection.

  "What is it? You have gone white as an egg shell." Maud head tilted, studying Letia's face.

  "'Tis an ugly idea." She cupped Aubrey's downy head and gently rubbed it. "Maud? He would not take him from me. Would he?" Her voice quavered.

  "When he was injured, he did not seem a man who would do such. But 'twas a hapless thing you did to defy him so."

  Letia frowned. "I wanted him to go away or wait a day until I was ready. If I'd wanted to kill him, my first arrow would have pierced his eye. I meant to keep my promise to Warin but seeing Raik below was more than I could bear. I must pray and beg Warin's forgiveness for being a coward. Leofwan is angry. I should have listened to him."